School district gets $50K for West Middle School improvements

West Middle School (District 205 Photo)

By Jim Hagerty
Staff Writer

Rockford Public School District 205 was awarded a $50,000 grant to improve West Middle School’s auditorium.

The grant will come from Lowe’s Charitable and Education Foundation. Funds will be used to purchase paint, a new stage curtain and make audio and visual improvements.

The Lowes Charitable and Education Foundation donates to charities and schools in communities where its home improvement stores are located.

The improvements to the 1,000-seat auditorium are the finishing touches on the school’s renovation project started last year by Rockford Sharefest. The project is slated to be completed this summer.

West opened in 1940 as a high school. It was repurposed as a middle school in the fall of 1989.

The renovations are the first in the building’s 70-year history.