FRSD School Board says "yes" to House Bills 2469 and 3405
By ALEXANDRA NOTMAN
Of The News (as published in West Lane News 12/10/09) VENETA -- The Fern Ridge School District School (FRSD) is getting behind two headline getting tax measures passed by the Oregon Legislature. At its regular monthly meeting, the school board voted to support the 2009 budget balancing revenue package, or House Bills 2469 and 3405, the so-called Tax Package Resolution, and urged parents, staff and community members to vote yes to support the measure. The board also reviewed progress on its ongoing superintendent search, among other business it attended to on Monday night. “Let's cross our fingers," said Board Member Andrea Larson, about the fate of the two tax next spring’s special election, in which the tax measures will be put before voters. Ballot Measures 66 and 67 give voters a chance to uphold HB 2469 and HB 3405, which would raise some business taxes and income taxes for the wealthiest Oregonians. State officials say they need the tax revenue to preserve vital public services. But the states business community is rallying against the measures. "A lot of money is going to the 'No' side," responded Board Member Twinkle Morton. According to media reports, the anti-tax group Oregonians Against Job-Killing Taxes has built up a war chest of $1.9 million, while Vote Yes For Oregon has gathered $750,000 to spend on its campaign in support of Measures 66 and 67. If the ballot measures fail, the FRSD would lose $800,000, the equivalent of nineteen licensed teachers or nineteen school days. The board continues to move forward with the superintendent search. With the help of the consultant, Greg McKenzie, the board will be putting together a Superintendent Search Screening Committee. McKenzie has recommended that the committee be no larger than 15 members and no smaller than 12, compiled of members from four groups: administrators, teachers, classified and the community/parents. Two of the committee members will be chosen from FRSD's charter schools. The committee will be chosen by Jan. 5. The board and committee will be trained together on Jan. 28, and will individually review the applications of prospective between Jan. 28 and Jan. 30. McKenzie will release the results in a report. The board will review the report on Feb 1. and select interview candidates. The meeting continued with a progress presentation from Principal Doug Kartub of Fern Ridge Middle School (FRMS). Kartub said by 2010, FRMS students will exceed the statewide percentile in reading and 75 percent of student will state that they feel respected at school. FRMS has also introduced a new program, Relax and Read, which provides 30 minutes of quiet reading time for all students in all classes after third period on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays. "The kids took to it right away," said Kartub. "They're getting into the habit of reading." The middle school applied for the Oregon Schools to Watch, a recognition program for high-performing middle schools, after a request from the Confederation of Oregon School Administrators (COSA). "It's nice to realize, 'wow, we do a lot and our results are kind of good'," said Karbut about the request. The meeting came to a close with a unanimous approval of the resignation of Meriel Hartling, Elmira High School's Girls Assistant Track Coach and the hiring of former student Justin Davidson as the new EMS's JV2 basketball coach. The board also voted yes to a transfer of $40,000 from the District Maintenance Fund Reserve for a new large area rotary mower, leaving no funds left in the reserve for vehicle and equipment replacements for the rest of the fiscal year. The last mower was purchased in 1996. "I hope it makes coffee while its mowing the grass," said Board Member Craig Soderberg, chuckling. |