Superintendent Search and Buck Park Transfer on the horizon
Orcas School Directors discussed the contractor bids for the OISD Capital Project to reconfigure and renovate district buildings at the monthly Orcas Island School District (OISD) Board meeting last Thursday, Feb. 27. Those bids came in at over a million dollars above the budgeted amount.
The bid opening for the 2012 Bond Project occurred the day before. Four contractors submitted bids. There was a range of bids from $9.150 million to $10.646 million. The OISD budget for the project is about $8.110 million. The pre-bid estimate was approximately $277 a sq. foot. The lowest bid came in at approximately $313 a sq. ft.
No decision was made, as the Board will seek out further details and analysis of the pricing. There will be a meeting Friday, March 7 at 10 a.m. to figure out next steps.
Business Report
Enrollment is up to 812 full-time enrollment (FTE) with just under 900 head count, OISD Business Manager Keith Whitaker reported.
This year, for the first time in three years, the school district is no longer receiving a “Financial Warning” on the state Department of Education website. The OISD rating is now moderate, and could improve if there was more cash on hand.
The Budget Advisory Committee has started work on the 2014-15 budget. School Superintendent Barbara Kline and Whitaker suggested a projected enrollment for budgeting of between 750-775. The Board agreed the budget should be built using a 750 enrollment number.
Superintendent Search
There were 16 completed applications for the Superintendent position. On March 13, Rich Parker of the executive search firm McPherson and Jacobson will return to discuss the 16 applicants. The agenda for that date calls for:
1) Selection of three finalists’ for interviews (to be completed in Executive Session);
2) Questions’ selection for interviews;
3) Determination of the process for the interview and candidate site visit.
Buck Park OISD/OIPRD transfer:
Board Directors Jim Bredouw and Bob Eagan for the Orcas Island Park and Recreation District (OIPRD) came to the Orcas School Board meeting in hopes of finalizing the transfer of Buck Park to the Park and Rec District. The Board authorized Superintendent Kline to send a letter to the state requesting that this transfer happen. OISD still needs to tweak both the Quit Claim and Interlocal agreement. Once that happens, and it is agreed upon by the Board – it will be sent to OIPRD for their approval, and possible changes.
Thanks to Janet Brownell
We would like to see enrollment figures expressed as on-campus students, and as total. On-campus students must number around 400, while the total enrollment is quoted as 812. The on-campus count would give the proper impression of the facilities environment.
I agree with Paige; the on-campus figure is all that is important while considering facilities. This 812 figure is a slight of hand procedure that has troubled me in the past.
The on-campus total certainly affects facilities needs. However, the FTE figure affects funding coming into the district. It includes distance learners who are receiving services from OISD staff, for which the state provides funding. It would be helpful to have both numbers.
Thanks all for your comments. I wrote a synopsis of the Board meeting for staff, from which Margie wrote this post. The numbers you are asking about are always thoroughly presented in our Board packet — available if you contact cferran@orcas.k12.wa.us (She will put you on the email list to receive the Board packet PDF)
My reporting was not meant to be as comprehensive as Keith Whitaker’s (Bus. Mgr) report.
But here is more of a breakdown for the month
Total is 872 headcount, ~811 FTE. Of those, 459 headcount, ~428 FTE are resident students, while 413 headcount, ~382.88 FTE are out-of-district students
Thanks for the interest.
Previous comment noted. Janet’s-to-Margie’s synopsis is what we read, so thank you–for anything concise to read on the subject! All good.
> Total is 872 headcount, ~811 FTE. Of those, 459 headcount, ~428 FTE are resident students, while 413 headcount, ~382.88 FTE are out-of-district students.
If I understand correctly, we have 459 students running around the campus during the day, and we get funding for about 811 students, due to the difference who use our education resources from an off-island location. Wow. Thanks, Washington Sate Board of Education, for the motivational side business that lets us keep our building doors open.
If the census shows there are 685 children between 5 and 19 living in Orcas zip codes, and more than 100 children are enrolled at private schools, how many children is it possible to have enrolled in Orcas Island School District?
https://www.zip-codes.com/zip-code/98245/zip-code-98245-2010-census.asp
https://www.greatschools.org/washington/eastsound/3572-Orcas-Christian-School