Standing up for the Prescott School District

PRESCOTT - The Prescott School District, working with the Office of the Superintendent and the Financial Oversight Committee, has been addressing financial shortfalls that threaten its future.

As the school board works to save the district from dissolution, Prescott and neighboring communities have stepped up to save the Prescott School District. Here are some of the ways individuals or businesses can immediately help:

Donate items for the Prescott Education Association's silent auction that will take place during fall conferences. Auction items are due by Oct. 8. For information, email Ichabre@prescottsd.org or therbrandson@prescottsd.org.

Volunteer at the Parent Teacher Organization's Fall Festival Fundraiser on Oct. 19. Entry will be free, and tickets are for sale for select activities. Email prescottpto25@gmail.com for more information or to volunteer.

Donate to the Prescott School District's Brick Fundraiser. For donations of $100 or more (be generous,) a metal plaque with the donor's or their business's name will be permanently placed at the school as a symbol of support. HiMark Custom Fab and Chabre Farm are donating plasma cutting and materiel for metal plaques. The goal is $200,000. To donate, contact saveprescott@prescottsd.org. Make checks payable to United Way of the Blue Mountains.

Volunteer to help retired educators Joan Helm and Sue DeRuwe host a Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser to be held in November. Contact Joan Helm at (509) 337-6318 or Sue DeRuwe at (509) 629-8803 to volunteer.

Make a short video. Prescott's yearbook students are creating a "Save Prescott" video montage before the school board meeting on Thursday, Oct. 23. The students ask anyone interested to send a short video to saveprescott@prescottsd.org, Videos should answer one or both of the following questions: What has Prescott School District done for you? Why are rural schools important?

The Prescott School Board is raising funds by selling property, including greenhouses, a lawn mower, a freezer, and a drone. The board approved a total value of $45,500 for all items.

The school board also voted to list the district's Teachers Cottage, located at 202 W. 1st Street, in September. The 1921 building housed superintendents and faculty for the school district. The district is asking $450,000 for the 6,570-square-foot duplex with eight bedrooms and six bathrooms. The listing is available on Zillow.com at https://tinyurl.com/yk7v2pjv.