Save Williams Elementary School

Jan 20, 2008

Dear Three Rivers School Board members,

We are writing to urge you to see that the Williams School remains open! It is the heart of the Williams community and has been broadly supported by the efforts of many community members, including those who don’t have children – like us. We, among many others, have worked tirelessly to boost the educational opportunities for Williams School students by writing grants, participating in extra-curricular programs (like SMART) and donating time and money to building a new playground. This is just a sampling of the immense support that the school receives from the community. We are now asking the Three River’s School District to match this community spirit by allowing the school to remain operational.

As you have probably heard, there is a baby-boom going on in Williams right now (and nation-wide) that alone warrants keeping the Williams School open during the current lean times. It is important to think to the future. In a matter of just a few years, the classrooms in the Williams School will be overflowing. Even now, the classrooms are full and the school is buzzing with good energy. It is unthinkable that Williams’ elementary school children could be bussed out of the valley, when the existing school here serves them so well.

We know that the District must find places to cut spending, but what about cutting programs, personnell, services or any number of other things? To us, closing schools (anywhere!) should be a last resort. Closing the Williams Elementary School would probably mean that families with young children would move away from Williams. We don’t want to be a community of only retirees! Please help us keep the Williams School open!!

Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Evelyn Roether and Spencer Lennard

This letter comes from Louann.

I’ve attached a brief letter I would like to send to the Courier in the
form of an ad, so it will not be editied. If you would like to “sign”
this letter, just reply to this e-mail at joeandlou1@yahoo.com. There will also be copies at
the School and General Store. The more signatures, the bigger the ad.

To Jerry Fritts and the Three River School District Board:

The undersigned members of the Williams community request your thoughtful
attention to the the matter of the Williams Elementary School closure. Please
consider that:

Williams School supports itself and returns money to the district’s general fund
annually. Should a revenue generating school be closed? The intentional, permanent
loss of Small School Factor grant money and the State School Support dollar surplus
generated by Williams represents fiscal irresponsibility to public.
Any opponent of Small Schools needs to realize that Williams (Applegate and Wolf
Creek) are not small schools by philosophical choice. Our communities are
geographically determined. They are reflective of Josephine County’s rural
composition and Three Rivers School District’s Service area. Good stewardship
requires that operational decisions be made in the context of this reality.
Objectivity in decision making does not justify arbitrary actions made without
listening to your entire constituency. Committees AND Communities can share a
common cause and build solid solutions. The educational product we produce is
worth the time and effort.

Dear School Board Members,

I am writing as a concerned citizen about the ending of our
Williams Elementary School. Having a student there many years ago, I
a feel lucky to have had the school for my son to go to and the
thought of other young families having to send their young ones out
of the valley just isn’t right. As you know the people of Williams
are willing to do a lot to keep the school going and must be heard
with any options available. Would you please listen to us here in
Williams.

Thank you,
Sincerely,

Louann Faist

Dear School Board Member-

I am a long time resident of Williams and extremely proud of the unique, vibrant, involved, family and community oriented environment that has been loving created here. Friends and relatives that visit are impressed and a bit envious of the slice of true community that they witness here. There are a great number of things that make this happen and sustain this. Our Grange, our Communiversity, Sugarloaf Community Center, Williams Fire Dept, Brushriders, Pacifica, Williams Creek Watershed Committee, The Seventh Day Adventist “Free Store”, the Williams Community Church Food Bank….AND OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL – a vibrant center for learning, for sports – both for the children and afterschool for the community, for music – lessons and concerts…IT IS OUR HEART!

Please, please do what you can to keep this important part Williams alive. This is one of the best places I have ever lived
to raise children. If the elementary school is closed and the children bused away….a huge trust and a deep connection will be broken.

From the bottom of my heart, I implore you to make sure that our heart is not ripped from us, and with it the bright light that we have been able to shine for our future generations.

Thank you!!!!

