Voters – Thank you for supporting LRHS

Two words are both equally underestimated and underused: thank you.

In the Feb. 14 Special Election, the Ritzville School District bond passed with a 65 percent majority. Both students and staff are grateful for the opportunity to learn and teach in improved facilities.

Clearly, a thank you is in order.

Teacher Angalina Vallone said, “I greatly appreciate the investment that our community has made in our schools. I cannot express how excited I am to be a part of the school district at this time.”

Of the benefits that students will gain, she continues, “An environment that is safe and conducive to learning, coupled with new technology that will bring my classroom into the 21st century, will help me better prepare our young people for the world outside of high school.”

Because of community support, the daily lives of all those involved with the school will be impacted for the better.

Teacher Kathy McAnally explained, “All of us will be more comfortable and find it easier to work on the tasks at hand: teaching and learning. Daily tasks… will be easier, safer and more efficient.”

“Thank you to all those who supported the passing of the bond,” student Tara Tellefson added. “This bond will make our school a place where teachers will continue to love to come to school and share their knowledge with us students, as well as make it an inviting, comfortable environment for the students.”

Given the opportunity to enjoy improvements, teachers want to emphasize that the investments from the community will be worthwhile.

“I promise as a teacher,” vowed McAnally, “to continue to stress that we take care of what we have been given. Having a building that is well taken care of and up to date shows us all that our community is making a good learning environment a priority.”

She added, “That should be appreciated by us all. It is important to have pride in the building you enter every day and call your own.”

Similarly, Vallone seeks to reciprocate the community’s gift by equipping the students with knowledge to succeed: “As an educator…I feel a deep responsibility to prepare young people to successfully contribute to society.

“The investment in our schools will help me achieve this aim, and I thank the voters for believing and supporting our young people’s education.”

As a 2018 graduate, I will not be around to enjoy many of the school’s upcoming improvements. This fact does not in any way detract from how grateful I am for the support my community has demonstrated towards my school.

This bond will do so much more than structurally improve LRHS; rather, I foresee many improvements in productivity, school pride, and motivation to succeed as a reflection of the facilities.

The opportunity to succeed is a gift of unparalleled value, one that community members will not regret giving.

Principal Ronanda Liberty sees the significance of the bond as a gift.

She said, “I am very grateful for our community’s support of the schools. Our students deserve the best we can offer. Knowing there was an outpouring of support through your voting voices means the world.”

Liberty concluded, “The investment in our schools will create a lifetime of return through the individuals impacted by it.”

Thank you, voters, for supporting Lind-Ritzville Schools.