The Knox Community School Corporation is donating several pieces of unused woodworking tools to Oregon-Davis.
Superintendent Dr. William Reichhart told the school board last week that the high school no longer offers a shop class, but the school corporation still has the equipment. “There are planers that we are storing,” he explained. “There are small items, saws and things, and the superintendent at Oregon-Davis, Dr. Don Harman, approached me and said, ‘Hey, Bill, would your board consider either giving it to us, leasing it to us, borrowing it to them?’ But they are offering a woodworking class currently over at Oregon-Davis.”
Reichhart said the shop tools are currently being stored in different places around the school corporation, and it’s unlikely Knox Schools will use them again. “In my opinion, it was taxpayer money that bought these items,” he said, “and it makes more sense to me that they’re being used by students somewhere than being just stored.”
Reichhart said he didn’t know how much the equipment was worth. However, board members were happy with the idea of donating it outright, without having it appraised. They agreed it was a good opportunity to show the community that local school districts are working together.
Additionally, Board President Gary Dulin stressed the need for supporting shop classes in the local area. He pointed out that there’s a strong demand for people with that skill set in the workforce. Reichhart said that even though Knox High School doesn’t offer woodworking, students can learn similar skills in the building trades program.
