31 Years.
This is how long Normal Community West High School has been open.
Out of the thirty-one years Angie Codron the current Principal at Normal West has been working at the school for twenty.
Even before she was the principal, Codron found ways to get involved with the upkeep of the school. One way she has done this is as a member of the Wall of Fame Committee, a committee dedicated to honoring distinguished West alumni and staff members.
The committee honors members in a variety of ways, including a dinner during Homecoming week; however, another key way they honor the past is through the collection of donations as well as the renaming of certain aspects of the school.
As a member of the Wall of Fame committee, “when these conversations come up about naming something, my role right now is to make sure that we follow the district process,” Codron explained.
Currently, the committee, with Codron at the helm, is looking to rename, and also re-image, the current atrium area.
“’Crabtree Commons’ would be [more] appropriate rather than [just] ‘the atrium’” Codron stated.
The new name and design is to commemorate the first principal of Normal West, Dr. Jerry Crabtree, who led the building from 1995-2004.
Codron, “has breakfast with Dr. Crabtree and the two other [former] principals at least once a quarter to stay connected to what’s foundational to Normal West,” Codron continued.
Crabtree Commons will be made at Normal West to remember, “the original culture and the foundations of the school [that Dr. Crabtree was pivotal in creating],” noted Codron.
Currently in the atrium at Normal West, there are four pillars.
These four pillars will have, “Our four mission statement parts,” Codron added.
These four mission statements will be framed in plexi glass.
“We’re designing ways that those words that he shared that our foundational can be showcased through archive pictures,” Codron explained.
Crabtree Commons will, “provide spaces for students to gather and for blended students to meet…[and] when we have community events,” Codron noted.
The space will provide, “a gathering table that’s standing height, and there would be garbage cans,” Codron remarked.
In addition, the space has potential to take away some of the current building’s biggest flaws. For instance, one thing that Codrom mentioned is that the space has the potential to even have a printer station added to relieve the printer station from the IMC.
The area would also hopefully include charging stations and electrical outlets for students and staff to use when needed.
Overall, Codron notes that the Crabtree Commons should look as if, “it’s the 21st century.”
In addition to the updates to the Crabtree Commons, Normal West also saw the old gazebo torn down earlier this year.
“They’re going to be adding some new bleachers to that particular area,” Codron stated of this demolition.
In addition, there are beginning plans to create a pavilion in the next couple years that will have a roof and outdoor seating for students and staff to enjoy.
Overall, Codron is looking forward to the new improvements coming to Normal West.
“I’m really excited…because I think the look of it is modernized,” Codron added.
