RICEVILLE - With fewer students to draw on, smaller schools struggle to offer more than reading, writing and arithmetic. The state pays school districts a certain price per student. So when class sizes drop in some rural areas, those districts have less money to spend, and when money is tight, elective classes and after-school activities are often the first to go.

A cheery disposition just comes with homecoming week at Riceville High School.

Principal Rosemary Cameron says, “Today is superhero or cartoon day, and I'm dressed as Mary Poppins."

Among the cartoon character chaos, Cameron has no trouble keeping track of her 140 students. She says the real challenge comes with making sure the students are prepared for the future.

"It's becoming more and more challenging every year, and it's tougher for the smaller schools."

Enrollment in 70 percent of Iowa's school districts is declining. A lack of students means a lack in state funding. In Riceville, to keep some courses like psychology alive, Cameron can only offer them every other year. In a class like this, with only seven students, teachers say they can better understand that students are trying to achieve something beyond their classroom.

Psychology teacher Chris Haackey says, "I don't think I've ever met a student that's come back from college and said, 'I don't think I had what I needed when I went to college.'"

Last year's graduating class had just 34 students in it, yet all but three went to college. They say a small-school environment just prepares them more. They get more opportunities than they would from a large school.

Ted Bechtum is a football player, the FFA president, and Tuesday, one of the seven dwarfs.

He says, “It's homecoming. Everybody shows their spirit. It's a fun time."

It’s a direct demonstration of how huge extracurricular activities are here. Most students get involved in as many as possible for fun... and to fill out their college and scholarship applications.

“Nobody holds you back. Basically, the sky's the limit. If there's an activity, you can do it."

So a school with fewer students can have a bright side. This Mary Poppins look alike says it's easier to give them the attention, quality and opportunity they really need.

More than 130 high schools in Iowa are like Riceville with fewer than 200 students.

For more information, visit Riceville Community Schools.

http://www.riceville.k12.ia.us/

Email Josh Hinkle at Josh.Hinkle@kcrg.com

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Riceville Blog aired 11/21/06

The students at Riceville High School really reminded me of myself seven years ago. I grew up in a small town in southern Oklahoma, graduating from high school with just 56 other students. I was that kid who did everything in school – student council, band, academic team… okay, you get the point. And, if you’re thinking that means I was an over achiever, you’re wrong. If we didn’t do everything we did, the activities we had might not have existed for long. It took almost every student to keep extracurriculars alive.

I agree with the staff in this story about involvement preparing you for something beyond high school. It seems that the people who were most involved in activities at our school have become the most successful. We learned how to juggle those extra responsibilities with our school work, jobs and family life. When I went to college, I believe I understood time management and social networking much better than I would have without my small school experience.

Another thing I recalled after completing this story – some teachers and administrators at small schools are willing to go the extra mile to help students succeed at things outside of their classrooms. My teachers were alongside us hanging up prom decorations, cheering for us at every game and were especially understanding when it came to a student interest outside of school. They were willing to work around busy schedules, as long as our grades didn’t suffer as a result.

Some of you that attended larger schools might be saying, “It sounds the same as my school.” But, I assure you, these details are much more noticeable in a small setting. Try focusing on ten people instead of 100. It makes a difference. I’m glad to see that some things never change. That was Oklahoma seven years ago. This is Iowa now. I’m very happy with how my life and career has turned out thus far, and I believe a great deal of that comes from my small school roots.

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