When taking a close look around room A300, eventually one would notice a hidden door, leading to a green plant that overflows from its pot. Beside that plant dangles a huge stuffed animal snake, light brown and darkly spotted. Not known to many students, this door leads to a greenhouse that was used until around five years ago.

This greenhouse was part of the original blueprint of the new building and the school planned it to be fully functional. However, according to science teacher Tom Maxam, it wasn’t designed properly; there are upper vents but no lower vents so the hot air cannot escape, leaving the greenhouse useless.

“When the sun shines, the temperature gets as high as 130 degrees. Well, that kills plants. It was so hot that it even killed the cactus,” Maxam said.

Maxam said his botany classes tried to use the greenhouse for a couple of years, even putting a misting fan in to cool it down, but eventually gave up on it.

“It’s just a plant killer,” Maxam said.

Although not used for its intended purpose, the greenhouse now serves as an aesthetically pleasing area, according to math teacher Paige Wehr.  Wehr said the greenhouse helps brighten her room, contrasting it with many of the windowless classrooms around the school.

Wehr said, “When I was in my last classroom, it had no windows, so now having this greenhouse now allows sunlight to come in and the room looks lively.”