Communities Rising: March 15
Nothing unites Indian Valley more than Plumas Unified School District making a decision about Greenville schools from its Quincy office 23 miles away. Needless to say, decisions to change Greenville Junior Senior High School did not sit well with many parents and community members.
One of the most objectionable aspects of the controversial move by the district is to lump K-8 grades in the same building. The current seventh and eighth grades have acted, how should I put this, too adult to be placed back in elementary school. Elementary school parents understandably do not want to see their littles hanging with older kids on the playground given the types of conversations and topics of conversation that come up in the older grades.
There doesn’t sound like there is room for sports at Greenville High School in PUSD’s new plan. True, last year’s football team had way more Plumas Charter School students than it did GHS students but those are still valley kids that wanted to play and we are still a county that pushes sports as the be all end all of the high school experience, so what then, does the new messaging coming from the district mean?
I always think back to my time working in the Japanese school system where the belief that well-rounded students must have equal backgrounds in academics, sports, arts, and possible trades and natural resources. It is possible for that to exist. What’s more I taught in a prefecture in the rural countryside very much comparable with Plumas.
When I hear of these sorts of decisions I count my blessings that I didn’t go to a school where agriculture was the only real push. I can’t imagine what my life would have been like had I not been exposed to the arts—what a sad existence that would have been. To all the students with heart and soul and a yearning to create I say—hold tight. It does get better—you just have to get out of here for the programs that speak to your heart. And who knows? Maybe learning how to plant a garden might come in handy at some point (perhaps my own backyard garden would yield bigger crops if only I’d taken an ag class instead of AP Art History).
Bottom line though, Indian Valley parents need to be part of the conversation—especially in light of putting seventh and eighth graders in close proximity to littles. And for the rest of the county—that will surely see an influx of former GJSH students yearning to play sports, kindly treat our kids with the respect they deserve.
I’ve gleaned the following from press releases, the Internet, and random texts. As usual, you are welcome to email me at [email protected]. Stay safe out there—and watch out for mudslides.
IVCSD Meeting Postponed
The regular IVCSD board meeting was canceled this week due to lack of quorum. It is rescheduled for next Wednesday, March 22 at 6:30 p.m. at the Plumas Bank building at 121 Crescent Street in downtown.
IVCSD Vacancy
IVCSD has a vacancy. This could be a great opportunity for someone to learn more than probably you wanted to know about community services districts. Contact [email protected] for your interest.
Dixie Fire Collaborative Meeting
Always informative, the monthly DFC community meeting takes place this Saturday, March 18 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Greenville Elementary School Cafeteria.
Greenville Fire Cats
Greenville Fire Cats could use some donations. They have an Amazon list and can be reached on their facebook page of the same name. It’s pretty cold out there for our feral feline neighbors.
Some call it Indian Valley Lake others call it Pioneer Lake, either way the valley, including Stampfli Lane, is now flooded. Photo submitted
