Page 29 - Flathead Beacon // 9.2.15

UNCOMMON GROUND MIKE JOPEK
GUEST COLUMN DENISE JUNEAU
ATTENDANCE MATTERS. MGRADUATION MATTERS.
ONTANA’S STUDENTS HAVE show up.
one of the most important My Graduation Matters Montana jobs in the state: showing up initiative is rooted in the idea that we
WHAT’S THE PLAN,
ACONGRESS?
FTER WORKING SEVERAL DAYS
inches at the Whitefish Station and the Olney Station got 56 inches.
Last year the snow came earlier and dwindled over the season. The 1997- ‘98 snow accumulation was more linear according to NOAA. Who knows what the weather brings, but I’m betting it will be as big as our sky and hoping for plenty of snow in the mountains.
Rainfall briefly scrubbed the smoke from Depot Park and the valley. And it will take rain and snow to help our brave firefighters battle the blazes of our drought-ridden forestlands.
Last week Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack said in a statement that over $150 million per week is spent on fire
outdoors on the farm in smoky air
from North American fires, I went downtown to Depot Park for Whitefish Legacy Partner’s Hootenanny.
People filled the park holding umbrel- las and raingear as music embraced the depot.
The wind kicked up and it started to briefly rain. What was not apparent just moments ago came into view as the wild- fire smoke cleared to reveal Lion Moun- tain and Big Mountain. The sunshine escaped from behind the smoke.
The next morning was the first frost on the farm. Many plants held that much greener look that comes with cold; some
suppression with increases likely in the coming weeks. There are tens of thousands of brave firefighter working across the nation with the U.S. Military now offering some help.
Ask relatives living across the state, nation, or world and they likely say that their local weather is also behav- ing oddly.
Politicians create contro- versy so they won’t or can’t do anything, as the status quo works well for some. That’s been a GOP strategy
to school each day. Students who attend class every day are more likely to suc- ceed academically and later on in life. These students will perform better in reading and math, they have a greater chance of graduating from high school, and they’ll be better prepared for col- lege and a meaningful career.
Still, for some students, the simple act of showing up to school each day may not be that easy.
Students who miss just 18 days each year, that’s two days per month, are considered chronically absent and their success rates begin to drop. When a school’s average daily attendance drops below 95 percent, chronic absenteeism is likely a growing concern for a signif- icant share of its students. In 2014, the average daily attendance for all Mon- tana schools was 93.6 percent.
This isn’t just about truancy, it is true that some absences are unavoid- able because of illness or other circum- stances. But when students miss too much school— regardless of the reason – it can cause them to fall behind.
That’s why I’m asking Montana stu- dents to start the school year strong by committing to attend class each day.
Ensuring that Montana students show up for school this year is an under- taking in which we can all take part. Schools can be using their attendance data to identify students who may be struggling to get to class, and work with those families to find a solution. Parents can build a habit of good attendance starting as early as preschool. Commu- nity groups can organize safe walks or carpools to school. Entire classrooms of students can pledge to attend school every day and create a friendly compe- tition encouraging their classmates to
all have a stake in our public education system. It’s rooted in the idea that when Montana kids succeed, we all benefit.
Local Graduation Matters Montana communities are developing innovative and effective approaches to the atten- dance challenge. Graduation Matters Stevensville awards students in good academic and attendance standing a “community connections card” which local businesses reward with reduced prices on goods and services. Gradu- ation Matters Billings is marshalling community volunteers to visit with families before school to talk about the importance of attendance from an early age. Graduation Matters Great Falls incentivizes high school students with good grades and attendance by offering late start days and by waiv- ing end-of-semester testing. Gradua- tion Matters Wolf Point is focusing on early-grade attendance to create posi- tive habits and get kids on the path to graduation.
Montana’s graduation rate is at an all-time high. As a result of 85.4 per- cent of Montana students graduating each year, the state’s economy gets a $6 million annual boost. A higher gradua- tion rate also translates into a decrease in Montana’s crime rate and an increase in civic participation.
This school year, I encourage all Montanans to take an active role in the state’s public school system. Let’s work together to ensure Montana children show up to school each day, are able to achieve their academic goals, and walk across that graduation stage proudly displaying their hard-earned diploma.
Attendance matters. Graduation Matters, to all Montanans.
“PRAYING FOR RAIN AND SNOW SEEMS MORE PRODUCTIVE THAN TALKING TO CONGRESS ABOUT A NATIONAL CLIMATE PLAN.”
were zapped by the frost. The follow- ing night, an even colder yet non-killing frost turned apples and kales sweeter and moved us toward planning next years’ garlic planting location.
The Flathead has been on the extreme drought watch for months, yet weather forecasts indicate that a much bigger than normal ocean warming effect will likely yield a much warmer and dryer winter for Montana.
The National Oceanic and Atmo- spheric Administration said that July 2015 was the warmest month ever recorded for the planet. For anyone spending any real time outdoors it’s easy to see that something big is up with the chaotic weather.
But the weather will have to get more extreme before Congress endorses any climate plan. That’s tough on people who make a living, recreate or just like the outdoors.
During the winter of 1997-‘98, another bigger ocean warming effect season, 62 inches of snow, sleet and hail fell at the Olney Station, while 36 inches dropped at the Whitefish Station according to NOAA. Our last winter produced 68
with national healthcare policy, yet last week Speaker of the House John Boeh- ner hired a top aide to advice him on healthcare.
Boehner, who reportedly toured places like Bozeman, Whitefish and Gla- cier National Park last month likely got a taste of our smoke-filled air. It’s that kind of first hand experience that may yield more resources to help firefighters combat a historic fire season.
This month Catholic Church leader Pope Francis, who said that the climate is a common good, belonging to all and meant for all, is scheduled to address a joint session of Congress after members return from an August recess of talking to constituents.
Over the weekend smoke refilled the valley as the first frosts of the season passed. We’re now harvesting crops like tomatillos that appreciate the heat but miss rain, which hopefully returns to scrub our air.
Praying for rain and snow seems more productive than talking to Congress about a national climate plan. Hopefully our leaders listen to people like the Pope.
“MONTANA’S GRADUATION RATE IS AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH. AS A RESULT OF 85.4 PERCENT OF MONTANA STUDENTS GRADUATING EACH YEAR, THE STATE’S ECONOMY GETS A $6 MILLION ANNUAL BOOST.”
Denise Juneau is Montana’s superintendent of public instruction.
Mike (Uncommon Ground) Jopek and Dave (Closing Range) Skinner often fall on opposite sides of the fence when it comes to political and outdoor issues. Their columns alternate each week in the Flathead Beacon.
SEPTEMBER 2, 2015 // FLATHEADBEACON.COM
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