What Can I Do?
This page contains suggestions for actions to take such as writing letters, attending meetings and much more.
ATTEND RIGHTSIZING COMMITTEE MEETING WEDNESDAY JAN 30 5:30 PM.
What: Rightsizing Committee Meeting
When: Wednesday, January 30 at 5:30 p.m.
Where: Three Rivers School District Office, 8550 New Hope Road, turn left at gas station in Murphy.
Why: To let them know that we want our school!
How: Get together with some friends and carpool there
Who: Every single friend of Willliams School that can make it
We will not be able to speak at the meeting. It is essential that we do not disrupt the meeting. The Portland consultant hired by the Three Rivers School District apparently runs a very controlled meeting while his wife records the minutes. However,
Does anyone know how many people the district office can hold? Let’s all get there a little early, have a snack potluck, bring candles and have a respectful vigil outside the office. If we could get there early and bring as many kids as possible for when the committee members show up, and light candles (and contact news outlets) it would be quite a show.
ATTEND THREE RIVERS SCHOOL BOARD MEETING MONDAY FEBRUARY 11 7:00 PM.
What: Three Rivers School Board Meeting, phone them at 862-3111
When:Monday, February 11, 7:00 PM
Where: North Valley High School, 6741 Monument Drive, Grants Pass
Why: To tell the board that we want our school
How: Let’s carpool
Who: Everyone who has a bit of time to tell the school board what we think
Directions: Go north on I-5 from Grants Pass to Exit 61 (Merlin exit), turn left and go under bridge. At first stop, go right on Monument, pass by Fleming Middle School, watch for sign for North Valley High School.
ATTEND MORE THREE RIVERS SCHOOL DISTRICT MEETINGS
We need to keep a strong phone presence with the school board in case they change the time, date or place of the meetings with little or no advance notice. Call the District Office at 862-3111.
March 17: Hidden Valley High School
April 21: Manzanita Elementary School
May 19: District Office at 8550 New Hope Road in Murphy, across from Lincoln Savage Middle School.
June 16: District Office
July 14: District Office
BUY A WILLIAMS SCHOOL 85TH ANNIVERSARY T-SHIRT TO WEAR TO THE MEETINGS.
The school is having them made and will sell them at cost. We will post details when we get them from the school. Contact Mrs. Hoffmockel in the school office at 846-7224 to reserve a shirt. Checks should be made to Williams School.
WRITE A LETTER TO THE EDITOR
The Daily Courier
P.O. Box 1468
Grants Pass, Oregon
97528
letters@thedailycourier.com
Letters are limited to 250 words. Include your name, address and phone number. Only your name and town will appear in print.
VOLUNTEER TO HELP MAKE IMPROVEMENTS ON THE WILLIAMS SCHOOL FACILITY
Contact Becky Vidlak at bvidlak@yahoo.com
DONATE MONEY FOR ENGINEER’S FEES AND BUILDING IMPROVEMENT SUPPLIES
Make checks to “Willliams News” and mail them to Williams School Project, Williams News, P.O. Box 73, Williams, OR 97544. Linda DuBose, the Williams representative on the Rightsizing Committee, will coordinate donations.
TALK WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS
Many people live in Willliams that may not really know the danger our school faces. Many of them may have connections to the school (attended personally, had kids, grandkids, etc. attend). Urge them to write a letter. Even if they don’t have a computer, get a letter from them, however short or long, ask them who they want it sent to, and will will send it and/or e-mail it for them. Drop letters at the Williams School office.
CIRCULATE A PETITION IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
Why don’t YOU write a letter to the Three Rivers School District Board and the newspapers, get ten or a hundred neighbors to sign it and send it in. Please make a copy and leave it at the Williams School office.
CONTACT OTHER MEDIA OUTLETS SUCH AS RADIO AND TELEVISION STATIONS
Our principal, Michelle Sesock was interviewed yesterday (1/22/08) by Jefferson Public Radio and one of the TV stations is going to come do a story. Do you have a story idea? A good hook? Call the papers, radio and tv and pitch your story. For example, in Kathy Escott’s handout she mentioned the uniqueness of our school bell. That’s an awesome hook. Writers and producers are always looking for an angle. How about FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS, Small town school bell in danger of ringing no more.
SPONSOR THE WILLIAMS SCHOOL BELL
When is the last time you got to ring an old school bell? Probably never. School bells are mostly a relic of the past, but Williams Elementary School has one. And they ring it every day at 7:55 AM and 2:10 PM. How would you like to show support for the school by making a small donation (perhaps $10 or $20) and ringing the bell? I was thinking the money could be used to reimburse peoples’ printing costs or to purchase an ad in the paper, or buy lightbulbs, whatever…
So, let’s do it for two weeks starting Monday, January 28 at 7:55 AM sharp. That will be twenty opportunities to ring the Williams School bell. Please be there a few minutes early.
Week of Mon, Jan 28 thru Fri, Feb 1
Week of Mon, Feb 4 thru Fri, Feb 8
If more people sign up, we can simply extend the campaign.
Call Scott at 846-6407 or email at scottwilson@budget.net to sign up. Please leave at least one alternate day/time that you would like to ring the bell.
Evelyn Roether said,
January 24, 2008 @ 1:54 pm
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