PC Schools holds Grand Opening for Bates Early Learning building
By Logan Bagett on Wednesday, February 28th, 2024 in Eastern/Southeast Oregon News More Top Stories
PRAIRIE CITY – Prairie City Schools recently held the Grand Opening for the newly renovated Bates Early Learning building. Dozens of excited children, staff, parents, and community members gathered around at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, February 24th as Superintendent Casey Hallgarth and longtime Prairie City Preschool Teacher Jill Wright cut the red ribbon and opened the main doors. Three-and-four-year-old students made their way through the lobby, down the hall and into their classrooms.
Superintendent Hallgarth spoke with Elkhorn Media Group’s Logan Bagett about the long-awaited reopening of the Bates Early Learning center. The building was originally a schoolhouse in the now-vacant town of Bates, Oregon, and was moved to its current location on the Prairie City campus in the early 1970’s. It has been several years since class was held in the Bates Building.
Superintendent Hallgarth explained the plans for the sections of the building adjacent to the preschool:
“The other half of our preschool building—we’ll have two classrooms. One as an open class-slash-boardroom, and then the north end, farthest classroom will be our daycare. The Superintendent’s office will be over here, and a couple of bathrooms, as well. And then the other part of the building, the long end of the ‘T’, that is the community-based health center.”
Hallgarth said the preschool is staffed by Secretary Lisa Schultz, 4-year-old Preschool Teacher Jill Wright, 3-year-old Preschool Teacher Sabrina Howard, and Teaching Assistants Janelle Lane and Kati Ledgerwood.
See photos and video below:
(**Cover photo courtesy of Megan Long**)
