News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
A new middle school is the centerpiece of a long-range facility plan for the Sisters School District.
The plan also includes a future elementary school, ball fields, tennis courts, a swim center, a visual and performing arts center, an extensive environmental study area and facilities for the Sisters Organization for Activities and Recreation (SOAR).
While enrollment in Sisters has remained roughly steady and even dipped in some elementary grades, the middle school is pinched for space. There are more teachers than there are classrooms and field space is inadequate, according to schools superintendent Steve Swisher.
"If the middle school grows, we're out of space again," he said.
Certainly, Swisher believes, the middle school will only get more crowded as new families move into some of the approximately 450 homes to be constructed in the next few years in Sisters. And an additional 800 homesites are still available outside Sisters within the school district boundaries.
A bond election to fund a new middle school would not take place for several years, according to Swisher. The superintendent noted that the first phase of the bond that built Sisters High School will be retired in about six years. The second phase will drop off the rolls in 12 years.
If voters approve a new bond for a middle school, Swisher said, a new middle school could be built with no increase in taxes.
The middle school would be part of an ambitious con-cept for a school complex on a portion of 120 acres of land to the west of Sisters High School. The land was acquired by the school district in a land swap between Deschutes County, the Forest Service and the Sisters School District.
School board member Glen Lasken noted that the plan offers a comprehensive design, but one "that could take years to complete and a plan that could be completed incrementally" as needs arise.
The complete complex carries a price tag of roughly $50 million. However, Swisher believes that many of the facilities could be built with gifts, grants and volunteer labor.
Groups such as SOAR are chaffing at the bit to develop facilities and playing fields.
"Some of those things can take place well ahead of any construction of school buildings," school board chairman Bill Reed noted. "Once we have a plan, we can feel comfortable setting aside some land for SOAR. And that can take place as soon as next year."
Reed said he would like to see a plan finalized and adopted by the school board within six months.
To ensure community support, the district is soliciting a wide range of public input. Swisher said it is vital to ask, "Are we meeting community needs or are we out in front creating things the community doesn't want?"
School board member Heather Wester thinks the plan does a good job of addressing community needs.
"It's really community-friendly," she said. "Our community is so involved in the schools as it is, I was pleased to see that the plan keeps them involved and allows them access to the facilities."
An initial plan was designed by W & H Pacific of Bend and a second, independent plan will be drafted by David Evans and Associates of Bend.
The plans are funded by earnings from the sale of school district property.
Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.
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