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About Hermiston herald. (Hermiston, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (March 18, 2015)
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 2015 HERMISTONHERALD.COM • A3 SCHOOLS New principals hired at two Hermiston schools BY MAEGAN MURRAY HERMISTON HERALD Two familiar faces will take on new roles next year at two schools in the Hermiston School District. The district announced Mon- day that current Armand Larive Middle School Principal Tom Spoo would take over as Herm- iston High School principal next year, and current ALMS assistant principal Stacie Roberts would step up into the role of principal at ALMS. Spoo taught welding previ- ously before serving as assis- tant principal at Armand. He was then appointed to principal. He will replace current HHS Principal Jocelyn Jones who is retir- ing at the end of the school year. Spoo Spoo, however, was not one of the RULJLQDOO\ VHOHFWHG ¿QDOLVW FDQ- didates interviewed for the posi- tion. Superintendent Fred Maiocco said administrators ran into some complications in the search pro- cess for the HHS principal, and Spoo had originally expressed interest in the position, although he never submitted an application. “So, when I en- countered these complications, I ap- proached Mr. Spoo about the position, Roberts and we came to an accord,” he said. “I believe Tom is an absolutely JUHDW ¿W IRU ++6 ZLWK WKH UHT- uisite administrative experience and character to lead continued improvement at the school. He will certainly help the school in its vision of chasing down pre- mier.” Spoo said he is looking for- ward to working with the HHS staff and students. “I am extremely grateful to the Armand Larive staff and students for the valuable experiences and memories from the past four years,” he said in a press release. “I have grown both personally and professionally during my time at ALMS.” Roberts served as a sixth- grade teacher in the Hermiston School District before moving into the role of dean of students DW$UPDQGDIWHUKHU¿UVW\HDUV in the district. She has served as the ALMS assistant principal for the last two years. Maiocco said assuring con- tinuity and support for the mid- dle school is imperative, which is what made Roberts an ide- al choice for the role. Roberts had interviewed for the Rocky Heights Elementary School prin- cipal position earlier this month, which went to candidate Jerad Farley. “After her strong showing in the Rocky Heights Elementary School principal interview pro- cess and proven track record for success, I believe Ms. Roberts to EHDJUHDW¿WIRUWKH$/06SULQ- cipal position,” Maiocco said in a press release. Renovations needed at Sandstone, Highland Hills budget.” The heating and cool- HERMISTON HERALD ing system at Highland Since the Hermiston Hills is also a concern. School District last con- “It looks like it came tracted with an engineer- out of a World War II bat- LQJ ¿UP WR FRQGXFW D ID- tle ship, but that is what cilities condition report in it is,” Smith said. “That 2006, the ratings of a cou- LV WKH RULJLQDO KHDW- ple of Hermiston school ing and cooling unit that buildings have fallen sig- we are still kicking along QL¿FDQWO\ and keeping alive here at The district contract- Highland Hills. (Crowe) ed with Mitch Crowe of was really concerned Absolute Engineering last about that. It is not a mat- spring to conduct a build- ter of if, it is when that MAEGAN MURRAY PHOTO ing evaluations report for system is going to com- DOO ¿YH RI WKH +HUPLVWRQ pletely die. What is the Water leaks into a staff room School District’s old- district going to do to re- at Sandstone Middle School Tuesday morning. A leaky er buildings, including place that system?” Hermiston High School, At Rocky Heights, the roof is one of the many Sandstone Middle School, school’s rating actually im- issues that maintenance and Rocky Heights Elementa- proved from 2006, but that facilities employees at the ry School, Highland Hills was because Smith said the district have to deal with at Elementary School and district replaced a roof that the school. Desert View Elementary had “blown off” and a pres- School. sure tank from the boiler the forefront ... This brings Scores for each of the that had exploded. He said you to the reality that I think buildings were calculated insurance covered the roof provided us with kind of a based on exterior building repairs, but the district had ‘wow’ factor.” conditions, interior build- to dig into its maintenance The building report will ing conditions, mechan- reserve fund to replace the serve as background informa- ical systems conditions, boiler system. tion that the district will use safety and building