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Calapooia Middle School has the only middle school shop class in the district. There are six sections each term, and they are enrolled at capacity with students in each grade with diverse academic interests.

Shop teacher Spence Meekins, a former math teacher, said that the skills he teaches in his class reinforce math skills the students are learning, and they give students a chance to apply what they learn in math.

If Ballot Measure 22-165 is approved by voters, funds will be used to add and expand vocational programs like shop class at all middle and high schools in the district.

Read about recommendations for new vocational technical programs. 

Ballot Measure 22-165 is on the ballot for the May 15 election. Projects are planned for every school in the District.

If passed, it would fund projects to:

Make critical facility upgrades

Necessary maintenance and upgrades that have exceeded routine maintenance expenditures, including replacement of roofs, windows, flooring, exterior siding, plumbing, electrical and mechanical systems, and Americans with Disabilities Act improvements.

Make energy improvements that would save energy and reduce operating costs

Energy improvements district-wide to improve cost efficiency and reduce ongoing maintenance costs, such as replacing old, inefficient high maintenance heating and ventilation systems and windows. The upgrades are expected to save the District an estimated eight percent – or $80,000 in energy costs per year.

Address security, safety and seismic needs

Make safety and security upgrades where they are needed throughout the district such as automatic door locks, fire alarms and security cameras. Make seismic upgrades district-wide to enable buildings to better withstand a major earthquake.

Rebuild/remodel schools to offer vocational technical classes

Renovate existing classroom space at all middle schools to offer new vocational/technical classes. Renovate existing classrooms and and construct new vocational/technical classrooms, including a multipurpose classroom space/gym at South Albany High School.

Relieve school crowding

Renovate and add classrooms and a cafeteria at Oak Grove Elementary School and construct a new elementary school in NE Albany to address growing enrollment
Complete the first phase of West Albany High School’s rebuild that would include new classrooms, commons and auditorium.

Find more information on the bond informational page or ask your local school principal.

SWARM, the high school robotics team made up of members of South Albany and West Albany students, has been invited to attend the PNW First District Championship in Cheney Wash. this week.

Each year, the Oregon First Robotics competition features a game theme. This year’s game is called First Steamworks. Two alliances of three teams work together to build and prepare an airship for flight.

The event runs from April 6-8 at Eastern Washington University. SWARM was selected based on their rankings in previous competitions. They are ranked 50th out of 155 teams and won the quality award at the last District competition.

At their last competition, SWARM earned the Quality Award:

Team 957 SWARM Sponsored by Motorola Solutions Foundation, this award celebrates machine robustness in concept and fabrication. The winning team demonstrates these characteristics in many ways from planning through execution. Building the robot is only part of their success and the judges recognize them as a quality example to others. Often, successful engineering projects are based on doing a small number of things extremely well. This team played to their strengths and produced consistent results on the field. Our quality award goes to a team who swarmed on a simple, elegant design.

The annual “Logs for Lumber” event at West Albany and South Albany high schools will be on May 1 and 2.

Justin and Dan McMinds bring a portable mill to both schools to turn trees that were knocked down in storms or had to be removed due to construction into lumber for school projects.

The McMinds run their sawmill and, with student help, the logs are cut into lumber. The wood is stacked and then later dried in kilns. When it is ready, the wood is used by high school students in the wood shop classes.

The McMinds will be at West Albany High School on May 1 and at South Albany High School on May 2.

The photo is from the 2014 event.

WAHS performing arts students present Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella this month. Tickets are available now for six evening performances and a matinee in late April and early May.

The show is the Broadway musical version, which will include students in the theater, choir and band programs.

Tickets are $10 and are available at the WAHS main office and online for the following shows:

April 20, 21, 28, 29
May 5, 6

All performances at 7 p.m.
With an additional matinee on May 6 at 1:00

Read the flyer for more information.