Madras High breaks ground on big upgrades

More than a year in the making, Madras High School is now big step closer to having new performing arts and athletic facilities.

The Jefferson County School District broke ground on the project Thursday, joined by dozens of people from the community and schools.

The facilities are part of the $26.7 million school bond voters passed in May of last year.

No one is quite as eager to get the new digs up and running as the students and staff of Madras High School.

“I think it’s great to have a performing arts facility, because we don’t have a lot of that in Madras, and it would be good for us to really open up that part of the community.,” said incoming freshman Alison Foreman.

Principal Sarah Bramen-Smith said, “I’m super-excited about the opportunities this is going to bring, not only to our students but hopefully how our students begin to think about about community and how they can start bringing in community to our brick and mortar high school.”

The new facilities should be open by this time next year.

Other projects also underway include construction of the new K-8 school in Warm Springs and upgrades and improvements to buildings district-wide.