The Shepherd School Bond has become a topic of heated debate as the upcoming bond vote on May 7 of this year approaches. Opinions vary and the “facts” being flaunted vary even more. Yellowstone County News has seen an influx of passionate opinions flow through its doors, from actual students of the school, wishing to be heard, to the outlying contractor, wanting to put in their two cents on the repairs and upgrades, to reluctant property owners, afraid of property tax increases.
In light of the controversy, members of the Shepherd community, the implementing architects responsible for the proposal, and members of school’s administration are setting the record straight.
The school itself has not seen any significant updates in thirty years, 1989 being the last time steps were taken to bring improvements to the Shepherd community’s source of education for their youth. In that thirty years, technology progressed, infrastructure broke down, security needs increased, and the once appropriate capacity became sorely lacking. These are some the community concerns addressed by the proposed bond levy.
The kindergarten building has been put out of commission, displacing over sixty youngsters into the already tight space available in the elementary building.
With the school itself already nearing 120 percent capacity, classes are piled on top of each other in the same space. Some classes are being conducted in hallways or even closets and utility rooms. Yes, we discovered that special needs class work is indeed being conducted inside closets. Some parents are choosing to outsource for their children’s educational needs due to these complications. You don’t have to be an educator to imagine how tremendously difficult effectively performing the task of educating children is under these conditions. The loss of the kindergarten building also means the loss of space for music education and YBGR staff members, and putting them in the main building has consecutively resulted in the loss of the computer lab and any small group space that existed. Where this will lead moving forward is still an unknown.
There is a sense of overwhelming frustration when talking with Mrs. Kring, the principal of the elementary school, about her options. She stated that if this continues, they will be forced to bring in modular units, the cost of which would be untenable. “We would be losing staff somewhere.” “I don’t know, to be honest, what we’re going to do.” The proposed plan will add seven rooms to the elementary school, allowing space for the kindergarten classes, restoring music education space, a computer lab, spaces for small group education, and special needs education.
Beyond space for education, the elementary school has basic needs requiring attention daily. HVAC units throughout the school are failing on a regular basis at a cost of $10,000 a year to repair. CLICK here to read more
I want to thank Yellowstone County News for taking the time to send someone to the school and find out what this bond is all about. Well done, this is why I subscribe!