web powered by 
Home 
News Local News School Board considers Measure A panel
School Board considers Measure A panel
|
The local school board is getting closer to choosing the Measure A Citizens Advisory Committee.
The tricky part is that committee members must (as mandated by state Proposition 39) represent specific organizations: one must be active in a business organization, one active in a senior citizens’ organization, one active in a bona fide taxpayers association, one must be a parent or guardian of a child enrolled in the district, one must be a parent or guardian that is also active in a parent-teacher organization, and two are at-large members.
In some of those categories, Moorehouse received only one applicant. In the case of a representative of a taxpayers association, there are no applicants because no such organization exists in Del Norte, yet. Moorehouse said the district is looking for someone to start one here in order to fill that spot. The district has until the end of the month to form the committee. However, if someone from a taxpayers organization has yet to materialize, the district will have to “continue its efforts,” she said. The duties of the committee, as stated in its bylaws, will be to inform the public of how the district is spending bond levy funds, review expenditures quarterly and make sure the money is used as the district proposed and not used for salaries or operating expenses and submit an annual report. In addition to discussing the oversight committee, the board will hear from the three architects selected in Decmeber to give presentations: Jeff Mitchell and Charles Slert, both of Crescent City, and Matson and Vallerga of Eureka. The board previously heard presentations from Siskiyou Design Group of Yreka and Crow/Clay and Associates of Coos Bay, Ore. The board will then chose one or more of the five architects to design projects funded under Measure A. “We haven’t sold any bonds yet, so there’s still time to decide,” Moorehouse said. Other Thursday agenda items include: • In order to avoid the need to obtain approval by the Division of the State Architect for Crescent Elk Middle School’s new wind turbine, the board will consider approving a resolution declaring it exempt. This exempt status comes at the price of lowering the wind turbine by 10 feet — from 45 to 35 feet. However, DSA approval would be costly and take about six months, Moorehouse explained. The district had already secured a height variance from Crescent City for the wind turbine. • The board may also approve a resolution offering a supplemental early retirement plan to those district employees nearing retirement. An example would be health insurance extended past retirement — something to “sweeten the pot,” Moorehouse said. “This is the first conversation,” she said. “In these bad budget times, the board may want us to create a retirement incentive.” If the state budget, which faces a $35-40 billion deficit, forces the district to lay off employees this year, a retirement incentive might entice a few to retire early. “It could cut down on layoffs,” Moorehouse said. “If they’re planning to go, they can go earlier and we can retain people.” • A Del Norter who recently returned from college and is currently working on credentials to become a speech, language and hearing specialist could become an intern for the district. The board will consider on Thursday creating this internship position with California State University, Northridge. The internship would cost the district about $13,400 this year. The district does not have a specialist who focuses on children with speech and hearing disabilities nor has it had a similar intern before. “(The intern) can finish her credentials and work with students at same time,” Moorehouse said. “There’s a high need in that area.” |
|||||
