The Live Wire Issue 1

The Live Wire Liberty High School 1400 Dubuque Street NE North Liberty. Iowa. 52317 Volume 1 Issue 1 December 2017

WE ARE

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December 2017

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New

The Start of Something New The Construction Of Liberty High

The people of North Liberty had been saying By for years that the town Taylor Gardner needed a high school.

Jasmine Beemon Building a new school Mackenzie Byers was in the works for over a decade, and finally in 2015 the Iowa City Community School District started the planning and construction for Liberty High School.

Throughout the building process, the construction crew encountered a difficulty with the soil. “The ground out here is sandier than most ground, and because it’s sandier the footings in the building had to be deeper than they would normally be,” said Principal Scott Kibby. “The footings are essentially like columns of concrete that are in the ground that the building sits on so they had to be deeper than normal.”

Unlike the soil, the weather was not a problem. Winter was a very good construction season. The winters of 2015 and 2016 were mild which allowed construction crews to do more work than anticipated. Most of the construction was completed during those two winter seasons.

The building was constructed in sections. They started with section A, which includes the weight room, locker rooms and cafeteria. Then, sections D and E, which is the music wing and the auditorium, were built later. It took a while before it became one cohesive building. “It was cool to watch all the planning and the decision making that went into it, the design phase, the actual construction phase, and once it was being built, all the stuff that went in. It was really neat,” Principal Kibby said.

One of the most unique parts of Liberty High are the Library’s collaborative labs. Mrs. Smith, Liberty High’s teacher librarian, described the collaborative labs like: “They are meant to engage students in learning with technology, they’re used for 1:1 initiative for students and chromebooks.” The collaborative labs are also Mr. Kibby’s favorite part of the school. “I don’t get excited about what my office looks

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like, I get excited about the spaces that the kids are in, that you’ll get to use,” he said. “I think it’s a neat space because nobody has a space like that, and it’s a space that kids will be in. It’s the 21st century, there’s tech in there and it doesn’t look like a school from 30 years ago,” Kibby added. Smith’s favorite part of the collaborative labs are the students. “The labs mean nothing without the students engaged in learning,” she said.

The auditorium is another part of the building that is state of the art. “The auditorium is gorgeous,” Kibby said. “That really kind of dresses up that space and that’s nicer than I thought it was going to be,” he added. Brad Borrison, the theatre director, loves the auditorium. He stated, “My favorite part of the auditorium is the acoustics, you can hear clearly everyone on stage from anywhere in the auditorium.” When asked if he could change one thing what would it be, he said, “I’d like to have a mid-stage black curtain, to make things more intimate.”

On Aug. 12th, 2017 the Liberty community and student advisory gathered for the ribbon cutting ceremony. The ceremony included several speakers, tours were given, and many school groups performed. O

The students on the Student Advisory thought that Liberty High turned out to be an incredible school. Grace Crimmins, sophomore, said, “Liberty High feels like a home.” Kayli Baldwin, sophomore, said, “It feels like we’re more included. Both Crimmins and Baldwin said, “All the goals we had at the start of this process have been achieved.” We’ve had tremendous success here at Liberty. We can’t wait to see what the future here at Liberty High brings us.

December 2017

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Lightning,

Camera, Action!

By

T

ake one has officially come to a close for the Liberty Theatre Department.

Liberty High School’s first official performances took place October 27 and 28, featuring the short plays “The Internet is a Distract... Oh Look, A Kitten” and “Superheroes: With Great Powers come Ordinary Responsibilities” In total, more than 500 tickets were given out between both showings. However, not everything went smoothly with this fresh start.

“Everything I’m doing is a learning experience,” said Brad Borrison. “There’s a lot of things out of my control that [have] been a struggle, but nothing is ever gonna be smooth when you’re starting something from the ground up.” Mr. Borrison, an English teacher at Liberty High, is the director and head of the drama department. Beginning his theatre career in high school, this is his first time running the show.

