HUNTSVILLE, AL (WAFF) -
The new Lee High School that merged with New Century Tech High is gearing up for the first day of school on August 20.
Lee High Principal Kevin Wieseman and New Century Tech Principal Stewart Thorson will operate the school together under one roof.
About 1,100 students have enrolled at the new school this year, according to both principals. Roughly 800 students will attend Lee High, while 340 will attend New Century Tech.
Employees are now busy installing Wi-Fi inside classrooms and training staff for the district-wide digital transition.
Every student in Huntsville City Schools will be equipped with a laptop or iPad. E-books will eventually replace all textbooks.
Both Wieseman and Thorson said they are excited about the digital transition but they also look forward to merging two, top-notch curriculums.
"Lee High School has a fantastic history unparalleled in the fine arts, and then the magnet program. And then New Century's academics are top in the state, in the nation, in technology. So putting them together make a really fantastic one-stop shop for really any student," Thorson said.
Wieseman agreed that fusing both campuses together will bring value to its students.
"What we're going to see here with the new facility is our children will be able to enhance their degree - that they're going to be competitive in whatever field they try to go into, whether it's career or college," he said.
The front exterior of the school features two separate signs for both schools. New Century Tech's section is on the left while Lee High's section is on the right.
Wieseman said the new facility features a 260,000 sq. ft. building that is home to 80 classrooms each equipped with wireless Internet and an interactive whiteboard.
"It's all wired to whatever needs may be of a classroom, tech-wise," Wieseman said.
The new school also pays homage to the Lee High's reputation for the arts and magnet programs.
The school's Lyric Theater seats about 800 people and features state-of-the-art lighting and acoustic systems.
Meanwhile, crews continued to remove debris from the now-demolished old Lee High School, located on Forrest Circle.
The new school is not far from the old building but has a new address: 2500 Meridian Street.
New Century Tech's previous home was in Columbia High School near Research Park.
When it became too crowded, New Century merged with the new Lee High.
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The new Lee High School that merged with New Century Tech High is gearing up for the first day of school on August 20.
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