Commitment to community at schools

Upon learning about the more than $1 million in initial donations for the newly announced Whitefish High School Performing Arts and Technology programs, the short response from everyone in the district was, simply, “Wow!” That, however, is not a proper “thank you.”

The original design of the new high school included only a modest plan for remodeling the existing music classrooms and creating two unfinished spaces for future theater arts and technology classrooms. Last fall, however, we challenged ourselves to envision something more ambitious. Specifically, we challenged ourselves to create a vision for world-class performing arts and technology programs and facilities that would inspire our students and teachers, and that would receive the community support necessary to realize that vision.

As the result of a lot of hard work over the past five months, last week the district announced plans for new Whitefish High School performing arts and technology programs and facilities, punctuated by the stunning fact that we already have financial commitments from the community totaling more than $1 million.

If community results from the many actions — large and small — that uplift and strengthen one another, Whitefish is surely unparalleled in its commitment to community building.

Unlike a for-profit business where success is measured in terms of monetary return on investment, the “bottom-line value” of our school district is the way in which it anchors and sustains our community. Indeed, our children are our future. More to the point, how we prepare and equip them for success not just in college and career but also as citizens — as community builders — is our future!

In the same way that our schools anchor our community, we know that these newly announced performing arts and technology programs and facilities will help anchor the Whitefish School District, attracting new families, teachers and students into the community.

And as we work to raise the remaining $1.3 million in necessary donations, our supporters can be confident that the value returned by their investment will be students that are very well equipped with the intellectual, vocational, and citizenship skills required for our community’s health today and well into the future.

We are, all of us, very fortunate to live among neighbors who appreciate the true meaning and real value of community. On behalf of the entire district, we say a very heartfelt “thank you” to our initial donors, and to our entire community.

— District Board of Trustees