FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015
THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 5
Local
School Board focuses on 2015-2016 budget
• BUDGET
COMMITTEE
APPOINTED
BY TODD ARRIOLA
Todd@TheBakerCountyPress.com
The Baker School Dis-
trict 5J Board of Directors
held a meeting Tuesday,
the focus of which was the
proposed 2015-16 school
year budget.
Present were Interim Su-
perintendent Betty Palmer,
2015-16 Superintendent
Mark Witty, Board Chair
Andrew Bryan, Board Vice
Chair Kevin Cassidy, CFQ
Business Manager Doug
Dalton, Acting Secretary
Ellen Dentinger (Norma
Nemec was absent), Board
Members Melissa Irvine,
Chris Hawkins and Rich-
ard McKim, and Budget
Committee Members Au-
tumn Swiger-Harell, Rusty
Munn, Tom Hudson, Mike
Rudi, and Rosemary Abell.
Guests included Baker
Technical Institute (BTI)
Director Jerry Peacock
and Superintendent Walt
Wegener.
Bryan called the meeting
to order at 5 p.m., and the
first item was the nomina-
tion of Swiger-Harell to
the Budget Committee.
Bryan said there were
recently two positions
open, and one candidate
withdrew their name,
leaving Swiger-Harell.
She was appointed to the
position.
Irvine was then appoint-
ed as Chair of the Budget
Committee, and Rud was
appointed as Vice Chair.
Palmer read a budget
statement she had pre-
pared, which will be in-
cluded on the cover of the
budget document released
to the public, she said. It
read as follows:
“The 2015-16 Baker
School District budget
is based on the state’s
revenue projections for
K-12 education and fully
supports Baker 5J guiding
principles. This budget
document reflects suc-
cesses and challenges
faced during these years of
educational challenge. We
can be proud of the oppor-
tunities our school district
is able to offer students and
families as we move ahead
into the coming school
year.
“The district will face
challenges in 2015-16.
These include adding full
day kindergarten, main-
taining aging facilities
and grounds which are in
constant use, supporting
our charter schools and
continuing to expand edu-
cational options through
partnerships with local
businesses, community
colleges and Eastern Or-
egon State University. We
are working corroborative-
ly with local organizations
and education partners to
provide cradle-to-career
opportunities for students
and families.
“Baker School District
5J is a good steward of the
funding provided through
local state and federal dol-
lars. We have cultivated a
practice of financial con-
servancy, using long-term
forecasting to drive fiscal
decisions. This model
allows us to ‘right size’
operations based on rev-
enue adjustments, and in
so doing, provide a stable
decision making platform.
“The current funding
level established by State
Legislators for the 2015-
17 biennium is less than
desirable, however our
commitment to sustaining
high quality K-12 instruc-
tion while expanding in-
novative programs through
Baker Web Academy,
Baker Early College,
Baker Technical Institute
and Eagle Cap Innovative
High School remains solid.
Our 4 day student week
fosters staff participation in
professional development
and collaborative plan-
ning. Students participate
in Friday programs and
activities, both on and off
campus. We are predict-
ing an enrollment of 1645
students with an additional
800-900 students enrolled
in our charter schools.
Enrollment in our rural
locations is up; incoming
student rate in kindergarten
and Grade 1 programs has
increased as well.
“Students enrolling in
Baker 5J schools have
unprecedented opportuni-
ties for a successful K-12
career. From full-day kin-
dergarten with intervention
supports to middle grade
student learning plans to
innovative college-career
pathways, families can be
confident their children
will receive an educational
value competitive with
districts of a much larger
size with personalized
support that has always
characterized our commu-
nity values.
“Our School Board is
committed to practicing
fiscal responsibility and
maintaining a system
that fulfills this guiding
principle: Baker 5J schools
exist to be the center
of community vitality,
eliminating the barriers
for gratifying individual
educational experiences
in order to have capable
contributing citizens with
character. We believe the
proposed 2015-16 budget
supports the aspirations
this commitment reflects.
Thank you.”
Irvine voiced concerns
about the statement regard-
ing a four-day school
week, because there are
mixed feelings in the com-
munity about it, she said.
