Douglass High School Prepares for Renovations, Move Off Campus
The century-old school wants to make facility conducive to hands-on learning.
Beginning this summer, students at Fredrick Douglass High School, off of North Providence Road, will move off-site for one year while renovations take place. The school is looking to improve their classrooms, renovate the building, and make room for more activities, such as culinary arts.
The entire project will cost $6.4 million. $5 million will be for building infrastructure renovations, and $1.4 million will be for classroom improvements. The renovations to the school, built in 1916 as the first all-black high school in Columbia, will include facility, roof, electric, water, heating, air and security upgrades. A few other upgrades include the addition of a music room and space for career education classes, which include culinary arts and maintenance mechanics trades.
Assistant Principal Kerry Hesse says, “The renovations will provide more opportunities for our students, such as a true maker shop, a functioning culinary program, working locker rooms with showers, and a music classroom, all in a pleasant new environment.”
During renovations, the school will move into the Cornerstone Insurance building, formerly occupied by William Woods University.
“We are in the process of finalizing a lease agreement now,” says Michelle Baumstark, Columbia Public Schools spokeswoman. “And only minimal changes to the building’s layout will need to be made to accommodate the Douglass school family for the next year.” The only addition to the building will be a music room.
Baumstark says that hands-on learning courses have been an idea at the high school for a long time, and much of the transition process is about having the appropriate facility space to meet the demands the Douglass curriculum.
Voters in Columbia approved the renovations to the high school in a 2014 bond issue. Baumstark says CPS hopes that moving forward with the project will show that the district keeps its promises. The district has another bond issue and a property tax levy increase on the April ballot.
“We promised to improve the school, and in a year or so from now, the school will re-open with new infrastructure and new classroom space vital to providing all students with equitable access to high-quality learning opportunities,” says Baumstark. “These renovations are necessary.”
The Columbia Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors recently voted to support the passage of the levy increase and the no-tax-rate-increase bond issue in the upcoming election. The tax levy increase is estimated to generate an additional $14 million in annual revenue.
Baumstark says that the school district hopes to honor Douglass’s history by maintaining the building and its operational infrastructure while also equipping the school with 21st century learning spaces and increased access to enrichment opportunities.
“Columbia Public Schools wants all of our students to be able to learn and develop the skills they need to be successful after graduation,” Baumstark says.