The only thing keeping the Hammond Central High School ribbon-cutting from absolute perfection, at least to School Board of Trustee Carlotta Blake-King’s mind, was not having Walter J. Watkins, the late superintendent, on the dais with the other dignitaries.

There was still so much to love during the school’s official debut to teachers, students and the public Thursday afternoon. From a media center to two gyms, an eight-lane swimming pool and “chill room,” the new 340,000-square-foot high school constructed in the shadow of the partially demolished Hammond High stands as monument for students to “know our past as we write our future,” Superintendent Scott Miller said to teachers, students and residents who wanted to take in the new facilities.

It was Watkins’ dream, however, to see the city get a new high school, and in 2017, he, along with the School Board of Trustees at the time, set out to make it happen by getting people to sign petitions for the city to have a referendum, Blake-King said. With one week before the deadline, a technicality

that tossed out 300 signatures nearly tanked the effort, but the team rallied and succeeded.

Now, when some 1,850 students from George Rogers Clark, Donald Gavit and Hammond high schools they’ll be walking in to a state-of-the art building with so much more in the way of programming then they could’ve ever imagined.

“Our kids need this,” Blake-King said. “What other city here has offered such a facility?”

Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr., who said he’s watched the construction of the first high school built in his 18 years as mayor from his City Hall office across Calumet Avenue, said the effort was born from “bravery and faith”: bravery in that the school boards had to make some difficult decisions, first with asking for the referendum, then with having to close any of the high schools.

“I’m sure the board members had heartburn over the decision. Clark was a wonderful high school with the Pioneers; Gavit had great tradition too,” McDermott said. “But the logistics of six schools — six nurses, six girls basketball coaches, six AP English teachers — we couldn’t offer programming we can now.

“You don’t see referendums in urban cities, but the voters were there for us.”

He then reminded the students that even though they might have gone to Clark, Gavit or Hammond before — the board chose Morton High School, on the city’s east side, as the second high school — they’re Hammond Central Wolves now.

“Get rid of the boundaries. We’re pulling for you,” he said.

The school, which boasts more than 60 classrooms, has a 7,500 square-foot cafeteria painted with the school colors from Clark, Hammond High and Gavit. Athletic facilities are on the north and south corners of the building including main and auxiliary gymnasiums, wrestling and weight rooms and an eight-lane swimming pool.

The swimming pool alone is worth it for Sue Mathewson, the girls swim coach.

“Back in the day when the (Hammond High) pool went on the fritz, I was told, ‘We just don’t have the money,’ so we would get on the white bus and head to the other pools and we were at the other schools’ mercy,” Mathewson said. “Now, we hope to be able to offer swim lessons. It’ll be a challenge to spark interest in swimming, but I think there’s power in numbers.”

Additionally, there will be two counselors for each grade at both Hammond Central and Morton, Miller said, as well as a student and staff health clinic.

Not all who attended the ribbon-cutting were thrilled with every choice. Paul Walker, who wore his Hammond High Wildcats shirt as he took pictures, said he didn’t think the new school needed to change mascots.

“I would’ve preferred they left the purple and white,” he said.

But mostly, people are ready to tackle the new year.

“It’s nice to have something shiny and new for the kids, because they deserve it,” English teacher Meg Brown said. “We’re excited to have a building they can proudly represent.”

Michelle L. Quinn is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.