By DEBORAH BEHRENDS
Indiana Correspondent PAOLI, Ind. — Breaking ground for the new ag lab at Paoli Junior-Senior High School on a recent sunny Sunday represented the next step for the 1,400 student district. At the same time, the Dr. Bill McDonald Animal Science Pavilion represents bittersweet memories for all who knew the local veterinarian. A board of education member, staunch supporter of agriculture and writer of the first donation check for the building, McDonald, 47, was killed in January when an outdoor furnace on which he was working exploded. “Dr. McDonald was a good friend and we appreciate his guidance and support,” said Cory Scott, ag teacher and FFA advisor. With 280 donors giving a totally of more than $175,000 – although the goal was only $125,000 – Scott said 200 of those donors gave more than $60,000 in McDonald’s name. “That’s a testament to him.” Scott said he and fellow ag teacher Kyle Woolston recently attended a food-to-cafeteria conference in Cincinnati where they learned Paoli is blazing a trail for other school districts to follow. The small district grows enough hydroponic lettuce to provide for the cafeteria throughout the school year, and the hogs raised provide numerous meals, as well. “There is no playbook for what we’re doing. We just figure it out as we go,” Scott said, before giving others in attendance a chance to speak. Bob McDonald credited his brother with great leadership and vision. “He would be humbled and honored, but he would want to stress the group effort it took to get here,” he said. “Nothing was impossible with Bill,” said his sister, Susan Umpleby. “This couldn’t have happened without all of you.” “This project is amazing. It was so exciting when the Paoli FFA kids came to meet with us at the statehouse,” said Indiana state Rep. Steve Davisson (R-Salem). “We hope they will come back so we can show other representatives from around the state what they’re doing.” FFA President Nick Padgett said construction dates have not been determined yet, but they hope to have the building ready for the start of the 2018-19 school year. It will house eight pigs and the composter the district is purchasing. For more information on the proposed ag lab, visit https://phsagriculture.wordpress.com or follow the FFA on Facebook at “PaoliFFA.” |
