Priorities. Ask anyone what their priority in life is and the answer most likely will be something that relates to the well being of their family. For parents, many will say their top priority is giving their children the best upbringing possible – including a good education.
But as I turned on the television to watch the Academy Awards last week, I once again wondered what the real priority is in our country. I am continually amazed at the amount of money that goes into film making and the salaries made by all involved in the industry. And what about professional athletes and the tax money spent to build bigger and better stadiums?
Unfortunately, our country may say its priority is education, but when it comes to funding for our public schools many find that hard to believe. And it doesn’t seem to be getting any better.
With a 13 percent drop in enrollment over the last four years, Lake Pend Oreille School District, like many nationwide, has experienced a significant decrease in funding.
“While the school district not only expected major funding cuts at the state level due to our declining enrollment it also anticipated a struggling Idaho economy,” said district Superintendent Dick Cvitanich, who added that the severity of the state’s financial position was not anticipated.
According to Cvitanich, the state cut kindergarten through 12th grade funding by 7 percent this fiscal year and could cut it an additional 8.5 percent next fiscal year. The district also anticipates losing another 3 percent of its enrollment, largely due to the fact that many of these students’ families worked in the labor industry which has experienced a severe decline in North Idaho. But Cvitanich hopes that will change.
“Affordable housing for families is slowly starting to make its appearance,” he said. “This is good news.”
But until that time, Lake Pend Oreille School District has to deal with the numbers it has right now and that can only mean more cuts.
So how does a school district deal with such a blow to its budget? That is precisely what Cvitanich and the Lake Pend Oreille School Board are trying to figure out. And not everyone likes the answers.
One proposal is to close down Northside Elementary School, which has many parents concerned. But Cvitanich said that is just one of many options being considered.
“We are looking at all programs. Since over 80 percent of our budget is made up of staffing, that becomes a logical choice. We will definitely be reducing, however, we hope to address most of these cuts through retirements and attrition,” said Cvitanich. “These reductions will be in all categories: certified, classified and administrative. Our ongoing goal is to keep the cuts as far away from the classroom as possible.”
But what effect will these cuts have on both the students and the teachers?
“We know that reductions in staff will have an effect on the amount of time teachers can spend with children,” said Cvitanich, referring to the inevitable increase in class size.
But he adds that research shows that it is the teacher who makes the true difference in providing a quality education.
While that may be true, I know I am not alone when I say I am concerned for the teachers who must deal with increased class size while trying to teach to what is already a classroom of children whose academic abilities differ greatly.
As difficult as it has been for Cvitanich, I have been impressed with what he has accomplished during his tenure at the district. He is readily available to the community and eager to listen to input from parents. But he is in a difficult situation with the lack of funding available. Nonetheless, he is doing what he can to reassure families that their children’s education remains his top priority.
In an open letter to the community that is published on the district’s Web site, Cvitanich writes, “Despite what may be ahead for us in public education in Idaho, we do know our schools will open next year. There will be a warm building and an excited classroom teacher for each eager student. Staff will continue to work hard and we will attempt to provide the best learning environment possible given the situation.”
Yes, these are difficult times for our economy, but I am glad that there are people out there who still believe that educating our children is a number one priority.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Sandpoint Couple Doing What They Can To Find a Cure for Son's Rare Disease
As first-time parents, Brian and Tricia Sturgis did not immediately recognize when their son Henry was not progressing in his development. But looking back, the signs were there.
Tricia began to notice Henry, now 3, was different when the two attended play groups. While other kids his age were sitting up and bearing weight on their feet, Henry did not.
“Play dates are your guide,” said Tricia. “You do not want to compare your kids to others, but you can put things on your radar.”
At the age of 16 months, Brian and Tricia finally had a diagnosis for their little boy – cystinosis, a genetic disease which causes the amino acid cystine to accumulate in the body’s cells. As it accumulates it destroys some of the body’s organs, including the kidneys, liver, muscles, white blood cells, eyes and central nervous system.
“He already had rickets (softening of the bones) and kidney disease at 16 months,” said Tricia, who would like to see screening available at birth so immediate treatment could keep some of the side effects at bay.
Because the disease is so rare – afflicting only 500 people nationwide and 2,000 worldwide – the couple quickly found that there is little research money, support or resources available. But that has not stopped Brian and Tricia from doing everything in their power to find a cure for their little boy.
They first sought support from other families who face the same challenges.
“There is a little girl who lives in Clarkston who has it,” said Brian. “That was pretty key to meet someone else living with it.”
Then in May 2008 they attended a fundraiser put on by The Cystinosis Research Foundation and were inspired when they learned what is being done to raise money for research and the progress that has already been made.
“That really inspired us,” said Tricia, who with Brian and the help of many friends and relatives put on their first fundraiser in September 2008. Since then the couple have raised approximately $200,000 and are recognized as among the leaders nationwide when it comes to donating to the California-based Cystinosis Research Foundation.
“We really looked to see where people were putting their money and this place made sense,” said Brian. “These people are hopeful they will find a cure within five years.”
Since its formation in 2003, the CRF has funded more than $10.8 million in cystinosis research.
“Twice a year the CRF puts out a worldwide call to the scientific community for research proposals,” said Tricia. “Currently, the CRF is funding 41 studies and 10 research fellows in North America and Europe.”
Currently Henry is on eight medications, six of which must be administered every six hours.
“When he was first diagnosed, we gave it (his medication) to him through his mouth,” said Brian, describing how he and Tricia had to wake Henry up at midnight and sometimes it would take 40 minutes to get him back to sleep. But in June 2008, they had a gastrostomy tube implanted in Henry’s stomach allowing them to administer his medicine without waking him up or subjecting him to the medications’ terrible taste.
