Supporting new high school is right thing for Whitefish
I am a veteran educator who also has had over 20 years of officiating volleyball and wrestling in Wisconsin prior to moving out here permanently in 2006. So I have been in many schools and observed the varied relationships between communities and their high schools.
My first observation is that I have never before seen such outstanding and vociferous support that the Columbia Falls students and adults give to their athletic teams and I assume, also to their speech /debate teams and musicians. It’s been my experience that parents typically follow their teams for only a year or two after their student/athlete graduates from high school. Not so with those Wildcat fans of all ages, as it’s the whole community that turns out in mass for both home and road events. They are not just there for when their students participate, but are in there for “the long haul.”
Another more general observation I’ve made is regarding community attitudes toward funding education. I had an aunt and uncle who were unable to have children. Sadly Uncle Harry never voted for a school referendum and would declare “let the parents pay.” I’ve also seen the same attitude from many parents after their children graduated. In our society and communities, we are always paying back for freedoms and benefits others gave to us and it is also our legacy to pay forward, so that those after us can be educated, productive citizens.
When companies relocate or a new venture is started, some of the main factors in choosing a new locale are the tax structure, educated work force, and educational opportunities for children of the employees that relocate with the business. When employees relocate, oftentimes part of the recruitment visit includes checking out the local schools.
People don’t need to see a Cadillac (which the proposed Whitefish High School will not be) but they do need to get a sense that the community does support education as it takes a whole community to raise a child. A community with pride should not want any visitors or potential residents to have to see a rusty Chevrolet!
In my years I have seen many school referendums asking for various amounts. With the TIF funding that will be applied to the building, this is the most reasonable and sensible one I’ve ever seen. It has very little impact to the pocket book ($50 per year is one less dinner for two out on the town) and helps the students and the homeowners as well. Any time a new, very visible, building comes to a community it enhances the prestige and image of the community, resulting in an increased resale value of property.
I have no children or grandchildren to send through the Whitefish schools. I will be retiring in a few years and though I will be taxpayer, I won’t be a full-year resident of Whitefish. However, I will happily vote for and support the new high school as I’m in for “the long haul” when it comes to providing for students and the good of the community.
I urge everyone to do the same as this is the last best chance for everyone in the last best place.
Voermans is a resident of Whitefish.