Oak Park High gets a good spring leaning

With a little bit of paint and a lot of elbow grease, several Oak Park parents have given the community's 25-year-old high school a fresh new look.

Thanks to a complete makeover by the Oak Park High School Beautification Committee, the campus is looking good enough to make a red carpet appearance.

Three committee members- Diana Traficante, Kevin Michel and Larry Greene-were recognized last week by the Oak Park Unified School District Board of Education for giving the campus a new sparkle.

"The way our facilities look is very important," said Tony Knight, the district's superintendent. "The appearance of a campus has a definite effect on how well students will behave."

The new look began with the removal of staples and nails from the school's walls and bulletin boards. This was followed by the application of a fresh coat of paint to display boards and classroom doors. The process was topped off with the addition of new landscaping and a power scrubbing of all outdoor tables.

"We're very grateful and excited about how the school looks," Knight said.

The committee also plans to add some new features to the school. An area outside the school's multimedia room, known as G-9, will be transformed into a small park and picnic area, offering students a pastoral retreat during lunch breaks.

The repairs were made possible by a $5,000 grant that Traficante acquired from Lowe's.

"The campus looks wonderful because of the dedication of these parents," said Lynn McCormack, the principal of the high school. "We're truly thankful for the hundreds of hours they dedicated."

In addition to sacrificing their weekends, committee members also put their bodies in harm's way. Traficante sprained her ankle while repainting the school's curbs.

Greene spotted a leak in the boys' restroom that could have cost the school thousands in damages.

"These guys are my heroes, they made sure we did everything perfectly," Traficante said.

The trio were awarded eagle statuettes from the Parent Faculty Club and received letters of recognition and orchids from the Board of Education.