Naselle school board OK's budget, discusses board vacancy

In an area that receives precipitation over 100 days a year, Naselle-Grays River Valley school children go to recess on a playground with no covered area.

That will change in the coming year if District Superintendent Alan Bennett’s plans are realized. At a meeting held July 21, school board members approved a 2009-2010 budget with $300,000 included in the Capital Projects fund in order to build a covered area and walkway.

One hitch in the project is that the school district doesn’t have the money secured. Bennett explained to the board that grant funds could be obtained to cover the costs.

But in order to write a competitive grant application proposal, the district needs preliminary drawings and cost estimates from an architect, another expense the district is not prepared to cover.

Bennett announced at Wednesday’s meeting that he had found an architect willing to do the preliminary work at no charge to the district.

The district’s budget reflects cuts at the state and local level. Income from the local property tax levy is down, as are state funds which amount to half the district’s funding. Federal stimulus package money makes up for only part of the cuts.

So far, the school district has been able to lower expenses by attrition as employees have retired or moved on to other jobs.

Actual enrollment has declined over last five years, but traditionally the district has built its budget on an artificially low count to boost reserves.

The budgeted enrollment for the coming school year is 312, up two from last year. The number includes seven high school students enrolled in the Running Start program at Clatsop Community College, which means the district will not receive full funding for those students.

The board of directors also discussed the coming primary election on August 18. Three directors’ terms will expire this fall--Nancy McGuire, Gilbert Haataia, and board chair Deanna Moomjian-Gjovik.

Haataia filed for reelection, while McGuire and Moomjian-Gjovik declined to run. Rosburg resident Mike Queener filed as a candidate for the position McGuire currently holds.

Because no candidate filed to run for the other vacant position, the board may need to appoint someone to fill the full four-year term.

Bennett highlighted the small size of the district Moomjian-Gjovik currently represents, which has only 400 residents. The board is considering a proposal to redistrict the school district into three director districts with two at-large directors, rather than the five director districts represented on the current board. If approved by the board, the proposal would be subject to a public vote at the general election on November 3.

Over the summer, district staff members have completed several maintenance projects, including resurfacing the gymnasium, restriping a parking lot and courtyard, and encapsulating asbestos-containing tile in the music and woodshop building wing. The district also purchased a 10 passenger van for student transportation needs.

Bennett announced he had received a letter from the office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction congratulating the district for receiving an Academic Improvement Award for 2007-2008.

The meeting closed with an executive session to discuss complaints brought against a district employee.