School district enrollment down 45 from last year
The school district enrollment in April was 1,260. This is down 21 students from last month and 45 students from this time last year, it was reported at the school board meeting Monday at Timberline School.
The seven-unit apartment complex on Ahsahka Road is up for sale. Appraised price is $240,000 so this is the minimum amount that bids can begin. The district is holding open house at the complex for the next two Saturdays from 10 a. m. to 2 p. m.
Sealed bids will be accepted until 2 p. m. June 2 and bids will be opened June 9.
Alyce Arnsberg told the board she had received the amounts of the property appraisals and doesn’t think that the total of all properties will be enough to build new school buildings.
She asked if the board were abandoning their previous architectural plans. Supt. Dale Durkee said he had asked the architects to have several plans available that meet the needs of both Timberline and Orofino locations and these should be available in May.
Chris Kuykendall, Clearwater County Economical Development, is interested in partnering with the district to get the properties sold in Weippe and Orofino. She indicated one person had shown interest in the Weippe properties and another in the Ahsahka property.
Weippe Middle School, $70,000; Weippe Elementary School, $88,000; Pierce Elementary School, $250,000; Ahsahka Road complex, $240,000; Old Forest Service site, Ahsahka Road, $126,000 and Orofino Junior High, $500,000.
Durkee noted that an appraisal has been received on the Weippe Senior Center site in the amount of $4,7000. The City of Weippe has offered to pay the district $8,5000 and Durkee recommends selling the property to the City of Weippe. The board accepted this bid for lots 6-12 Browns Addition in Weippe.
The board approved Mrs. Shannon Osborn’s leave of absence for the 2008-09 school year.
The board approved with the exception of one category 1 teacher the lists of certified staff for re-hire and with the exception of one classified staff member, the lists of classified staff members for re-hire for the school year 2008-09 contingent on the supplemental levy passing May 20.
Durkee listed several maintenance services and jobs that he wants to bid out annually so that individual jobs are under one contractor rather than several in an attempt to increase the transparency of the work done as well as save money. The board gave approval and these items will be advertised.
Ms. Kuykendall as vice president of the Youth Soccer program requested the board consider funding the head coaches for the boys and girls soccer teams.
Coach Ken Lame’ reported the youth programs have been self funded for the past 15 years and the high school program has been self funded for the past seven years and he feels they have shown they are viable and committed. This topic will be discussed further at the May meeting.
The board approved sixth, seventh, 10th and 12 graders to take the anonymous survey conducted in October and November by the State Dept. of Education.