Pine Eagle School District seeks Halfway approval for new greenhouse

Pine Eagle School District has asked Halfway officials for permission to build a 24-by-48-foot greenhouse on its school property at 375 N Main St., a proposal that would add a hands-on learning space to the center of town if city leaders approve it.

The district filed for a conditional use permit for tax lot 600, the same site that already holds multiple buildings, playgrounds, a track and ball fields. The lot is in the city’s Public Zone, and the request now moves into the public comment stage before the Halfway City Council takes action. A hearing is scheduled for May 7 at 4:30 p.m. at Halfway City Hall.

City notices were mailed to nearby property owners within 100 feet at least 20 days before the hearing. The notice also said the greenhouse request could become part of a larger conditional use permit documenting the district’s existing facilities as well as the new structure if it is approved. If the greenhouse is denied, the city would still issue a permit authorizing the current buildings and facilities already on the property.

The proposal is modest in size, but it could carry outsized value for Pine Eagle Charter School, the district’s only public school. The school serves students in kindergarten through 12th grade at 375 North Main St., and the district’s mission is to develop and graduate students who demonstrate literacy, integrity, creativity and efficacy. A greenhouse would fit that mission well, giving students a place to study science, agriculture, horticulture and related projects without needing a major campus expansion.

That matters in a small rural district where even one new facility can expand what students can do on campus. Public profile data show Pine Eagle School District has a relatively small student body and a substantial share of students eligible for free and reduced-price meals, which makes every capital improvement more consequential for families and staff. The Oregon Department of Education publishes school and district profile and report-card data each year for parents and community members, including information on enrollment and accountability measures.

The greenhouse request also comes after other campus improvements in Halfway. Superintendent Cammie DeCastro previously said football-field lights were installed with grant money acquired in 2019, a sign the district has been piecing together upgrades over time. If the greenhouse moves forward, it would add another visible investment to a campus that already serves as both the district office and the home of Pine Eagle Charter School.