As the construction of the new Sandy High School moves forward, the Oregon
Trail School District’s Facility Task Force tries to figure out the best use of the
old Sandy High School. Possible uses include consolidating the district’s three
middle schools into one and moving administrative offices into the building.
“It’s the beginning stage of the conversation,” said the district’s
communications director, Julia Monteith. “There’s lots of opportunities and we
just need to make sure we make the right decision now. Whatever ends up in
that building will be there for a while.”

The FTF, an advisory board to the district’s board of directors, is expected to
make a recommendation to the board of directors by June. The board of
directors will ultimately make the final decision.

Six community members appeared at the FTF meeting on Monday, Jan. 23,
according to Monteith, to express their concerns, including how safe the
building is and how much cost would be associated with the consolidation.
Monteith noted that regardless of how the building is used, it will need to be
retrofitted for safety, while some of the outer buildings (such as the old bus
barn on the north side of the campus) will likely be razed.

Alex Leaver, principal of Welches Elementary and Middle Schools, has had
informal conversations with parents and staff and has heard similar concerns,
in addition to parents who prefer their children to attend a smaller middle
school and those who are worried about the distance to Sandy. He added
many parents have recognized the potential for a consolidated middle school
to offer more academic options for the students.

“I love (Welches Middle School), I love the kids who go there,” Leaver said. “I
recognize there are trends going on wanting our kids to have the strongest
instructional programs possible.”

Monteith noted that nothing is likely to happen at the old high school building
in the near future, as the district will be busy moving over to the new building
this summer.

She also said it may be possible to use the old high school in a number of
different ways, but decisions will be driven by the academic needs of students.
The FTF recommendation to the school board could also offer potential uses
for the district’s three middle school buildings, should consolidation be the
recommendation, and other district buildings.

The next FTF meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 6, at the library of
Firwood Elementary School, 42900 SE Trubel Road in Sandy.

For more information, visit oregontrailschools.com.