Dear Editor,
In response to the ad placed by Vic Feuerstein. The design for the cafeteria, yes, it is large, yes, it has high ceilings, and yes, it is expensive, but when broken down by the sq ft. it will be $240.00. Other square footage on the new construction will be $220.00. So for only $20 more per sq ft we can use this for numerous activities. Money well spent to use this cafeteria to serve breakfast, lunch, and…. whatever else we can. This would not be a gym but a cafeteria that has been designed well.
Here at Shepherd we have a little more than 30% of our kids on free or reduced lunches which may sound high, but we also have a large number of foster kids in our community. My family never received free or reduced meals until we were asked to care for my nephews. Now my children receive reduced lunches, but we still pay our taxes.
Our school district is either above, at or less than 5% below when it comes Smarter Balanced and ACT scores. The only category that does not fall into those numbers is math, with that said district wide we have new math curriculum.
High School students have to have two years of physical education to graduate, the weights and cardio that are being relocated to a new space is only 200 sq. ft more than what we have now. Will our sports program use them? I hope so, again using the equipment for more than physical education is great plan.
To bring in mobile classrooms will cost money, which is not in the budget. We then will have the cost of insuring and heating these classrooms. I am all for giving the kindergarten classrooms but to pay taxes on a “band-aid” and still not have the issues taken care of does not sound like good leadership to me.
I have so many more facts that I can not share with you for lack of space, but I would encourage all of you to come out to the next meeting is Monday, April 15, at 6:30 in the multi- purpose room in the high school.
Finally, we have a fairly new board, only two of the seven were on the board the last time we tried to pass the bond, and research shows they have been freely giving their time and efforts to present the best option to support all of our students. The new board has hired a new Superintendent who has been here 18 months. Mr. Carter lives in the Pioneer District and is committed to improving our school. His recent achievements include leading a school in receiving the Blue Ribbon Award in Harrington, Kansas. Let’s work with the school board, superintendent and the community not only to improve our school but our future for our community.
Natasha Zabel
Shepherd
