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Parents Expressed Concerns at SCSD#3 Board Meeting
The SCSD#3 Board held their monthly meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 11 and a large crowd of community members attended the meeting, and eight spoke out with their concerns. Many of the comments concerned the new ‘House System’ that the school enacted last year.
Kelly Betz, who with her husband, Ben, graduated from Clearmont and spent their entire 13 years of school here. They are the parents of two children who also attend Clearmont School. She said that she loves the school and feels it is a ‘special place’.
She said she isn’t saying the system is bad, some kids that love it. “But we can’t forget the kids it is not working for.”
Betz said she is calling for a public forum for everyone to talk about it. She felt there was too much ‘behind the doors stuff going on.’
Amy Vineyard, Clearmont alumni and parent of two Clearmont students, spoke to the board about communication, and she felt the house system was good for elementary students, but not for high school students. She didn’t like the points system used in the houses.
Sam Olson, whose wife, Lacy, graduated from Clearmont, is another parent that is pulling his daughter from the school. He said they love the school and the community and they moved here so their daughters could attend Clearmont, but in his opinion the house system was a like a ‘cult’ that they can’t get out of.
He felt should be more optional, like sports and FFA, and if they did that, he might consider letting his youngsters come back.
Cindy Miller was another parent who felt at first Clearmont was a good school, but changed her mind and is now pulling her daughter,
Katie Fennema, whose has two daughters that graduated from Clearmont, was passionate about Miller’s talk, saying that
The house system at the school did have its defenders.
Natalie Stoll, one of the house leaders, talked about her impressions of the system.
Jesse Holland, Clearmont student, is also a fan of the Houses.
The board set a listening session on the House System for community input on December 17 at 7:30 p.m. in the school gym. Everyone who is wondering about the House System, or has a concern about it, is urged to attend, learn more about it, and share your thoughts.
A report on the rest of the school board meeting will be addressed in another story.
Steve Malli
December 11, 2025 at 6:17 pm
Maybe the parents should find about the facts instead of hear say. Let’s grow up some.
Ezra Petersen
December 11, 2025 at 9:42 pm
Normally I would say this is little community drama, but I definitely can see how some would say this house thing is bizarre. A bunch of ranch kids, as much of a ranching community as we can have in a state that ranks 38th out of 50 in agriculture cash receipts just ahead of the roping and planting oasis of New Jersey; meets Harry Potter. We will not tolerate this witchcraft in our community Sirs! All comedy aside, if participation in this is a true integral part of their success in school, I’m probably a hard no.
Melanie I Thomas Klier
December 12, 2025 at 12:48 pm
We need more parents to stand up and wake that school up.People need to hear this what going on in that school is crap. Your losing good students and have also lost great teachers. Wake up. I know times are changing but come on what wrong with actually teaching a child and not hand them a talet. Making g the guy dark and asking away what young students worked there butts off for to turn it in to jail.And how she was treated. That wrong. Yes that why my granddaughter is not in that school. We take her to Buffalo, for many reasons. She doing much better getting the help she needs. We might come bak if things change time will tell if it not closed by than.
Gary Meredith
December 12, 2025 at 6:27 pm
I’ve been wondering how long it was going to take until the “house” issue would be addressed.
Silly, cute, cultish, time consuming fads don’t provide, maintain or sustain authentic learning in classrooms or schools.
Researched based embedded curriculum, instruction and learning should be emphasized.
No houses….just one home… called
Sheridan County School District #3.
Raechel Geis
December 19, 2025 at 7:04 pm
I pulled my four children because the lack of accountability the school holds to some parents who have children who bully. perhaps if these parents were embarrassed enough of their children’s behavior, enough to correct the situation then the school wouldn’t loose good kids and so many. Clearly alliances have been made and they will not be held to a high standard of basic respect and kindness.