Spokane, and includes a combined football/track field, baseball and softball fields, and six tennis courts. It is rumored that the school is haunted due to the fact that it was built on an ancient Indian burial ground. A 17.5 million modernization of the commons area and cafeteria was completed in December 2017. Institute of Science and Technology (IST) Though the program has been building up over many years, for the 2014–2015 school year, North Central formally opened the Institute of Science and Technology (IST). IST was founded by Randy James, the current director of the institute. James has been teaching at North Central for over 30 years. The institute is housed in a three-story building that is attached to the main high school. There are six biology labs and a third floor lab dedicated to the Institute providing high school students access college-level supplies and machines. Unlike any other high school facility in the city, the new North Central High School Institute of Science and Technology rivals many college lab facilities, and was driven by the District's growing emphasis on studies in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). The three-story, 40,000 square foot building contains six biology labs in addition to a third-floor lab for the institute, which offers high school students advanced courses in biomedical technology, biological solutions and genomic research. The design is purposefully reminiscent of university facilities and takes advantage of territorial views and substantial day-lighting in the labs. Careful consideration was given to the relationship between this facility and the existing school through the use of masonry, the entry treatment and other details. Middle School Expansion Model Building on the original IST program for high school students, North Central opened an expansion of the institute to seventh and eight graders. According to the Spokane Public Schools the middle school program is lottery determined. The guide notes, "Students will remain within the IST and within their own student groups for all of their classes and will be able to choose from a menu of electives including computer applications, drama and music in 7th grade, and engineering, world languages, drama, and music in 8th grade. At the end of their two-year middle experience at NCHS, students can remain at NCHS, attend a neighborhood high school, or opt into other option programs in the same way any other student in our district can. But they will do so with