The Old Sallisaw High School Association is holding a ribbon cutting as part of the dedication. The association received a $20,000 grant from the Oklahoma Centennial Commission last year for work on the old school, which was destroyed by a 2004 fire. The group sought the state funding in an effort to salvage what was left of the school and build a park and pavilion there.
As part of the grant requirements, the project or phase of the project is to be completed in 2007 for statehood.
Shannon Fisher, association president, said Monday that the association used the centennial funding to replace the dome roof of the school's rotunda with a metal roof. They also replaced the windows and doors of the rotunda, which were blown out during the fire, and repaired the flag poles and replaced the flags.
Fisher said the supports, or scaffolding, for the walls that are still standing will remain for the time being until a decision is made about what to do with the school in the future. The association currently owes the city $30,000 for cleaning up and removing debris after the fire.
Different plans about what to ultimately do with the school site have been tossed around, but no concrete decisions have been made. The association has discussed the possibility of the city purchasing it and building a safe house or community building there.