“When I showed up in August for the first time there [were] no supplies,” he said. “We had a stage and that was it. And so the process of getting everything in place and getting everything going has been… there’s been a lot of uphill battles.” Many different things were in short supply in the beginning, from experience with the auditorium to actual props and materials.

“Right now we’re really looking for props, I think that’s one of the hardest things since we’re starting Stefania George, Junior from scratch.” said Abby Henderson, Senior. Henderson played the lead role of ‘Meika’ in the play ¨The Internet is a Distract... Oh Look, A Kitten¨. She has experience in theatre, but this was her first time participating in an actual performance.

“I’ve never been involved in a production before, so Carley Spading Mercedes Crile Jordan Barry Debbie Bonilla

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Nathan Ward, Senior I wanted to branch out and do something new,” she said. “I thought new school, new opportunities.”

The new theatre has provided opportunities for more than 40 individuals who participated in the production, with a multitude of ways to be involved.

“When I got hired I tried my best to kind of get a feel for how many kids wanted to be involved “[Cast members] with the thejust embodied atre program, every single and I had no idea.” Mr. Borcharacter, they rison said. “We

really kill it.”

- Abby Henderson, Senior

Abby Henderson, Senior

Brad Borrison, Theatre Director

had a meeting with parents and students and over 60 kids came to that meeting with parents. We have a really big cast we have around 30 kids in the cast and another 20 kids or so that are gonna be on crews.”

While numbers changed over time, there were still plenty of kids and jobs to go around, as a lot of things needed to happen in order to get everything up and running. Using all of the equipment in the brand new auditorium was a project in and of itself.

“There are hundreds of different combinations and stuff you can do for the different lights, [which] was really interesting because some places don’t have the opportunity to have this nice of a facility.” said Clay Griezel, Junior. Griezel was the assistant stage manager for the production, and helped to keep the trains running on time.

“I have been in a play before, and done some other acting type stuff, but I haven’t had that much crew experience yet so that’s what I’m kinda trying to get into and see if I’m interested in that field,” Griezel said. While crew members often don’t get much of the spotlight, they had the first chance to get to know the auditorium and all of its bells and whistles.

“I feel like we’re doing a really good job starting off in terms of we have really good resources to get this off the ground,” said Griezel. “I hope that we will be a theatre where other theatres will be looking up at us.”

He and many others have high hopes for the Liberty drama department, and were happy to leave their marks with the first performance.

“I hope that it’s fun, I think the first and foremost

thing, theatre is really a place where you can go and just have a really good time and be with a ton of people who are very charismatic and goofy and silly.” said Henderson.

“I think it went really really well,” said Mr. Borrison. “I think everyone had a really good time.” The show will go on this upcoming spring with the musical ‘Seussical The Musical’, and there are still plenty of opportunities to get involved.

Riley Brunk, Junior

Alexia Stevens, Junior

December 2017

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Football: Kaleb Williams, 10

JV Football: 6-3 Freshman Football: 2-7 Kaleb Wiliams: 15 TDs “I liked the Prarie game [even though] I got injured, but the bus ride back was fun. I could hardly hear when I got home because the bus ride was so loud. We killed a team that was supposed to kill us.”

ON THE #BOLTSTATS

Girls XC: Camille Mac, 9

Student Section #Loyal2Liberty

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Boys XC

Peter Woodward, 10

First Liberty student to make state

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19 min. 16.2 sec.

Placed 13th at state

Second Liberty student to make state 16 min. 40.8 sec.

Placed 17th at state “It’s life changing.

It shows anything is possible if you work at it. There’s no halftime in a race.”

9 hole average (top 4 players) 192 18 hole average (top 4 players) 395.25 “My favorite experience was just being able to have fun playing golf. I haven’t really played before this year so I just wanted to try it.”

