Written by Whitney L Dixon
Imagine you have the privilege of providing a much needed education to students and adults with special needs. You have the licenses required to provide the developmental, physical and occupational therapy that these individuals need to live more independent lives. Imagine the satisfaction and joy of helping them on the long journey toward becoming, as Sunshine School teacher Sally Paine said, “effective in all aspects of their lives.”
Now imagine having to turn such students away.
Unfortunately, Mary-Lou Dunn, director of the Sunshine School, has been put in this position time and time again. There is currently a waiting list for the school, Dunn said, but fire codes restrict the school from taking any more students at this time.
“The hardest part of the job is saying to parents, ‘I’m sorry, we don’t have enough room,'” Dunn said.
However, Dunn said this problem is nearing a solution. The Sunshine School has been raising funds for a new building for five years, and construction will start soon. According to Dunn, the dirt work has been laid, the architect paid, and the contractor chosen. Once the actual building begins, the project should take about eight months.
“I would be thrilled if we could start by the end of April,” Dunn said.
The Sunshine School has needed a bigger building for a long time, Paine said, but it was five years ago that plans really took off when the parents of one of their preschool students put together a committee and got the project started. The committee contacted local realtor Letain Devore, who donated the land for the project, said Dunn.
However, Dunn said that when the econcomy turned bad, the project was put on hold. Dunn explained that most area fundraising went to the Bald Knob School District in an attempt to get it back on its feet because of the difficult economy.
Nevertheless, the building project is now moving forward and returning to the public eye. One of the most recent fundraisers was “Raise the Roof,” which was planned by a group of Searcy women in December. The fundraiser included food, entertainment and an artwork auction. According to Dunn, the fundraiser raised $270,000.
Dunn and Paine agree that one of the most inspiring things throughout the process has been the support of the community. They have seen everything from small donations, such as girls selling lemonade in the parking lot and children asking for donations instead of birthday presents, to much larger donations.
“A man in this community [called me] out of the blue,” Dunn said. After a visit and some questions about the project, the man said that they could expect a donation from him. He then mentioned that it would be a donation of $100,000.
“[It was] one of the first times in my life that I’ve been speechless, and then what could I do but sit there and cry?” Dunn said.
At this point, the Sunshine school has $1.3 million in donations and solid pledges. Dunn said this represents approximately 75 percent of the total cost of the project, which is about $2 million.
“Every kid deserves to go to a school they’re proud of, and we are all proud of what makes the Sunshine School the Sunshine School, but it will be nice to have a building that reflects that,” said Cheri Ramsey, purchasing coordinator for Harding University and mother of Katie Ramsey, a current Sunshine School student.
Anyone who is interested in making a donation to the Sunshine School building project, planning a fundraiser or committing time to volunteer is encouraged to contact Dunn by e-mail atsnshnscl@yahoo.com, or by phone at 501-268-9227.
