February 1, 2016

School District News

From Superintendent

Robert Vian

District

The good news.  The Board of Trustees for the district has approved submitting a Maintenance and Operating Levy to the voters for the March 8, 2016 Primary Election.  The Board approved asking voters to continue the same amount of money ($2,285,000 which had a tax rate of $4.46 when first approved) as has been requested for the past three years for normal maintenance and operating costs.  The current M & O Levy tax rate is $4.29 per thousand of taxable property value.  Taxpayers also support a Plant Facility Levy of 19 cents per thousand (remodel of OES, heating systems at OHS and Timberline) for a total tax rate of $4.48 per thousand.

The local levy supports about 28% of the cost of running the district.   Employee salaries and benefits makes up the majority of the district budget. For the past two years the district has maintained that all salary increase must be supported by money from the state.  The M & O is spent to operate the district and do basic maintenance work.

District enrollment is up 19 students over last year, not including the 116 students enrolled at the Idaho Youth Challenge Academy with most of the increase at Orofino Elementary and Timberline Elementary.

The bad news.  Orofino Elementary School was built in 1956.  Timberline School and Orofino High School were both built in 1969.  All three schools need roof replacements.  The roofs have been patched so much that there are more patches than roof.  The original roofs are weathered and so brittle that any human contact results in breaking the membrane and leaks. 

I proposed a plan to the Board to ask voters for $400,000 each year of the two year levy request to replace the roofs at Orofino High in 2016 and Timberline in 2017.  The $400,000 would be in addition to the current levy amount.  The only other option was to reduce classroom spending or eliminate the regular maintenance we are sorely behind on in the district.  If the Federal Forest Funds continue to be sent to schools the district should be able to replace the OES roof in 2017 using those funds.

The not good, but not too bad news. The new M & O Levy would be $2,685,000 and result in a tax rate increase of approximately $.30 per thousand.  The levy is for two years after which the voters will determine the new levy amount.  A home valued at $100,000 with a home owner’s exemption of $50,000 would see a tax increase of $15 per year.  A $200,000 home would see an increase of $33 per year after deducting the $89,580 Home Owner’s Exemption.

The Board and I are committed to using every dollar of increase to replace roofs on the three buildings.  After replacing the roofs of all three schools the district facilities will be in fairly good condition after years of little maintenance.  The major buildings will have new roofs, double pane windows, new heating, and mostly new floors.  OES has insulation in the walls for the first time.  The buildings should be useful for another 20 years without major structural needs.  Failure to maintain what we have can be seen when you drive past the old Jr. High.  We don’t have any additional buildings to move kids into. One new school could cost $15 to 30 million. 

If anyone has questions regarding the levy, please contact me at the District Office at 476-5593.

Orofino Junior/Senior High

Over 160 students have earned a reward for doing their best and following our PBIS school-wide expectations. The stellar students will be traveling to Rollaway in Lewiston for roller skating and pizza on Thursday, February 4, 2016. The four criteria for reward are: all absences excused, get to class on time, all passing grades, and good behavior. It's great to celebrate the good things that most of our students do every day. 

The junior high version of our OJSHS Interact club is busy making valentines for residents at Clearwater Health and Rehabilitation. Interact is a student version of Rotary, and their motto is Service over Self." 

Lynn  MacEachern is the Rotarian advisor for this fledgling group. Seventh grader Kaylynn Elliott came up with the idea, and coordinated the project along with Mrs. MacEachern.  Several junior high students donated their lunch time to design valentines. The group plans to take on more projects throughout the year. 

Real Men Read 
It's that time again; time for some amazingly real men in our community to share their passion for reading with Mrs. George’s seventh-grade students. Every Wednesday in February community men come and share their passion for reading with the seventh grade students. If you'd like to join in, call OJSHS at 476-5557 and sign up to visit. There are three writing classes a day, and spaces are filling up. It takes a village to raise a child they say; here's your chance to take a positive role in the process. Michelle George Junior High Advisor