SHS Student Seeks Help From Council For His School

By Naomi Hatch
   Jeremy Goodwin asked members of the Snowflake Town Council for their help last week to help build back up the student population at Snowflake High School.
   Goodwin said that the economy is going down, as well as the budget for the Snowflake School District. He noted that the state is cutting $2.3 billion out of the educational budget.
   The youngster had collected records and conducted interviews with members of the school board.
   He explained that the school budget is decided on the economy and student population, stating, “What I’ve been focusing on for the past few months… is how to increase the student population.” He said he felt that they need a motivation, such as sports, athletic events and electives, and that students stay where they are allowed to express themselves. He expressed concern that the number of student dropouts is increasing, with some going to Northern Arizona Academy, Blue Ridge High School in Lakeside and Mogollon High School in Heber, and some being home schooled.
   “Unless we find some way to fix this, bring our students back, this is only going to get worse,” said Goodwin.
   Goodwin has come up with a plan that he discussed with the school board and teachers, and that is to go to a four-day schedule, which would leave Friday open. The district would save money, as well as give teachers and students more time to improve the quality of school work. He noted that even with this, with the school population going down the budget is going down, so they can’t afford electives or things that meet student needs.
   “It’s just going down, it’s getting worse, unless we find some way to stop this,” he said.
   He told the council that he thinks the way to stop the decline in population is to bring back electives, get sports programs going and advertise the school. He feels that to do this correctly would require about $400,000, noting the school has been saving for a while and has $400,000, but if the district used it all one year, it would have the same problem the next year.
   “I’m here because I’ve done research over the town’s budget,” said Goodwin, who noted he discovered that the budget averages $10 million a year, with $6 million going to the general fund and $500,000 to projects and fixing, as he put it, “anything you can think of.”
   He asked the council to consider making a donation to Snowflake High School of $300,000 per year, and the district would use $100,000 of its funds, with the $400,000 going to sports and academics. He explained $100,000 of that money would go to electives, feeling this would encourage students to achieve and motivate them to come to school.
   Goodwin said that he has spoken with School District Superintendent Monte Silk, who helped him understand that there’s some advertising they could do, giving as an example that SHS has the highest Arizona Instrument to Measure Standards (AIMS) scores in the White Mountains and ranks 40th in Arizona. He said that he has discovered that if they advertise these facts with $50,000 and use the effect of electives that they have, this would motivate students and the sports would improve school spirit. “We will, in fact, be able to bring back those students who left for Blue Ridge, NAA, Heber and home school,” he said.
   Goodwin noted that this would be a long term project, taking the next four years, but he felt that over the next few years they would be able to increase the student population and get on their feet again.
   Goodwin acknowledged, “I know what I’ve asked you is very great. I’m asking you to consider this because in a couple of weeks I will be presenting this to the school board to show them what must be done, and I believe if I have you standing behind me, your decision saying it can happen, I have a better chance of them agreeing, and we can finally fix our school and bring it back to a proper state.”
   Vice Mayor Kerry Ballard, who was conducting the meeting, explained that the council could not comment on or make a decision on issues addressed during the call to the public. He asked Goodwin to meet with Town Manager Paul Watson and Finance Director Brian Richards to go over the figures and come up with a plan, then bring it back to the council.
   Councilman Dean Porter said, “I’m impressed with your ability to present this, and I’m impressed with your desire to delve into this and get details. It says you’ll go a long way in this world. I appreciate your willingness to do this.”