Swimming: Vivian Gibson, 9

Boys’ Golf Ethan Odonnell, 9

100 Freestyle: 27.10 sec.

200 Individual Medly: 2 min. 22.24 sec.

200 Individual Medly: 2 min. 22.24 sec.

BOARD By

Kayle Cheney Mercedes Crile

Student Section #BoltNation

“I improved the most in my leadership, staying positive, and bringing people up.

This kept my team positive and kept pushing them.”

Volleyball:

LeeAnn Potter: 240 digs

LeeAnn Potter, 10

Record: 13-20-0

December 2017

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Mr. Liberty THE MAN IN CHARGE OF IT ALL

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M

r. Liberty. Scott Kibby, is the face and leader of all things Liberty High School during this ground breaking year.

While many people have invested a lot of time into building Liberty, Kibby has played a big role in making the first year one to remember.

After teaching for 16 years at two different schools in Iowa and then being an activities director at West High, Kibby had an unexpected change of plans.

When Liberty started to develop, Kibby was able to help design many of the sports complexes, including the gym, dance room and weight room, but he wanted to do more. As he became involved, Kibby decided he wanted to do something more.

“I never thought I was going to be a principal. I was fine being an activities director at West [but] that started to Mr. Kibby visited the special education kids on their field trip evolve as I got invested,” Kibby said. “I thought I could to Wilsons Apple Orchard. They explored the orchard, learned about apples and then brought some back to bake dessert. do a little more than the athletic side of things [and] the more I got to do, the more I was excited about it.” attitude. Assistant principal, Justin Colbert, felt With a brand new school, many challenges Kibby’s vibrant energy and commitment.

arose. A few weeks before the school “[Kibby’s] very enthusiastic [and] opened new students enrolled, addpassionate,” Colbert said. “When ing to the numbers they previthings are going well you can ously thought would be coming Family Members see it; it resonates with him.” in. Liberty High was going to Wife: Kari A prominent goal Kibby have a larger student popuhoped to pursue with LiberSon: Nathan, 26 lation than initially planned. ty High’s first school year Twins: Erin & Megan, 23 “It’s hard work [because] was setting the tone and Born and raised in Cedar Rapids, Iowa you’re recreating absolutely focusing on keeping a posiAge: 53 everything,” Kibby said. “The tive setting.

Math teacher: biggest challenge was that Kibby hired teachers he we had about 110 kids more, Eddyville 5 years hoped would be able to but we had the same amount Jefferson 11 years make the school meaningof teaching so we needed more Activities director: ful for everyone. Many students teachers.” Alongside the changes West High 4 years experience and feel his vitality. that arose, Kibby continued to hire more “There is a better learning environment with more structure, and [Mr. Kibby] is teachers and to talk to students,” said junior, Ethan Rundle.

“Enjoy and embrace it, switch part- willing As the school year progressed, Kibby shared time teachers twenty years from now to full-time. some advice for students attending this first year. and embrace it,” Kibby said. “Twenwe can say we were the Throughout ty “Enjoy years from now we can say we were the all the pains first. Leave a mark and of opening a first. Leave a mark, and put your stamp on it.”

Kibby Stats

put your stamp on it.”

-Scott Kibby

brand new school, Kibby stayed enthusiastic and kept a good

By:

Grace Brusegaard Kayle Cheney Makenzie Garrett Stella Warren

December 2017 11

Staff Line-up By

Megan Colony Ella Johnson, Razan Karar & Koryn Neely

It takes many people and departments to make a school function, and sometimes some of these people are overlooked. There are currently 103 staff members at Liberty that make more than 20 departments. To give staff members the recognition they deserve, The Live Wire will feature five people from different departments at Liberty High in each of our issues throughout the 2017-18 school year.

Although we won’t be able to feature each and every staff member, please know we appreciate each of you and the work you do for Liberty.

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Heba Nahman Student and Family Advocate

While working at a new high school is a different experience to many of Liberty’s staff members, that’s not the case for Heba Nahman, Liberty High’s student and family advocate. Moving here from a newly established school in Denver, Colorado, Nahman is excited to help establish the environment and traditions at Liberty. One of the reasons behind why she loves working in new schools is that everyone gets a say in how the school grows.

