BARRHEAD – The Barrhead Air Cadets received a letter from the Barrhead Composite High School on April 28 giving them 60 days’ notice to move out because they can no longer use the school facilities.
“Our biggest issue is we have a lot in a storage area. We've been at the school for a very long time.” Said Brian Woodrow, Barrhead Cadets Board president.
“We have supplies like uniforms, everything for the cadets to do their marksmanship biathlon and a flight simulator.”
The Cadets knew that the advisement of having to move out was coming with the high school modernization plan in motion as per Woodrow.
Slade Sekulich, Principal of Barrhead Composite High School, said the Cadets and other groups who use the high school facilities were advised a year ago.
“We don't want to be feeling like we're kicking people out. It is just that we were not going to have that space.” said Sekulich.
The construction was set to start in March but the elementary playground equipment and the small hill between the schools were removed on May 2.
The groups have been advised to vacate the high school space to ensure their safety as the modernization plan gets going said Sekulich.
There are safety concerns with sectioned off areas, construction people on site and reduced access points making the high school less accessible.
It is still a shock to receive notice, and the Cadets only have 60 days to do all the work of finding a new place and moving.
The Barrhead Army Cadets have been using high school facilities since Cadets began in Barrhead as far as Woodrow knew.
They use a lower floor of the gym for storage, an office in the same area and have been using a classroom along with the gym.
It was suggested that the Cadets talk to the Elementary School about using their facilities.
Woodrow feels it’s not just about getting gym space but the need for storage is just as important especially since some of the equipment must be in a controlled temperature environment.
The Cadets have been paying a nominal fee for use of the facilities at Barrhead Composite High School according to Woodrow.
Woodrow has reached out to the Barrhead Elementary School for space, but other groups also are in the same situation and the whole situation has some people scrambling.
He has also spoken to the Legion and a few other venues, but space is tight.
Woodrow said jokingly that if someone had an empty building, they would be willing to offer up the Cadets would be most appreciative.
Barrhead Elementary School has a meeting scheduled to determine who will have the opportunity to use the space although Woodrow has not been advised as to when that meeting is going to happen.
The other part of the letter notification states that the Cadets will not have access to the high school for at least the next year and at that time Barrhead Composite High School will evaluate what areas they have for use by groups.
This is a further complication because it changes the search for new facilities into a possible permanent situation.
Woodrow has reached out to the Bethel Church and spoken to Bablitz Hall schedulers.
Locations other than the school will have high rent rates and the Cadets are on a limited budget.
The Cadets need to be moved by June 30.
