Students Share A Few Ideas For Improving Their Lives Kids Would Like More Non-Sport After-School Programs In/Around: East Valley

Thu., May 20, 1999

By Marny Lombard marnyl@spokesman.com (509) 927-2166

The East Valley School District is trying to jumpstart a community-wide discussion about ways to improve children’s lives.

Grownups turned to young people for ideas at a meeting last week.

“We wonder what you would like us to do for you as a community,” said Shelley Harding, who is head of the district’s youth safety task force and principal of Trent Elementary School.

“Something to do after school” was the rallying cry of the evening. East Valley currently has no after-school programs for elementary students. Sports programs for middle school and high school students draw a good proportion of students, but little is offered after school for students who don’t play sports.

Seventh-grader Jesse Quandt nervously started the flow of ideas: “Home ec stuff - some kids want to learn to cook. We could have dinner at school.”

His list of ideas from students at Mountain View Middle School also included a science club - “for chemistry and dissecting stuff” - supervised board games, community service, art class, computer class and shop class.

Students and principals from schools across East Valley contributed ideas for possible clubs or programs after school: bike mechanics, a way to get to the Centennial Trail, someplace to play pool after 5 p.m., counseling on teen issues, CPR classes.

Middle school requests included anti-smoking classes, self-defense classes for girls and remote-control car racing. And from the high school: a teen center, with pool tables, big screen TV and maybe lessons in salsa dancing.

“The old guy over here wants to know what salsa dancing is,” admitted Les Portner, East Valley schools superintendent.

Two East Valley High School students took on the daunting job of explaining to the mostly middle-aged group why they wanted a teen center and why they wanted help, someone to talk to, even counseling - but only from younger people. “People we can relate to,” said Miranda Bales.

“Crime and drinking and driving would probably go down if there was something for us to do on a Friday or Saturday night,” said Sara Gavin.

After the discussion of ideas from East Valley youth, Harding said, “It’s time to roll up our sleeves and get to work.”

The group will meet again in September and set about making some of these ideas into reality.

Harding also makes clear the school district’s desire that this effort, which began as East Valley’s safety task force, grow into a true community enterprise.

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