Sean C. Morgan
Nearly two dozen individuals toured the Sweet Home High School auditorium and stage in late February to get an idea of how much work must be done to repair and restore the facility.
The meeting drew more interested community members, who were scheduled to take a look at the Lebanon High School auditorium at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 4.
In the meantime, members of the committee are beginning to identify specific projects and explore funding options that might be available.
The stage floor is well-worn and needs to be refinished. The school has an estimate of $3,800 for the repairs, which would include smoothing all but the deepest gouges in the floor.
“You can walk around on it and tell there’s nothing wrong with the substructure,” said Ron Sharrah, Sweet Home Elks leading knight and past exalted ruler. Sharrah is leading the committee, which includes members of several community organizations, including the school’s performing arts program, the Chamber of Commerce, the Elks, the Oregon Jamboree, the Singing Christmas Tree and the Kiwanis. Several parents and students also showed up to get involved.
Shirley Austin suggested and initiated the process after observing the condition of the stage during last year’s Chips ’n’ Splinters program.
The auditorium also needs paint and repairs to holes in the walls, better lighting, sound, seating repairs and new curtains behind the stage. The main curtain is in good shape.
The need is apparent, looking around the auditorium, but the gory details don’t stand out until closer inspection, said band teacher Pat Johnson, as he pointed out numerous holes in the auditorium walls.
“It’s one thing to talk about it, but it’s another thing to see it,” Sharrah said.
“This is something that’s very doable for this community,” he said. Various sources of money are available to pay for the repairs, and he doesn’t think finances will be an issue.
The most important thing to do right now is figure out the scope of work, the list of needed projects, he said, then the committee can figure out how much it will cost. The overall goal can easily be broken down into smaller projects.
Much of the work will be inexpensive and is relatively easy, Sharrah said. Joints and cracks can be repaired with Portland cement and paint. Holes in the sheet rock are easy to fix too.
The building could be spruced up with a fresh coat of paint, he said, but that wouldn’t take care of the problems.
The biggest expense will probably be the floor, he said, followed by the painting and the lighting, which is in bad shape and outdated. He noted that they’re probably not wired right as well. The cost of new curtains, which must be fire retardant, is unknown at this time.
Donations and money raised during fund-raising efforts can be held by the Elks National Foundation, Sharrah said.
Shari Pagliari of the Chamber of Commerce said she has a Ford Family Foundation grant writing group starting in May.
“This is exactly the type of project they like to see,” she said. Moving forward with grant applications will require School Board approval, and the committee needs to know what the board may have planned and budgeted for the stage and auditorium.
“I want everybody to be involved, including the school district,” Sharrah said. All grants will need to be in the district’s name.
“Our School Board is very protective of the arts and making sure they stay here,” said SHHS Principal Keith Winslow. While other districts have cut similar programs, the Sweet Home School Board has protected the metal, wood and auto shops, along with music and art.
For more informatin or to get involved, contact Sharrah at (541) 231-7303.