School gains support from specialists

As the time draws near to head back to school, one West Shore resident is busy talking to friends and acquaintances to try to make a difference for Dayton students this year.

Dr. Dave Hafer is leading the way to bring specialists of all kinds into Dayton Elementary School to provide inspiration to its students.

"It's a neat little project we just stumbled onto," Hafer said. "We're trying to do a good thing down here by bringing in guest speakers to support the program."

Hafer didn't always feel that way. Even though he's now one of its biggest advocates, the school was once a source of frustration for Hafer.

Hafer, a retired oral and maxillofacial surgeon, moved over to the Dayton area five years ago. He saw the money being put into a new addition to the school and didn't understand why.

"I didn't know anything about it. I just knew that it doesn't have anything going for it," he said. "Why were we spending that money when money is tight? I kind of had a negative attitude. Why not bus these kids to Polson, bus them to Lakeside and be done with it?"

It took a visit to the school for a computer class to change Hafer's attitude.

He decided to attend the class, put on by teachers at the school. Afterward, the teachers were talking about their concerns that they would lose the school as people moved away.

Enrollment at Dayton Elementary School has fluctuated between 45 and 28 students, with the economy playing a significant role in its rises and falls. When it was at the low end, closing the school was considered, supervising teacher Nichole Fant said.

Because of its already small size, any change, even of one student, has an impact, Fant said. When the school opens for the year this fall, it will have roughly 35 students.

Hafer said he was encouraged to learn that the students at the school, who are in grades kindergarten through sixth, were doing well and scoring highly on testing.

"Then I thought, 'Is it the water their drinking up here or is it because of the close attention they get and the discipline so beautifully instituted in this school?" Hafer said, noting that that's when it became clear to him that something special and unique was happening in Dayton that he wanted to be a part of.

So he came up with a proposal — what if he brought in guest speakers to support the students' education and enhance it. It would be a way to help the kids and encourage the community to invest in the school.

So by the end of last school year, he had arranged visits from semi-retired cardiologist Dr. Bill Highfill of Kalispell as well as Dr. Wayne Miller, an ear, nose and throat surgeon out of San Diego. Hafer also came in himself and gave a presentation.

"Kids are easier to talk to than adults," he said. "They are more interested in what you have to say."

Their speaking was directed at prevention, he said.

"We are all so busy fixing all the problems that no one ever sat down and figured out how to teach kids to take care of themselves," Hafer said.

The students responded to the presentations with rapt attention to the presentations on health and soaked up the information, he said.

"They were on the edge of their chairs, enthralled to learn," he said. "It stimulated some real motivation in these kids."

Following the program, the speakers got together and discussed how they could expand it and involve all different subjects instead of just health.

"It doesn't cost a thing," he said. "You know how much we made for coming in that day? A big card made by the kids. These guys said it was the greatest pay they ever had."

Hafer started calling on his connections throughout the Valley who are all experts in their fields, ranging from politics and economics to music and art.

He's been pleasantly surprised at how receptive they've all been to coming. For example, renowned violinist Wai Mizutani will be coming and performing opening day Sept. 7.

"It raises the hair on the back of my head and gives me goose-bumps all over," he said of the response he's received. "You can't help but love it. These are our kids. Ten years from now that kid can be out robbing you or in college becoming a doctor or whatever. We make the difference. It's a neat little adventure."

Those interested in getting involved can call Dayton Elementary School at 849-5484 or Hafer at 849-5161.

"I'm hoping we can spread this out throughout the year to give these kids a bump of enthusiasm," he said.