Pioneer High students seek recognition

Pioneer High School government teacher Mallory Bozeman caught two men urinating on the school's campus earlier this year.

He said when he confronted the men, they said they didn't know it was a school.

A lot of people don't know that the red brick building at 225 East Park St. is Pioneer High and the building next to it is Opportunity High School.

However, Bozeman and his students are working to change that.

Bozeman also teaches art at the high school and the class has spent the year making a panther to represent the school mascot, the prowlers.

Marsha Schlachta, 18, suggested the project.

"We're too small to have sports," she said. "But we should have something to represent our school."

The high school, formerly known as Alternative High, has been in operation for two years and serves as an alternative to traditional schooling.

Schlachta said she left Carson High School not because it was too difficult but because she needed the extra time to work.

"It allows me to still graduate and get my diploma," she said. "Yet it still allows me to work a full-time job and support myself."

Pioneer High, made up of about 70 students, runs from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m.

"We're not like any other school," Schlachta said. "We're a family. Everybody here gets along."

A group of students met Tuesday evening to install the nearly 600-pound panther in front of the school.

"I'm excited," said 18-year-old senior Danny Malone. "We've been working hard on this project for a long time and all our hard work has finally paid off."

Malone plans to pursue business management at Truckee Meadows Community College in the fall.

The panther is made of chicken wire, cement, duct tape and plaster of Paris. It will weigh about 800 pounds when it is finished.

Johnny Mangum, 17, headed up the project to create the mascot.

"All the other schools around here have one," he said. "We don't want to be known as the stupid school. We want to be on an equal level."

Mangum said he likes the environment of Pioneer High.

"It's smaller. There's less distractions," he said. "There's no school fights or anything like that."

While erecting the mascot, Bozeman saw the students could not lift it alone.

Since school was out for the day, Bozeman crossed the street to the apartment complex to solicit help. He found two men.

"We might need help one day," said Anthony Gray, 42, who helped lift the statue. "One good turn deserves another."

The students in Bozeman's government class are also working to create a school zone around the school. As it is, there are no street signs to mark that there is a school and the speed limit is not reduced.

Street Operations Manager John Flansberg said he turned the responsibility of designating the school zone area to the government class.

"You just don't go out and throw signs up," Flansberg said. "We want them to decide where to put the signs. We're just trying to get them involved in the process."

Each sign will cost around $150, which could cost the city around $1,500 for all of them.

Bozeman also wants to make a sign with the name of the school on it. He said the school does not have enough money in the budget to buy a sign and is looking for donations.

Chris McDaniel, a senior, said he is looking forward to the changes.

"It will let people know that this is a school," he said. "Maybe people won't leave their beer bottles and stuff here."

Bozeman said the students deserve recognition for their efforts.

"Nobody thought we were going to be able to do it," he said. "I give the kids a lot of credit."

Pioneer High School's graduation will be June 6 at 6 p.m. at the Governor's Mansion.

You Can Help:

If you want to donate money or materials for the school sign, call Pioneer High School at 885-6213.