The SCSD#3 Board held their monthly meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 11 and a large crowd of community members attended the meeting, and eight spoke out with their concerns. Many of the comments concerned the new ‘House System’ that the school enacted last year.
Kelly Betz, who with her husband, Ben, graduated from Clearmont and spent their entire 13 years of school here. They are the parents of two children who also attend Clearmont School. She said that she loves the school and feels it is a ‘special place’.
She said she isn’t saying the system is bad, some kids that love it. “But we can’t forget the kids it is not working for.”
Betz said she is calling for a public forum for everyone to talk about it. She felt there was too much ‘behind the doors stuff going on.’
Amy Vineyard, Clearmont alumni and parent of two Clearmont students, spoke to the board about communication, and she felt the house system was good for elementary students, but not for high school students. She didn’t like the points system used in the houses.
Sam Olson, whose wife, Lacy, graduated from Clearmont, is another parent that is pulling his daughter from the school. He said they love the school and the community and they moved here so their daughters could attend Clearmont, but in his opinion the house system was a like a ‘cult’ that they can’t get out of.
He felt should be more optional, like sports and FFA, and if they did that, he might consider letting his youngsters come back.
Cindy Miller was another parent who felt at first Clearmont was a good school, but changed her mind and is now pulling her daughter,
Katie Fennema, whose has two daughters that graduated from Clearmont, was passionate about Miller’s talk, saying that
The house system at the school did have its defenders.
Natalie Stoll, one of the house leaders, talked about her impressions of the system.
Jesse Holland, Clearmont student, is also a fan of the Houses.
The board set a listening session on the House System for community input on December 17 at 7:30 p.m. in the school gym. Everyone who is wondering about the House System, or has a concern about it, is urged to attend, learn more about it, and share your thoughts.
A report on the rest of the school board meeting will be addressed in another story.
