Ashley Masek, 16, (left) and Joedee Moniz, 17, review video shot at Bordewich-Bray Elementary School. The students in the Carson High School video production class are documenting problems at the school for the 2002 bond issue. Photo by Rick Gunn.
Carson High School students are lending their time, talent and eyes to help publicize the district's 2002 bond issue.
A group of four students from Brian Reedy's video production class are creating a video to document the struggle of Bordewich-Bray Elementary School staff and students after five portable buildings on campus were demolished because of toxic mold.
"I think it's a very important bond especially with kids working in storage rooms as classrooms," said video editor Ashley Masek, 16. "If we could help them, that would be great."
Seniors Drew McConville and Anthony Guestella are shooting the video.
Bond committee member Kay Scherer is organizing the production with the students.
"I think this needs to come from the kids," she said. "They're the best examples of why the community needs to invest in education. It's programs like these that represent the very best of what we do when we support education."
Scherer's youngest son attended Bordewich-Bray last year. Although she will have no more children attend elementary school, she said it is still important to be involved.
"When I'm 85 and gray, I'll still be walking for whatever school cause," she said. "It's probably the most important thing we can do. It ties together for the vitality of the community. We can't forget that."
She provided a script for the students to follow in making the video, but said it will serve more as a guideline than a set standard.
"If they see a shot they like better or an interview they want to do differently, they can," she said. "They're still at the point where they need a little direction but this is really their video."
As an editor, Joedee Moniz, 17, understands her responsibility.
"You have to get all the shots and all the sounds right," she said. "You have to make it tight and make it flow."
Although Ashley said she is eager to help the school district, she has more immediate benefits she would like to see.
"I'm going to make a music video of a local band for my senior project," she said. "This will give me some experience so I will do well on it."
The video is expected to be completed by the Oct. 22 school board meeting where students will present their work to trustees.
A schedule of when the program will be aired on Carson City's local-access station, channel 10, will be announced then.
School officials are asking voters to approve a $3.75 million bond in this year's election that would not raise taxes. The money would be used to build an addition to the original Bordewich building, consolidating the school instead of a seven-building campus.
Scherer said if the bond is not passed, money to replace the moldy modulars would come from the capital projects fund, limiting the amount available to other schools in the district.
Voters approved an $18-million bond in 2000 to upgrade fixtures and increase safety in the schools. Students from Reedy's class filmed a video documenting that bond as well.