The Wenatchee High School building is well overdue for a revamp. The current building was built in 1971-1972, 55 years ago. WHS is well known for its lack of windows and resemblance to a prison. In fact, if you search “was Wenat” the first autofill is “was Wenatchee High School a prison”. The majority of students and staff have expressed their displeasure with the current state of the building.

Let’s start with the windows, or lack thereof. There are only a select few classrooms that have a window that accesses outside. About half of the math classes have one long window, but the entire purpose is defeated when the teachers put their desk and all of their belongings directly in front of it so no light gets in. The only other windows that I am aware of are four on the East side of the building by the language department. Having no windows anywhere can set a very depressing environment for many. Natural light is known to boost mood and productivity.

Another reason the building is so horrible is the crammed classrooms built with fake walls. Many classrooms aren’t large enough to support the 25-35 student class sizes. Students would greatly benefit from having classrooms with enough space to move around and do class activities that promote learning in new ways.

Moving to the infamous HVAC system. In 2022 the HVAC system was completely replaced, however, it has still never worked. The building being 55 years old means that it is too old to support the new technology in the HVAC system, which is why the air conditioning won’t work. This is an issue that needs to be fixed because it has led to multiple days of school missed due to temperatures too hot for students and also too much smoke in the building during wildfire season. Outdoor conditions should not be a reason for missed school.

There are many benefits that would come with a new, upgraded building. Students would gain a more comfortable, welcoming environment that supports their learning. Teachers would gain larger and more specialized spaces in order to teach their subjects in a more hands-on way. The Wenatchee community deserves a remodel to all of the facilities to elevate learning and promote extracurriculars for the students of the valley in order to prepare them for the future.