The Tower will stay ... thankfully

If you wanted to sum it all up with one word, the buzzword would

surely be “Wow.”

Like nothing before in the Newport-Mesa District, Newport Harbor

High’s campus is in a transition of upheaval that will last for a

long time to come.

And it is beginning now as the Class of ’03 prepares to lift off.

Harbor’s familiar tower, which looms above the Sailors’ campus,

with some anticipated shoring up, as well as the athletic complexes,

appear to be about the only items that will be left intact following

major reconstruction.

Why? As many are aware, it’s sort of like Shawshank. A six-inch

“pick-ax” could take it all down in no time, let alone the potential

for earthquakes.

Perhaps the easiest vision is that the front corner of the main

building (the auditorium and tower) will remain, but all of the rest

of the main buildings will be replaced with a similar style to

maintain the integrity of the early ‘30s when it all began.

Some 55 portable classrooms, about 19 [accommodating the science

field] for the next 18 months or so, and the remaining 36 portables

for four to six years, are going to fill up an area which

accommodated the junior varsity baseball and softball fields, along

with additional turf in and around the varsity baseball and softball

fields. From the backside of the pool to the 15th Street parking lot

it’s going to be Portable Flats.

The grading was in progress on Friday, some base asphalt and a

fire road will follow, then they’ll install the 55 portables to

accommodate most of the anticipated enrollment of 2,400 when school

resumes in September.

They’ll empty out the main building [Robins Hall], with the

exception of the administrative area, for the long run. Dodge Hall

and Beek Hall will be the first to be torn down and redone. Robins

Hall will follow, in about two years.

It’s a complicated issue and hopefully some of the clouds will be

lifted Monday night at Heritage Hall when Committee Chairman Bill

Dunlap will host a public meeting at 6:30 p.m.

For instance, the reinforcement of the tower and modernization of

Loats Hall [the auditorium] are separate issues and must be funded

from other sources. But as I understand it, the tower is not coming

down.

The plan is to eventually replace all of the classrooms and

library in the main building, as well as the administrative area, to

reinforce the tower and modernize the auditorium. The original

concept to refurbish evolved into replacement simply because it would

cost more to refurbish than to replace.

Work on the main building, as well as the tower and auditorium,

won’t begin until the money has been raised. But they have to get the

students out before the money will come for the rest of the project.

I know this. Because the State’s involved, apparently, I’m nervous

about the whole thing.

And for the next two or three freshman classes, I guess it’ll be

Portable Prep for the duration.

*

As for the junior varsity seasons in baseball and softball, and

soccer, as well, in terms of practice, suffice to say the Sailors’

athletic department is already scrambling.

The City of Newport Beach has already shown its willingness to

help when and where it can, which is a bonus.

Chances are baseball, softball and soccer will be running about in

several directions for some time, not only in direction and distance

factors, but in time slots.

The Sailors are hopeful that Ensign Intermediate (baseball) and

Bob Henry Park (softball) will be in the mix.

*

Remember all the talk about Ralph K. Reed Gymnasium being

refitted, refurbished or redone in order to avoid the feeling when

you’re within those walls that you’re touring Turkey?

Don’t hold your breath.

In the big picture, the Newport-Mesa District has about six major

projects that need to be addressed, and if they manage even the first

four it will be a miracle. The Sailors’ gym has become No. 5 on the

priority list.

The question, of course, is who gets the bill when the ceiling

falls in the middle of the fast break?

Hey, see you next Sunday!

* ROGER CARLSON is the former sports editor for the Daily Pilot.

His column appears on Sundays. He can be reached by e-mail at

[email protected].