A new look

When students returned from winter break Wednesday, they arrived to find a commons area with two banks of four big-screen TVs, booth seating and various displays highlighting their school’s past and present.

“The reaction on their faces was fun to watch,” said Jay School Corporation superintendent Jeremy Gulley. “The word ‘wow’ was used many times.”

Jay County Junior-Senior High School celebrated its commons renovation project with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday morning.

“I just think that overall it looks really nice,” said student council co-president Nick Lyons, who cut the ribbon during Wednesday’s event. “It was a big shock to come in this morning and see it.”

“It’s a really nice, refreshing change to give our school a little bit of an update,” agreed co-president Brenna Haines. “Now people will walk into our school and be impressed with what it looks like …”

The project, which was substantially completed during the two weeks students were away from school for winter break, includes a variety of new seating including a row of booths running down the center of the space. There are also bar-height tables and other seating in various shapes and sizes. (All of the seating is movable to accommodate events that occur in the commons.) Serving and trash units were also incorporated into the new look.

Each of the walls of the commons features new displays.

The wall that once sported the Patriot mural now features Portland’s arch bridge, symbolically positioned between displays of photos of current students and those from decades past. Adjacent to the hallway that leads to the teacher’s lounge is a feature honoring the eight high schools — Portland, Dunkirk, Redkey, Pennville, Bryant, Madison, Gray and Poling — that served the county prior to the consolidation into Jay County High School in 1975.

“We also wanted kids to see themselves in this space,” Gulley said. “So as you enter the gym you’ll see a collage of photographs of our students playing all the major sports that go on inside our gym. … And that background is a graduating class.”

    Collages on the commons wall the leads to the gym feature current and recent athletes, including Sophie Saxman, Dusty Pearson and Mallory Winner pictured above. (The Commercial Review/Ray Cooney)
 

The renovation included a new speaker system to better serve the space during events. There’s new decorative drop lighting and various Jay County logos on the walls and tables. And there are the big-screen TVs that will be utilized for a variety of purposes, including livesteaming events that are occurring in the gym next door.

Student council historian Chloe Ruiz and Haines both said it was those giant screens that first caught their eye when they walked into the renovated commons for the first time Wednesday morning. Ruiz also mentioned the new area designated for concessions during athletic events. Lyons noticed all of the various new displays on the walls.

“I think that’s super cool,” he said. “It helps make us unique compared to other places.”

Jay School Board started evaluating options for the commons in late 2022. The bidding process began in May, with the board awarding the project to C&T Design and Equipment of Fort Wayne in August.

The $738,015.12 project was funded via the school corporation’s food service fund, which is supported by federal dollars and had built up a balance of about $1.2 million. Federal rules require that such funds be reinvested into the school corporation’s food service area.

Gulley thanked all those involved in the project, including the school board, school staff, food service provider Chartwells and Jay County Historical Society for its help with the displays.

“We wanted to bring a space that was a little more special and looked like a nice place to go eat with a family, or what it might look like at a dining court … or in a college or university setting,” said Gulley.

“Kids win today,” he added. “This is really about them and for them.”

The early reviews Wednesday morning were positive.

“I think it looks a lot more functional as a lunch room,” said Lyons, admitting that he spent much of the morning scoping out where he might like to sit during lunch. “I’m excited.”

“I’ve honestly never seen a school that has a lunch room like this,” added Ruiz.

    Jay County Junior-Senior High School student council members cut the ribbon celebrating renovations to the school’s commons area during a ceremony Wednesday morning. The $738,000 renovation project includes new wall decor, including featuring Jay County and Jay Schools history and a collage of sports photos near the entrance to the gym. (The Commercial Review/Ray Cooney)