Deteriorating building challenges students and teachers

Rotting ceilings, falling tiles, over-heating classrooms: these are all things that HC has experienced over the past week. In many classrooms the heat has affected learning conditions. Falling tiles and excess water can also be a hazard for students in the hallway.

The designated administrator for building and grounds, Assistant Principal Brian Miller, provided some background behind atmospheric changes and damage.

“We’ve got a building that’s got a lot of age on it, so we have parts that break down,” Miller said. “There is also a lot of condensation due to the humidity.”

Miller also cited leaks as a part of the problem, but stated that issues like these have been going on for years.

“This is not something new for Henry Clay,” Miller said. “It is an issue right now for me, but it’s been going on…for 15 years.”

With the large amount of damaged tiles, it is difficult to quickly fix them all. One nearly fell on a student earlier this week.

“I was walking out of the guard room, and a tile almost hit my head,” HC Sophomore Diana Cristino said. “They should fix it.”

Along with the damaged tiles, the building also suffers from extreme heat in certain areas. This is especially prevalent in HC Math teacher Sarah Zehnder’s classroom, where the heat can completely alter a lesson.

“By the time we get to sixth hour, everyone is miserable and complaining,” Zehnder said. “It’s pretty much affected every part of my teaching.”

The temperature has always been a slight issue in this old building, but teachers and students noticed a change this Fall.

“The temperature has always fluctuated, but it’s never been this bad,” Zehnder said. “It has changed what I wear to school every day.”

The heat has also affected the class of HC teacher Chris Snow.

“[The heat] makes teaching impossible,” Snow said. “It makes me physically ill.”

The heat has caused serious health issues and hazards for students.

“I’ve had a student pass out,” Snow said. “She hit her head on my podium and got a concussion. We had to call the ambulance.”

Snow expressed the difficulty of teaching and learning in these conditions.

“When it’s hot in here it’s absolutely impossible to teach or learn,” Snow said, “because it is so unbearably miserable.”

If teachers and students would like to see change they can contact the central office of Fayette County. Currently the only scheduled renovation for Fayette County high schools is Tates Creek in 2018.