Students don’t usually address the Dodge City board of education, so when three teenage girls carrying a huge jar of change stepped up to the guest podium at last Monday night’s meeting, people noticed.
Megan Huffman, 15, spoke first.
“Today, we come to you as high school students protesting the decision to charge school fees,” she read from a prepared statement. “We come to you on behalf of the students and families whose voices cannot be heard because they do not know what awaits them at enrollment. They do not know that they will have to buy a public education.”
By now, the three girls had everyone’s undivided attention. The school board remains divided on the issue of school fees, but reluctantly voted to implement them 4-2 at its May meeting after USD 443 was hit with huge state funding cuts. Although Dodge City schools will make it through the upcoming school year, it won't be easy.
The district had to slash its capital outlay budget in order to keep its promise not to reduce staffing levels — and anticipated cuts for the upcoming two years are predicted to be nothing short of catastrophic.
A big jar of money
After emphasizing that she and her friends had decided that they couldn’t rest until they stood up and fought for what they thought was right, Huffman handed the podium over to her classmate, Erin Finley, also 15.
“The families who cannot pay these fees will not be going to Disneyworld this summer,” Finley told the board. “Their parents will be working all day. It makes us sick to think that poor families now have one more burden.”
At that point, 14-year-old Alejandra Martinez, got ready to make her move. She lifted the big jar of money and approached the board members, then placed the jar on the step leading up to the stage.
“Our friends have collected money to pay for an elementary school student to attend school,” said Erin. “Here is $25 to be given to a student. In the words of Ghandi, ‘action expresses priorities.' We think this board needs to put the children as its first priority.”
Board member Ethel Peterson thanked the girls for coming and congratulated them for acting as good citizens.
For the full story, go to dodgecitydailyglobe.ks.newsmemory.com.
Reach Claire O’Brien at (620) 408-3391 or e-mail her at claire.obrien@dodgeglobe.com
