Keizertimes., May 24, 2019, Page PAGE A6, Image 6

PAGE A6, KEIZERTIMES, MAY 24, 2019
KeizerCommunity
KEIZERTIMES.COM
McNary breaks ground on changes
that will transform school forever
BY MATT RAWLINGS
Of the Keizertimes
An offi cial groundbreak-
ing ceremony was held at
McNary High School on
Friday, May 17, signaling
the start of the 15-month
construction period at the
school — as a part of the
$619.7 million bond that Sa-
lem-Keizer voters passed last
May.
More than 100 local elect-
ed offi cials, school board
members, school staff, media
members and others gath-
ered around the front of
McNary for the hour-long
ceremony.
“This is a huge day for
Keizer,” said Chuck Lee, who
is the Board Director for
Zone 6 on the Salem-Keiz-
er Public School Board of
Education. “It’s important
for not only the school, but
for the entire Keizer com-
munity. This investment will
fund improvements to the
learning environment here
at McNary and will improve
the economic improvement
in our community.”
This is the third ground-
breaking that has taken place
thanks to the 2018 bond
— Gubser Elementary and
North Salem High School
had their groundbreaking
ceremonies in March.
“The
Salem-Keiz-
er School District and the
community of Keizer have
worked hard to make sure
that this is a project that is
ready to go,” Keizer mayor
Cathy Clark said. “The ul-
timate goal is to benefi t the
students of our district and
the students that live here in
Keizer.”
Approximately $52.6 mil-
lion will go into the project
as McNary will now be able
to address their overcrowd-
ing issues.
The school — which was
built in 1965 and originally
designed to serve 1,725 stu-
dents — can now accommo-
date 2,200 students thanks
to the planned addition of
14 new general classrooms,
as well as a new science lab.
There were also be two new
areas that will be dedicated as
Career Technical Education
(CTE) spaces.
“We know that there’s go-
ing to be a lot of kids that
will go to college and be
successful and have a lot of
it paid for. But there are also
students that are interested in
getting immediately into the
trades. And having a program
like our construction pro-
gram is going to train kids
with real-life skills and will
teach them contextualized
learning,” McNary principal
Erik Jespersen said.
“Our goal is that when
you walk across the stage at
McNary High School, you
have choices and options.”
Jespersen also voiced his
approval for the much-need-
ed parking expansion and
new drop-off/pick up lanes,
which should greatly clear
up congestion for school
days and sporting events.
“If you have ever driven
into McNary High School
at 7 (a.m.), then you’re going
to fi nd you’re going to fi nd
your parking spot at 7:10
(a.m.),” Jespersen joked.
The expansion at McNary
crossword
wouldn’t have been possible
without the district acquir-
ing land from St. Edward
Catholic Church.
Back in February, after
months of contention, St.
Edward agreed to sell the
land adjacent to McNary to
the district for $2.26 million,
which will be the new home
of the Celtics softball fi elds
and tennis courts. Both Mc-
Nary soccer programs will
also take advantage of the
new land.
St. Edward pastor Gary
Zerr was on hand for the
ceremony and expressed
his intent for the church to
maintain their partnership
with McNary.
ABOVE:
Supporters
of McNary
High School
gather in front
of the school
to mark the
beginning of
construction.
RIGHT: McNary
principal Erik
Jespersen
(left) with
McNary
students
Griffen
Hubbard
(center) and
Mariah Benitez.
KEIZERTIMES/
Matt Rawlings
“We have a real connec-
tion with the school that has
continued all through the
negotiations. We had a great
relationship with McNary
beforehand, and we intend
to continue to have one. It’s
very important that two of
the largest entities in Keizer
cooperate and we have al-
ways been able to do that,”
Zerr said.
“We form our personali-
ties and most of who we are
in high school, we just don’t
realize it until we leave. Hav-
ing a good high school envi-
ronment is really critical for
the community.”
The school will also see
improvements to plumbing
and ventilation to go along
with the garage door and
select fl ooring replacements.
There will be upgrades to
the intercom and card access
systems, as well as signifi cant
improvements to the seis-
mic structure of areas of the
school.
Other improvements in-
clude:
• Exterior seal.
• Expanded wireless capacity.
• Additional music support.
• Spaces to support special
education.
• Increased visibility of the
main entry from offi ce.
“I am so excited for the
new additions and improve-
ments coming our way,” said
McNary leadership student
Mariah Benitez. “I especially
can’t wait to take advantage
of the additional classroom
space, as this will support
greater academic achieve-
ment.”