May beauty and mystery be your faithful companions –

Germaine St. George

Dear Members of the Three Rivers School Board and Right Sizing Committee,
Thank you for taking on the difficult job of budget cutting. No decision you make will be “good”, as you must try to find the least painful alternatives. My hope is that you will consider the reasons below and decide not to close Williams School. The historical and emotional reasons are many and powerful, but the following are what I believe are “reasonable” reasons.
1) It is clear to me, and to everyone I’ve talked to, that closing Williams School is like killing the proverbial “goose that lays golden eggs” for the District. Sue Morgan recently submitted to your committee the “Williams Elementary School Attendance Survey Results” which indicates not only that Williams School generates $339K/yr OVER its own operating budget, but that the District could (see #2 below) loose $469K/yr if it closes.
The architect says Williams School needs $1.2 million for “repairs” over the next 10 years. The school should generate almost $3.4 million OVER its own budget during that time period. If the District allocates a third of Williams’ own money back, there is plenty to complete the recommended improvements. Is it fair to close a school that is more than paying its own way?
2) Generally, Williams folks are rugged individualists. Most live here not just because they like it, but because by nature they have the “toughness” needed to live in an isolated box canyon. Your committee should take seriously what the survey says: “approximately 50% of our current students will be lost from Three Rivers School District.” 50% (45 students) may be high, but if only 16 students go elsewhere (which I believe is a reasonable number), the closure would not be a gain. Nobody really knows how many current Williams School parents will homeschool or find some local alternative before they will bus their small children away from our valley. Beyond being an additional financial reason, this second reason recognizes the unique nature of our demographic.
3) Also unique to Williams are qualified, local, and invested (parents, family, neighbors, friends) people who can make the needed repairs at the school. At the meeting held at Williams School Jan.16th there were able and invested people who indicated their willingness to give their time and effort to expedite the needed improvements. By the way, the “need” for certain improvements recommended by the architect is also debatable; such as paving the parking lot or repairing the basement. Before closing the school, it seems fair and reasonable to offer those most affected by the closure an opportunity to facilitate their own solution. These are the people you want supporting the school.
In summary, as I see it, closing Williams Elementary will unnecessarily cut off the District’s financial resources, probably even adding a financial burden, while sending valuable human resources to be invested elsewhere. Please allow the folks of Williams to have the school they deserve.
Pastor Rob Culton – Williams Community Church

To Whom It May Concern,

As a tax payer, parent of young children and member of
the Williams’ Community I am outraged that the
Williams Elementary school is being threatened with
closure.

The Williams Elementary School is a vital institution
in our town. Williams depends on the school for the
education of our children, after school programs (when
there is funding) meals, adult continuing education,
as community meeting place, i.e. town council meetings
as well as jobs for our teachers and support
personnel. The school also provides services to
home-schoolers, whose parents are taxpayers. These
services compliment the home schooling as well as
serve as a base to unite the community of Williams.

A small town like ours depends on a small school where
the kids and parents trust and know the school staff.
Parent involvement is also of the utmost importance.
That involvement will certainly drop in Williams is
moved to Applegate.

I understand there are estimates on the amount of work
the building and grounds “need”. It seems to me we can
do with out a paved parking lot, an upgrade to the
basement and it seems the gym may be fine as it
stands. I for one would rather have a school with no
gym versus no school in Williams at all.

If there is a merger with the Applegate school, I for
one, as well as many parents I know, will opt for home
schooling instead of busing or driving our children to
Applegate.

Please Keep Our School Open,

Elizabeth Baum

January 17, 2008

To Whom It May Concern @ Three Rivers School District:
As a parent of two young children and a community
member of Williams, Oregon I am very concerned about
the possible closing of the Williams Elementary
School.

The Williams Elementary School represents a major
resource to the densely populated Williams Valley. In
addition to providing a home for our beloved school,
it also provides a community meeting place for an
infinite amount of local groups. Many dedicated local
employees and volunteers give time and energy to our
schoolhouse and I believe will continue to do so for a
very long time.

If the Williams schoolhouse were to close its doors it
would be a great shame. I am sure it is a much better
and more viable location to preserve than Applegate.
If it closes we will probably home school.

Please preserve funding for the Williams School.

Sincerely,

Ryan Dolan

This is directed to the governing body who will ultimately decide whether Williams Elementary School will stay open or will close,

We moved to Williams from central California in 2005. Among the most attractive reasons for our choice of Williams was Williams Elementary School. We do not have school age children but we are fully aware of what kind of a community would foster such a wonderful school.
One of the first social activities we attended in Williams was the annual Christmas Program at the school and (along with the annual Strings Concert) have never missed one since.
Our town has already lost its public library, which sorely affects our local students’ ability to continue after school learning. The library afforded computer access to some who do not have it at home. Williams Elementary stayed open extra hours last summer with volunteerism and donated moneys to ‘fill the library gap’.
We can’t even imagine what it would be like to have both the library and the school closed. We need a community that will welcome and encourage young parents to stay here and grow their families as well as their businesses. I fear many will move away rather than bus their children on icy winter roads.
We have opened our antiques store in Williams and have loved meeting the local young families who live and work and raise their families in a nurturing small community atmosphere.
We hope you will consider the negative impact closing our school would have on our community.

Sincerely,
Susan Bondesen & Brian Barton