PRINCIPAL HELPS ALLAY FUND WOES

PATTON -- Like so many school districts in Missouri, hard times have hit Meadow Heights School District.

Rather than sit by and watch the district and its students suffer, high school Principal Rick Chastain decided to see if he could raise a little money.

He sent a letter to businesses which the district has utilized over the years, explained the situation and asked for help price reductions, instructional equipment or supplies, donations or scholarships.

"It was really a shot in the dark," Chastain said. "We have been doing business with these people and I just asked if there was any way they could help us now.

"We have had an unbelievable amount of response," Chastain said. "We have had some monetary donations and some vendors have said they are willing to cut some percentage off supplies. Another company told us they would sell us computers at their cost."

As a result of the letter, a company from Boca Raton, Fla., donated six volumes of resource materials.

"We haven't generated a great deal of money," Chastain said. "But we're a little better off than when we started.

"The main thing is that more people understand and they have been very supportive. I think they understand the situation education is in," Chastain said.

Nearly every business that received a letter has responded. Some have offered some help; others haven't.

"But they are taking it seriously," Chastain said. "They haven't thrown the letter away."

Following the defeat of Proposition B, Meadow Heights School District is looking at ways to cut $110,000 from its budget.

"Anything I could possible do to help our school out would be worth it," Chastain said.

"Some of us can sit by and take it; others do something about it," Chastain said.

"This is really a fund-raising campaign put on by the high school principal," he said. "This is just my little way of trying to help."

He's not alone in fund-raising efforts. Students in the junior and senior classes are selling candy.

Teachers have volunteered to use their preparation periods to fill in for teachers who are absent so the district doesn't have to pay a substitute.

"This doesn't mean our school is going under by any means," Chastain said. "But we are at a point where any dollar we can save or raise is needed."

The letter brought the problem home, Chastain said.

Chastain said the only relief in sight are lawsuits in the court system now.

"They say the people have spoken on Proposition B. I don't believe that. I don't think people were saying no to the tax increase. I think they said no to the legislators of Missouri. They don't trust them."