Henry, or Hank as some call him, is a bubbly 3-year-old who attends preschool two mornings a week and also goes to speech, occupational, physical and water therapy. Tricia says she enjoys watching Henry interact with other kids, especially those from whom he receives support, specifically a boy who attends speech therapy with Henry.
“They make each other feel secure and welcome. They’ve become best buddies,” she said. “It is definitely one of the positives.”
In spite of the busy therapy and medication schedule, the couple seem to take it all in stride.
“It’s your new norm,” said Brian. “You forget how life was before.”
Tricia encourages others facing challenges in their life – medical or otherwise – to seek support from others who may be in similar circumstances.
“Find someone who can offer the support of hope,” said Tricia.
The couple say their primary goal is to continue to raise money and to donate it to research to find a cure in time for Henry; their secondary goal is to have better treatment available.
Tricia was recently appointed to the CRF board of directors and will travel to California on March 18 to present the foundation with a check from the latest fundraiser, a 24-hour ski event that was held at Schweitzer Mountain. They are in the planning stages of a Sept. 11 bike ride to raise more money for their foundation – 24 Hours for Hank. It is hope for their son and others like him that keeps them going.
“You never know whose life you’re going to change,” said Tricia, in her heart praying that Henry’s will be one of them. “I have a renewed sense of hope. People should never give up on hope because it (a cure) could be just around the corner.”
For More information go online to http://cystinosisresearch.org/ to learn more about cystinosis. To learn more about fundraisers for Henry Sturgis, go to http://www.24hoursforhank.org
Tricia began to notice Henry, now 3, was different when the two attended play groups. While other kids his age were sitting up and bearing weight on their feet, Henry did not.
“Play dates are your guide,” said Tricia. “You do not want to compare your kids to others, but you can put things on your radar.”
At the age of 16 months, Brian and Tricia finally had a diagnosis for their little boy – cystinosis, a genetic disease which causes the amino acid cystine to accumulate in the body’s cells. As it accumulates it destroys some of the body’s organs, including the kidneys, liver, muscles, white blood cells, eyes and central nervous system.
“He already had rickets (softening of the bones) and kidney disease at 16 months,” said Tricia, who would like to see screening available at birth so immediate treatment could keep some of the side effects at bay.
Because the disease is so rare – afflicting only 500 people nationwide and 2,000 worldwide – the couple quickly found that there is little research money, support or resources available. But that has not stopped Brian and Tricia from doing everything in their power to find a cure for their little boy.
They first sought support from other families who face the same challenges.
“There is a little girl who lives in Clarkston who has it,” said Brian. “That was pretty key to meet someone else living with it.”
Then in May 2008 they attended a fundraiser put on by The Cystinosis Research Foundation and were inspired when they learned what is being done to raise money for research and the progress that has already been made.
“That really inspired us,” said Tricia, who with Brian and the help of many friends and relatives put on their first fundraiser in September 2008. Since then the couple have raised approximately $200,000 and are recognized as among the leaders nationwide when it comes to donating to the California-based Cystinosis Research Foundation.
“We really looked to see where people were putting their money and this place made sense,” said Brian. “These people are hopeful they will find a cure within five years.”
Since its formation in 2003, the CRF has funded more than $10.8 million in cystinosis research.
“Twice a year the CRF puts out a worldwide call to the scientific community for research proposals,” said Tricia. “Currently, the CRF is funding 41 studies and 10 research fellows in North America and Europe.”
Currently Henry is on eight medications, six of which must be administered every six hours.
“When he was first diagnosed, we gave it (his medication) to him through his mouth,” said Brian, describing how he and Tricia had to wake Henry up at midnight and sometimes it would take 40 minutes to get him back to sleep. But in June 2008, they had a gastrostomy tube implanted in Henry’s stomach allowing them to administer his medicine without waking him up or subjecting him to the medications’ terrible taste.
Henry, or Hank as some call him, is a bubbly 3-year-old who attends preschool two mornings a week and also goes to speech, occupational, physical and water therapy. Tricia says she enjoys watching Henry interact with other kids, especially those from whom he receives support, specifically a boy who attends speech therapy with Henry.
“They make each other feel secure and welcome. They’ve become best buddies,” she said. “It is definitely one of the positives.”
In spite of the busy therapy and medication schedule, the couple seem to take it all in stride.
“It’s your new norm,” said Brian. “You forget how life was before.”
Tricia encourages others facing challenges in their life – medical or otherwise – to seek support from others who may be in similar circumstances.
“Find someone who can offer the support of hope,” said Tricia.
The couple say their primary goal is to continue to raise money and to donate it to research to find a cure in time for Henry; their secondary goal is to have better treatment available.
Tricia was recently appointed to the CRF board of directors and will travel to California on March 18 to present the foundation with a check from the latest fundraiser, a 24-hour ski event that was held at Schweitzer Mountain. They are in the planning stages of a Sept. 11 bike ride to raise more money for their foundation – 24 Hours for Hank. It is hope for their son and others like him that keeps them going.
“You never know whose life you’re going to change,” said Tricia, in her heart praying that Henry’s will be one of them. “I have a renewed sense of hope. People should never give up on hope because it (a cure) could be just around the corner.”
For More information go online to http://cystinosisresearch.org/ to learn more about cystinosis. To learn more about fundraisers for Henry Sturgis, go to http://www.24hoursforhank.org
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