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About Herald and news. (Klamath Falls, Or.) 1942-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 10, 1963)
School Reorganization Attempts Racked By Constant Dissension PACE-SC Thunday, October 10, 1963 HERALD AND NEWS, Klamath Falls, Or. : . By DAN WALTERS Reorganization of Klamath ' County schools was conceived as a method of streamlining and im proving the education of more than 10,000 students, .v But in the last several years, since the Idea was put forth, there Jias been almost constant dissen - ston among educators, school tins- tees and the public. Only rarely 'has there been agreement, and accord has come only at the price of radical compromise. Often, agreement has been nullified by the sudden changing of minds. First attempts at reorganization broke down in utter failure. First real steps at reorganization have been taken just this summer and these steps were painful for all factions for one reason or an other. Even after boundaries for the proposed two new school districts were set by the County Court, the three school boards found them- selves in disagreement on the di vision of school assets. In fact, county and metropolitan school officials have not even been able to talk about division of assets! because they cannot agree on terms of school properly value, This disagreement even on terms Is typical of the discord that has marked school reorgani zation efforts here in past years, ' And there are no marked signs that the situation is changing, Why this discord exists Is question that has puzzled many observers. One answer might be a basic distrust between city and county school officials. There have been hints of this distrust on several occasions. It is indicated that each side believes the other side is out to get something for nothing. Each of the three school boards in volved is pledged to protect the in terests of its constituents, and this is being done vigorously. But this protection of Interests often comes at the price of cooperation. The idea of school reorgani zation in the county In recent years was advanced in the late 1950s. The Legislature in 1957 passed a bill aimed at organizing all territory in the state Into districts, each capable of educating stu dents from grade one through high school. In Klamath County, the situa tion was exactly as it is today. The county was and Is organ ized into three districts, each gov erned by a separate board of trus tees. ' School District One educates students In grades 1-fl. Its bounds rics run rouglijy the same as the city limits of Klamath Falls. School District Two operates Klamath Union High School, grades 9-12. This district encom passes the elementary district, but also includes portions of the sub urban area not In the elementary district. The third school district is the County School district, which edu cates students in grades 1-12 throughout the rest of the county. Some county students attend county high schools after gradua tion from county elementary schools and then Klamath Union High. Although in comparison the Klamath school situation is less. complicated than others in the state, it contains the overlapping features which the school reorgan ization law was designed to elim inate. The 1957 law required the for mation of committees to study re organization and recommend the best methods of achieving it. But the Klamath committee, af ter many months of study, could not reach agreement on a plan, and dissolved when the reorgani zation law expired in 1962. About this time, Klampth Un ion High School began experienc ing crowding and it was proposed that the high school district take over the responsibility of educat ing eighth grade students, place them with ninth graders, and build two new junior highs to ac commodate them. This would re move ninth graders from the high school building, making more room for 10th, Uth and 12th grad ers. Another solution offered was to build another high school. Both plans were placed on the ballot and rejected by voters in the spring of 1982. Finally, with both plans reject ed, and the situation at the high school growing worse, a 20-mem- ber citizens committee was formed, representing every civic organization in the city. The committee met 13 Thursday nights in a row and emerged with the suggestion that the schools throughout the county be reorgan ized before another bond issue for new schools be put before the voters. Meanwhile, the Legislature had passed further reorganization leg islation and this appointed 'the county courts of the various coun ties as committees to study reor ganization. The Klamath County Court sought the help of the three school boards involved and for 13 more Thursdays in a row, the three boards met together. The boards, however, couldn't come up with a plan acceptable to all. The boards were stuck on the matter of equalization of tax funds. Finally, a citizens committee known as Single District Reorgan ization called for the county to become one big school district, which would eliminate all ques tions of equalization and division of assets. Upon receipt of a petition, the suggestion was placed on the June 10, 3963, ballot. Voters in the city elementary school district were to choose whether they would join the coun ty school district. County voters were asked If they would accept the city elementary district. If both units approved the merger, the Klamath Union High School District would be eliminated and the county would be one big dis trict. But rejection by cither unit would doom the plan. Campaign both for and against The Court Records the proposal was heavy, and in the final tally, county voters over whelmingly rejected the plan, 4,086-547. The plan passed nar rowly in the elementary district. 