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6 AUGUST 15, 2002 SMOKE SIGNALS AUGUST 15, 2002 $MOKE SIGNALS 7
A New Era In Tribal Education Begins With 6.8 Million Dollar Campus
Education continued from front
neering and design. The entire
building has been carefully
thought out to suit the needs of the
Tribe. It's environment is specifi
cally crafted to promote a atmo
sphere that is conducive to learn
ing and gives the occupants,
whether they are students or teach
ers, a feeling of belonging. It also
has the latest in Internet access,
with a high-speed T-l line con
nected to all of the computers.
"It's a premier facility, no doubt,"
said Public Works Director Eric
Scott, who was the building's project
manager. "It has several different
classrooms, a media center, a li
brary, computer classrooms, as well
as smaller individual classrooms
and small business classrooms," said
Scott.
The entire project, including in
frastructure, roads, buildings and
parking lots, cost $6.8 million and
actually came out about $300,000
under budget. The construction
crew only took one half of one day
off during the entire winter of 2001.
The buildings incorporate numer
ous skylights and ambient lighting.
Every effort was made to include
as many natural light sources as
possible. The walls are covered in
cedar siding and there is a hand
some sculpture made of columnar
basalt in the front of the youth edu
cation building.
There are also two covered out
door recess areas, for when it rains
in the wintertime.
The new education complex dif
fers from other Tribal buildings in
that Tribal members were very
closely involved with how the build
ing would look and what functions
it would serve.
"Most of the teachers and educa
tion staff were part of the design
team, so we all have a sense of pride
in the building," said Scott.
Tribal members chose how the
floor plan would look and what size
the buildings needed to be and what
Outdoor Play Area The New
to roam around in.
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"Thanks For The Help" Public Works Director Eric Scott was honored with a
Mercier and her education staff for overseeing the successful completion of the Tribe's
colors they liked. During the plan
ning phase of the building, meet
ings were held to try and under
stand what the specific needs of the
staff and teachers were to make the
space more efficient.
"We sought input from all of the
users and asked them to be part of
the design team," said Scott.
They also chose what materials
to use and in one case, the color of
the striping around the gymnasium
floor. The tiles in the hallways in
the preschool and HeadStart were
painted by the Before and After
Care kids, and installed before the
students arrived, so that when they
arrived they would feel more at
home.
"We did a lot of surveys and went
to Native American club meetings
at Willamina High School," said
Lisa Leno. "The students got to talk
about what they wanted the new
building to look like. It's not often
Education campus has a large outdoor playing
you get a chance to do that. . .it was
likea dream come true," said Leno.
Because they were so deeply in
volved with the new building,
many Tribal members feel a strong
connection with it.
That connection is apparent
when talking to Marion Mercier,
Tribal Education Manager, who
has been involved with the new
building from the start and who
many would credit as being one of
the driving influences behind get
ting the new building constructed.
She has high hopes for the new
building and sees it playing a cen
tral role in the lives of Tribal mem
bers. "Our hope is that it will be a hub
for the community," said Mercier.
"People won't have to travel to get
education services. Now they can
come here. Our kids deserve to
have a safe healthy learning envi
ronment," said Mercier.
area to give the children plenty of room
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Tribal blanket by Marion
new campus.
Once someone has been involved
in the Tribal education system, it
stays open as a resource for them
for life.
"This Tribe is made up of very
different people. A lot of Tribal
members take advantage of the
education opportunities available
here, from kids to Elders," said Mer
cier. "The services offered here are the
ones that can change peoples lives,"
she said.
Leno shares that cradle to grave
education philosophy. The new
building, which has programs for
toddlers to college graduates, is well
suited to provide life long re
sources. "Education is a life long process.
We have the programs to take
them (Tribal members) from pre
school to retirement. We offer sup
port from 3 years old to 103," Leno
said.
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Our Children Will Benefit - Special guest
Klamath Tribe gave an opening prayer that involved the
Care children at the Open House.
The gym and auditorium, said
Mercier, can help bring events to
the community.
"A lot of youth play basketball in
tournaments somewhere else.
Now they can have them here,"
she said.
The education staff feel that the
new gym will contribute to the
health of the Tribe by providing
somewhere for Tribal members to
work out and play ball.
"I think it will be a factory for
Tribal athletes," said Youth Edu
cation Specialist Dustin Harmon.
"I think we will have a healthier
community." B
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Morrie Jimenez of the
Tribe's Before and After
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