Scrappy little school
Valley View School started in 1910 with 21 students, as the first school in the Mission Valley. These were children from the local homesteaders in the area. Over the years, the attendance has changed with as few as 16 students and as many as 42 students. The 2011/2012 school year completed the 102nd year of schooling for Valley View with 25 students in grades K-6. More than half the school’s students drive in from out of district because parents like the small school learning environment and teacher to student ratio. Twelve in-district students are projected for the 2012-2013 school year as compared with this past year’s seven students. No matter whether students are in or out of district, Valley View is doing the job of education well. Gale Decker, Lake Co. Supt. of Schools, recently reported to the school board that “Valley View students test results of 2012 show that 66% of our kids tested “advanced” or “proficient” in math and 93% “advanced” or “proficient” in reading. Hats off to our kids and staff for a job well done!”
In May, the mill levy for Valley View School District 35 did not pass. While it’s understandable that valley residents don’t want to see the taxes on their land raised, there is something that everyone can do to help this small school keep up its educational success. Parents of current Valley View school children met at the school on May 15th and again on June 5th to form a fundraising plan to keep the school open. Valley View is asking all Mission Valley residents to consider helping “Save Our School” with a Scrap Metal Drive. Do you have old appliances in the garage or out back? Old cars in your junk pile? Old copper piping? Radiators? Tire Rims? Donating any of these items can help save Valley View from closing its doors this fall. There will be a Pacific Recycling container for all scrap metal items at the school all summer. So take a drive out to Kerr Dam or Buffalo Bridge on Flathead River and drop your scrap metal items there at Valley View School to help the first school in Mission Valley. If you have old appliances, cars, tractor or other machinery to donate, please call the school at 883-2208 to arrange to have it hauled away. What a win-win situation! You get rid of junk and save one of the last 2 room school houses in the state!
Other fundraising projects are being planned but the Scrap Metal Drive is a way the whole community can help the school. Board chairman Jon Warneke, said, “to start with, the reserve fund of $10,000 needs to be replenished. It’s great to see families coming together who believe in the school and want to better their kid’s education.” An all school garage sale was held in May and close to $2000 was made to kick start the reserve fund. Thank you to everyone who donated and supported the school!
Monetary donations can be given to help the school directly at First Interstate Bank through the Valley View Parent’s Group account.