High School Gets a Makeover, thanks to Community and State Support

Omri Staley, Orcas High School Junior, on the first day of school, Sept. 5.

Orcas Island High School students returned to school last week to find its building undergoing a makeover.

Work on high school siding is coming along in a timely manner, as reported by project manager Drew Reed, at the August 20  School District Board Meeting. The work is being performed by Artus  Construction of Blaine, Wash. It is being funded in part by a $1,000,000 capital projects grant secured by State Senator Kevin Ranker last spring.

Then, Ranker said, “At a time when Capital funds are increasingly scarce, I am particularly proud to secure $1,000,000.00 for the Orcas Island School District for critical repairs and upgrades that will increase longevity of our school buildings while making them more energy efficient and safer for our children.

“In the end, it was the community support for our schools through levies and private donations that made the difference. It is always easier to secure State Capital Funds when the community is also doing their part. Thanks to the Orcas Island community for making it easier to do something good.”

Superintendent Barbara Kline said,  “We need to make repairs to our schools, and this relieves us of having to ask our community for a million dollars for those renovations.”

Last week, as Orcas students returned to school, Superintendent/ High School Principal  Kline said, “The total project will change the look of the building as well as extend its life. It should all look great.”