EUGENE, Ore. (KMTR) – With the 4J school district and Bethel School district budgets so tight, volunteers are popping up everywhere this summer willing to pitch in and update the facilities.
Without donations and volunteers, the schools would likely see no changes or improvements that were not already planned between the 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 school years.
One of the schools that are in most dire need of a makeover is Willamette High School. Parents and students came together at the end of the year and decided to hold an “Extreme Makeover, Willamette High Edition.” Dozens of volunteers will be at the school until August 17th revamping the building. A landscape architect drew up the front entrance. The group planted new greenery there.
“We wanted to do that first so people could immediately see the changes being made,” said Brooke Cottle, a volunteer coordinator for the project.
In addition, a color specialist came in to analyze which shades would match best to the tile flooring (that cannot be replaced) and a graphic analyst walked the building to figure out needed signs, posters and more. The students voted between two color schemes before they ended the school year.
Now, they’re giving up multiple Wednesdays to help with the work. Nicole Arnold will be a senior at Willamette and says a couple days out of the summer is not a big deal.
“You have seven days a week, 24 hours in a day,” she told NewsSource 16.
Arnold, who plays volleyball, said other schools often travel to Willamette with a little bit of disgust. They see the school as run down and one of the worst. Going into her senior year, she wants her final year to be in a place much different. Leaving for college next year, she simply wants her school to look better for others than it did for her.
“I think it was just the fact that when I heard people were actually going to get the money, and then I felt like it was everyone’s job to help out. It is our school. It isn’t their school, it’s our school,” she said.
Arnold recalls her freshmen year when groups of people didn’t even want to stand next to certain walls because of how ugly they were.
A majority of the school hasn’t been touched since the near ‘70s. Since then, “cool” décor has changed – and besides that, rooms, hallways and curriculum have changed – making the school uninspiring for many.
Cottle said there is a message behind all the work they doing. She remains overjoyed that so many people have been willing to help, but says there is still a lot of work to be done.
“We value them. We believe in them. I think when you put the time and energy into a project like this, they feel that. They spend so much time here and so we want it to be current, we want it to be a place they feel fresh and inspired,” Cottle said.
Next on the list, she says: painting the lockers; it’s a task that will take some time but will finally pull all of the colors together.
Outside, the school received a new parking lot, courtesy of a $7,000 dollar donation from Angell Asphalt. The lines will be painted as soon as the weather cooperates.
Cottle and her crew are confident the district has done all they can regarding the budget, but understand that there are limitations right now due to hard times.
Overall, already ahead of schedule, the group plans to be finished in just a few weeks. They welcome volunteers of all ages, including those who don’t have kids in the district or ties to the school.
