[August 22, 2011] Boozman Takes Northside Tour Tweet Aug 22, 2011 (Times Record - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- U.S. Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., visited Northside High School on Sunday, touring his alma mater's high-tech additions and renovations during an open house. The additions and renovations to the 82-year-old high school building were unveiled last August but were shown to Boozman and Fort Smith community members during a special tour Sunday. "I think the (additions and renovations) are wonderful and have done a tremendous job of branding the old with the latest technology available," Boozman said. Coming in at a total cost of $5.3 million, the remodeling and expansion added about 8,200 square feet to the school. About 27,440 existing square feet of the building was remodeled. Northside Principal Ginni McDonald led the tour in which Boozman got a glimpse of the school's new high-tech features and facilities, including a brand new media center and library, a new mathematics wing referred to as East Lab, eight new classrooms and a lecture hall that seats 70 people. The media center, McDonald said, features a small production studio and soundproof booth that enables students to learn to produce and develop different media projects. The Lecture Hall is used as a learning facility for advanced placement students and is used for presenting guest speakers, McDonald said. The new library features a computer center and cafe. "Students can come in the morning and get hot chocolate, coffee and hot tea," McDonald said. The library also features many comfortable, cushioned seats where students can lounge and read. McDonald likened the look and feel of the library to Barnes & Noble. Robin Hughes, the school's library media specialist, said the new library is a place where the students can relax and enjoy themselves. "It's much more welcoming to our kids (than the old library)," Hughes said. "It's their meeting place and their study place." McDonald said the library is frequently filled with students. During the tour, Boozman was shown the technological innovations featured in the new math wing, including a Promethean Board, which Algebra II teacher Frederick Thrower described as an interactive white board designed to make students more engaged in the learning process while in class. Superintendent of Fort Smith Schools Dr. Benny Gooden attended the open house and spoke of Fort Smith's commitment to making Northside a top facility for education. "This (open house) is a great opportunity for the community to see the investment they've made in improving this historic school," Gooden said. "It's a big change for a new generation of students." The improvements, Boozman said, are impressive and fill him with pride. "As an alumnus, I'm very proud of Northside's reputation and success," he said. "(These improvements) will propel Northside into the next decades." ___ (c)2011, Times Record (Fort Smith, Ark.) To see more of the Times Record (Fort Smith, Ark.), or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to www.swtimes.com Distributed by MCT Information Services [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]