Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

Board Approves New Sound System

WAITSBURG - The Waitsburg football field gets all new lighting and press box and a new sound system is on the way as well.

School Board Chairman Ross Hamann said at the school board meeting last Wednesday that last foot- ball season the 50-year-old sound system was no longer usable because of the poor quality. Colter Mohney, the district's facilities/transporta- tion/maintenance supervisor, said the drivers on the old speakers are bad and the only thing the horn-shaped speakers are good for is yellow jacket nests.

The district borrowed an indoor sound system of speakers and an amplifier from a community member who is now requesting the district purchase the equip- ment, Hamann said.

"The other options we had anticipated fell through," he said.

Because the old sound system is still not up to par, and because the loaned equipment is not the right kind of setup for the field, Hamann said he began look- ing into purchasing a new sound system to be installed with the rest of the ongoing projects.

Hamann said the press box fund already has $1,500 earmarked for a new sound system. He received two quotes from a company in Centralia for two different systems and those prices came in at $3,299 and $3,899 plus tax and shipping. A new system could be portable and be moved into the gym, which also has a less than quality sound system, after football season, Mohney said. The gym's sound sys- tem would really need four speakers rather than the two that would be purchased, Mohney said, but those could be bought and installed later in the future.

"We would like some- thing dual purpose," said Dr. Carol Clarke, the district's superintendent.

Hamann said if the school board didn't approve the pur- chase of the new sound sys- tem, the 50-year-old system would have to be put back up at the field.

But where will the district get the extra $2,500 for the new sound system?

Hamann said Wednesday the press box project, sponsored by the Booster Club and the Lions Club, is cur- rently under budget. How- ever, he said he's hesitant to pledge any extra money from that project to the sound system.

Secondary Principal Stephanie Wooderchak said she would approach the As- sociated Student Body to see if the students would like to contribute money from their fund to the sound system. She also asked for names of local businesses and farmers she could contact to see if they would like to donate.

Hamann said he would like it if other staff members could take on the fundrais- ing portion because he has been asking for donations for years to get the press box project completed.

"I'm very hesitant to go back (and ask) again," he said. "I've done it for the last three years."

Clarke, Wooderchak and Board Member Greg Zuger said they could start making some fundraising calls, and the rest of the board gave its informal approval to move forward with the purchase.

For more information about the sound system or to contribute to the project, call the school district at 509- 337-6301.

 

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