“We get to shape it in a way that we think is most appropriate for the school,” she said. “There are lots of great experts in the building who come with all their thoughts and all their experiences. They put these thoughts together and that’s what molds our school.”

Nahman always knew she wanted to work in education. When she was 17, she started volunteering at local elementary schools in Denver. Today, she works as a student and family advocate, helping students through mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, low self esteem, among other life challenges.

“I believe in the power of change,” Nahman said. “I believe that for people who face struggles and challenges there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and sometimes you just need someone to support you and guide you to the right path and then things will get better. This is why I pursued social work.”

Robert Williams was in eighth grade when he decided he wanted to become a choir director. To Robert, his seventh grade choir director was an amazing person that inspired him.

Williams has worked in a choir department for the last eight years, the last seven at Pleasant Valley in Bettendorf as an associate director.

When he heard that Liberty was going to open, he saw it as a new opportunity, not only to become the main director and leader, but to start from nothing and build the program from there.

He also saw it as a way to meet new people and have new experiences, and to have new students he loves to work with. When asked about what he likes at Liberty, he said, ¨It's a new building and the staff is amazing to work with, but the best part is working with the students.¨ While he’s glad to work at a new school, there are some problems that arise. Williams had to work out some issues, like getting the choir uniforms ready and worrying about riser shipments. However, he loves the fact that he gets to be the first choir director in the school and create all of the things that have to do with the choir program.

Robert Williams Choir Director

Catie Wiesley Spanish and French teacher

After going to a laboratory high school surrounded by teachers, Catie Wiesley knew that was what she was going to do with her career.

“We always had teachers around and teachers in training from UNI and so I think it was just the fact I’d always been around them,” Wiesley said. ¨It just happened.”

Wiesley is a world language teacher here at Liberty. She teaches Spanish Ⅰ and all levels of French.

She was previously a teacher at Iowa City West High and Washington Junior High School at Washington Community School District.

Though she enjoys her job here at Liberty, she misses working with her Trojan colleagues.

“It was challenging to say goodbye to some colleagues, not a full goodbye, but I dislike that I don't like to get to work with all the great people that are still at West.”

Although she misses some of her peers, Wiesley is grateful to teach here at Liberty. She loves many parts of her job, but her favorite is her students.

Emiley Foley ELL teacher So much goes into keeping a school like Liberty High running smoothly. Just ask Brian Donahoe, Liberty’s head custodian. “There’s a lot of stuff that maybe some people don’t think about,” he said.

“We do more than just sweeping a room or cleaning the bathrooms.

We’re setting up the games, we’re walking the grounds. Basically, anything this building catapults we kind of run… We’re here to provide a safe and healthy environment for you guys.”

Donohoe compares his job to being one of the ‘guys behind the scenes’. “[I enjoy] seeing the smiling faces and getting thanked for a job well done,” he said, “It can be a pretty thankless job at times.”

Donohoe has worked as the head custodian at Horn elementary for the last year, and as a custodian at West High for seven years before that. When he was offered the opportunity to work at the new school, he took it. “It’s been fun being part of laying the foundations of the school, in taking part of building the school from the ground up.”

Brian Donahoe Head Custodian

Emily Foley was working in Wisconsin as a Spanish teacher when she realized that there was no English Language Learning (ELL) class in her school. ELL teachers provide essential learning support to students who are learning English as a second language. She asked the principal when they would start an ELL class, and when one never happened, she made one of her own. She went back to school, and got her masters in ELL. Now Foley works at North Central Junior High in the mornings as a Spanish and ELL teacher, and at Liberty High in the afternoons as an ELL teacher. She thinks it’s fun to work at a new school. She loves the kids she works with, and enjoys seeing all of the familiar faces of the high school students who went to North Central.