The group discussed this
topic, including possible
elaboration concerning
Friday programs available
to students.
Dalton presented a
slideshow, and discussed
different budget topics, be-
ginning with an overview,
including the budget pro-
cess, the role of the Budget
Committee, budgeting
basics, investment priori-
ties, the state of education,
and methods of investing.
The timeline of the bud-
get process, according to
the chart Dalton displayed,
includes: around February,
state funding is determined
by the state, and fiscal
planning begins; in March
and April, the budget is
developed; the Budget
Committee meets weekly
in May, and between May
and June, approves the
budget; and in June, the
Board adopts the budget.
The role of the Budget
Committee, according to
Dalton, is to receive the
budget document; receive
the budget message;
consider public comment;
discuss and revise the
budget as needed; approve
the budget; and approve
the property taxes.
Budgeting basics, Dalton
said, includes a financial
plan for one fiscal year,
July 1 to June 30, based
upon estimates of revenues
and expenditures, and the
State of Oregon requires a
record of expenditures, in
four ways: which fund is
the source of the expendi-
tures, what the purpose is,
what is being purchased,
and what location is as-
sociated with the expendi-
tures.
According to the budget
document, the General
Fund, Fund 100 (the focus
of the meeting), is the gen-
eral school operating fund,
proposed in the amount of
$22,684,143 for the 2015-
16 fiscal year. Dalton said
there are about 60 Special
Revenue Funds, or Funds
200, dedicated to specific
purposes, including title
funds, special education
funds, food service, and
miscellaneous other funds,
proposed in the amount
of $4,148,700. The Debt
Service Fund, Fund 300,
PERS bond payment, is
proposed in the amount
of $782,742. The Capital
Project Fund, Fund 400, is
proposed in the amount of
$423,000. And, the Trust
and Agency Funds, Fund
700, is proposed in the
amount of $952,755.
Dalton discussed budget-
ing details, including re-
sources and expenditures,
and explained that each
fund must have a balanced
budget.
On a national level,
according to data, Dalton
said there aren’t enough
young people graduating
and seeking additional
training to succeed in the
marketplace, and Oregon is
falling behind.
Some solutions include
early learning enhance-
ments by kindergarten,
every child reading at
grade level by third grade,
developing exceptional
Todd Arriola / The Baker County Press
Doug Dalton addresses the School Board.
educators and administra-
tors, preventing loss of
students in transition, en-
gaging students in careers
and encouraging them to
earn college credits, and
involving the families.
Dalton shared the
District goals, including
effective literacy, support
for students, family and
the community, and fiscal
stability.
He said that during
former Governor Kitzha-
ber’s term, the Legislature
set state educational goals
as such: by 2025, 40% of
young adults will have
earned a bachelor’s degree
or higher; 40% will have
earned an associate’s or
postsecondary credential;
and 20% of adults will
have earned at least a high
school diploma. Dalton
said that locally in the
District, that ratio looks
closer to 20%, 75% and
5%, respectively.
Dalton discussed invest-
ment analysis, and then
talked about a District-
wide focus on math
improvements, including
curriculum alignment and
development efforts, a
new math coach, an ad-
ditional section of math
at Baker Middle School
(BMS), three sections of
math added at Baker High
School (BHS), a sum-
mer school offered with a
certified math instructor,
and technology added in
secondary classrooms.
Wegener discussed the
importance of a consistent
math presentation through-
out a student’s school ca-
reer, with details about the
curriculum and educational
standards.
Charter school function/
investment was discussed
by Dalton, along with all-
day kindergarten, including
details about a playground
enhancement project, bus
lane construction, and new
staff hired, three certified
teachers and two parapro-
fessionals.
He discussed the need
Hellman sentenced for theft
from 86-year-old woman
On May 6, 2015, Kenny
Lee Hellman (dob 01-05-
1969) of 1723 Valley St.
Baker City, Oregon, was
sentenced to two years in
prison.
Hellman pled guilty to
two one count of Theft in
the First Degree, a Class
C Felony, and one count
of Computer Crime, also a
Class C Felony.
He also pled guilty to
a Misdemeanor count of
Fraudulent Use of a Credit
Card and another Misde-
meanor count of Forgery in
the Second Degree.
