ST. JOHN | Lake Central High School teachers supporting a referendum on a proposed $95 million renovation of the school painted a picture at a recent public hearing of not only an overcrowded, outdated building but also a facility that has sometimes been a source of humiliation.

"This district has never built an outdoor bathroom facility," said Mark Peterson, the school's athletic director for 14 years.

"It's been difficult over the years -- to tell a 70-year-old person they have to use a portable toilet or a parent to buy bottled water in order to wash their child's hands. I can't tell you how crucial this referendum is. It's tremendously important."

Rudy Skorupa, a coach and teacher for 36 years, agreed saying the lack of outside restrooms also is an inconvenience for athletes. In addition, the track is used by countless students and is inadequate for team competitions.

"There is virtually no seating out there so people who pay $5 to watch have to stand for almost three hours or bring their own seats. For some events, they have to line up next to the garbage Dumpster. It's not a pretty sight and doesn't smell very good.

"In the press box, we have very little protection from the weather and we've had to use headlights to light the finish line at night to finish an event."

Two of the three middle schools in Lake Central School Corp. have no football or track facilities so students come to the high school to practice and play. An artificial surface will allow use at any time, Peterson added.

Band director Chris Harmon said the auditorium is an embarrassment and building a second Tri-Town area school, which has been suggested by some residents, would tear the existing band program apart. Assistant David Nelson estimated each would have an insufficient 35 playing members.

The current music equipment inventory alone is worth $700,000 and would take more than $1 million to match, he added. "If we want equal programs, we have to think about this," he said.

Science teacher Roberta Harnish described teaching conditions as pathetic. Less than half of the classrooms science teachers use have fully equipped laboratory space. There are six chemistry teachers sharing three classroom areas. As a result, many lab activities are being done out of curriculum context which opens the possibility of inadequate understanding of concepts, she said.

A dozen biology teachers meet in the smallest rooms in the building, students are cramped and choices of labs are limited by room design. Experiments can't be run overnight because classrooms are needed every morning for instruction.

"I can't do demonstrations because I don't dare expose students to obnoxious gases," Harnish said. "That's not fair to them and that's not the education I want to give. In a tight recession, the board is doing the perfect thing by showing fiscal responsibility. It's not just about me and what the kids need, it's about what the community needs."

Language teacher Rachel Thomas teaches out of a 4-foot cart. "There's no way I can carry all my teacher materials. I brought in a backpack full of stuff last week and carried seven bags with me all day through the hallways of this school."

The public hearing is a legal step a school board must take before beginning a construction project. It informs the public of a district's intent to sell a bond and incur debt.