PTO, donors recognized at March 13 meeting

Mid Valley PTO members and donors who contributed to its new playground structure were honored by Human Resources Director Gus Hedberg during the recognition and good news portion of the meeting for their contributions to the school. Major project donors were the PTO, led by President Mari-Beth Guenther, Eric Cohn and the Cohn family, the Odell Lions Club and Farmers Conservation Alliance.

The park will be named after Holly Cohn, a longtime Mid Valley teacher who died in 2022.

“We know what a hub the Mid Valley school is for the community locally, so it’s going to be enjoyed by students here at school and also by the families who live close … what a legacy for those who have participated in the funding,” Hedberg said.

Guenther thanked Cohn for his $150,000 donation. “Eric really breathed life into this project,” she said. “We had a pipe dream three years ago … and we raised a little bit of money. And Eric came in and gave us a huge $150,000 donation in memory of his wife, Holly, who was a teacher here and who believed in Mid Valley and the program.”

Thanks to that donation, the PTO was able to get other donations from community groups. “We raised $350,000,” Guenther said. “I don’t think people know how much it takes to build a playground, but it’s expensive.”

Director Julia Garcia-Ramirez (postion 4), who represents the Odell area, thanked the PTO and donors, echoing that the school is a community hub gets a lot of use.

“We needed a safe place, an engaging place, a place that kids what to come, and what better place to have it than our school?” she said. “… I know it takes a village — you guys are the village. So thank you.”

“It makes me have a lot of pride in what we can do as a community to keep our schools up to date and keep serving our kids,” Board Chair Chrissy Reitz (position 1) said. “… That’s a lot of people coming together.”

Superintendent Bill Newton also thanked the PTO and donors, saying, “The Mid Valley Parent Teacher Organization demonstrates what a committed group of parents, teamwork and organization can bring to a school. Our school district community and myself are thankful for their impressive efforts.”

Donations were also made by Cardinal Glass, Duckwall Fruit, Earl and Joan Fowler, Greenfish Foundation (Jessica Apland and Jon Gehrig), Hood River Cherry Co., Hood River Electric Co-op, Hood River Rotary, Mari-Beth and Joe Guenther, Ron Cohen, Sarah P. LaVenture, Umpqua Bank, Wy’east Labs, Wy’East Volunteer Firefighters and EMS Association and the Yasui Family.

The project is set for two phases: Phase one will begin later this month with the installation of the main playground, with phase two adding a covered area that will serve as an outdoor classroom and community gathering space.

Commemorative bricks will be laid in this area and can be purchased for a donation of $100 at polarengraving.com/midvalleypto. For information, visit Mid Valley’s website at hoodriver.k12.or.us/mves or on Facebook at facebook.com/midvalleyelementarypumas.