Two weeks ago I attended a conference in St. Paul to learn about school referendums. There were some very good speakers, but what surprised me most was what I learned visiting with other concerned citizens from school districts across the state. In discussing the different reasons other school districts are trying to pass a referendum, my eyes were opened to the many great things we have going for us here at Wadena-Deer Creek.
For example, we talked about keeping class sizes "small" and when I mentioned to one parent from another district that "small" to WDC means less than 20 students per section in grades K-3 and around 25 for grades 4-6, that parent was stunned. She told me her fourth-grade daughter was going to have 36 students in her class this year. Another item I didn't know was such a big deal, until discussing with members of several districts, is our "college" in high school classes that are offered. I explained to the group that we not only offer enough college credit classes for a WDC student to complete their freshmen year of college while in high school, we do it on-site at our school and with our teachers. What I learned was that some schools may offer college classes but that many times they are via the Internet or in other cases the student must travel to a nearby college campus to complete the class.
These are just two examples of many that enlightened me to the great things we have going for us here at WDC. They are also items that we are at risk of losing without proper funding.
As a proud parent and community member of the WDC school district, I challenge you to do whatever it takes to get educated on the facts regarding the upcoming school referendum and why we need to pass it. Learn, as I did, not only the great things we have going for us but those things we are at risk of losing if we don't properly support our school. How we vote on Nov. 6 goes much further than one student, parent, administrator, teacher, school board member, coach or citizen, because individuals in these roles will come and go but the legacy which is WDC's school will remain forever. Let's make sure that legacy stays strong and is one that will continue to make us proud.
John Gravelle
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Wadena
