Wapato High given grant for upgrade

WAPATO -- After remaining mostly untouched for nearly half a century, Wapato High School will finally undergo some renovations, thanks to a $3.7 million federal grant.

The school's west wing, home to 10 classrooms, will be renovated, according to school officials. Construction will begin as soon as possible and should be complete within two years, officials said.

Built more than 50 years ago, the high school's plumbing, venti-lation, heating and cooling and electrical systems are outdated. There are also safety issues, such as a lack of fire sprinklers, rooms with multiple doors -- a security risk -- and no accommodations for people with disabilities.

School districts with lands that are not taxable qualify for federal impact aid money. The Wapato School District is on the Yakama Reservation, where there is much tribal land that is held in federal trust and exempt from property taxes.