Save Whitefish High School, save Whitefish

A relatively large number of high school-age students who live in Whitefish are deciding not to attend Whitefish High School. The current decline in enrollment has become a major contributing factor to funding problems for Whitefish High School. The expected future decline in enrollment will be increasingly detrimental to our community as a whole.

The city of Whitefish is at a crossroads. Do we save our high school, or do we become a bedroom community of Kalispell?

This little community produces amazingly intelligent and talented young adults. Our own children have blossomed through the guidance of the excellent teachers that are part of the Whitefish school system, the incredible Whitefish School District music programs and the community and school athletic programs.

We urge our community to continue this wonderful legacy of giving and save Whitefish High School. Saving Whitefish High School will keep Whitefish vibrant. Letting it languish will result in losing the reason that so many of us live here.

The loss of the high school will affect the livability of Whitefish and eventually the property values. I (Ellie) have been in the real estate industry for more than 20 years, and it is my professional opinion that loss in property value that will occur if we let our high school fail and will hugely offset any possible increase in property taxes due to a school bond.

Please get involved and join community and business leaders, students and school staff and participate in PAWS — a “Positive Alliance for Whitefish Schools.”

Recently, students in Whitefish Schools received a questionnaire relating to Whitefish High School and school bonds. Please fill it out and bring it to any school office in Whitefish. Results and feedback will be tallied and brought forward to the school board and school district.

For more information on PAWS, contact Joan Vetter Ehrenberg at 862-4942 or Toby Scott or e-mail paws4wf@gmail.com. It’s time to listen, ask questions, seek solutions and pull together. Let’s show some Bulldog Pride.

Ellie Clark, Joan Vetter Ehrenberg and Toby Scott live in Whitefish.