Loraine M. Roark Gifts
Benefit Music & Business Programs

CEF DONATES $119,000 TO R-II MUSIC & BUSINESS PROGRAMS
Laura Schuler, Chillicothe R-II Schools
November 1, 2023

The Chillicothe R-II School District's Business and Music Departments received a huge gift from the Chillicothe Education Foundation on behalf of the late Loraine M. Roark of Chillicothe less than a year ago (see below). This week, the Chillicothe Education Foundation announced another donation to those departments thanks again to Roark's generosity - this time to the tune of $119,304.98.

Superintendent Dr. Dan Wiebers said $89,000 of the funds are earmarked for the District's Music Department and will pay for items including new band uniforms for the CHS Marching Hornets, needed instruments and accessories for the band, and funds for the District's Show Choir.

The uniforms, which will cost an estimated $60,000, will be purchased with $20,000 of District funds that have budgeted for that purpose. The show choir will receive $30,000, and the District will purchase a new alto clarinet, a new bass trombone, two new euphoniums, a banner and band and choir accessories when all is said and done.

The remaining $19,000 of the gift will go toward the Business Department and will purchase a wide variety of items for those classrooms, including a credit card reader, a sublimation printer, dry erase whiteboards, window treatments, computer programs, classroom headphones, a photo light box, vinyl laminate counters, and circuit Mug and Hat presses.

The Drama Department will also use $10,000 of the donation to purchase an orchestra pit net, Wiebers said.

"I am continually amazed by the generosity of this community's citizens and foundations," Superintendent Dr. Dan Wiebers said. He added that the funds will greatly help improve and update these departments to meet the needs of Chillicothe R-II students, and better prepare them for life after graduation.

According to Education Foundation member Susan Fair, the late Loraine Roark enjoyed music and shared her love of it by playing the piano and organ and singing duets with her sister, Geraldine. She also sang in the Community Choir and the choir at the First Christian Church in Chillicothe.

CHILLICOTHE R-II'S FINE ARTS AND BUSINESS DEPARTMENTS RECEIVE $180,304 FROM GENEROUS LATE RESIDENT
Laura Schuler, Chillicothe R-II Schools
January 30, 2023

Two very different departments in the Chillicothe R-II School District - the Music Department and the Business Department at the Grand River Technical School - have been named the recipients of $180,304.89, thanks to a donation made by the Chillicothe Education Foundation on behalf of the late Loraine M. Roark of Chillicothe. And, as well as this sizable gift, a $5,000 scholarship in Loraine's name will also be given annually to one qualifying Chillicothe High School Senior who is pursuing a degree in Business, Business Education, Music or Music Education from a two-year, four-year, or vocational learning institution.

Specifically, funds earmarked for the Music Department will be used for new curtains and scrim in the Gary Dickinson Performing Arts Center, which will cost just over $32,000. According to Lisa Rule, PAC Technician and Drama teacher, 20 years of use have left the curtains dirty from years of set building, choir programs and drama productions. She noted that the rear traveler curtain, which crosses the length of the stage, also has multiple rips. "I have investigated the option of cleaning those curtains, but no company wants to clean them because of their age," Rule explained. She added, "They are afraid the curtains will disintegrate and not hold the flame-retardant liquid that must be applied."

As part of this generous donation, the Music Department will receive $64,724.89 to purchase needed equipment, ranging from new instruments, to better equipment, which will be used throughout the District, according to Sarah Cavanah, James Cookinham, Michele Phillips and Ryann French, R-II instrumental and vocal instructors. Specifically, because of this gift, the District will be able to purchase two acoustic pianos, new choir attire, St. Petersburg Tubas, an elementary music instrument set, marching baritones, mellophones, a vibraphone, an electric keyboard and more.

The Business Department at the Grand River Technical School will receive $83,520 as part of this gift. According to GRTS Business teachers Kyla Leatherman, Sondra Sturguess, and Kelsey Butler, the current business classrooms at the GRTS are designed for the traditional learning experience, which work for many core subject classes, like math and history. However, business classes, they say, are unique, and these funds will facilitate better learning within their classrooms. "We appreciate the opportunity to create a flexible learning environment with our students to encourage the development of soft skills - such as communication, teamwork, flexibility, adaptability and more," they said.

Funds for the business program will be used to purchase whiteboard partitions, multi-directional chairs, whiteboard tables, a workbench, stools, storage cabinets, multimedia tables, a small TV screen which will allow students to project from their laptops to the TVs, and more. According to Education Foundation member Susan Fair, the late Loraine Roark enjoyed music and shared her love of it by playing the piano and organ and singing duets with her sister, Geraldine. She also sang in the Community Choir and the choir at the First Christian Church in Chillicothe.

Loraine also had an aptitude for business, too and one of her first jobs out of high school was as secretary for the County Superintendent of Schools. She went on to have a very successful career for the Division of Family Services.