December 2017 13

House Divided By

Megan Colony, Ella Johnson, Razan Karar & Koryn Neely

Ben and Izabel Houselog Another pair of siblings who were split up are Austin and Ashlyn Geasland. Austin, a senior at West High School, is happy he was able to stay at his school.

“I chose to go to West because the vast majority of my friends are staying [there] and being a Trojan is something I’ve grown accustomed to my whole

Elizabeth and Neil Davis

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With the addition of a new high school in the Iowa City Community School District, many people were separated from their friends, and some even from their family members. The ICCSD guidelines state that freshman and sophomores who live in the designated Liberty High attendance area must go to Liberty, while upperclassman who were previously enrolled in West High or City High had the choice of staying and finishing high school at those locations. Many upperclassmen decided to stay at their original school, including some who have younger brothers or sisters that had to go to Liberty. Many families have been presented with the unique situation of having students and/or staff members in separate high schools.

“We never see each other, except on the weekend,” said Ben Houselog, sophomore.

Ben Houselog attends Liberty, while his sister Izabel Houselog, senior, goes to West. Going to two different schools isn’t a

life,” he said. Austin is a wide receiver for the West varsity football team. His athletic career also influenced his decision.

Ashlyn, a freshman at Liberty, feels differently about being separated from Austin. “It really sucks knowing this is the last year before he goes to college,” she said.

Ashlyn is involved in

new experience to them.

“It’s not that weird because we’ve done it before from junior high to high school,” said Izabel.

They are both involved in Dance Marathon and are active in multiple sports.

The two are very com-

multiple clubs and sports at Liberty. Her favorites include softball, Difference Makers and Best Buddies. In regards to their competitiveness and supportiveness in athletics, Austin said, “I like to cheer for West when she plays them just to mess with her, but I actually cheer for her.”

Elizabeth Davis, sophomore, was a student at West High last year. Her dad, Neil Davis, taught American studies at West High at the same time.

“There’s the fun, convenient part of getting around, and if someone forgets something at school, the other can pick it up,” Elizabeth said about

the unique situation. “It”s also a little awkward, but that’s just how it goes,” she added.

Since she lives in North Liberty, Elizabeth had no choice but to go to Liberty this year. However, Neil Davis still works at West High.

While she doesn’t notice any big differences this

petitive when it comes to school athletics. Ben has come to see West High as one of Liberty’s biggest rivals, and he is often seen sporting Bolt apparel.

Ashlyn and Austin Geasland year compared to last year, she wishes she was given the choice to stay at West High. “I really like the concept of a less crowded school with nicer facilities than West, but I do miss the fact that West offered some more advanced classes that I’m not able to take here,” she said.

Troy Bergmann is one of our two counselors at Liberty. He has been a school counselor for 15 years. During this time, he has worked at numerous schools, including three in Arizona, one in Iowa, and one in Honduras. No matter where the school was, he still made the same difference in students’ lives.

“I think I got into this to sort of help students,

cause I just felt lost,” said Bergmann.

Mr. Bergmann and his wife share the same passion. His wife, Kelly Bergmann, is a guidance counselor at Iowa City West.

“The nice thing is we have that in common,” he said. “It’s also really nice that I can contact her and ask her for help since I’m new to the district.”

While there are many great elements to sharing the same job, there are some downsides.

“If I have a particularly hard day because of something, and she does as well, that can be challenging sometimes,” Bergmann said.

They haven’t gotten into the school rivalry yet, but Mr. Bergmann sees that happening in the future.

Troy and Kelly Bergmann

The Writers Weigh In The Live Wire’s reporters add their opinions on how it feels to go to a different high school than their siblings.

Going to a different school than my brother has been really challenging. My brother, Carter, is a senior at West High.

We are really close and it is hard not passing him

in the hallway or enjoying our morning rides together. Even though we are very competitive in our sports, we agreed to go to each others’ games wearing the oth-

er’s school apparel and supporting them. I don’t think our relationship has changed because we are still as close as we were last year.

