By Michael Howell
Figuring out ways to spend millions of dollars in discretionary money is a problem most schools and communities would like to have. And that’s just what is happening in Darby.
The Darby School District hosted its second annual Lorentzen Community Forum last week. It is an unusual event in which community members gather together to discuss ways in which the school district can best spend the extra cash it has thanks to a grateful former student named Archie Lorentzen.
After graduating from Darby High School in 1949, Archie Lorentzen enlisted in the Air Force where he aced his aptitude test and became a fighter pilot. After leaving the service he worked selling mobile homes until retiring to the Flathead Valley. According to Darby School Superintendent Loyd Rennaker, Lorentzen always credited Darby High School for his success in life and in appreciation he and his wife left their entire estate to the school district. So far the school has received $2.8 million. The money is invested 50/50 in stocks and bonds and the account currently holds $2.93 million. And there is one more piece of property left to sell, according to Rennaker.
At the community forum participants split up into focus groups in which they discussed options for making capital investments, forming community partnerships, improving and expanding the curriculum and projects to grow and sustain the endowment for future generations.
A lot has already been achieved. Over the past year the funds have been used to develop a recycling program and make efficiency upgrades and improvements to the cafeteria. They have put money into community events such as Last Fridays, developed additional adult education opportunities, developed an outreach program and contributed to the Meals on Wheels program. In terms of curriculum the money has been used to enhance vocational education opportunities, to develop school-to-work and internship programs as well as to develop a personalized learning program. To help grow the endowment, the school district has hired a grant writer, developed additional school fundraisers and created an Alumni Association.
The Lorentzen Endowment was a significant partner in bringing high speed internet to the school. Working with CenturyLink and a computer internet company they are about to bring on line hundreds of computers for staff and students that will have fiber optic fed high speed internet capability. With the fiber optic infrastructure in place from Hamilton to Darby, with access boxes at all major road crossings along the way, the general public will have the opportunity to tap in to the high speed cable.
According to Community Outreach Coordinator Shelby Rogala, the final touches on the internet connections at the school were being made and a celebration of the new network is planned for Tuesday, March 28 at 2:30 p.m. in the high school gym.
Ideas for the future are not scarce. Rogala said that she came away from the forum with a folder full of new ideas that the committee would be sifting through and, hopefully, implementing. Some ideas already on the table include capital improvement projects such as a performing arts center, a recreation center, a new track, and staff housing. Creating a database of community resources, developing more school-to-work partnerships and bringing in community volunteers, speakers and presenters are ideas being entertained. Other ideas include expanding extra-curricular options, developing life skills classes, student-run businesses, senior projects and teacher support. They are also looking at investment opportunities in the community and other means of revenue generation.
Something else Rogala is really excited about is the school’s new internship program for juniors and seniors.
“We would like to work with community businesses and organizations to create a mutually beneficial partnership,” said Rogala. The internships do not need to be paid positions, according to Rogala, but certain students who qualify for funding through the grant may be eligible to receive internship stipends.
Although participating businesses may set their own requirements, the school has set some of its own. All students need to be in good academic standing and maintain good school attendance. All internship locations need to be approved by the school and students need to follow school rules as well as any rules of the work place.
Students will go through an application and interview process to participate in the program. They are required to keep track of their time spent and duties performed. Each student will work for credit a minimum of 90 hours and a maximum of 360 hours within the school year. Every student will also complete a final “reflection” after completing the internship.
Anyone interested in providing an internship position can contact Community Outreach Coordinator Shelby Rogala at 821-1312 or email her at srogala@darby.k12.mt.us.