[EVSD News] Superintendent's Newsletter 01/16/09

[Jodi Brown]

January 16, 2009
 
The purpose of this newsletter is to update you on events that are happening in the district, provide information to address issues or rumors and provide you a forum to communicate with me on items of interest. If you are receiving this e-mail you are either an East Valley Staff member, you have signed up for this service, you have sent me an e-mail or have had some form of contact that we think would cause you to want this information. If you do not want to continue to receive this information you may unsubscribe by clicking the link below or contacting the district office.  
 
It seems like a very long time since we started our winter break. I deeply appreciate the support and understanding we received when we had to make tough decisions about canceling school or having late starts. The end of this week marks the return to a normal schedule. I am very glad to report that we have not had any significant damage or injuries associated with the weather.    
 
We will however have some decisions to make very soon regarding weather related issues.  We need to make up four days of school.  I have solicited input from a variety of sources and have developed two options for staff and community to consider. I need your feedback on this matter by Tuesday, January 20, 2009.  Based on the feedback I receive I will make a decision by Tuesday evening.    
 
Before I outline options let me speak to the issue of waivers.  I have been strongly lobbied to apply for a wavier and I have given it deep consideration. At this time I am not inclined to apply for a wavier.  If we applied for and were granted a waiver we would need to still provide 1000 hours of instructional time for students and teachers would still need to work 182 days. We could manage our calendar to meet these requirements.  However, I believe our contract with our students and families is to offer 180 days of student instruction if at all possible. As it stands now we are not going to be able to fulfill that contract with regard to our kindergarten students and families, but we can still honor it with our older students. If we have additional weather related closures we may be forced to abandon even that commitment and ask for waiver days.  
 
The two options that have been developed are:   
 
Option 1:   We will have school on February 17, 18 and 19.  There will be a three day weekend for Presidents Day and a three day weekend February 20-22. One day will be added to the end of the school year on June 19th.    
 
If we select this option we will work to provide relief to our staff members who can provide evidence that they had paid for travel plans prior to January 6, 2009. We will also need to work with our families who have already made plans. I have talked with the superintendents in the Central Valley, Spokane and West Valley School districts to make them aware that we will need many substitute teachers on those days and have asked them to help by limiting activities that will strain the pool of available substitutes.   
 
Option 2:   We will add four days to the end of the school year. This would mean that school would be held on June 19, 22, 23 and 24.  We would need to work with the State Board and OSPI to ensure that this plan would not impact graduation but indications from the Educational Service District and districts that did this last year are that this is a workable plan.   
 
I want you to know that I recognize that the options I have put forth are not perfect.  I readily admit that they reflect my personal beliefs about our obligation to our students and families.  I further believe that we send a dangerous message to a legislative body looking for ways to cuts costs when we signal that we can afford to miss instructional time with our students.  I understand that regardless of the decision that is made some folks are going to be unhappy. That is the reality that I live with on a daily basis and am willing to accept.  I will however ask that if you are one of the people who disagree with the decision that is ultimately reached that you keep your unhappiness with the decision focused where it belongs: On me.     
 
The ballots presenting the bond and levy have been mailed.  Ballots must be returned by February 3, 2009.  The replacement levy, which will run for three years, provides many of the services our school patrons have deemed necessary to support the educational programs they desire.    
 
The levy is projected to cost voters $3.15 per $1000 of assessed value.  For the first time in East Valley School District history, this levy seeks authority to collect funds that have previously been guaranteed by the state.  The levy rate reflects the concern the state will take an unprecedented action and not fund what it has previously recognized as an obligation.  If the state does fund an effort to tax payer burden through equalization, the levy rate per $1000 of assessed value will be less than $3.15.     
 
The bond issue will be very similar to the issue that was on the ballot last spring. Even though the bond issue last spring received a majority of voter approval (about 57%) it failed to garner the 60% needed for passage. 
 
The bond issue, proposition 2, will ask voters to make major renovations to both middle schools.  It will seek to replace roofs, heating and ventilation systems, flooring and upgrade electrical systems at all elementary schools. The bond will upgrade technology, safety and security throughout the district.  It will also retire debt that was incurred to complete an energy upgrade a couple of years ago.     
 
The projected cost of this bond will be .89 cents per $1000 of assessed value.  If approved the district would have the authority to sell up to $34.5 million of bonds to complete the projects. The state would also contribute about $19.3 million in matching funds.   
 
The board has worked long and hard to put the bond and levy plans together. They are particularly sensitive to the challenges that the current economy poses for our tax payers and understand that they are asking a lot of patrons. Before finalizing this course of action the board conducted a survey of voter sentiment. Over 80% of the voters surveyed had a favorable reaction to the projects listed in the bond proposal. Likewise, over 80% of the survey respondents were favorable to supporting a bond that carried a tax rate of about .89 cents per $1000 of assessed value.   
 
If you have any questions about either issue I urge you to check the district website or contact me.  You can call me at the district office at 924-1830 or my home at 868-0087.  You may also contact me via e-mail GlenewinkelJ at evsd.org.  I thank you for all the support you have provided to our schools.    
 
John
 
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