A DRAFT FACILITY MASTER PLAN (FMP) was presented to the Sierra County Office of Education (SCOE) and Sierra-Plumas Joint Unified School District (SPJUSD) Board during its regular meeting on July 29th in Downieville. School Leaders, a consulting firm that provides support and guidance to school districts, focusing on areas like facilities, operations, and leadership development prepared the FMP for the District. The purpose of the FMP is to provide a fact-based and data-driven report for the Board of Education and district staff to make decisions related to district educational facilities that best serve the needs of all the students. It will help guide SPJUSD in the potential construction of new facilities and evaluating existing facilities and programs by site, age and type. Input was been gathered through surveys conducted with principals, teachers and staff, as well as community meetings and focused interviews with key stakeholders. In March, School Leaders did a comprehensive review of the schools and looked at every building and portables, to see what was in need of repair, adding there is a tremendous amount of work that needs to be done.
In the summary of findings, high-urgency (Priority 1) items included 67 line-items district-wide – dominated by leaking roofs, antiquated boilers, failing single-pane windows, and single-zone HVAC units.
Programmatic gaps included no dedicated welding lab, undersized science rooms, and under-utilized library media centers that could be repurposed for STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)/maker learning.
Site/circulation deficiencies included congested parent-bus loops, limited ADA parking, and unsecured campus perimeters. They stressed the need for having only one entry in to schools.
Technology shortfalls included insufficient electrical capacity in portables, patchwork Wi-Fi, and lack of conduit for future fiber upgrades.
Costs for findings are staggering. The state offers many programs for funding that include new construction programs, career technical programs, energy efficiency, supplemental grants. The last time the district received state funds was in 2014 and felt they should have a great opportunity for eligibility of a 60/40 match grant. The District will be pursuing the Financial Hardship Program which could qualify for up to 100% of funding. The key is to understand where the District is currently, adding it would take several weeks to finish the analysis. The Findings give the District something to work with, adding they should take care of the roofs, boilers and windows first.
THE LOYALTON MIDDLE SCHOOL is set to open in time for school to start Wednesday, August 20th.
District Superintendent Sean Snider, reported during the Board meeting on Tuesday, July 29th that the new portable for the District Office is still 6-8 weeks out. The plan is to temporarily move to space available at Eastern Plumas Health Care’s Loyalton campus until the new portable is ready for occupancy.
EASTERN PLUMAS HEALTH CARE announces its Therapy & Wellness Center’s relocation to 73815 S. Delleker Road in Delleker coming soon.
The relocation is a strategic move that will allow for continued growth for rehabilitation services without requiring a large investment in capital funding, thereby maintaining EPHC funds for other infrastructure projects.
The new center is 5,800 square feet, with expanded outdoor areas for therapeutic modalities.
Clients will be notified as the date for relocation nears. For more information, visit ephc.org.
LOYALTON RESIDENT SHOT AT GSR
Kevin Weir, Loyalton resident, was one of the victims on July 28th who was shot three times at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno. He recovered at Renown.
Kevin writes, “I was shot three times; two up near my shoulder on my left arm and on my inner thigh on the inside. The bullet exited and entered my left thigh.He was running right at me not even 10 feet away when he shot me. I can’t believe he didn’t hit me square in the chest, his aim was terrible. Thank goodness.
“I thought at first he might have robbed the casino but apparently he came up from the lower parking lot, just started shooting people. I still can’t believe that guy didn’t hit me square in the chest from 10 feet away.”
Six people were shot; three died and the suspect is in critical condition after being shot by responding police.
LOYALTON CITY COUNCIL passed Resolution 8-2025 at its July 15th meeting, adopting Rules of Decorum for public meetings which “will contribute to the orderly conduct of the meetings, thereby enhancing the ability of the City to effectively address the need and concerns of the community.” Council member Sue McIlravy mentioned not being disorderly “if something were to happen.” The Mayor Joy Markum stated they still have free speech but to be cilvil and “it goes both ways.” Sue added it’s “not right to yell at us; it protects us.” It was moved by Sue, seconded by Joe Dines and passed.
Nichole Johnson, Editor
Sierra Booster Newspaper
[email protected]
(530) 277-0891
In the summary of findings, high-urgency (Priority 1) items included 67 line-items district-wide – dominated by leaking roofs, antiquated boilers, failing single-pane windows, and single-zone HVAC units.
Programmatic gaps included no dedicated welding lab, undersized science rooms, and under-utilized library media centers that could be repurposed for STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)/maker learning.
Site/circulation deficiencies included congested parent-bus loops, limited ADA parking, and unsecured campus perimeters. They stressed the need for having only one entry in to schools.
Technology shortfalls included insufficient electrical capacity in portables, patchwork Wi-Fi, and lack of conduit for future fiber upgrades.
Costs for findings are staggering. The state offers many programs for funding that include new construction programs, career technical programs, energy efficiency, supplemental grants. The last time the district received state funds was in 2014 and felt they should have a great opportunity for eligibility of a 60/40 match grant. The District will be pursuing the Financial Hardship Program which could qualify for up to 100% of funding. The key is to understand where the District is currently, adding it would take several weeks to finish the analysis. The Findings give the District something to work with, adding they should take care of the roofs, boilers and windows first.
THE LOYALTON MIDDLE SCHOOL is set to open in time for school to start Wednesday, August 20th.
District Superintendent Sean Snider, reported during the Board meeting on Tuesday, July 29th that the new portable for the District Office is still 6-8 weeks out. The plan is to temporarily move to space available at Eastern Plumas Health Care’s Loyalton campus until the new portable is ready for occupancy.
EASTERN PLUMAS HEALTH CARE announces its Therapy & Wellness Center’s relocation to 73815 S. Delleker Road in Delleker coming soon.
The relocation is a strategic move that will allow for continued growth for rehabilitation services without requiring a large investment in capital funding, thereby maintaining EPHC funds for other infrastructure projects.
The new center is 5,800 square feet, with expanded outdoor areas for therapeutic modalities.
Clients will be notified as the date for relocation nears. For more information, visit ephc.org.
LOYALTON RESIDENT SHOT AT GSR
Kevin Weir, Loyalton resident, was one of the victims on July 28th who was shot three times at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno. He recovered at Renown.
Kevin writes, “I was shot three times; two up near my shoulder on my left arm and on my inner thigh on the inside. The bullet exited and entered my left thigh.He was running right at me not even 10 feet away when he shot me. I can’t believe he didn’t hit me square in the chest, his aim was terrible. Thank goodness.
“I thought at first he might have robbed the casino but apparently he came up from the lower parking lot, just started shooting people. I still can’t believe that guy didn’t hit me square in the chest from 10 feet away.”
Six people were shot; three died and the suspect is in critical condition after being shot by responding police.
LOYALTON CITY COUNCIL passed Resolution 8-2025 at its July 15th meeting, adopting Rules of Decorum for public meetings which “will contribute to the orderly conduct of the meetings, thereby enhancing the ability of the City to effectively address the need and concerns of the community.” Council member Sue McIlravy mentioned not being disorderly “if something were to happen.” The Mayor Joy Markum stated they still have free speech but to be cilvil and “it goes both ways.” Sue added it’s “not right to yell at us; it protects us.” It was moved by Sue, seconded by Joe Dines and passed.
Nichole Johnson, Editor
Sierra Booster Newspaper
[email protected]
(530) 277-0891
