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345 SE 5th, Madras, OR 97741 | 541.475.2275
Aging boilers in need of repairs were discussed at the July 26 meeting of the 509-J School District Board of Directors.
Human responses director Darryl Smith gave a facility update, noting the boiler at Metolius Elementary is very inefficient at heating the building and may be cracked.
He said the district has accumulated $170,000 in state energy credits to use for facility upgrades, and the boiler may have to be replaced. The cost was estimated at $250,000.
"Our biggest concern now is energy efficiency at Metolius, and that the boiler could go out," Smith said, adding, if replaced, work couldn't start until next spring.
Other areas of concern included: the boilers at Warm Springs and Madras elementaries, the need for a new school at Warm Springs, cracks in playground asphalt and parking lot asphalt, cracks in the rubberized tracks at Jefferson County Middle School and Madras High School. The JCMS track was also found to be four feet short of regulation size.
Also, there are structural problems on the MHS football stadium, and large cracks in the MHS tennis court surface.
Smith told the board options to fund repairs could include use of general fund money (around $500,000), doing a fundraising campaign for the sports complex, or doing a bond measure for facility repairs.
"Our order of concern right now is, the Metolius boiler, the MHS track, and Warm Springs Elementary," said Superintendent Rick Molitor.
Smith will continue searching for grants to help with the funding of repairs.
In other business, board members Dana St. John and Stan Sullivan will serve on a newly-created audit committee with community members for oversight of 509-J financial systems and auditing.
Under personnel, Cheeri Schacht from New York was hired as an assistant principal for Madras High School. One-year teaching contracts (mostly with school improvement grant funds) were given to MHS teachers: Elizabeth Hoolehan, reading specialist; Nick Kezele, instructional coach; Katherine Russell, school nurse; Kristen Grimestad and Jenne Elston, both math teachers.
Anna Schmitt will teach English language development halftime at JCMS, and halftime at Buff Elementary. Jeffrey Neal was hired as an assistant football coach at JCMS.