Ella Johnson, Sophomore

Living with someone who goes to a different school is fine. My brother and I have no problems with things like being competitive with each other. We don’t get in each other’s

way at all. We both went to West last year, but never really talked to each other at school. The thing that is the most different about my brother going to West is that I don’t see him

every day at school like I did last year. Although he transfered here after the first trimester, we still experienced not going to the same high school.

Koryn Neely, Sophomore

December 2017

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O

n the night of Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, a change of plans may have ended up saving Scott Kibby’s life.

Scott and his wife, Kari, went to the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival in Las Vegas as a belated 30th anniversary celebration.

Friday and Saturday night they were right next to the stage, but come Sunday, from a past injury, Kibby’s knee was swollen due to the constant standing. As a result, they decided to sit in the bleachers, which were the farthest seats from the stage.

Though they did not know it yet, their change of plans benefited them greatly in the events that followed.

10:05 PM. Jason Aldean was singing his last song, “When she says baby,” when Kibby heard what he thought were fireworks overhead.

“Then it was the really bad stuff.

[I] knew it was essentially a machine gun; Kari grabbed my hand and we were out of there.”

- Scott Kibby, Principal of Liberty High

Everything’s Gonna Be Alright As shots rang out in Vegas, on October 1st, singer Jason Aldean was ironically singing a song that would never reach the lyrics, “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright”.

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“Then it was the really bad stuff. [I] knew it was essentially a machine gun; Kari grabbed my hand and we were out of there,” said Kibby.

After grasping the noise was gunfire, they ran from the bleachers, around the food trucks to a tent where they met a security officer, who directed them and many others through a gate, telling them which direction to run. About a mile away, the Kibby’s ran into the MGM Hotel and hid behind a large marble counter, trying to catch their breath.

Scott and Kari met a couple from Minnesota who were helping many of the people flooding in. Remarkably, the woman was a trained trauma specialist who helped calm them and many bystanders.

“We didn’t know this [couple] from anywhere,” said Kibby. “There were thousands of people there, and

By

Grace Brusegaard, Kayle Cheney Makenzie Garrett, Stella Warren

Mass Shootings in the Past Five Years 2012 Newtown, Connecticut: 27 deaths

2015 San Bernardino, California: 14 deaths

2016 Orlando, Florida: 49 deaths

those two people were in our life at that moment when we needed them; it’s incredible. I don’t know if you have faith in your life, but faith is a part of my life, and those two people were angels.”

Sirens went off as the hotel went into lock down; Scott and Kari decided to run deeper into the hotel to a lounge/conference room. Three hours went by before they left, finally making it back to their hotel room at 3:00 a.m.

Kibby instantly called his family members and Mr. Colbert, the assistant principal, who alerted the faculty that he was safe.

“Before seeing the text message I was incredibly worried about Scott and his wife, but was relieved when I saw that they were safe,” said Colbert. “I was however still concerned for all of the other victims and their families. As well as how Scott and his wife were doing emotionally. Many staff responded and thanked for letting them know and that they were relieved.”

“Before seeing the text message I was incredibly worried about Scott and his wife, but was relieved when I saw they were safe.”

- Justin Colbert, Vice Principal of Liberty High

Leaving early for the airport the next morning, Kibby was overcome by the enormity of the situation after overhearing the radio report 50 people had been killed and over 200 as injured.

“It’s odd, it’s not like a movie where you watch it and know how bad it is; you’re in it and you do what you [have] to do in the moment,” said Kibby. “You know it shows just how bad the situation was, but how fortunate we were.”

Recently, Kibby and his wife have been seeing a counselor to help them process what happened and they

2017 Las Vegas, Nevada: 59 deaths

2017 Sutherland Springs, Texas: 26 deaths

have realized all of the support surrounding them.

“I learned that whatever happens in our lives, we don’t have to do this by ourselves,” Kibby said. “You’re not alone, and don’t make yourself alone. If you need some help, go talk to somebody because it’s going to make it worse if you try and deal with it all by yourself and just hurt inside.”

