ONTARIO — Jonathan King knows that sometimes it pays to be an outsider.
Before King became the assistant principal at Ontario High School, he spent several years teaching at Madison.
This year, King spearheaded Ontario’s Warrior Wishmaker program, a collective of fundraisers throughout the district to provide Christmas gifts to students in need.
King said he noticed a plethora of efforts throughout the district to help Ontario families when he first arrived.
He was inspired to consolidate those efforts after seeing the success of the Merry Madison Christmas program.
“One of the benefits of being an Ontario outsider coming in with experiences in other districts is getting to take some of those experiences and things that were successful … and bring them here and replicate them,” King said at a school board meeting Tuesday.
“(Merry Madison) is very much a program that has extended beyond the walls of the school. It’s very much a community event.”
King said the Warrior Wishmaker program has generated more than $10,300 from student fundraisers and donations from staff, community members and local businesses.
Those funds were used to sponsor 24 Ontario families with 92 students during the holidays.
Every student received around $150 worth of gifts from their wishlist. Every family also received a box of non-perishable food items, milk, eggs, a turkey or ham and a $100 Walmart gift card.
Funds have also been used to help Ontario families during multiple family tragedies, including a house fire.
“It’s called Warrior Wishmaker, because it’s not just about Christmas,” Supt. Keith Strickler said.
“It’s nice to have that pot of money there when you know there’s a need and be able to address it.”
King said about $3,500 remains in Warrior Wishmaker account, which is a separate fund in the school’s budget. Money raised for the program cannot be spent on school district expenses. Spending decisions are made by the Warrior Wishmaker committee.
King said he’s excited to see Warrior Wishmaker grow into a staple community program. He publicly thanked the secretaries at each building, who helped coordinate much of the program’s work.
King also told the board he is planning spring fundraisers to boost the program’s coffers ahead of the holiday season.
Board votes on new softball field contract
The board also voted to accept a bid from Armstrong Field Solutions for the construction of a new softball field with an entrance archway and sod in place of grass seed.
The board received five bids for the work, with Armstrong submitting the lowest bid of $804,000. Other bids ranged from $825,000 to $906,000.
The new field will be located north of the soccer complex.
“We’ve been really developing that part of the campus for the athletics,” Strickler said.
“This past summer, we were able to put in new bleachers out there. With the boosters club, we added new concessions, new kitchen, new restrooms — plus the girl’s locker room is right over (there).”
Strickler said the district’s booster club will reimburse OLS for the cost of the arch. He also said the final cost will likely be lower than the one quoted by Armstrong because the contracator will be working with some local businesses.
“I was told that it will drop some,” he said. “I can’t tell you excatly how much it’s going to drop.”
Strickler said local companies, especially ones run by alumni, are often willing to provide goods and services to the district at a reduced rate.
“It’s a great way to support the school,” he said. “We always appreciate we have good relationship with a lot of our contractors.