We could pay now or pay later...

by Rachel Ranfeld and Natalie Kirton

As noted in previous articles, Montezuma needs a building update since it has not been renovated in the last 20 years. 

Speculation says that because it is the only school in the surrounding area that has not been updated this century, it has a better chance of closing than flourishing in the near future. 

In a study of all the schools in Iowa, 137 schools have a lower student population than Montezuma and yet they are still open. This shows that we are far from being too small to function; we just need a few improvements to our school building to keep up with other nearby schools.

Lana Taylor said, “It is my personal opinion that if the bond issue fails and if the subject of redistricting rises in this political environment, Montezuma Community Schools in its current condition of disrepair would be placed immediately on the radar. 

In the worst case scenario, if we do not invest in our own future, two things would most assuredly happen: The community will be sending its youth to Grinnell or Brooklyn for education and as a result of redistricting, property owners would pay Debt Service. Both BGM and Grinnell have a Debt Service levy incorporated and voted by their citizens. Both also have a Voted Physical Plant levy that adds to the total.”

Because Grinnell and BGM both have debt from their recent renovations that required a bond issue and Montezuma currently has no debt, citizens’ taxes would increase because they would then pay the other school’s tax if Montezuma is closed.

As it stands, Montezuma’s current school tax is about the same as that of the two schools in Poweshiek County that closed down since it has no debt to be repaid.

Bottom line: if the school bond issue fails, so does the community. We have all seen this before when Deep River-Millersburg Community Schools closed their 7-12 grades in 1992. The town’s population was 345 according to the 1990 census. In the 2010 census, the population dropped to 279.  

Could this be Montezuma’s fate?

How life has changed the class of 2001 in a decade

by Alexa Wheaton and Hope Kriegel

Part 2 of a series 

After all you have accomplished in life, do you remember where you thought you would be 10 years after you left high school compared to where you are now? What moments over the years can you remember that have impacted your life today? What advice do you remember receiving before venturing out on your own? We have taken the time to ask the seniors of 2001 all of these questions. 

Audrey (Coffield) Soria

Audrey said when she was a senior she figured she would be married with a family by 28.  Ten years later, Audrey has been married for five years and has a two year old son, Joaquin.

Audrey works at the University of Missouri in Columbia, Mo. at the NPR station and the University Concert Series. After moving away from Iowa to Texas, Audrey realized how much of a Midwestern girl she was.

Audrey says it's good to step outside of your comfort zone so you can learn about yourself.  Audrey’s advice to seniors is, “It’s only through struggle that you will find out what you are capable of.  If you don’t push yourself you will never experience success.”

Kyle Johnson

Kyle said he never really thought about his future, but hoped to own a piece of the American dream.

Now that 10 years have passed, Kyle has a steady career, a house in Newton, a beautiful daughter and he could not be happier.

Kyle says, “Keep your friends close! It has been ten years and my high school friends and I remain close. You can’t find real friends like the ones in high school.”

Adam Talbert

Adam says, “Honestly I had no clue where I would be in 10 years.  I didn’t think much past college.” Now that it’s been 10 years Adam is married and lives in Vinton.  He enjoys his job and leads the life he loves.

Adam says his life has changed by settling down, and getting married had a lot to do with it. Also, he never imagined living in a town he couldn’t find on a map 10 years ago.

His advice for seniors today would be to enjoy this time.  Right now should be a simple and fun time for you, so take full advantage of it.

Regiane Francisquini

Regiane pictured herself in 10 years post-graduated, working in an International Company, married and thinking about having her first child.

Now that 10 years have passed, this foreign exchange student is post-graduated and is working in an International Company. However, she is single and has no kids.

Her life has changed a lot over the years. She says she has kept her main goals, perspective and “big picture” about the world. She lived in Australia for a year and has become focused on God, health and family.

Her advice to seniors now is to live life fully. "Your full potential is today and now. Set S.M.A.R.T. goals for all areas of your life and run for it! S.M.A.R.T. = Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic & Timely."

She also advises others to love God and learn to love people. The reason of being able to breathe today is living for something bigger than yourself.

Megan (Henkle) Strong 

Megan pictured herself in ten years to be doing hair in Texas and married with maybe her first child. Megan says, “Now that it has been 10 years I am still in Montezuma pursuing my dream of doing hair but kids came first.”

Megan says that once she left high school she learned to appreciate the small things in life. Her advice to the class of 2011 is to enjoy the last year and take time to figure out what you want to be because you have no idea at the age of 18.

Daniel Wadhams

Daniel said when he was a senior in high school he thought he would be a lawyer and always live in Iowa.

Ten years later,  he still lives in Iowa but did not attend law school. He currently works for Wal-Mart in Des Moines and has been married for four years.

Daniel is making plans to attend seminary school in Washington. Daniel says, “Life has changed by having to learn to adjust to a constant changing society. I have had to learn to speak up for what I believe and not be ashamed of who I am. I have learned that people do not fit into perfect molds."

Daniel’s advice to seniors is that despite the best intentions life will happen and you will have to make adjustments and it will be up to you to find happiness.

Richard Denny

Richard saw himself as an author of many books. Richard has managed to get one book published and is working on getting it running.

Richard says there have been a few changes in his life and he now has a 5-year-old daughter who is the greatest. 

Richard’s advice to the seniors of 2011 is, “Take life slowly. There is time to do everything you want in life.”

To be continued...

Reading Relay fun for kids of all sizes

Cami Shaver reads to first grade students during the Reading Relay portion of Literacy Week. The reading activities week was sponsored by the PAC.

by Jered Engelking

For the elementary students, the week of Feb. 28 to March 4 was filled with Literacy Week excitement. The week involved a pick-a-book-and-read day, a book parade, a surprise author with a slithering reptile partner and to end it all a reading relay involving high school students.

On Monday, students celebrated pick-a-book-and-read day, with books purchased by the Parent Advisory Committee (PAC).

On Wednesday, 47 students paraded 41 mini-floats which represented their favorite children’s book. 

Kay Flemmer’s third grade class had five groups participate: Waverly Roorda and Carissa VanZee did “The Magic School Bus: Planets,” Madelyn DeJong and Brianna Massengale did “Taylor Swift,” Shelby Conger and Maddy McKeag did “The Diary of a Wimpy Kid Collection,” Tristen Moyer did “Diary of a Wimpy Kid,” and Nathan Smith did “Bakugan.”

Students not participating sat outside their classrooms and watched the parade.

A surprise author, David Nieves, came on Thursday. Nieves is a herpetologist, one who studies reptiles and amphibians and is the author of “Reptiles Up Close” and “More Reptiles Up Close.”

Friday, Journalism students participated in the Reading Relay. Each Journalism student started in a different classroom and began to read. 

They read for three minutes and then ran to the next room and began reading from where a previous classmate had stopped. 

“The Reading Relay was a great way to get involved with the elementary," Alexa Wheaton said. "We had a lot of fun with the students. Hopefully with all of the activities the PAC group organized for the literacy week, the students will be more encouraged to continue to read.”