One last project Dan Horochuk to step down once construction of M.V. Beattie school is completed By Jordan Thompson Capital projects manager for the North Okanagan-Shuswap School District (#83), Dan Horochuk comes from a construction background and is currently overseeing the construction of the new M.V. Beattie Elementary School. After serving over 25 years in the business, Horochuk has decided that he will step down from his position and leave the school district once construction of the school is complete. “I’ll be retiring from the school district, but will probably do some consul-
tation and general contracting work,� Horochuk says. “And I might do some private work based around that, but I’ll definitely be scaling back and likely only working part-time.� Before Horochuk became involved with the schooling industry, he spent 13 years working for a general contractor. After that, he began working as a ticketed carpenter for what was then the Armstrong School District and two years later, in 1986, Horochuk moved up into a management position within
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Ops Talk • Fall 2011
the school district. “I looked after the maintenance department, which included managing custodial staff, electricians, plumbers, carpenters and ground staff,� Horochuk says. “I was also taking on a lot of the capital work, which involved managing money for building upgrades and school additions, renovations and roof upgrades. My background in construction made me a good fit for that.� In 1996, the Armstrong School District amalgamated with the Salmon Arm School District to become what is now known as the North Okanagan-Shuswap School District. Upon the merging of the two school districts, Horochuk moved into the position of the assistant director of operations, holding it for two years before becoming manager of operations in 1998. “I held that position until about a year ago,� Horochuk says. “Since we’re now building this new school, I had an opportunity to take this position and oversee the completion of construction, and once that’s complete I will retire.� “Being the capital projects manager makes me a representative for the school district. I work in direct consultation with the design team, architect, engineers and general contractor. I also manage the construction budget for the school district, as well as monitor the overall progress of the project.� While M.V. Beattie Elementary School is currently operational, Horochuk explains that the old building has quite simply run its life expectancy and that is why a new school is being built, right
