School course on the ropes

The Whitefish School District is considering whether or not to continue operating its ropes course at Muldown Elementary.

Fourth, seventh and ninth graders complete units involving the ropes course. Staff changes in the district over the years, has made it difficult to find trained instructors to continue operating the course.

The group of staff members who run the course brought the issue before the school board March 13.

Vonda Garcia, one of the instructors, said the course is a good teaching tool, but without proper staffing it can’t continue.

“There needs to be a team situation and there is not at the high school,” she said. “The course is a wonderful thing.”

There is currently only one staff member at the high school who is certified to lead the course. Part of the difficulty has resulted in a lack of an instructor for the higher elements of the course.

“No one on staff has interest in doing the high ropes,” confirmed high school principal Dave Carlson.

There is also a financial obligation to maintain and certify the course, as well as periodic instructor training that is required.

The district has maintained an account dedicated to the course, but expenses have exceeded revenue and the balance in the account sits at just over $2,000. Maintenance and course inspection can run up to $2,000 per year, according to district clerk Danelle Reisch.

When the course was constructed, the plan was to rent out the facility to various groups to generate revenue to cover the district’s expenses. However, in recent years rental of the course has diminished.

The district’s administrators recommended that the school board approve discontinuing the ropes course.

However, the board voted to table the matter until more information on the matter could be obtained.

“Is the ropes course relevant for the future or not?” asked Dave Fern. “I’m not convinced one way or another. There’s still more things that need to be sifted out of this.”