codes “We tapped into the main- for future planning, Superin- and provisions for hand- tenance reserve pretty heav- tendent Fred Maiocco said. icapped status. Based on LO\WRVSHQGVL[¿JXUHVRQD “It is one piece of infor- the evaluations, Hermis- new boiler system for heat- mation among many pieces ton High School and Des- ing Rocky Heights,” he said. of information that will go ert View Elementary don’t Smith said most of the into ultimately the board UHTXLUH DQ\ UHQRYDWLRQV VFKRROV UHTXLULQJ UHQRYD- deciding on which direc- receiving ratings of 84.5 tions may look nice on the tion we go as a district,” and 93, respectively. With outside, but the problems he said. “That is still a the other schools however, stem from the inside. ways out.” the news wasn’t as good. “These are things that you Smith said the report Sandstone Middle don’t see from the street,” just highlights the dis- School and Highland he said. “When you drive by trict’s building structural Hills Elementary School Rocky Heights and High- challenges. reported scores of 58 and land Hills, they sure seem “That is something 57.5, respectively, out of to be maintained nicely, but that the board is going to WRWDO SRLQWV SRVVLEOH when you start opening up have to wrestle with in the indicating that major ren- the attic, looking at the heat- coming years as they try ovation is needed at both ing and cooling structure to prioritize and come up schools. Rocky Heights and different things, that re- with potential solutions reported a score of 63, in- ally brings (these things) to that this community may dicating minor renovation is needed. “I wish it was better news,” Deputy Superin- tendent Wade Smith told the Hermiston School Board during their last meeting earlier this Interested in a Medical career? month. “The summary he Need funds to complete provided was eye opening your training? to say the least.” Medical scholarship applications are At Sandstone, the re- now being accepted from local port details that the roof qualified applicants through March 31st. is leaking. The school also has a number of doors The Good Shepherd Community Health Foundation is again pleased to and hollow metal frames partner with Tualatin Imaging to offer a that have rusted, includ- $1,500 scholarship for students who have expressed an interest in pursuing ing spots where people a diagnostic imaging career. FDQSXVKD¿QJHUWKURXJK Smith said. For application requirements and application form, call 541-667-3405 Additionally, the school still has its original heat- ing and cooling unit, and, even though it is currently working properly, its age is cause for concern. The system is meant to last 20 years before a replace- Spring is in the air PHQW EXW LW LV \HDUV and creativity is old this year, Smith said. blooming everywhere! The age of the system also Custer’s 16 th Annual poses problems for main- tenance. “Many of these are IUHRQ¿OOHG WKDW ZH FDQ¶W HYHQ UH¿OO EHFDXVH RI HQ- vironmental issues now that we are having to deal One of a Kind Jewelry U Wearable Fiber Art U Mosaic Glass with,” he said. Smith said Crowe told Original Paintings U Metal Garden Art U Woodworking UÊPhotography him, because the heating Functional Pottery U Mixed Media U Specialty Foods and much more! and cooling units have not been replaced and have T R A C Center 6600 N. Burden Blvd. U Pasco, WA U Free Parking reached their maximum age recommendation, they will start “dying on the March 20 - 21 - 22, 2015 district left and right.” Friday Saturday Sunday The district, Smith said, 10 am - 8 pm 10 am - 6 pm 10 am - 4 pm doesn’t have the resources Admission $ 6.00 U Good all weekend! U Kids 12 & under free to replace every unit when that starts happening. Over 150 Professional Presented by: “Every rooftop unit is Artists and Crafters! $3,000 to $4,000,” Smith said. “You simply can’t do xäÓ{äxnnÊUÊÜÜÜ° ÕÃÌiÀ- ÜðV that out of a general fund BY MAEGAN MURRAY Spring Show MAEGAN MURRAY PHOTO Maintenance and facilties employees in the +ermiston School 'istrict have tried to À[ leaks in the Sandstone Middle School roof, but, at some point, something further will have to be done. or may not be willing to support long-term for the district,” he said. “The groundwork has been laid. We’re never going to be shy of information in this district. It is just going to be how do we respond to some of the information as presented will be the big- gest challenge.” To view the full report, YLVLW KWWSKHUPLVWRQN or.us/community/facili- ties-master-planning/com- mittee/reports/. MAEGAN MURRAY PHOTO Sandstone Middle School operates with its original 21-year- old heating and cooling system. The system, while currently operating sufÀciently, was only meant to last 2 years.