70M18. The defeat of the nl.in u hailed as a mandata frnm fha people for another solution to the reorganization problem. Just four davs after th plorlinn the County Court, in its function as a reorganizinc committee (boundary board). askoH ih thru school boards to submit a plan for division of the countv intn Iwn districts. Again, joint meetings were held 1 an effort to reach a rnmrnnn solution to tlie problem. And again there was no agreement among the three bodies. The oiementarv srhnnl hnarA (District One) was in favor of the so - called "Wiard Street plan," and its position was supported Dy me county board. This Dian called fnr the -fnrmn. lion of one school distript. fllnno the basic lines of the nreseni mentary district, except it would inciuae tne Stewart . Lenox area and the elementary boundaries would be extended pad jinrl In. elude all the area north of South Sixth east to Wiard Street. All the rest of the area in the county would be Included in the second district. Under the plan, the metropoli tan district would use the present Klamath Union High School as its high school' facilities. The metro politan district would be smaller than the present Klamath Union district and thereby allow the use oi the high school building for a number of years in the future without construction of new fa cilities. It would mean, however. the construction of new ele mentary school facilities to take' care of students in the expanded elementary school area. The "Wiard Street plan" was strongly denounced by members of the high school board. High school board members said the plan would force many of their constituents in the area south of South Sixth Street to be "sold down the river." They said these people would be forced to pay for the expansion of Henley High School, although they have already paid for Klam ath Union High, since they would be eliminated from the metropoli tan district. The Klamath Union board pro posed that the metropolitan dis trict be formed along the lines of the Klamath Union District. Finally, in a surprise move, the County School Board switched from the "Wiard Street plan" ad vanced by the elementary board to the "KU plan." But this didn't sway the ele-; mentary board and the two plans went to the County Court. Ihe County Court, after study ing both plans, adopted the "Wi ard Street plan" a few months ago. But the old bugaboo of equaliz ing tax burdens didn't halt. The County Court, after adopt ing the "Wiard Street plan," sought the advice of all three dis- MUNICIPAL COURT Oct, 7. ltu Joseph Eftman. drunk, 12S or five or 10 dave. Ernest Ward, drunk, 125 or flvo or 10 davs. Harry Brunalte, drunk, ISO or 10 or 20 days. Lawrence Melsler, drunk, SIS or five or 10 davs. Hoy Loudermllk, drunk, MS or f'vt or 10 davs. Lewis Bredshtr, drunk, 125 or flvt or 10 davs. John laxarus. drunk, 115 or tlvo or 10 davs. Harold Smith, drunk, I2S or (Iva or 10 days. Irwin Walsar Jr., drunk, 525 or flvl or 10 days. Lalro Hints, drunk, 525 or flvt or 10 days. Kenntth Chestnut, drunk, 525 or flvt or 10 davs. Lawrence Rnwall, drunk, 525 or flvt Or 10 days. Harold Davis, drunk, 515 forfeited. Michael Murphy, drunk. 525 torltlted. Albert Campbell, drunk, 525 tor felled. Milton Sassier, furnlshlno liquor to mi nors, 515 forfeited. Gerald Lee. furnishing liquor to mi nors, 525 forfeited. Lolt Wlkher, allowing minor to vio late curfew, 525 or five davs. Goldte Sominert. allowing minor to vio late curfew, 175 or flvt davs. Ai'ct stutts, allowing minor to violate currtw, 5'S or five davs. Ancel Akers, two counts drunk, 10 forfeited. Larry Blofsky, drunk, 525 forfeited. Murray Hoolen, drunk, 525 forfeited. Joseph Wahl, drunk and disorderly con duct, 5100 forfeited Lerov Moran, two counts dlsordtrly conclucr, 5I0O tint. wnlum Btaudeltt. drunk, 525 forfeit. t1. Larry Davis, drunk, continued. Kenneth Mills, drunk, 125 or flvt or 10 nays. Robert Huff, drunk, 525 or flvt or 10 days. Francis Karnes, drunk, dismissed. Oct, a. mi Opias Mason, drunk, 525 or flvt er 10 davs. R chard Bryant Goodman, violation of hotel ordinance, flvt days. Oiaf Herman Carlson, drunk, 525 or fivt or 10 days. MUNICIPAL COURT Oct. t, till Jack Becken, drunk. 525 or fivt or 10 davs. Joseph Harold Cook, drunk, 525 or five or to days. Floyd Edward Plummer, drunk, 525 er five or to days. Regan Raymond City, drunk, 525 or flvt Or 10 days Waldo Fleetwood, drunk, 525 V flvt Or 10 days. James Gordon Mclntvro, drunk and disorderly ronduct, ISO fine. Simeon Riddlt Jr., drunk, 525 or fivt or 10 nays Rossi Riddlt Williams, drunk, 52 or flvt or 10 davs. Bttty Kanna, curfew violation sverrant, plead not guilty, hearing Oct. 11. J Roval Juda Mtff. vaartnev. 