A small group of Park Rapids students are taking matters into their own hands.
They have joined parents and others in the community in a movement to persuade the school board to bring a levy referendum back to voters this fall. If their goal is accomplished, they intend to add to their numbers and work to pass the measure.
Jordan Goodwater, a senior, and Kelli Schweigart, a sophomore, are co-founders of Panthers for Education.
Schweigart said what cinched the call to action for her was hearing superintendent Glenn Chiodo talk about budget cuts this spring. "A bullet doesn't miss twice. You got really lucky. Next year it will be a whole new ball game."
"It is different for parents," said Goodwater.
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"We're the ones losing elective classes and the teachers we've bonded with who are role models. To see them go is hard," Schweigart added.
"For the last couple of (referendum) failures, I kept thinking, 'there's got to be something I can do,'" Schweigart said. "Hearing they might be cutting all sports was the last straw."
The proposed budget cut wasn't the only frustration, however.
Schweigart and Stephanie Nedved, also a sophomore, said they are in a math class with 36 or 37 students. "I can have my hand raised the whole hour and the teacher doesn't have time to help," Schweigart said. "So I leave the class with questions about my homework."
"We live it everyday," said Nedved.
Schweigart, Goodwater and other students, including the Panther girls softball team, attended a meeting of parents who are working to rally support and were encouraged to take action themselves.
They also met with Kristina Gebhard, who founded a student group to convince voters to support education when the Rochester schools were making extreme budget cuts a few years ago.
In February, Duane Gebhard had raised the idea of involving students at one of the school board forums on proposed budget cuts. He and his wife, Jennifer, moved here from Rochester in June, he said.
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The Gebhards have a son in eighth grade, who is working on organizing students, as well.
The high school students believe "misinformation" is the biggest problem, as is voter apathy. "Students who are old enough to vote don't know how to go about it," Goodwater said.
Convinced they can influence students and enlist them to bring their parents to the polls, the students hope to gain positive votes by educating themselves and targeting their peers.
They have started their own Web site: www.myspace.com/panthersforeducation . The Web site invites dialogue on a blog and has information, including how others can help.
Students involved in Panthers for Education also are making a documentary, "A Day in the Life of a High School Student," to show at the school board meeting April 3.
The Panthers for Education committee plans to have weekly meetings and welcomes other students to join them. See their Web site for times, dates and location.
"It feels good to do something," said Schweigart.
