PAGE A4, KEIZERTIMES, NOVEMBER 8, 2019
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Whiteaker Middle School will get a new gym fl oor, a general
classroom transformed into a science lab, seismic upgrades
and other improvements next summer.
Whiteaker greenlit for
summer construction
By MATT RAWLINGS
Of the Keizertimes
So far in 2019, fi ve schools
in the Salem-Keizer School
District, including Gubser El-
ementary and McNary High,
have received seismic improve-
ments thanks to the bond mea-
sure that was passed in May
of 2018 — which has grown
from $619.7 million, which
was the original base amount,
to $667.7 million, without
adding costs to taxpayers.
Next summer, Whiteaker
Middle School will be the next
school in line to receive bene-
fi ts from the bond.
Whiteaker will receive a
gym fl oor replacement and
roofi ng improvements, as well
as improvements to the front
offi ce space to increase visi-
bility and control of the front
entry.
The front entry will include
a secured vestibule, which
means that when visitors are
buzzed in through the main
door, they will enter a secured
space that leads them directly
to the school offi ce to check
in. After being approved by
offi ce staff, a visitor will be
buzzed through a second set of
doors into the school.
The purpose of the new
design is to provide line of
sight visibility of visitors and
increased control of the front
entry. The building will also
have increased badge access
card readers and other security
upgrades around the school.
“The safety and security
improvements at Whiteaker,
including the secured front en-
try and electronic badge access
system upgrade, give offi ce staff
better ability to control who
enters and exits the building,”
said Karma Krause, the Capital
Projects Public Engagement
Specialist for the district. “This
creates a safer physical and psy-
chological environment in the
school, which keeps the focus
on learning.”
Additionally, Whiteaker will
also have one general educa-
tion classroom turned into a
science lab.
“I’m excited to have a class-
room converted into a fully
functioning science lab. As our
enrollment increases, this addi-
tion will provide for future sci-
ence classroom needs,” White-
aker principal Julia DeWitt
said. “Moreover, it supports
our ongoing commitment to
increasing STEM education
through elective offerings, an
interdisciplinary/applied ap-
proach to learning science,
technology, engineering and
math.”
Multiple Whiteaker staff
members met with members
of the district’s construction
services staff at the end of last
school year to go over the
needs of the school and helped
make plans for the design —
which will be drawn up by
BBT Architects.
Construction is scheduled
to begin in June and is expect-
ed to be completed before the
2020-21 school year. Just over
$2.1 million will be invested
into this project.
“We’re very grateful to the
voters of Keizer and Salem for
next year’s upgrades,” DeWitt
said.
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Salem-Keizer Public Schools is slated to
receive more than $35 million from the Stu-
dent Success Act. Annually, this student in-
vestment account can only be used to meet
students’ mental or behavioral health needs
and increase academic achievement for stu-
dents while reducing academic disparities.
The district convened a student invest-
ment account task force in September and
the group wrapped up its initial phase of
work sessions on October 28. Made up of
almost 40 members of the community and
employees from across the district, the work
group honed its focus on specifi c commu-
nity teams to address the needs of students
who are economically disadvantaged; (Native
American, English learners, black or African
American, those experiencing homelessness,
Native Hawaiian or Pacifi c Islanders and
those receiving special education services).
During November, the district will go out
to the community through forums and focus
groups to gather more feedback about how
to invest funds in the student investment ac-
count. The student investment account task
force will take the information gathered to
make its fi nal recommendation to Superin-
tendent Christy Perry in January.
The community forums will be held in
Keizer at McNary High on Monday, Nov. 18
and in Salem on Wednesday, Nov. 20 at South
Salem High. Both meetings take place from
6-8 p.m. Free dinner and childcare will be
provided.
Poetry in spotlight at Chemeketa
The fi nal event in its 2019
Poetry in Performance series,
hosted by the Mid-Valley Po-
etry Society, is Sunday, Nov. 17.
A program titled Because a
Poem Breathes will be held from
2 to 4 p.m. in the TV Studio in
Building 9, Chemeketa Com-
munity College.
Between sets by the fea-
tured performers, there will be
an intermission with refresh-
ments, followed by an open
mic. Admission is free. Poems
by Oregon Poet Laureate
Emerita Paulann Petersen and
by local poets Eleanor Berry,
Jade Rosina McCutcheon and
Holiday bazaars coming to
McNary, Countryside soon
It’s the time of year when
a new holiday bazaar pops up
on seemingly every corner.
Here’s two coming soon in
Keizer.
• The annual bazaar at Mc-
Nary High School is slated for
Saturday, Nov. 23.
More than 100 local ven-
dors will be hosted by Mc-
Nary students raising money
for a variety of school-based
activities. Hours are 9 a.m. to
5 p.m.
Raffl e drawings will be
held every hour. Exchange
two non-perishible food items
or hygiene products for an ex-
tra raffl e entry. Donated items
will benefi t Marion Polk
Food Share.
McNary High School is lo-
cated at 595 Chemawa Road
N.E.
• Countryside Christian
Church will be hosting a Hol-
iday Bazaar Dec. 7 from 9 a.m.
- 3 p.m.
The event will feature
around 50 vendors who will
sell their own handmade,
quality, products in addition to
a gourmet bake sale.
For any questions or ad-
ditional information contact
HolidayBazaarAtCountry-
side@gmail.com or fi nd the
event on Facebook. Vendors
can still apply to be part of the
event.
Penina Ava Taesali will be in-
terpreted through voice, dance,
music/sound, and lighting.
Performing the poems will
be Charlotte Headrick (read-
er), Tiffany Watson (dancer),
and Jade Rosina McCutcheon
(music/sound).
The 2019 Poetry in Perfor-
mance series is made possible,
in part, by a grant from the
Marion Cultural Development
Corporation, and by audience
donations.