Home

Steamboat Springs — The Steamboat Springs School Board took little time deciding whom it would select as the district's 2008-09 Friends of Education.

Board members tossed out the names of only two individuals - Fred Gardner and Mary Labor. They made a motion and voted unanimously to approve their selections.

Gardner and Labor have worked for years to support the district. Gardner was instrumental in the inception and operation of the high school's 5th Quarter program. Labor has organized the spring flower sale for about eight years.

Both exemplified the types of people the school board wanted to recognize, board members said.

Keeping children safe

The 5th Quarter was Gardner's "brainchild," said Lucianne Myhre, the leadership teacher at Steamboat Springs High School.

Gardner said he and his wife, Denise, who have three sons, understand the challenges facing Steamboat youths. He saw a need for drug- and alcohol-free parties for local high school students, and he approached Myhre with an idea.

"He had this idea, and he came to me and said 'How do we do this?'" she recalled.

Gardner, a Steamboat resident for four and a half years, said they kept it simple, not wanting to involve a lot of people that could lead to committees and meetings. So the program was handed off to the school's Leadership Class to plan the events, and Gardner handled the rest.

He finds locations for the events, solicits donations from the community and recruits volunteers, Myhre said. She said past activities - which typically cost students between $1 and $3 - have included movie and bowling nights, and dodgeball and kickball tournaments. Many of the activities end with raffles. Items such as iPods and gift cards have been given away.

"The real purpose of 5th Quarter is to find fun, safe events for high school kids - drug- and alcohol-free parties where kids can have fun and be themselves," Gardner said.

Myhre added that Gardner has continued to organize the events, even after his youngest son, Grant, graduated from the high school in December.

"We just felt the need in our community is significant, and we wanted the program to continue for many years to come," he said.

Gardner said the program, which is in its third year, will begin to hand off a greater role to Myhre's Leadership Class. As such, this year's Leadership Class worked on grant writing, managing budgets and promoting events.

Myhre said Gardner "really has a passion for the program."

"There would not be a 5th Quarter without Fred Gardner," Myhre said. "It would not be possible without him."

School Board President Robin Crossan said Gardner has "worked tirelessly" to facilitate and run the program.

"I never expected to be recognized for our involvement," Gardner said about being named a Friend of Education. "My wife and I just thought this was the right thing to do."

'A small contribution'

Mary Labor's role in the school district's spring flower sale began as a volunteer for the Strawberry Park Parent-Teacher Information Committee after she and her family moved to Steamboat in 1998.

Labor, who began spearheading the sale about eight years ago, said it has evolved from a small event to one that offers the opportunity for Steamboat's public schools to raise some significant money. This year, the parent-teacher groups at Strawberry Park and Soda Creek elementary schools and Steamboat Springs Middle School, as well as the high school's girls soccer and boys lacrosse teams, raised between $2,000 and $3,000 each.

"Since my beginning, I'd say it's probably doubled," Labor said about the amount earned by each group from the sale. She added that the funding raised by the school groups helps pay for things that aren't otherwise covered in the budget.

Labor negotiates products and prices, finds the groups who want to participate and, after months of selling, places their orders. In May, she organizes as many as 25 volunteers for the pick-up day.

During the years, Labor has been contacted by other area groups to organize their spring flower sales. They include the Concordia Lutheran Church's Youth Group, Christian Heritage School and the Hayden and South Routt school districts.

"People have come to expect that sale now," she said. "To show up, to see the color of the plants, it's fun for people and the volunteers who help out."

Soda Creek PTIC President Meg Firestone, who has worked with Labor on the flower sale for three or four years, said she "just makes it easy for us."

Firestone said even when something goes awry - this year, a truck delivering flowers got lost on the way to the pick-up site - Labor never gets rattled.

"She always stays calm, cool and collected," Firestone said. "She always has a smile on her face. Whatever is thrown her way, she handles."

Firestone added that Labor was really good at taking care of everything involved to make each year's flower sale successful. School Board member John DeVincentis offered a reason why.

"I've known Mary for a long time, and she is absolutely dedicated to what she does for the schools," he said.

Labor said being named a Friend of Education came out of left field. She called organizing the flower sale, "a small contribution to the big picture."

"To me it's a small thing, but if everyone contributes small things, it matters," Labor said. "The little things count."

Gardner and Labor will be honored with a reception and presented with plaques before the June 15 School Board meeting.