Carissa, I am really interested in understanding your perspective on the split. Can you share whether you were for or against it, and what actions you took to support your view?
Hey Wendy, I have answered your question further here (link below). It can be frustrating seeing people who did not work as hard as you (or at all) move into positions to lead the school board, when you all worked so hard to create it and bring it about. Especially if they were against splitting. I want to respect and honor yours and other’s work. I also want to honor and address concerns of those who are worried about how change will impact them. I cannot say I did anything to nearly compare to how much you and other’s did, nor did I put in the work you or others did to bring about the split. Rather I benefited from yours and other’s voices advocating for our community. Still I hope you’ll know I am dedicated to making Lake Mountain District and the other district work going forward and bringing about yours and other’s vision of how this will be what is best for our students and community.
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When you and many others were advocating and working your butts off to support our students and schools by working for this split, I was not in an advocacy role yet, but rather benefited and respect your hard work that has gotten us to this day. I benefited from seeing news articles, having discussions with others who also saw what you all were pushing for, and the reasons this would be the best thing for our students. I remember talking to my husband about the 27 mil surplus before voting, and thinking that the needs of this side of the lake were different and thus were not being served as well as they could be (Bond failing in 2022) and that long term that was not sustainable. I also remember seeing my neighbors who were teachers and have teens in the schools advocating for the split and local control–one of them is actually who suggested I join this group “with movers, shakers, and relevant issues” recently, but I was not here during the hard long, uphill process you all undertook. On the other side, I also remember understanding the anxiety others have had about the split, especially when they have resources or services that are benefited by having a larger district to fall back on. I since then have also come to understand some of the worry other educators had with this change. We all have different things we value or prioritized that helped us decide how to vote or what actions to take to support our views, but in the end we all want what is best for our kids, our community, our families.Change can be hard. Change can also be exciting. But also Change is necessary. We must move forward. The question is whether we will find ways to work together and bring others along who may not always agree with us or see our points of view. Because yes–we will have a NEW district, but how will we help ease the fears of educators or parents who worry about how this will impact their lives, their students, or their day to day experiences? How will we make it their district also? We cannot discredit their anxiety or the difficulties that come with change–even good change.
I want to be a candidate for everyone. I want to validate and honor the hard work of those who saw problems and found ways to bring about change. I also want to honor and validate the worry and concern other’s had about this happening. Because if we are to actually move forward we need them both, and we cannot be successful in making things better if we ignore either perspective’s needs or concerns. So I hope that answers your question.
Some context also, at the time of the voting for the split my oldest daughter was just starting Kindergarten; I had struggled to get her into the district’s local preschools the year before and that was the extent of my experience with overcrowded schools at that time. I had not for multiple years been in the district having kids impacted by the need for change, like many of those who have worked so hard for this change. Also at that time, I had worked hard to advocate for needed services for my child from Alpine’s preschool–so I understand to a degree–the worry about anything that may cause disruption for needed supports (especially for those kids who struggle with change once something is finally working).
So again, to summarize: I supported the split but was not yet in a position of influence rather benefited from those rose their voices and pushed to be heard and pushed for change and shared with other’s, so the community could decide to split from Alpine. Also, I want to respect those who worry about the changes ahead and I want them to know, I and the rest of the board are still on your team, to advocate for your kids, you as parents, you as educators, you as staff, and we will work to make this a district that is yours and a support to you, as much as– and even more– than Alpine has been for you before.
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