By Lynnette Hoffman
Tuesday, April 26, 2022 2:42 pm
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On Friday evening at 4:00 p.m. Toledo High School had its ribbon cutting ceremony. The event was for the community and it was wonderful to see so many people coming to the opening. The pride Toledo has is impressive, they have always been proud of their schools, sports and programs.
This Friday started off with Superintendent Chris Rust, giving the introductory speech. He stated in a separate quote, "We are excited to dedicate this new school for the Toledo community. Thanks to a $10 million grant and State Construction Assistance Program funding, the community is able to realize the dream of having a new school for a total local commitment of $7 million. We expect to deliver a savings to the community of nearly $2 million. We are grateful to the taxpayers for the trust that they placed in us as stewards of public funds and we look forward to the new Toledo High School continuing to be the hub of community events."
Toledo High School Principle Martin Huffman was there as well. Huffman had to endure the construction on the school while a lot of the time, students were either remote learning or in the classroom. It was a construction mode that had to happen. Huffman stated, "This new building and campus will ensure opportunities and support for students, staff and our community to learn, grow and make a difference. Toledo has and always will be 'One of the Best High Schools in the State.'"
Many of us remember the years it took to get the funding. There were several Letters to the Editor at that time, it took a few times to pass, but the legislators got involved and things changed.
There were several in attendance, including Representative Peter Abbarno. "Toledo High School is a success story for the school district and the entire Toledo community, he said. "The public-private partnership was a collaboration that can and should be replicated in other districts around the state. I am very thankful to all those who helped make the project possible."
The entertainment for the evening was the Cowlitz Indian Tribe. Patty Kinswa Geiger was there, as were a few other local tribe members. They brought their drums and gave a wonderful dedication to the new high school. Watching the Cowlitz Tribe participate in this opening was a great moment for all of us to share in. The person who led the drum music was a local man, Jeremiah Wallace. Jeremiah was born and raised in Toledo, he is an employee of the tribe and takes his ancestral history very seriously. It is with pride that I thank Patty Kinswa Geiger and Jeremiah Wallace for helping with the event. Thank you both!
Toledo has opened their school, it was nice to see the rooms with no cables and supplied with equipment necessary to learn.