Mary Pat Key is proud to teach at the same high school her grandmother attended.

"This place has such good vibrations for me," says Mrs. Key, an English teacher at Hughes Center.

The school, at McMillan Street and Clifton Avenue in University Heights, was built in 1910 and resembles a castle, with massive stone walls, concrete slab floors and what looks like an impressive but short tower.

But as old as the school building is, it's not the city's oldest. Other Cincinnati schools are older, dating back to 1876.

Still, Hughes is old enough that it's been expanded at least three times, most recently in 1975.

Old meets new

The resulting patchwork doesn't comply with today's standards for handicap accessibility. To get from the first floor in one part of the building to the first floor in another part, you must climb three floors, cross over and walk downstairs.

Ventilation is inadequate. No security cameras or motion sensors cover the many exits. The fire alarm system isn't backed up by sprinklers except in the 1975 addition.

Hallways are dim, doors need paint, lockers are well-worn. Classrooms need file cabinets and other essential furniture.

But changes are occurring behind these old stone walls.

Hughes' 1,500 or so students have been split into six new, specialized high schools:

• Academy of Mathematics and Science.

• Communications Professions.

• Health Professions.

• Teaching and Technology.

• Paideia High School.

• Zoo Academy.

Mrs. Key's juniors attend the Teaching and Technology school. They use new laptops and computers in class. They also can set their sights on college.

Teachers like Mrs. Key help students - most of whom are poor - winnow through financial aid packages and college admissions forms. The students, Mrs. Key says, focus on their futures as much as their studies.

It's still too soon to know if the smaller, more specialized schools will reverse the old Hughes high school's failures: a student graduation rate of 57.6 percent, a nearly 50 percent failure rate on the 12th-grade math and science proficiency tests.

But it would help if Hughes' physical surroundings more closely reflected its new focus. If voters approve Issue 2 on Tuesday, that might happen.

Voters' reforms

Cincinnati Public Schools wants to borrow $480 million to match with state money to renovate 31 schools and open 35 new schools over the next 10 years. Some schools will close or merge with others, but the goal is to operate 66 successful grade schools and high schools.

Hughes, a historically significant building, would get a $37.6 million facelift.

Mrs. Key's juniors on Monday said they welcome the changes that have already begun, and even though they'll graduate before their school gets renovated, they agree the place would benefit from the modern overhaul.

But some of the students said they weren't confident that voters would approve the 4.89-mill bond issue. To paraphrase them, why would voters elect to tax themselves, even for education's sake? Voters have vetoed previous levies.

Mrs. Key is more optimistic. So am I.

I believe voters this time are willing to finance improvements in bricks and mortar, if they see improvements in academic prospects. If more students have a chance at college or productive careers. If schools like Hughes start to turn themselves around.

But what comes first?

Parents and voters must support change in schools in order for it to happen.

E-mail damos@enquirer.com or phone 768-8395.