Russell says good-bye to school

RUSSELL — For a school district on its last day, the atmosphere seemed awfully festive.

Kindergartners were laughing while older kids helped them play carnival games, or climb into bounce houses and inflatable slides.

“We wanted the kids to have one last really good memory,” said Sally Johnson, the high school principal.

“It’s been a rough year, as tough on the kids as it’s been on everyone,” said Anita Duckworth, a Russell school board member.

“Some of the kids have taken [the closure announcement] really personally,” said Johnson.

Earlier this year, the Iowa Board of Education said due to financial and other problems, they were pulling the school’s accreditation. Tuesday was the last day of classes, and besides filling out some paperwork and a few last pieces of business, the kids were encouraged to enjoy themselves.

“They needed some time to enjoy their friends. They needed to have some fun on their last day. They’re going to go out to their [new school] knowing they had a good time and hopefully, they go out with a positive attitude,” said Duckworth.

The students and staff all wore blue T-shirts with the slogan “Long live Russell spirit.”

So what’s that mean?

“It’s OK to wear another school’s colors, but you’ll still have Russell spirit,” said Kelsey Evans, a seventh grader. “No matter what school you go to, you’ll always be a Trojan at heart.”

Some students already knew were they were going next year.

“It’s a little scary, but I think I’ll make new friends there,” said Nicole McCurdy, a seventh grader who will begin classes at the Chariton school district in the fall.

James Fisher, a junior who plays on the football team, will spend his last year in high school at Wayne schools.

“I think I’ve already got a ‘starting’ spot; their football coach is our history teacher,” he said. “I’d give it my all no matter where I go.”

But if Fisher had a choice, he wouldn’t go anywhere.

“I want [Russell] to stay open. I want to play for the same coach one more year,” he said.

Some of the teachers, on the other hand, don’t know where they will go.

“My husband farms, so I’m not very movable,” said Amy Stuart, who has taught physical education at Russell for more than six years.

There aren’t a lot of openings in the area for P.E. teachers locally. Stuart may have to look to the private sector for employment.

“I have options, [but] it will be different,” she said. “Even if I teach at another school it’ll be one [age group] or another. Here, I teach them all, K-12. It’s a unique experience.”

Parent Penny Stouwie said she has heard that of the 18 full-time teachers at Russell, one is retiring and only three have found jobs.

Her husband, Nathan, agree and said that it shouldn’t be that way, because Russell is a good school with good teachers.

The Stouwies insist their son, Dusty Butler, has had great teachers at Russell. Penny even produced a copy of her son’s Iowa Test of Basic Skills scores.

Dusty showed language skills at a fourth-grade level, science and reading at a fifth-grade level and math at a sixth-grade level.

“It just shows what kind of education they’re getting here,” Nathan said.

Maybe that’s why these are two of the parents who haven’t given up hope. They, the school board and Superintendent Robert McCurdy have submitted a request to the state to start a new “charter school” in Russell. It could be housed in what is soon to be the “former” Russell school building.

They seemed more optimistic than the average Russell parent or employee.

“There’s a 50-50 chance,” Nathan Stouwie said. “I don’t see how they can turn it down.”

But most students are resigned to the fact they’ll be moving on.

“Our school is being closed, and we wish it would still be open,” said Evans as an eighth-grade friend was signing her Russell Spirit shirt.

“I’d really like to graduate from here,” said Elizabeth Hager, “with small classes and all my friends. But as long as I get through high school, I think I’ll be OK.”

Duckworth said she imagines the full impact of the loss of their school hasn’t sunk in — after the laughter dies away, she knows she’ll grieve.

“It’s like a funeral. It doesn’t really hit you until you get home and everybody’s gone. And it’s quiet. And then it hits you.”

Mark Newman can be reached at 683-5358 or by e-mail at mgnewman@mchsi.com.