Hellman’s sentence
was based on the Oregon
Sentencing guidelines and
he was eligible for prison
on an “upward departure”
due to the “vulnerable”
status of the victim and his
criminal history.
Hellman was providing
care for the victim who
was 86 years of age.
He used her debit card
and forged her checks to
access nearly $3,000 in
cash between January and
April of 2014.
Hellman will serve two
years post prison supervi-
sion when he is released
from prison and will be
required to pay the victim
restitution.
“Clay Stevens, detec-
tive for the Oregon State
Police, did a good job
investigating the case. We
felt it was important that
Hellman receive prison
time as elder abuse is a
continuing problem in
our community. Anyone
who has information about
possible exploitation of
an elderly person should
contact law enforcement,”
said District Attorney Matt
Shirtcliff in a press release.
for BTI, including the fol-
lowing: Baker County is
lacking in a trained work-
force; many career fields
are lacking trained workers
across the U.S.; the past
15 years of employment
trends favor skilled work-
ers; and Career Technical
Education (CTE) in Or-
egon was cut in half during
the same period. Because
of this, Dalton said, BTI
was created, providing
pathways to success, in the
areas of agricultural sci-
ences, computer sciences,
engineering, building
trades, health services, and
environmental sciences.
PERS issues and leg-
islation were discussed,
including Oregon Senate
Bill (SB) 822, which is ex-
pected to cost the District
$720,000 a year, Dalton
said.
Dalton gave the group
school building updates,
including Brooklyn Pri-
mary School: all-day kin-
dergarten will be starting,
three full-time certified
staff and two paraprofes-
sionals were added, a vice
principal were added,
cook and janitorial hours
were added for additional
students, a modular was
added, the playground was
expanded, and a bus lane
was constructed.
South Baker School’s
update included: two para-
professionals were added
for a large 4th grade class,
a new principal was added,
several new teachers were
hired, and a new lot was
purchased for additional
parking.
Baker Middle School’s
update included: a new
principal and a new guid-
ance secretary.
Baker High School’s up-
date included: the Teacher
on Special Assignment
(TOSA) position converted
to vice principal; a student
resource officer (SRO)
added via partnership
on Community Oriented
Policing Services (COPS)
grant; three new sections
of math added; a new
Special Education teacher,
and a new English Lan-
guage Arts (ELA) teacher;
guidance retirement was
partially filled; and HVAC
system upgrades.
BTI’s update included:
an engineering robotics
course was added, with
74 students signed up; an
introduction to environ-
mental science was added;
an information technol-
ogy class will possibly
be implemented, through
Eastern Oregon Univer-
sity, depending on a grant;
welding classes will be
expanded, agricultural
learning options will be ex-
panded, a new agricultural
teacher and a new welding
instructor will be hired,
there will be welding shop
upgrades, and sustainable
agricultural courses added;
a second year course will
be offered for building
trades; and five more 3-D
printers were purchased.
Haines Elementary
School’s update included:
the head teacher was
removed, and a new prin-
cipal hired; a 6th grade,
half-time teacher and four
paraprofessionals were
added; one retiring teacher
and one Special Education
teacher were replaced; a
modular was added for
space; and there will be
playground improvements.
Keating School’s update
included: carpet was
replaced; more music class
hours were added; the
building was painted; and
water line work will be
completed.
The budget discussion
is expected to continue, as
the 2015-16 budget was
not yet approved There
is a work session/budget
meeting scheduled for next
Tuesday, May 19, at 5 p.m.
in the North Conference
Room of the Baker School
District 5J office at 2090
4th Street, and a regular
Board meeting at 6 p.m.
Adler house
opens doors
Adler House Museum, located at 2305 Main Street,
opened for the 2015 season on Friday, May 15th. Visit
the completely restored and renovated 1889 Victorian
Italianate home which was the residence of Baker City
philanthropist, Leo Adler, for 94 years. Adler House
Museum will be open each weekend Friday and Saturday
from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. through Labor Day weekend.
Private showings at other times are available by special
arrangement through the Baker Heritage Museum. Ad-
mission is only $6 per adult for a guided tour, and group
discounts are available. You can save by touring both
museums for only $10.