Sweet Home makes good on a promise
GEOFFREY M. HICKS Superintendent Sweet Home Schools
Alittle more than three years ago, planning began for the Sweet Home Middle School renovation project with the convening of a parent task force that studied options and provided recommendations to the Board of Education.

The Board settled on a $23.9 million project that would completely update the middle school as well as fixing some infrastructure issues at Heritage Heights and Glendale elementary schools.

On March 22, 2005 the Sweet Home community overwhelmingly approved the bond to fund the renovation project and work began in late May of that same year. Both the scope and the phasing of the renovation project were ambitious, renovating every space in the middle school and completing the job in 18 months.

I am proud to report that the project was substantially completed on time and on budget last month. We were able to deliver on everything we promised the community, and more.

Sweet Home Middle School has been transformed into a state-of-the-art facility for student learning. Every classroom space in the building was touched with a minimum of new floors, lights, ceilings, windows, and paint. New, energyefficient boilers were added as was air-conditioning throughout the building. New student lockers and gym lockers were installed and all student and faculty restrooms were renovated.

The gymnasium was renovated and enlarged and the swimming pool was repaired. Nine new classroom spaces were added. The sixth, seventh and eighth grade science classrooms were expanded and renovated as true learning spaces for experimental inquiry. A high- tech fitness center with equipment geared toward middle level students was created. The library size was doubled and the cafeteria was expanded with a new serving area and kitchen.

The main office and student services offices were renovated. A new music wing was created with new rooms for chorus, band, orchestra, general music, and a showpiece 550-seat auditorium.

More than 300 new computers were purchased for the building. Hundreds of new chairs and desks were replaced and new student furniture in the library and academic spaces was purchased. Significant site work was done at the middle school, including a new, safer bus entry and exit area, new sidewalks around the building, and new blacktop on all parking lot areas. New telecommunications and data switches were added as well.

At our grand reopening ceremony we had the opportunity to thank all of the individuals who were instrumental in making this project such a success. I'd like to take this space to again thank the Sweet Home community for your tremendous support of our school district.