Coalition to go back to visioning stage
by Karin L. Nauber
 |
| Custodian Gene Booker led one of the coalition groups who toured the Eagle Valley Elementary School during the last coalition meeting. Dale Rachuy and Lonna Olson listened as Booker showed one of the mechanical rooms. |
After a tour of the elementary school and approximately an hour of discussion, Superintendent Stephen Twitchell asked, "Do we need to take a step back? Do we need to go to a vision stage?"
Part of the discussion was halted because there are no cost estimates available.
Twitchell said it may be good to do some looking at what the group wants the district to look like in 5, 10, 15 and 20 years from now.
He also said that the first job was looking at a quality education for all the students. The second job was looking at the support we would have for having a school only in Eagle Bend, only in Clarissa, both or somewhere in between.
Twitchell said they were on hold right now as far as costs because the person he had wanted to hire to do the estimates and planning is unavailable as of now.
"We can't do anything without the okay from the state except to stay the way we are," he said.
He said he didn't know if the state would let the district put a lot of money into either facility at this time.
People who are a part of the coalition felt it was vital to know the cost of doing things before continuing and if and what can be done with the high school.
Dale Greenwaldt also felt it would be important to talk to the juniors and seniors and find out what would bring them back to the area after graduation.
Curt Gjerstad said that indecision on the district's part has caused kids to jump one way or another. If there were a vision for the district, he felt the district would be better.
Jerry Stone said they should put up a billboard that says, "Eagle Valley Schools are not closing. Come and join us."
Someone else said that if you want to sell something you find a core area to focus on like athletics or band or choir.
Jay Eckel said that no one in the area is excelling in academics.
Charlie Ring pointed out that if there were two schools for Eagle Valley and there were only grades 9-12 at the high school there would not be enough income to educate those students.
Twitchell said that he would create scenarios or situations where we have to do some visioning and that it would not be comfortable.
Sharon Notch said that while six students had attended the first meeting, afterwards she talked with them and they unanimously said they would like a new building, more technology and advanced curriculum. She said they were embarrassed by the building.
She said that surveys done by the Parent-Teacher Organization had some valid hardcore information in them.
Someone else said that they would like to see the district be one, to be a team.
"Having a place that looks nice is important to the kids. The kids will want to stay," said another coalition member.
January 7 will be the next meeting of the coalition. This will be a visioning meeting.