At the regular Orcas Island School District (OISD) Board of Directors meeting on May 28, District Superintendent and High School Principal Barbara Kline reported to the board:
New elementary principal
Interviews for candidates for the new elementary principal will begin this week, with a decision expected before the end of the school year. Elementary Principal Tom Gobeske has announced that he will resign his position, effective the end of the current school session
Stimulus funds and financial conditions
Orcas Island School District is eligible for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds for Special Ed and Title 1 (for lower income students). The school is required to spend all of the $300,000 allocated on Special Ed. However, Kline says that she plans to “write a letter requesting that we be allowed to spend half of the fund as though they were general education funds….Let us hope that the letter is approved because we need the money.”
In other School Board business, Business Manager Ben Thomas reviewed enrollment, which averages 461 students over the 2008-2009 school year – 22 more than projected in last year’s budget process.
As of May 1, 2009, the district’s General Fund balance is $517,492. Thomas noted in his budget handout that “it is typical in April for the fund balance to be significantly higher than the budget as tax collections are high and are to be utilized for May through August costs.”
The ending fund balance (the reserve fund) stands to date at $393,338, as compared to 07-08’s ending reserve fund balance of 225,876, 06-07’s ending balance of $142,491, and 05-06’s ending reserve fund balance of $17,997.
Transportation Report
Anna Esquibel, Regional Transportation Coordinator for Northwest Educational service District 189 in Anacortes, recently completely a study of the Orcas Island School District’s transportation operations and service levels.
Esquibel made several recommendations in the report, based on interviews with district administrators, staff and transportation personnel, a review of policies, procedures, bus routes and other district documents, and personal observations made on Orcas April 1 and 2, 2009.
Her recommendations were in the areas of management, staffing, supervision, policy and procedures, financial management, driver selection, training and performance, student management, loading and unloading, accident investigation, routing and scheduling, route development, schedules, extra trips, fleet utilization, replacement planning, maintenance and facility.
Recreation Taxing District
The board discussed a new Orcas Parks and Recreation Taxing District to include funding for the maintenance of Buck Park and school sports, without taking any action. A possible new taxing district would also include the Funhouse and the current Orcas Rec program. The board agreed to monitor San Juan Island School District, which is considering a similar arrangement with its established Recreation District.
The next school bond meeting is June 2nd in the school library. For time, call Cathy Ferran at 376-2284.
The next regular school board meeting is scheduled for Thursday, June 25 at 5:30 p.m. in the school cafeteria.
There is also a School Board Budget workshop this Wednesday, June 3rd, at 5:30 in the school library.
There is also a School Board Budget workshop this Wednesday, June 3rd, at 5:30 in the school library.