GREENSBORO, N.C. (WGHP) — Concerned parents and alumni of Page High School have launched an ambitious fundraiser to revamp the school, addressing long-standing issues from infrastructure problems to the safety and quality of student spaces.
What Happened
After facing a series of challenges last year, including HVAC outages, a leaking library roof, and other maintenance issues, parents realized that the bond money from the county would not be enough to cover the necessary repairs. In response, they set a goal to raise $1 million through a fundraiser called Voyage to 1 Million Dollars.
Katie Poole, an alumna and parent of a PHS student, co-organized the fundraiser with a clear mission in mind: to improve both the appearance and the safety of the school. “We feel confident that we can do it. Private and charter schools do it every year. Why can’t public schools?” Poole said.
The Fundraiser’s Purpose
The $1 million goal will help improve several areas of the school, including the student media center, outdoor dining spaces, hallways, campus lighting, and band room storage. Poole shared that $550,000 will be allocated to revamping the student media center, which will be transformed into multi-purpose spaces for students to use during both instructional hours and lunch breaks.
Dr. Erik Naglee, who helped design the vision for the media center, stated, “It would be used during our instructional days for our classes to take part in, and it would also be used during lunch time for our students to gather.”
Improving School Conditions
One of the key improvements will be the addition of an outdoor dining space, which will provide relief for the over-capacity cafeteria. “Our current cafeteria is over capacity for every lunch period, so it will be an overflow from that,” Poole explained. The outdoor space will be enclosed by the school’s walls for added student safety.
Support from the School Community
The initiative has garnered strong support from students and faculty alike. PHS junior Michael Kane emphasized the importance of good learning conditions, saying, “Education is the biggest thing here, and students can’t learn without good conditions to learn in, so I think it’ll be good.”
What’s Next
Parents and school leaders are inviting community members to visit the school and see the proposed improvements for themselves, emphasizing that their support will make a lasting impact on the school’s future.
The Voyage to 1 Million Dollars fundraiser has become a beacon of community support and a powerful example of how dedicated parents and alumni can drive positive change within public schools.
