Those driving on College Avenue Monday probably heard and saw the demolition work that began on parts of the school at 303 Kingsley St.

Stan Pieper, Unit 5 director of buildings and grounds, said work on the northern part of the 1954 addition began about 7 a.m. By mid-morning, a large machine from Stark Excavating was hammering and pulling at steel beams and sorting debris into separate piles for recycling.

The original building, built in 1927, also will be demolished.

The football field behind the school provided a view of the work Monday morning. Pieper said the process could take four to six weeks.

"It's going to take some time," he said. "It's a sturdy little building."

The portion of the school that will not be demolished, as well as a newer addition, will open for classes next month as Kingsley Junior High School, while a new NCHS will open in north Normal.

Shawn Sethi, a 2003 NCHS graduate, was at the demolition site Monday morning with video camera in hand. He planned to add footage of the demolition to a tribute film to be shown at the Normal Theater at 7 tonight.

The showing, which is free to the public, is expected to last about 30 minutes, he said. It includes interviews and footage of the old building. The first 75 to arrive at the theater will receive T-shirts.

After attending the school for four years, Sethi was among alumni who will miss the building.

"It's a pretty sad thing," he said. "Some people really care about this part of the building."

The demolition site will become a parking lot and drop-off lane for the junior high school, said Pieper, who expects some people might come out to watch the demolition of the 1927 portion of the school.

Pieper said various items were salvaged before work began, including electrical breakers, hardware, doors, light lenses, fire alarm equipment, emergency lights and speakers.

The cornerstone was previously removed and opened.

A boiler door, wood banister and handrail and a Truman Keys plaque also were saved. Pieper said the public may not have access to brick piles because of liability concerns.

He said a truck of old furniture will be taken to Wapella for a consignment auction.

"I think it's something everybody views with mixed emotions," said Meghan Leiseberg, Unit 5 community relations specialist. Leiseberg attended NCHS for one year before graduating from Normal Community West High School in 1997.

"We have an exciting fall ahead of us in the district," she said.

Contact Rebecca Loda at rloda@pantagraph.com