TRUMAN HIGH SCHOOL dedicates Little Theater

Truman High School students and staff held a "Cougar Pride" grand re-opening and dedication of its Little Theater on April 15.

The staff at Truman dreamed of having a stage in its round theater/presentation room for a long time. When officials from the City of Taylor approached the staff, offering to support school projects, Principal Melissa Skopczynski and others got the ball rolling.

Eventually, the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters volunteered their time and labor to put together the project. They coordinated the project with suppliers like Home Depot and Taylor School District maintenance staffers.

Together, they put together a permanent stage that fans out into the room; closed off the open-concept walls (for noise control); installed new flooring and paint; and created a safe structure to hang a 200-pound power screen from the ceiling over the stage front.

School staffers cut and sewed the old drapes into new designs to better work with the new stage and screen.

All the work has come together nicely.

For today's dedication, Principal Skopczynski served as a master of ceremonies. Jamal Al represented the carpenter's union and the entire Truman maintenance staff was on hand for the event, along with several City staffers. Assistant Supt. Teresa Winnie was also in attendance.

Mayor Rick Sollars lauded the teamwork that brought together the project, especially the carpenters, who have come to the community's aid in so many different ways, from current work at the future home of Enchanted Makeovers (just outside Heritage Park) to Little League pavilions and veterans' homes.

The high school's symphonic band played a number that recently was awarded in competition, and several school-made videos were played, thanking everyone for the effort. Naomi Pope did a wonderful job producing the videos. Joey Herrera spoke for the Truman students, crediting everyone for their support of the school and the district.

The Truman stage project marks the second joint project between the district and the City. Earlier, the City helped Hoover Middle School obtain a private donation to cover the snack program for its highly successful and heavily attended after-school program.

Next up? Many of the same volunteers plan on major renovations in the POHI center at Truman. Look for more on that in upcoming reports.