Craig
Walnut Shade, MO 65771

Our experience at Branson schools has been wonderful. Each teacher wants to see your child succeed and keep the family involved. The administration takes the time to get to know the families in their district and make them all feel valued.

The new staff at this school greatly overstep boundaries. They seem more focused on biased "witch hunts" and playing "Detective" rather than educate our kids. This is not based on biased opinions with my child but as a collective from over 20 parents I have spoken with this year after administrative changes. If your main goal is "who can I get in trouble" today then you are not doing your job right. MULTIPLE reports of teachers LOOKING IN BATHROOM STALLS while students are using the restroom to try and "catch them vaping".Totally unacceptable. We have video proof too from a student that noticed this happening. Their parents told them to record while they were in a stall (not filming other students) but in the privacy of a bathroom stall, and sure enough a teacher is looking through the cracks and UNDER the door. Students are being unlawfully searched daily on a "hunch" that they have vapes. I would estimate that 1/10 students suspected of this actually had or used a vape. (Nicotine not marijuana) Again these reports have come from reputable sources with proof and multiple parental reports.We created a private review board for parents and students to submit reports as students have reported being afraid to talk about things as they fear retaliation. One teacher is reported to talk about the "grunge" kids that live in low income as "trash" and "kids that will never make it anywhere".Another report states that this same teacher/admin said "You have opportunity in life unlike these other kids. Why do you hang around bad kids that will he in prison or dead" - They were referring to a group of kids that like metal music. The funny thing is, this group of "emo metal" kids get good grades and do not get in trouble but are targeted and searched daily because their parents are in recovery or are felons. Children should be helped, not judged by the sins of their parents. Children's constitutional rights are totally stripped from them at this school. I would highly recommend HOLLISTER as it is a "right to choose" school in Taney Co meaning you can even request a bus if you are technically outside of the district. However your request may be denied so if you are out of the district, make plans to drop-off and pick-up your child.

I feel that Buch. Int. Is the best of all the Branson Schools. I wish the Jr. High would take something from the intermediate school and apply it better as the Jr. High unfortunately lacks a lot right now. They have new staff that overstep boundaries and are more focused on "getting kids in trouble" rather than assisting them to avoid it entirely. BUCHANAN however has a WONDERFUL principle and staff that actually helps the kids daily to make the right choices, and become better students.While the Intermediate school is family oriented, easy to talk to, and has wonderful teachers like Dr. Chambers, it just lost its very important program involving mental health and counciling for families that can't afford it. I am preparing a local bill and presentation to fight to bring it back. The schools just spent over a MILLION dollars on a sports complex that we did NOT need, and now children with low income parents will no longer be getting the help they need. We can afford it but our child was in therapy (Aspergers) and speech issues, and they cut US off. So if they cut us off, imagine how bad it is for minimum wage families. Very disappointing. I know this IS NOT THE SCHOOLS FAULT as the staff is very disappointed in this decision as well.Buchanan Intermediate is a WONDERFUL stepping stool for Jr. High. I would reccomend HOLLISTER for middle/JH however since it is a right to choose school. But go to Buchanan for those wonderful steps beforehand.

The teachers are absolutely amazing and the admin are there and willing to help in any situation!