Saving Istrouma History from Destruction

Istrouma High School, which closed two years ago, is about to undergo a $22 million renovation program, in order to prepare it re-open in August 2017 on the 100th anniversary of the famous North Baton Rouge school.

Supt. Warren Drake appointed the Istrouma Advisory Committee to assist him with the transition. Two weeks ago, the committee had the opportunity to spend four hours going through storage areas of the school to locate things that need to be preserved before construction begins on the new facility. Committee chairman Dr. Jackie Mims appointed Woody Jenkins to collect the photos, scrapbooks, and other mementos.  Jenkins is cleaning them and making an inventory, so that they can eventually be placed in the new Alumni Center, which will be next to the school library. Last week, Jenkins did a three-hour  living history interview with Dr. Clyde Lindsey, 92, on the materials. Dr. Lindsey is former assistant principal at Istrouma.