At the July 26 meeting of the Orcas Island School District(OISD) Board of Directors approved, they approved a budget for the 2012-2013 fiscal year of:
- $6,653,113 for the General Fund
- $ 5,000 for the Transportation Vehicle Fund
- $1,408,676 for the Capital Projects Fund ($408,676 of which shall be transferred to the Debt service Fund for payment of bond obligations)
- $ 407,626 for Debt Service Fund (from the funds transferred above)
- $ 106,855 for the Associated Student Body Fund
Enrollment for the past school year was reported as:
- Sept 2011 643.67 Full Time Enrollment (FTE) (675 headcount)
- June 2012 635. 62 FTE, (667 headcount)
- For a monthly average of 634.58 FTE (665 headcount)
OISD Business Manager Keith Whitaker said that the budget passed still leaves about five full-time equivalent (FTE) teachers cut from school staffing. When, in accordance with state law, the budget estimate was first issued for the 2012-13 school year, OISD showed a reduction of about 16 teachers, which included 2.6 FTE who retired and who were taking a Leave of Absence. “It’s a conservative budget, and what we needed,” said Whitaker.
November Bond Proposal
The board agreed to a $11.9 million bond proposal to be subject to voter approval in the November election. The bond would be in effect for 20 years at a 3.97 percent net interest cost.
The bond will pay:
- for improvements for health, safety, accessibility and energy purposes including fire, earthquake, lighting and roofing considerations;
- for renovations to meet educational specifications including wall demotions and new wall construction, new finishes, electrical, communications and plumbin;
- for new construction, including framing, roofing, siding, ceiling, flooring and window installation.
In addition to the bond, a Technology Levy for $200,000 annually for two years was approved for the November ballot. OISD Board Chair Tony Ghazel recommended the levy, saying, “Over the past 12 to 14 years, we’ve only asked twice for technology funding>”
In other OISD news:
The board approved a contract with Artus Construction of Blaine, Wash. to complete re-siding of the Orcas High School;
The board accepted a $50,000 grant from Lowe’s Hardware to replace appliances and equipment in the school cafeteria and Home Ec kitchens; it also accepted $24,200 in donation from the Orcas Island Education Foundation for the Farm to Classroom program ($7,500); Applied Physics class ($5,700) and $11,000 Art for Life and Advance d Art programs.
A Facilities Rental Agreement with Orcas Island Park and Recreation District was approved
The Athletic Handbook was revised for 2012-13. The new version is shorter and less repetitive and includes a “redemption clause” where a student may be reinstated to a team and back in competition following a first offense.
Vicki Vandermay was named new Athletic Director, a half-time psition. Head Coaches for athletic teams will be Scott Harris, football; Gregg Sasan, vollleyball; Matt Stolmeier, boys soccer; and Chama Anderson, girls soccer.
Class advisors for the upcoming year were named as Jill Sherman, Senior Class Advisor; Kari Schuh, Junior Class Advisor; Natasha Meskew, Sophomore Class Advisor; and Phil Carter, Marilyn Storey and Lori Oakes as Middle School Advisors.
Thank you to the board for their reception of badly needed changes to the Athletic Policy.
And a bigger thank you to them for what has been a difficult budget session. For those of involved is has not been easy to handle the various cuts, but this board has made the fiscally responsible move of drafting a conservative budget. As a community member who has prodded, jabbed and often tormented the board through this process, I applaud their work.
Let’s hope that there is light at the end of the tunnel and we can soon see the return of the reduced and cut programs that serve our student population.