Days Creek addresses need for additional building

DAYS CREEK – The results of a year-long planning process were presented to the Days Creek community on Thursday evening, January 22, as part of the annual State of the Schools address by Superintendent Joe La Fountaine and others.
Fountaine said that at last year’s meeting the consensus from the community was the need for an additional building at the school.
Over the last year a community and staff committee has met regularly to discuss what that might look like and from those discussions it was brought out that more than just a gym is needed.
Some of the possible solutions brought forward included a cafeteria and kitchen, a health center and a performing arts facility in addition to creating more space for athletics.
“This school is the center of the community but it is also run by people who care about this community,” said LaFountaine.
He went on to say that 60 percent of those who work at the school live in the Days Creek area and conversely 60 percent of the students at the school don’t live in the area.
Vice Principal and Athletic Director James Ellis spoke about the need for more athletic facilities.
He said that Days Creek is only one of three schools in the county that has only one gym.
“Another building with athletic capabilities would impact athletic considerably,” said Ellis.
He also spoke about how the community and the school interface using the example of the recent opening up of the school’s weight room to community use.
The local chapter of Future Farmers of America (FFA) was on hand to provide service and information.
Chapter Secretary Sarah Smith spoke about the upcoming events that the FFA has planned for the remainder of the school year.
La Fountaine also invited the chiefs of the area volunteer fire departments to speak about their programs and their need for volunteers and how that has a impact on the community.
Finally, La Fountaine said that the committee was open to more community involvement and ideas and that he would be available for the rest of the evening to listen to any input they had as they enjoyed the free chili dinner..