- Payson High School's demolition marks an emotional transition for Principal Jesse Sorenson.
- Sorenson recalls the school's historical significance, including filming 'Footloose' with Kevin Bacon.
- The new building symbolizes a fresh start, preserving memories like Bacon's locker tribute.
PAYSON — Payson High School Principal Jesse Sorenson watched as demolition crews tore down a building he said facilitated far more than academic learning.
As each wall crumbled and the roof caved in, Sorenson said his heart was filled with sadness and gratitude, but also love and excitement.
"The old building was really nostalgic, and as a principal, it was fun to see how much that building meant to so many people," he said.
As a fourth-generation Payson High School graduate, Sorenson knows the significance of the old building from multiple perspectives. His aunts and uncles went to school there, and he loved seeing his own children (also Payson High graduates) walk the historic hallways. He even reminisced about seeing the film crews roll into town for a movie that would put his school at the center of eternal cinematic fame.
"My great-grandparents went to the previous building that was torn down in 1967, and it's where my grandparents met and fell in love," Sorenson said. "All my aunts and uncles went to the 'new' old high school — the one that was just torn down. I graduated in 1995 and three of my children have graduated from Payson High.
"I was a child when they filmed 'Footloose,' and I have memories of when the crews were in town. It was an exciting time for sure."
Little did young Sorensen know that 40 years later, he would be the principal of the school as it reached worldwide fame when "Footloose" actor Kevin Bacon came to town for the anniversary.
"We had global news attention that we did not anticipate when Kevin Bacon came," Sorenson said. "We knew we'd at least have statewide media attention, but it turned into a global news story. Our students had opportunities to meet with the media to share the story of Payson High with the world, which was really fun."
The story of Payson High School extends well beyond the filming of "Footloose" and even the building itself, said Sorenson. He also said that the past eight years as an administrator have shown him how truly special Payson High really is, and how everyone who went to school there has their own story to share.
When you see a building that (has) held so many experiences get torn down, you realize that it's the spirit of the building and not necessarily the structure that matters.
–Payson High School Principal Jesse Sorensen
"For the past several years, alumni really wanted to do their reunions at the old building, and each class that came through said that they felt like they were the most important class that ever came through Payson High," Sorenson said. "It was fun for me to see that, because I know that I felt the same way."
That feeling, Sorensen said, came from the people and many times from "non-education-related" experiences that he admitted as an educator and principal, which oftentimes get overlooked.
"I think we as educators underestimate the value of the friendships forged at school," Sorenson said. "I've had a unique perspective as someone who grew up in Payson to be able to see the longevity of many of those friendships. When you see a building that (has) held so many experiences get torn down, you realize that it's the spirit of the building and not necessarily the structure that matters. It's the people who are there and they will continue on and make generations of new memories."
Sorenson will continue on as the principal at the newly constructed Payson High School and bring with him a new generation to start what will no doubt be a legacy that will continue on for many years to come.
"My third child was the last class to graduate from the old building and my fourth child will be the first to graduate from the new one," Sorenson said. "For our family, that's kind of a fun transition."
Sorensen said that while mourning the loss of the old school is hard, change can be exciting.
"People have asked me if I miss the old building already and I say about as much as you miss a car when you get a new one," he said. "This summer, I've spent time in the new building just kind of imagining where kids will congregate and what activities and cool learning opportunities kids will have. It's really exciting! We're ready for the next chapter while still carrying with us some awesome history."
Sorenson said that part of that history includes Kevin Bacon's character, Ren McCormack's locker from "Footloose."
"We did bring his locker to the new building," Sorenson said. "We built it in sequence with the rest of the lockers as a tribute to the old school, while moving forward onto many more awesome things ahead.
