LOUISVILLE, Ky.-- Crumbling schools in Jefferson County are causing the Jefferson County Public Schools District (JCPS) to spend millions of dollars to renovate an entire level of one school, and build four new schools. At The Academy at Shawnee, the third floor has been condemned for decades. The principal and superintendent call the planned renovations a symbol.

• JCPS' new facilities plan will cost $120 million to build new schools and renovate the third floor of The Academy at Shawnee. 
• $40 million of that will be spent at Shawnee. 
• The superintendent and Shawnee's principal call renovations on the condemned third floor a symbol. 

The climb from the second story to the third at The Academy at Shawnee transitions from modern school hall, to an eerily vacant floor. The historic school has been a "community staple" for nearly 100 years; its third floor has been condemned and shut-off to students and staff for at least 25 years. Now, that's set to change as JCPS plans renovations to the abandoned top tier. 

The windows are shattered. Walls are crumbling. There are weather leaks onto the floor and base boards, and graffiti marking old lockers and hallways and blackboards. But Principal Kymberly Rice has a vision for this vacant space.

"It's kind of a staple, kind of the long-standing flagship of this community- the structure. The community deserves to see it in its full potential," says Rice,"it's kind of awful to know that you have a building, but you can't use part of it because it's condemned."

She hopes the huge classrooms and wide hallways can be space for students soon. The vintage woodwork and paneling has Rice envisioning a classic look, much different from the debris-scattered grounds now. 

"We really want better academic spaces for our kids," says Superintendent Dr. Marty Pollio. 

This third floor at Shawnee is only part of Pollio's $120 million facilities plan. 

The district will build four new schools and repair Shawnee. Construction will mean several elementary schools combine. Roosevelt-Perry and Wheatley will combine in a new building, Watson Lane and Wilkerson will do the same, and so will Gilmore and Indian Trail. A new middle school will also be built in east Louisville. Some parents have voiced concerns over consolidation. Pollio says it's the most cost-effective way to handle growth and modernize buildings as well as ensure student safety.

He calls the condemned floor at Shawnee a symbol for a lack of investment into these students' education. 

"I taught there in 1997," Pollio explains, "and it had been closed down for a significant period of time at that point. I think symbolically for students says a lot about how much we're concerned about their learning and just something we've decided to finally address."

Rice wants the renovations to be another symbol.

"Re-opening the building will show that the district is truly invested in Shawnee, they're invested in the neighborhood and they're invested in our kids' education," she says.