The Odin School officially cut the ribbon surrounded by an arch of Red and White Balloons to dedicate $2.5-million in improvements made to the school building over the summer.
Superintendent Belinda Kirgan thanked all those involved.
Principal Quinton Marcum outlined the scope of the improvements including central air installed in the gym, cafeteria, and the three-story high school building that also saw other extensive renovation.
“We did flooring on the 2nd and 3rd floors. Painting everywhere, there were a ton of painters here. There was also work on the ceilings and of course the HVAC in the cafeteria.”
Marcum says everyone worked as hard as they could to make the building look as good as it can and he feels it really came together. After the ceremony, Marcum says students were enjoying the improvements.
“I think the students were pretty grateful they don’t have to sit in really warm temperatures when they are trying to learn. And also they don’t have to go down to the first floor to use the bathroom. We installed a bathroom on the 3rd floor and cuts down on the amount of time they are out of class to use the restroom.”
The open house also included an introduction to the OPAA Food Management Service. Misty Campe who is the regional director for the food service that began in 1978 and serves eight states, says they strive to provide lots of choices.
“We have an item called our Fresh Fruit and Salad Bar. So kids come through the line, get a meal and they are able to go through that station and make their own healthy choices on different fresh fruits and vegetables as well as a garden salad every day and there is no charge for that. And at the high school level, they get to make their own salad bar ad design it every day if they choose to.”
Campe says they also offer homemade rolls and muffins in a menu customized to the Odin School District. She said an app is available to parents that shows the menu that can be customized to students’ likes and to avoid food allergies.
About 150 took advantage of touring the renovated facility and meeting with their student’s teachers. One of those in attendance noted it was on the same day in 1971 that an open house was held for the grade school addition.
Some members of the e-sports team practice in one of the newly renovated junior-senior high rooms in the three-story portion of the building.
New Family Consumer Science teacher Vanessa Williams in her renovated newly furnished classroom.
The Regional Operations Director of Operations Misty Campe and Odin cafeteria Director Hannah Mitchell in the cafeteria.
