Sparks High School needs renovations
Sparks High School’s theater has the original seats from when the school was built in 1951. The school also has the original heating and cooling system.
The Washoe County School District community and business leaders voted to seek an increase in vehicle registration fees and sales tax to sell $393 million in bonds for school repairs and new technology. We look at some of the older campuses and their needs.
Sparks High School is one of the oldest campuses in the Washoe County School District. It serves students in eighth through 12th grades. About 60 percent of the school is Hispanic, and more than half qualify for free or reduced lunch.
Notable Sparks High graduates include Sparks Mayor Geno Martini and Gov. Jim Gibbons.
About
- Name: Sparks High School
- Address: 820 15th St., off of Prater Way
- Phone: 353-5550
- Year built: 1951
- Enrollment: 1,170
- Capacity: 1,248
- Fun fact: Sparks High School’s mascot is the Railroaders, and the school’s colors are maroon and gold.
Hot topic
The school’s heating and cooling system is as old as the building itself. The outdated system makes loud noises while trying to heat and cool classrooms.
“When that thing kicks on, it’s like an airplane,” Principal Doug Parry said.
Renovations needed
Like most older schools, some of Sparks High School’s technology and infrastructure needs have not yet been met, Parry said. The heating and cooling system, electrical wiring, carpeting, windows and furniture all need to be upgraded.
Some problems lead to others. One example Parry gave is the problem of old, single-pane windows, which cause outside temperatures to seep into the building. This effect overheats the school in the summer and leaves the classrooms cold in the winter. To combat the interior temperature, the school’s aged heating and cooling system must be run and the noise it makes is disruptively loud in each classroom.
“The upgrade is going to be critical to become a more efficient system,” said Parry, who said keeps a heater in his office during the winter.
Parry said he does expect to get new seats in the school’s theater. The current seats are made of wood and it’s been hard to find replacement parts for the damaged chairs.
The school also expects to get security cameras installed to help alleviate vandalism.
“It should help us provide a safer campus for our students and staff,” Parry said.
Technology
The school has about five computer labs with about 30 computers each lab. Some parts of the building also have wireless internet access.
At this point, Parry said, “it’s just a matter of upgrading the electrical system to meet our technology needs.”
This article appeared originally in Reno Gazette-Journal.
