See Photos of the ribbon cutting at http://photos.al.com/4462/gallery/new_leenew_century_high_school_081612/index.html
HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- Freshmen weren't the only students looking lost on Thursday as they tried to find their way around the new Lee campus.
The long-awaited new facility, which now houses both Lee High and New Century Technology High School, officially opened with the snip of scissors as school officials cut a ribbon out front. Students and parents milled throughout the building for orientation.
Stewart Thorson, principal of New Century, said he and his students -- whom he described as the "floating stepchild" of the school district -- are thrilled to have a new home. The technology-based school, which draws students from all over Huntsville, was previously housed across the city at Columbia High.
Kevin Wieseman, principal of Lee, also expressed excitement for the new year.
"I'm so excited for what we can present to the community, but also what Stewart can offer from throughout the city," Wieseman said.
Superintendent Casey Wardynski estimated that 15,000 graduates will emerge from the two schools over the lifetime of the new building.
The $47 million, 260,000-square-foot campus boasts a freshman academy, engineering and drama magnets, about 50 designated classrooms for Lee students and another 25 for New Century students, Wieseman said. The schools share a science wing and cafeteria.
The campus also has a theater that seats 884 people.
"It's the cream of the crop," Wieseman said. "It has the best sound and the best lighting of anything in Huntsville."
Noah Williams, a 17-year-old senior in Lee's performing arts magnet, said he thinks the new school is "amazing."
"It's so big, I get lost," Williams said, laughing.
"Well, you have four minutes to get where you're going," Wieseman joked with him, referring to the time students have to move from one class to another.
Williams' mother, Christine Williams, said the school is "absolutely phenomenal." His father, David Williams, talked about critics who have complained that a new school would change the traditions at Lee.
"We can make new traditions," David Williams said. "This is great."
Wieseman said school administrators and staff were working down to the wire to get things ready in time for classes Monday. Some furniture, mainly teachers' desks and filing cabinets, had not arrived as of Thursday.
He said the school had more than 2,000 student desks and the equipment needed for classes.
Part of the delay this summer was the time needed to properly secure the school, which has 45 exterior doors. Additional security cameras and keyless entry measures were installed to help keep students safe.
A $600,000 security fence was also added.
The district's transition to digital curriculum and Wardynski's implementation of a 1:1 Learning Initiative has also meant redesigning some aspects of the school, Wieseman said. Four of the school's 11 computer labs have already been converted for other uses.
"We've had to redesign on the fly," Wieseman said. "But I like where we are now."
April Brewer, a New Century chemistry teacher, said the new campus is beautiful.
"We're very excited to be here, and we have a good working relationship with Lee," Brewer said.
Brewer also spoke highly of the new digital curriculum, which teachers spent three days last week receiving training on.
"What they have to offer is going to be really beneficial to teachers," Brewer said. "And students get immediate feedback."
Andrea Toland, whose daughter, Bryna Toland, is a junior in the performing arts magnet, said she loved the changes at the school.
"I think it's really great for Huntsville, and it's great for Lee," Toland said.
Follow me on Twitter @cbonvillianHT or email me at crystal.bonvillian@htimes.com.
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