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I have substituted in both the elementary and high school buildings as well as had four kids enrolled and two graduate from RHS.
Our elementary school and the adjoining Cardinal Kids daycare are shining stars in our community. I am in full support of that part of the bond.
If you want to see people working on the ground, hands dirty, fully in the mix of making the next generation of Cardinals the best they can be - look no further - you will find it at our Randolph Elementary School and daycare.
That leads me to the proposed improvements suggested for our high school.
As many of you know, we took our two youngest kids out of Randolph after the 2022 school year ended. It was one of the hardest decisions Randy and I have made in our parenting lives, but it is not one we regret. I realize we have a new superintendent and several new teachers at the school, but the question remains . . . Why are we still allowing phones in our school?
There is not one published document that I have read that is in support of anything they do for our young students. I have been subbing at Pierce now for the last three years and I can personally attest to the difference made in students when they do not have that crutch in the classroom. It’s astounding. You could get rid of phones in our school tomorrow - for free. If you want a new ag building and air conditioned gym - let’s do the most obvious thing first and remove phones from our school. I promise you - you will see every part of our young students’ educational experience improve.
Just as it is not shiny green or red paint that makes a successful farmer, it is not the building that will keep your students in your community. It is the educational opportunities as well as having teachers that set the bar high, refuse to compromise, and meet our students with enthusiasm and expectations that will keep kids option enrolling into RHS instead of opting out. No one wants to leave their friends, family, and community. It is a gut wrenching decision. Only when we fix what happens inside the building will we begin to see that happen.
How this will affect my family personally? According to the flier we got in the mail Wednesday, Randy and I will pay $728 per quarter per year in additional property taxes if this passes, or about $6,000 a year more. I figured only ag land and did not include our houses or sheds.
We are small farmers. This could impact others in a much greater way. Keep in mind each farmer you see is a small to mid-size business in your community that spends a great deal of money in your town.
I remember the last time we did this “ to save our school” and got the beautiful facility we have now. There was a picture in the Randolph Times a few weeks back of the six men standing proudly on the track in the new gym. Only one is still in our community.
Vote ‘no’ and hopefully a new proposal will come forward with the necessary changes to our elementary school, and we will send a message to our high school that big changes are needed in order for a big financial contribution to be merited. Feel free to contact me if you would like to discuss any part of this in more detail.
Maggie (Van Slyke) Korth RHS Class of ’96
