Dear Editor,
In light of recent discussion throughout news outlets and social media regarding the new Shepherd Schools bond levy that is running, I feel compelled to add my voice to the discussion.
I’m just a kid. I don’t have 30 years of working experience with asbestos removal. I haven’t been a fire marshal for 22 years. What I do have, however, is a love for the Shepherd School District and everything it represents. I have spent nearly 12 years at this school, and I am well aware of many of the same issues that have been called out. You don’t need a specialized degree to recognize that our school is old.
However, I feel like it is a total disservice to the community to just step back, take a look at the bond, and say because “It isn’t what I would have proposed, we shouldn’t do anything at all.” That is the same attitude that has resulted in lack of resources to make many of the repairs and upgrades to the school possible in the first place.
Most of the other students I know do their best to make Shepherd something to be proud of. I’ve taken part in many activities at all levels of school here. Shepherd has many ways to learn and grow academically.
We have some very talented and engaged educators. I have been involved with science bowls, and spelling bees, and competed at various FFA competitions. I participated in a gifted and talented program throughout elementary school, and am currently a member of our school’s National Honor Society. Those types of activities are an integral part of the Shepherd experience. Athletics is also a key part of that culture. I’ve participated in Little League, basketball, volleyball, softball, and I have managed the wrestling team. Some of those experiences have created life-long bonds between my teammates, myself, and the community that supports us. Athletics are expensive, but critical in rural Montana school districts. Anyone who doesn’t believe that has not seen the exodus of students that have transferred out of our district in the past few years. Losing students because a school doesn’t have adequate facilities doesn’t help anyone.
Space has always been at a premium at our school. The gifted and talented group I was in used a closet for our classroom. Currently, some of the kindergarten teachers are sharing classrooms with other staff members. Multiple special education teachers are forced to share classrooms the same size as the rooms that the average teacher uses for one regular sized class.
We have a fantastic weight room and mezzanine which were purchased with the help of a grant the school received through the work of Mr. John Barta, a teacher who cared as much about our school and its success as anyone I’ve ever been in contact with. However, with anywhere from 3-5 teams having practice for sports each season, it’s impossible to fit full teams in those areas to workout, let alone allow staff and students who are not in sports to use these facilities. The new plans for these facilities will allow increased success in these athletic programs and create an overall increased morale.
Every year, if you ask graduating seniors for their advice to underclassmen, it is common to hear from them: “get involved.” Whether that involvement be participating in sports, joining band or choir, being a member of a club, or simply attending events as an active member of the school, involvement from students is a key to success. Additionally, involvement from the community is crucial. At every sporting event you find close to the same home crowd, and it is mostly parents and family members; students and team mates; and every once in a while, a few extra members of the area come to support. I have also had the opportunity to attend Speech, Drama, and Debate events, where limited support is given to those students. With the community already lacking an investment of support toward our student success, it doesn’t surprise me that some people are confused as to why the bond is needed. The proposed new community-friendly areas would allow more involvement from all levels of the community and, in turn, increase the relationships between students and community members.
Additionally, when the school reaches out to the community asking for volunteers for any activity, it is time and time again the same people helping out. Not all of said volunteers are parents of kids in school, but the majority are. A select few members of the community have expressed that they believe the school does not have strong ties to the community, but they have, again, done little to change it.
The science labs have also been an expressed concern in regard to the current condition of the school. In order to achieve more success and higher standards of education, our science labs need improvement; I cannot and will not deny that fact. It is important to note that the plans proposed for the bond include a new, much larger, science lab for use by both middle and high school students. That being said, I also cannot understand why there are such negative things being said about the bond being athletics based, when there are also clearly great advancements planned for academic programs.
As for the enclosed area to keep Montana kids from going outside (mentioned in the letter published in the YCN on February 16th). This isn’t a comfort feature, this is a safety feature. Yes, Shepherd students have hiked through uncontrolled parking lots between buildings for the last 35 years. But we cannot say we need to improve safety in our schools by keeping everything as it has been. Times are changing. Even 10 years ago, no one would even have considered the security concerns as part of the necessary bond levy.
I’m not saying that as a community, we should be compelled to blindly agree to every tax increase/bond that comes along. I know this is not New York, and I know that the folks in our community don’t have endless resources. However, I also think that if we don’t do something now, we will stall until it’s too late. Costs will only continue to escalate, and as our facilities and programs continue to deteriorate, student enrollment will fall and Shepherd will cease to be viable. I’m not writing this for me; I won’t be here when the improvements are completed. It won’t specifically benefit me, or my family, but it just might save our community.
Kylee Coates,
Shepherd Student
