Board discusses levy, at-large districts

The Wahkiakum School District’s Board of Directors celebrated Lee Tischer’s 16 years of service and retirement at last Wednesday’s meeting, while he enjoyed his last official duties as a board member.

The FFA presented Tischer with a welded metal driveway sign painted red and black with cutouts and the words “Mule Fan since 1964”, fashioned in the school’s own shop. The school district presented him with the gift of a personalized glass bowl, and everyone enjoyed a big slice of German chocolate cake made by the superintendent’s wife, Diane Garrett.

Tischer’s last bit of business included a vote on the details of the coming special levy election and the proposed at large director districts as well as a renewed request from local girls for the board to consider the addition of an official Mule soccer team on the high school roster of sports.

County Assessor Bill Coon’s quick presentation on the local tax base led to a few minor adjustments of some key figures in the coming replacement maintenance and operations (M&O)levy proposal, due to be on the February 11, 2014, ballot.

The last M&O levy was passed in 2010 and will expire after four years in 2014. The levy amount was staggered each year, going up in $20,000 increments, and will complete its cycle at $987,000 in 2014. Property owners were taxed $2.75 for each $1,000 of assessed property value.

The proposed replacement M & O Levy, a four-year levy set to begin in 2015, would decrease the tax rate to $2.73 for each $1,000 of assessed property value. The school district is requesting $997,000 each year for the term of the levy.

According to a list of 2013 levy rates provided by Superintendent Bob Garrett, Wahkiakum School District’s rate is near the bottom. Battle Ground’s residents pay $4.25 per $1,000 of assessed property value; Longview’s residents are paying $3.39, and Ocean Beach pays $1.62.

If the replacement M & O Levy passes, it will continue to fund items not covered by the State of Washington and federal monies.

It pays for technology upgrades, staffing, employee health premiums, and any new curriculum that may be adopted by the school district, the superintendent said. It provides money to transport kids to and from school, to away games and other extracurricular activities or field trips. It provides a salary for coaches, it pays for vocational programs and gives teachers the time and resources to improve during staff inservice. Mostly it provides money to cover any of the necessary maintenance, supplies and operating costs involved in running a school.

District representation for the school board was on the agenda as well. The school board has been considering a change in the make up of district representation in hopes of encouraging more citizens to get involved.

Wanting to switch to a three director district with two at large positions, the board perused four maps prepared by Dave Nixon, cartographer for Wahkiakum County, before unanimously selecting the map showing Puget Island as one district, the west side of the county as a second while increasing the area around the town of Cathlamet and the east side of the county as the third.

After much discussion, the board voted to include the proposed change to district representation along with the M&O levy to the February ballot.

Students Mya Kirzy, Shana Batdorf and Tarah Wisner made their second appearance before the board this year to renew their request for a Mule sponsored soccer team. Their coach, Amy Lomax, provided the assist.

“They raised over $2,000 this year already, some of it was spent for tournament and uniforms,” Lomax said. “I believe they could have another $2,000 dollars to pay for what they need.

"A member of the community has pledged $1,000 dollars each year. They had 27 girls turn out this fall. Next year, there will be eight more coming up from the junior high to give us 17 for a high school team. Washington Interscholastic Athletic Association requires 18 for a team. We still had a couple more girls who really wanted to play.”

“We have most of the equipment except spray paint for the fields, transportation and to pay the coaches,” Kirzy added.

“Is there a league within our district?” Tim Hanigan, school board member, asked. “Would this correspond with volleyball?”

“There are currently three teams, but two schools may be dropping down from 1A to 2B,” Lomax and Kirzy replied. “And it didn’t detract from the volleyball games. They arranged that stuff well. We’ve heard from some girls that some would rather play soccer but because it isn’t a school sport, they felt like they had to choose.”

The board did not make a decision regarding a Mule soccer team at that time, but will continue to consider and discuss the possibility.