Kibby appreciates how much his “school family cares about [him].” All the hugs he has gotten from teachers have been “amazing,” saying every little bit of support helps.

Though Kibby has been through a traumatic experience, he refuses to let the shooter diminish his happiness.

“I don’t want that guy to rob us of what we like to do,” said Kibby. “We might take a break and not do it for a while, but the one thing that [Kari] and I do together is go to concerts. I don’t want to lose that piece.”

Vegas Shooting Fast Facts

59 Dead 527 Injured Route 91 Country Harvest Festival

• Started in 2014 • Held in Paradise, Nevada • 22,000 In Attendance

108 Fire Personal on the Scene 2 Off Duty Officers Killed December 201717

Bond Approved

Now What?

By

Carley Spading Mercedes Crile Jordan Barry Debbie Bonilla

One of the most popular topics in the Iowa City School District in recent months has been the passing of the approximately $189 million General Obligation bond.

While it passed with a super-majority, there are still many adults and students alike who do not know all that it entails.

“The Iowa City School District went to the voters in the school district area and asked permission to basically borrow money to complete our ten year facilities master plan. They call it the FMP.” said Brady Shutt, a government teacher at Liberty High School. “We’re in year five so we have six through ten in order to complete the projects that are identified in that plan, [and] we need the money to do [so].” Mr. Shutt has been involved in the bond initiative for several years, serving as a co-president of the Iowa City Education Association for the past three years.

The money granted by the bond will be distributed and assigned to projects amongst the 29 different school buildings in the Iowa City School District. The projects include paying for air conditioning, new classrooms, and new facilities. But what does it mean for Liberty High?

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The Live Wire

“The most immediate thing that Liberty will see is the start and the completion of their outdoor athletic facilities.” said Mr. Shutt. “That’ll be your football stadium with your track and field facilities, probably with a multipurpose field for the marching band to be on. We’ll have our outdoor facilities for sports like soccer and for softball and for baseball.”

Groundbreaking for these projects may take place as soon as this upcoming spring, and changes for other projects are on the way as well.

“In the two to three year phase, we will receive academic classrooms that will complete the courtyard, so we’ll add academic classrooms for another 500 students at LIberty.” Mr. Shutt said.

Student capacity has been a major focus of the bond, with new classrooms being added to several schools in the district. All of this derives from a primary concern for public education. “[The] climate at the state level, at the national level, it sometimes seems a little hostile to public education.” said Mr. Shutt. “We really believe that a strong public education system is great for students, is great for our future, [and] is great for our economy. I think students should feel awesome; that people stepped up, were willing to pay a little more on their property taxes because they believe in students and in public schools.”

By the Numbers Here are some stats you might want to know

65%

Voted in favor of the bond

$188,209,769

Granted to the school district

29

About $19 million to go to Liberty Schools in the High district being affected

74

New Classrooms District-wide

Spreading Positivity In response to a shooting threat aimed at Liberty students, a group of students By

Razan Karar

and staff met on Sunday November 12 to spread positivity and show their Liberty pride. They used chalk to write supportive sayings in front of the school, and put sticky notes with positive messages on every students’ locker.

“As we go into thanksgiving week, it was an oppurtinity to really remember why we’re here, and why we’re proud to be in education, in a place of learning... and to remember that we’re all together, showing our pride for our school and what we do everyday.”

-Melissa Nies, Social Studies teacher

“It was a good thing to do, and I figured we could help out by spreading the positivity... Stay positive, and don’t let the negative things going on around the world get to you.”

-Morgan Kazmierczak, sophomore

December 2017 19

THE LIVE WIRE live /līv/

Adjective (of a wire or device) connected to a source of electric current

wire /wī(э)r/ Noun A telegram. cablegram, or news beat

Claire Enyart, Sophomore This picture of Liberty High School was drawn by Claire Enyart; it took her one week to complete. She found her love for drawing while taking the class, black and white drawing.