Paradise holds chili feed to fund lunch program

The school in Paradise is closing after this year but they still need to feed the kids that do attend classes. A chili feed was held on Saturday at the gym to help raise funds for the school lunch program. About 10 people attended the event that featured a light salad with homemade ranch dressing, homemade chili and cornbread and for dessert, chocolate cake or sugar cookies all prepared by Lisa French, cook and bus driver for the school.

Taught to cook by her mother, Betty Kelly, also in attendance; the school chef French said she has been cooking nutritious meals for the children of Paradise for about five years.

While traditionally cagey with details about her recipe, French did say, ”it’s just like grandma would make. It’s never the same way twice but it’s always homemade.”

According to school clerk, Teresa Kendall, previous events had seen a good turnout from the community. With enough chili to feed about 60-70 people, this year the turnout was lower than organizers had hoped.

The school, which has stood for over 100 years, will be closing after this year due to low attendance numbers. Currently only five students attend classes in Paradise. Kendall said the fate of the school is unknown. She said there were three possibilities: consolidation, annexation or abandonment. Consolidation would involve combining the Paradise district with the Plains school district. Annexations occur when territory is detached from a school district and annexed to another district. Taxpayers will ultimately decide the destiny of the building but Kendall has hopes for a positive outcome that will benefit the community.

“Hopefully Paradise will be able to use this building as a community center. Paradise residents that I know want to use it as a place for community events,” said Kendall.

If the building is abandoned, it will sit vacant and unattended for three years before becoming the responsibility of the community of Plains.