The Oskaloosa herald., 1916-03-02
A NEW BUILDING
IS RECOMMENDED
ARCHITECT MAKES REPORT TO
BOARD OF EDUCATION.
PRESENT SCHOOL INADEQUATE
Structure Is Net Fire Proof and Can
not Be Reconstructed Satisfac-
torily-Present Grounds Are
Entirely Sufficient

William B. Ittner, expert school
architect of the city of st. Louis, Sc
cured by the School Board of Oska-
loosa and approved by the Oskaloosa
Commercial Club, to examine into
local conditions touching school ac-
commodations. came to the city Tues
day and spent the greater part of the
day in studying the problem placed
before him.
In word, Mr.. lttner recommends
a new building for high school pur-
poses, His report is appended:
Mr.. timers Report. j
0skaloosa, Iowa, Feb. 20, 1916. =
To the Board of Education,
Oskaloosa, Iowa.
Gentlemen:-I have examined the
High school building with a view of
determining the ACCESSIBILITY of re-
modelling and enlargnig it to meet
present needs, and beg to report
thereon as follos:
OskalOosa finds itself in the same
position as many cities of similar
size and Importance, that is, with q
growing and expanding High School,
with housing and equipment made
Quate to meet the greater educational
demands. This may be viewed by
some as the cause for serious alarm
but second sober thought should
make it the cause for COngratulatiOn
to any community, as it furnishes the
means of correcting conditions not
compatible with the best and most
wholesome school house conditions,
and the opportunity of unifying and
| standardizing the school equipment
in line with the best modern practice,
economical administration and up
keep.
Work of this character is now un-
derway in many cities throughout the
country and may be taken as a fair
! index of the growing interest in one
! of our greatest, if not our very great
est institution, our Public Schools.
AS a matter of general policy it is
unwise to attempt the rehabilitation
; of an old worn out High school build
! ing; a long experience in this kind OF
work has proven this to my own sat
, isfaction. Briefly stated the objec,
tons may be summed up as follows:
Old Buildings Are Unsafe.
Old High school buildings are gen.
orally of the combustible type (ordi-
nary joist construction) are without
ventilation or the means of installing
! it correctly or economically, have
class rooms of abnormal size both
large and small which are improper
lily lighted; have inadequate and poor
Ily lighted corridors and stairways;
have walls and floors of Inadequate
strength judged by the requirements
of modern standard school practice,
and except in rare instances, their
plan Is such as to defeat entirely the
carrying Out of anything approximate
ing the lines of a modern well cor
related school building II altered
and enlarged to meet present and FIJI
ture needs and the demand of mod
ern school building the changes are
generally of such a character that
little or nothing of the original build
ing remains. and the cost approx
mates closely that of out and out new
buildings, particularly so If fire proof
ing OF the old building is attempted
The result therefore, is generally dis
pleasing both to the people who have
the bills to pay, and to the pupils
and teachers who are compelled tc
Iuse them.
The question then of successful re
modelling must be narrowed down tc
the individual building, aud unless al
conditions, that is, such as the plar
of the building: it's foundations
walls, and floors; the size OF its class
rooms: their natural lighting; and
the adaptability of the building fo
proper ventilation and sanitation. arr
favorable. the net result will be ;
more expensive and probably unsat
isfactory building in the end.
Not Fireprcof Construction.
An examination of the High schoo
! CONTINUED on page 80