Ears lowered, roof raised

Matthew Butte, principal at Columbia Adventist Academy, shows off a couple of impressive makeovers: his $50,000 haircut and the forum of the school’s new classroom building. (Steven Lane/The Columbian)

You've seen this sort of thing before, where a principal offers to kiss a pig, take a pie in the face or get a haircut to raise money for the school.

But have you ever seen it generate $50,000?

That's what Principal Matthew Butte pulled in at a recent fundraising auction for Columbia Adventist Academy.

It's an event that rates its own title: "The English Headmaster Meets the Yankee Clipper."

Butte scored a $50,000 haircut.

That's a lot of money for a buzz cut, but the school has a pretty significant challenge. Columbia Adventist Academy is getting ready to move into a new classroom building on its Meadow Glade campus, southwest of Battle Ground.

The project includes some remodeling to the gymnasium and upgrades of other school facilities and amounts to a $6 million capital campaign.

And they're not quite there yet. When this whole notion took root a few years ago, "It was a leap of faith," Butte said.

The school sold some land, recruited some pledges and gifts, and looked to be on its way.

"Then the economy tanked," said Butte, who is finishing his first year as principal.

"It's been a journey," he said, referring to the campaign.

Butte has had a journey of his own. He came from England a dozen years ago to join the Columbia Adventist staff as a chaplain and religion teacher. That journey was recognized this week when Butte's office door was decorated with the title "headmaster" and a paper version of the Union Jack.

Butte got his new 'do on Sunday at a school auction. PE teacher and coach Jay Pierce brought some clippers and offered his hair as an auction item. The bidding topped out at $165.

At that point, Pierce turned to the principal and suggested: "How about Mr. Butte, with a two-for-one?"

"Sure," Butte says he replied. "If it's for five or six figures."

But he adds, "I didn't expect anybody to take me up on it."

That's when one of the guests asked Butte if $50,000 was good enough.

All Butte could say was "OK."

The winning bidder, who preferred to go unnamed in the newspaper, took the clippers and went to work.

Butte didn't exactly get his head shaved, but he made sure to wear a hat the following day at a school picnic.

"I've never had it this short," he said. "My 5-year-old daughter won't speak of it."

Still, Butte's new look is overshadowed by the school's makeover. The students — Columbia Adventist has an enrollment of 109 in grades 9-12 this year — will move into the new classroom building in August.

But the past won't be totally swept away at the school, which has been a Meadow Glade landmark since 1903. Several historic features have been retained, including the Friendship Arch (a gift of the Class of 1953) and a flagpole (Class of 1972.)

There is another old-school, you might say, touch that has more to with energy efficiency than heritage.

There is no air conditioning, Butte said. The building's windows can be opened to let in fresh air.

Tom Vogt: 360-735-4558 or tom.vogt@columbian.com.