By Scott Chirpich
Chatfield, MN
In less than one month our community will have the opportunity to help impact the growth of our students outside of the classroom. Is there ever a right time to say yes to a Bond or Referendum? It is never easy to ask for community members to shell out more tax dollars, especially when budget cuts are currently needed. However I am willing to vote YES for the benefit of our students.
Like most wedding speeches start, “For those of you who don’t know me”, my wife and I moved to town the summer of 2019. I am from a town of approximately 10,000 people and this is my wife’s hometown. We chose to live in Chatfield to be in a small town and close to family. We have three young children ages six, four, and two. Our oldest is in enrolled in kindergarten and enjoys going to school every day.
In our previous community, I was very involved with sports programs at all different levels. I served as a coach at many different levels; varsity baseball, varsity basketball, freshman basketball, youth basketball (traveling program) and football. I know what it is like to get the best end of the practice schedule and the worst. Additional gym space would benefit not only the athletes, but also students who are involved in other activities outside of sports.
During the school week, the gyms are currently being used right after school until 8:30 p.m. sometimes 9 p.m. or 9:30 p.m. to complete practices. Practices are not only being held in the gyms but in the band room, classrooms and cafeteria, while some practices are at the assembly room at the Chatfield Center for the Arts. The gyms are not only used for sports. Community education activities, band and choir concerts, speech, spelling bee, blood drives, and prom also utilize the current space. There are many other activities outside of the school that use the gym as well.
Did you know that the dance team had to defer hosting conference this year because the gym didn’t have enough space to hold the attendees? Not only would a new gym be better for the students, but for fans as well. A new gym would allow for a full sized basketball court and a floor that is softer and safer, which would hopefully reduce injuries and wear and tear on athletes. A new gym would allow a higher ceiling where the volleyball wouldn’t hit the rafters every other possession. Most of all, another gym would allow better practice times for the students to get home and spend time with parents, guardians, siblings, etc., additional time to focus on academics and flexibility to be involved in non-school programs like work, church events or other clubs.
As the economy has changed, so have activities in schools. Activities and sports are starting at younger ages and more and more activities are being added. How late is too late for a third or fourth grader to be practicing on a school night? I would love for my children to have more gym space and improved facilities to develop skills necessary for success. A better weight room would allow them to get stronger as more and more changes are made to improve speed, strength, and agility. As we learn more about injury prevention, strength and agility training becomes a greater focus also requiring additional space and equipment. Athletics, music and drama are all important ways to shape our youth into well rounded adults who in turn will hopefully give back to their communities in the future.
Your decision to vote yes or no in the upcoming month won’t change how I feel about you or the community. My wife and I will continue to support our kids and the school. I hope your feelings won’t change negatively towards me as I voice my opinions regarding this referendum. I am willing to spend a little more of our tax dollars for our kids and their friends and I hope you’ll consider it too.
Leave a Reply