Is the school pretty enough?

   Due to the unglamorous appearance of Saratoga High, students aren’t just talking about the workload when they joke that class is like a prison. In recent years, Saratoga High has moved toward various renovations that have improved the school. But other changes could also improve students’ experience.
   The administration should ask all students or faculty for suggestions or make a poll before making future changes to the school. Ultimately, the students walk around the campus the most and probably have a good idea of what needs help.
   The interior of the classrooms are actually pretty nice. The sizes of the classrooms are decent and the windows give nice views of the next wing’s walls and doors as well as let in some natural light.    Especially in the science buildings, the rooms are roomy and the tables are placed for maximum usage.
   The improvements to the school started in 1998 when it was given money for repairs and remodeling. Since no drastic repairs had taken place since the school’s opening in 1959, new modifications were long overdue. Class sizes had begun to increase and the administration began its long task of fixing up the school.
   Since 1998, a number of new buildings and other utilities have been added, including the science wing, the McAfee Center and the track and football field. The swimming pool, too, has been redone and enlarged, and the school is still moving fast with its repairs.
   The school has not only added facilities, but it has also fixed up the older ones. Each building has been repainted and the heating and cooling systems have been added and repaired. Benches and other landscaping projects have added to the campus, and overall, the school is new looking. But not all of the changes have been for the better.
   The black fence that was put in the parking lot contributes to the monotonous black, grey and brown theme that seems to have taken over the school. While it serves the purpose of preventing students from crossing through the parking lot without the crosswalk, the fence cannot stop students from climbing over it to avoid a longer detour.
   Another shortcoming is the appearance of the lockers: The grey simply does not work against a cream-colored wall. The rest of the school is mostly light, and the darkness of the lockers contrasts with it so badly that the school looks like a bad black and white movie.
   Adding to the bad color schemes are the bright red numbers that are featured at every wing. While the rest of the school is toned down, the wing numbers are extremely overdone, and add a new meaning to the joke, “What’s black and white and red all over?”
   Although the school isn’t flush with money right now, it could fundraise to further beautify the school. When people are looking to move, they usually look at schools first, and a nicer looking school would make a better impression. Simple things, like a nicer color of paint, could go a long way. The school could also try to involve student involvement by having murals put up around the school.
   Because the school is integrated with the outside, rain or harsher weather conditions in the winter are often inconvenient. If the school could add a few overhangs around the school—especially at the science wing where students are constantly being rained on—students would be dry when running to classes. A bit more weather protection could help prevent the exceptionally big puddle featured in the main hallway.
   Another constant problem is the lack of clean bathrooms. The only time it is “clean” is in the morning when no one else has used it. By lunch time, each stall has its own unique way of making people leave without using the toilet. The school could have custodians go in at lunch and at the end of the day, so that the bathroom stays slightly cleaner and people can use it instead of waiting until getting home.
   The school has done well fixing up our old-fashioned buildings and campus, but more work need to be done.