SHAWANO, WI- Right out of the 1960’s lyric books of The Drifters, “On the roof, is peaceful as can be”, and St. James Lutheran School Principal David Kaiser is learning that this week.
In an effort to raise money for new playground equipment for the school, Kaiser is camping out on the school roof and collecting money to keep him there longer. The mission started around 12:30 Sunday afternoon, and will continue until Wednesday afternoon if people continue to donate to the playground. “Wednesday afternoon is when Mama Kaiser said I have to be done with my game of getting out of chores and doing housework,” he said. “I think she sees the strategy here.”
Kaiser is staying in a tent with an air mattress and has been receiving more than money in the first 24 hours. “I have had meals and deserts delivered to me, and I have food to last through my stay.”
For every five dollars donated, Kaiser stays on the roof for another minute, and a $350 dollar donation keeps him on the roof for an additional hour. “You do have to pay the extra fifty dollars to get the whole hour,” Kaiser said.
He says it got cold Sunday and that was not a good way to start. “I was not working the space heater correctly, so I was blowing cold air on myself,” he said. “I now know why flowers wilt when we have frost advisories.” He is equipped with chairs to sit in and plenty of room to walk. “I am getting my steps in,” he said.
Kaiser says he has seen roof sits and said they usually work well. ” I don’t think many people would pay to get me off a roof, but I am certain they will play to keep me on a roof,” Kaiser joked. One challenge is doing playground supervision from up high, and he is a focus of the students attention when they come out for recess.
Kaiser spends his days waving at passing cars, playing ball with students, reading and doing some administration work from atop the school.
“I wish he could stay up there for the rest of the afternoon,” one student said.
Kaiser says he has a bucket that he lowers for people to put donations in.
Listen to Principal David Kaiser explain his roof sit.
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