Finishing touches are being put on the newly remodeled Sweet Home Junior High building, which includes a renovated gym that is being called the Douglas Fir Dome, Supt. Tom Yahraes and Facilities Director Josh Darwood told School Board members at their Feb. 8 meeting.
“The whole project was about making a nice inviting space for students, and it is exciting to see students be able to use it. I’m excited for years and decades to come to see students benefiting from the investment that we are currently making,” said District Business Manager Kevin Strong.
“It’s amazing the work that’s been done. It’s through Sweet Home’s can-do spirit and work-hard mentality that we were able to accomplish this.
“Strong looked for every nickel and dime at the state and federal level for funds and grants,” Yahraes told the board.
Yahraes mentioned that completing the project came with challenges, including August rains and the COVID pandemic.
The unseasonal downpour in late August left a “pond” on the roof of the building, he said.
“It’s finding opportunity in challenges. That’s what Sweet Home’s about.” Yahraes also noted that tax rates for Sweet Home residents were not raised in order to complete the project.
In other action Monday, Strong reported that, seven months into the district’s fiscal year, year-to-date spending has declined by nearly $300,000 from the same time period last year.
The four main reasons for the decrease in spending are that the district has not yet paid coaching stipends for this year, has spent less on substitutes, has delayed filling some classified job openings, and has spent less on bus fuel, he said.
Board members also:
– Accepted the resignation of James Williams, special education teacher at Foster Elementary effective Feb. 5.
– Approved a leave of absence for Kristy McPeak, counselor at Foster Elementary, effective Feb. 1.
– Approved the hiring of Braden Zyra, temporary grade 3 CDL Teacher for the 2020-21 school year.
– Approved the hiring of Nataylee Hoffman, temporary grade 1 CDL Teacher for the 2020-21 school year.
– Approved the hiring of Kristen Morrison, temporary half-time second-grade and half-time kindergarten teacher for the 2020-21 school year.