Oakleaf School Student of the Week

ORANGE PARK, FL -- Budget cuts are putting a big strain on many schools. Our Student of the Week is making sure her voice is heard when it comes to changes at her school because of the lack of funding.

When 10-year-old Hunter Dolan learned her 5th grade teachers at Oakleaf School could lose their jobs because of changes in the school system; she went to work.

First she wrote a letter to her principal. The letter read, 'I know I'm a small person but I have a big voice. These teachers have worked so hard for so long to teach us kids and their kids and they love doing it.'

Then she wrote a list of things the school could do to save money. On her list, 'Don't use electricity for a long period of time. Do car washes and bake sales to raise money. Don't use many sheets of blank paper.' Her list is two pages long.

This wasn't part of a school project. This was something she did on her own. "I just wanted to do it because I heard somewhere teachers are going to lose their jobs," said Hunter.

Her letter made it all the way to the Clay County School Board and they listened. "One student can make a big difference. It may not be what she wanted. She talked about closing a school; that didn't happen, but it did raise awareness," said 5th grade teacher Victoria Carroll.

Carroll was one of the teachers Hunter was concerned about losing her job. Carroll just found out she was picked up by another school in Clay County. "Hunter really touched not only me with this letter, but all the teachers here."

By doing so, a 5th grade student proved one small person really can make a difference.

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