The Star - News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area

As you read this, the new Lake Roosevelt School is open, and kids kindergarten through 12th grade are already walking the halls. Let me say this: It was a very emotional week as past teachers, students and board members walked the halls and mingled with today’s students and the future of Raider Nation.

Emotions were not just limited to them either. A senator, a pastor and a superintendant also could not contain the joy of a big project being finished due to hard work, team work and tenacious dedication. This is the accumulation of many, many years of dreaming, planning and prayers. The names involved in getting us to this place are many and not able to be placed here in a single column. But this place, this school, is the crown jewel of our community. A crown that stands for consolidation and the pride of what can happen when people and organizations work together. Everyone one involved needs congratulations.

Thank You to you all. But guess what — we are not done.

First off, the torch is now passed to the class of 2015. It is up to you seniors to set the pace for the future generations. Embrace your role, show the other students what school spirit and pride looks like. Be the leaders of a combined Raider district. Eyes will be upon you to show the others how to take care of this mighty school. From picking up trash to respecting teachers to showing respect and sportsmanship to others, the tone for future generations is yours. Little, tiny kids will be watching you. So will the junior class, as will be the community. Show us all the right decision was made and make us even better. We know you can do it.

Second, to the rest of the current classes in the new school. After the newness wears off and your routine gets set in, get ready. This is your school and you get to make it what it becomes. Keep pushing yourselves, strive to be even better and bring your neighbor with you. Let’s make Lake Roosevelt not just a new awesome school but a school filled with over achievers that want to get out there and change the world. Embrace the new technology that is being offered to you and respect it, making it your calling card. Let all other schools say, “Wow, those Raiders sure know what they are doing.” Make them say, “I wish we went to school at LR.” Believe me, if you embrace what you are taught by your teachers and work really hard, you will hear this a lot over the years. Also, remember this: Leave the school better than you found it and future Raiders will feel this school is just as new down the road as it is today.

Third, and maybe the most important, we are not done yet. There is still a new gym or sporting complex. Remember that this school is a debt-free school; it is totally paid for due to the hard work of our leaders. So I challenge a few of you. First I challenge the Grand Coulee Power Office and The Colville Tribe. There is no reason the two biggest employers in our area cannot come together and figure out how to fund the remaining buildings. Employees of these entities need to pressure your administrators to figure out a way to fund this new gym. There are a lot of brilliant people that work for both of these major players in our area, and it is time they come to the table. We already know that the tribe is on board and wants to get involved, but it is only fair and about time that the USBR do their part, too, for the children of this area. So, unions in the dam, start pressuring the administration to really start doing something for our school district and the future of the area. I would also challenge Bonneville Power Administration to take a long look at this; you also are a stockholder in the kids of this area.

So much has been accomplished already, but we are not done. Yes we have the most beautiful crown of a school sitting on Raider Country but there is a piece missing. Let’s finish it. We are a people that know how to get things done, we have proved that time and time again. So let’s get this done, too. Come on Raiders … make some noise!