Bowling Green Independent Schools held a groundbreaking on a new Bowling Green High School on Monday, May 21, 2018. The ceremony signaled the beginning of a complete rebuild of the district’s only high school, which will occur over several years and two phases of construction. Alumni and friends are invited to join with Board of Education members, BGHS and district administration, faculty and student representatives to celebrate the future home of the Purples.
The priorities of the overall construction project include:
• Removing circular walls,
• Adding natural light to all classrooms,
• Increasing energy efficiency,
• Displaying and honoring the school’s traditions and history,
• Improving traffic flow around the school,
• and providing a cutting-edge learning environment for future generations.
Phase one is expected to be completed by early 2020 and will add approximately 90,000 gross square feet to the school. The two-story structure will be built from the existing school, around the pool area toward Rockingham Lane. The first phase will add 80% of total classroom space for the project including the LEAD Academy, the Medical Arts Academy, English, math, social studies, science, special education departments, as well as band, choir, and orchestra classrooms.
HISTORY
Bowling Green High School was founded in 1908, the second public high school in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, following Louisville Male. Both public schools utilized the colors of Royal Purple and Old Gold as well as the block letter H, representing “high school.” The Purple Spirit mascot was created by Mary Alice Oliver, Class of 1950, and fellow cheerleaders. Over 20,000 men and women have graduated from Bowling Green High School since 1912.
The current Bowling Green High School building was constructed in 1970, with what was at the time, a new education format, an open-area concept with circular walls and open spaces for classes to meet. The school also housed a commons/cafeteria, indoor swimming pool, a vocational education pod, library, art and music rooms in addition to the areas for the core curriculum classes. By 1987, the school underwent a complete remodel to create walls and a more traditional classroom environment, and eliminating the open-area concept.
In April, 1998, after a massive hail storm hit the Warren County area, Bowling Green High School underwent heavy restoration. For the remainder of the 1997-98 school year, the school was unusable which required all junior high and high school students to share the junior high school building. During the morning the junior high students attended and during the afternoon the high school students went to class.