Classroom project rallies Sisters builders

Volunteers are nailing down timetables and blueprinting the logistics to build four new classrooms at Sisters Elementary School.

The people behind the effort met Wednesday, May 14, to form a leadership cadre and to assign roles in the project.

Bill Willitts, the project manager, is driving the group to have building permits in place by June 15, break ground by June 30, and have the project wrapped up by September 6.

Willitts will meet with potential donors, manage the project and work to find start-up money. School Superintendent Steve Swisher will be a liaison between the group and school, zoning, county and state officials.

Curt Kallberg and Steve Keeton are local contractors who will serve as construction managers. Carla Merrell of Laredo Construction and Karen Buckingham are volunteer managers.

Bill Reed will lead the fund-raising effort, as well as donate gravel to the project. Betsy Fegette will be responsible for bookkeeping and maintaining project records.

These people will comprise a leadership core that will meet on a weekly basis, but many Sisters residents have already pledged to donate labor, expertise, materials and/or money.

Artist Dennis McGregor was present at the meeting and offered to volunteer in any way he could. He will begin by designing a logo which will represent the room-raising effort.

Sisters Storage and Rental will contribute equipment, and Hoyt's Hardware and Building Supply has pledged building materials. Martin & Associates and Settergren Contracting will join the managing contractors.

Though the list of contributors is already respectable, the project hopes to obtain a number of donations in each service or material category.

Though cornerstone contributions, those over $1,000 each, are particularly coveted, the room-raising group welcomes all supporting contributions. The group will mount a brass plaque on the new building, commemorating all contri

butors.

All donations should be made to the Sisters School Foundation (549-8521). The Foundation is a public charity for tax purposes, so monetary contributions are tax deductible.

All donated materials are also tax deductible. While donation of time and labor is generally not deductible, donations of a specific, professional expertise (such as an architect or a contractor's service) which result in a quantifiable product (blueprint, building frame) are deductible.

One of the room-raising group's goals is to serve as a model for other communities. Creation of the classrooms may be videotaped as a potential subject for a documentary