A History of Forest Hill School - Continued

In 1981 Mr. Walker retired, and Dr. John McCarty took over as principal. Dr. McCarty was a member of the district's instructional council and governance liaison committee, and was instrumental in promoting shared governance and other educational innovations at Forest Hill. As a part of the national accountability education, the Common Body of Knowledge (CBOK) movement was implemented locally and was tied to an instructional management system that included standardized testing and computerized collection of test data. While Dr. McCarty was principal, two bond issues that would have alleviated the deplorable conditions of the physical plant at Forest Hill failed. Just as the community was about to give up hope of ever having a new building, the state legislature allowed school districts a one-time opportunity to raise millage for building purposes. As the money became available, plans for a new school at Forest Hill became imminent. The architectural firm hired to design the new school was Cook, Douglass and Farr with Mr. Dave Lemmons as the chief architect. Dunn Construction Company was chosen as general contractor for the job. In 1984, Dr. McCarty was appointed assistant superintendent for high schools, and Dr. Ennis Proctor became principal of Forest Hill. Even though Forest Hill was in a constant state of flux because of sweeping educational reforms statewide and tremendous changes involved in preparing for on-site construction of a new -building, Dr. Proctor made instruction a priority in his administration. Under his strong leadership and with the support of Assistant Principals John Ladner and Will Revies, the curriculum has been upgraded to challenge the best students, while meeting the needs of all of the students.

Forest Hill was first in the state among the large schools on the Functional Literacy Exam in 1988 and was second in 1989. Careful planning had to be done to insure that instruction was not disrupted during the construction of the new building. The ground breaking was held in 1987, and the central building was razed the following summer. Students returned in the fall to find twenty-one portable classrooms installed on the driving range. Forest Hill was dubbed "Portable High" by a rival school, a name that stuck until moving day in 1989. On April 3, 1989, classes were held for the first time in the ultra-modern eleven-million-dollar complex. The 200,000 square foot building houses an auditorium with state-of -the art sound and lighting equipment. A special computer room offers pupils the chance to develop skills in this continually escalating field. All classrooms, which are 800 square feet offer pupils and teachers a pleasant atmosphere easily conducive to learning. One of the strengths of Forest Hill has been its ability adapt to change while holding on to traditions that make it special as it has since the turn of the century when a one-room school graced the "hill."

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