Old Paradise School available for community events

 

January 25, 2018



When word of Cliven Bundy’s planned Sanders County visit reached opposing ears, the venue’s stewards, Paradise Elementary School Preservation Committee (PESPC), began receiving complaints from citizens upset that the group caretaking the historic school would allow the armed protesters from the Sagebrush Rebellion to hold their meeting there. The detractors seemed to be under the impression the committee was somehow supportive of the Bundy cause and ideology. The Preservation Committee’s John Thorson issued a press release outlining the organization’s stance on the issue and the public nature of the building’s use. The release read as follows:

“We wish to clarify that PESPC, as a nonprofit charitable organization and manager of the facility, does not endorse or oppose any of the views of the sponsors of events held in our facilities. We also cannot condition rentals of our facilities based on such views.

The old Paradise school closed in 2013 due to insufficient enrollment. Local residents have worked continuously since then to preserve and repurpose the historic building as a community, visitors, and arts center. Sanders County now owns the land and structures and leases them (for a modest amount) to PESPC which is responsible for this repurposing program. The old school remains a publicly owned, publicly accessible facility.

As a community service, we rent some of our space on a non-discriminatory basis to county families and organizations. Recently, this has included art shows, musical performances, locally produced plays, family reunions, educational events, and birthdays. A local family has rented the school gym under our rental program for the “Freedom and Property” event. Once again, PESPC, as a nonprofit charitable entity, does not endorse or oppose any of the views held by the sponsors of such events.

For more information, see paradisecentermt.org, or contact John Thorson, (406) 826-0500.”

 

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