5100 for toiled. On The Record MARRIAOI LICBN5IS James Charles McKtml, 20, Gresham and Charlotte Moody, 17, Warm Sprlnqs. Charles Whitfield Phillips. 22. Valley Head, Ala., and Laurent Eliltbalh Wood. II. Klamath Falls. DIVORCI ACTION1 PILID HUKSf Htttl Jostphint vs. Charles Edward. COLLINS Doris K. vs. Joa W HODGES Hope Corlnna vs. Pierce. CASR Donna Merit vs. Flovd E. E RICKS Evelyn Eugenia vs. Vern At len. trumpower EHiabelh Louisa vs Robert Henry. COURT ACTIONS PILIO Carter-Jones Collection, Inc. vs. Don ald and Mary Lou Freeman, at at Frank R. waavtr vs. City of Klamath Palls, at al. State of New Mtsteo, County of San Juan, ex rtl. Maxlnt Shtw vs. Claranca Shaw. James L. Chlpman vs. Oscar L. An derson Jr. Julio L.. Goniales vs. Slot Industrial Accident Commission. Carter-Jones Collection, Inc. vs Ctar tnct and Evelyn Miller. E. B. Keck vs. Eugene Lynch, et al B. L. Whilt vs. Eugene Lynch, tt al. Roland D. Bechtold vs. Eugene Lvnch Cormen Smith vs. Eugene Lynch, el al. V. R Dalton vs. eugene Lvnch, et al James A. McClaln vs. Eugene Lvnch. et a). C H. Sklnntr Jr. vs. Eugent Lynch it al tricts on seven matters pertaining to reorganization. Most of these were technicalities such as trustee elections and zon ing of the two proposed districts, but one of the two points con cerned the division of school as sets between the two proposed dis tricts. Although the three boards could reach separate recommendations on other matters, the County Court insisted upon unanimous agreement on the division of assets. And that's where the situation is hung up today. There have been several infor mal meetings of administrators and board members, but the divi sion of assets problem is far from solved. In fact the three boards can't even agree upon terms to use in their negotiations. The two city districts have. over the years, maintained a con stant appraisal of their properties. But this has not been done in county schools. City officials asked that an ap praisal be done on county school properties, so discussions can take place in an atmosphere of con stant values. But county officials refused to do this, saying an appraisal would be too expensive. They suggested, instead, that insurance company estimates be used as the basis for discussion. But city school trustees are not inclined to do this after spending money for a constant appraisal. But even if the basis for dis cussion is settled, the three fac tions appear to be widely sepa rated in their positions on divi sion of assets. The Klamath Union board is still concerned about its constitu ents in the suburban area who will be cut out of the metropolitan district by reorganization. It is maintained that these people, who have helped pay for Klam ath Union High School, will be forced to float another bond issue for the enlarging of Henley High to take care of the expected in crease in students. On the same- token, the county board is concerned about other suburban taxpayers previously in the County School District who will be forced to pay for new ele mentary schools as they join the metropolitan district in reorgan ization. As it now stands, the "Wiard Street plan" will mean the city schools gain about 700 elementary students and lose about 600 high school students to the rural dis trict. Division of assets will require the exchange of money to ' as nearly as possible make the re organization equitable financially. School officials expect that this transfer of students with reorgan-; ization will not be a sudden thing, but rather be temporary as new facilities are constructed. For ex ample, under reorganization, some students who belong to Hen- Icy might attend Klamath Union High for a time until Henley is lexpanded sufficiently. Tuition would he naid to the metrnnnlttan district by tne otner district un til the facilities are ready. One Doint that micht make the division ot assets easier is the rural school law. Under this law which is now in effect, that huHcr. , 0 ets of the two school districts would be determined and the lew established. In ear-h of thai Iwn districts half of the levy would come from the district itself, while the other half wntild mme from a county-wide levy. This torm ot equalization was written into tne law to allow taxes from timber lands to be used fnr city schools to a certain extent. This feature michl make fh fi. nancial transition into two school districts less painful. If and when the three schnnl boards agree on a Dlan for Hivi. .sion of assets, it and the other! data requested will be submitted to the County Court. The court then will draw up the final re organization plan and a hearing will be called. After testimony is receiver! in the hearing, the County Court then decides the fate of the plan. If it is approved bv the court with nnv changes arising from the hearing,; tne plan is sent to the State Board of Education for study. The state board will check the plan for com pliance with the law and other factors. Finally, if the plan is given ap proval by the state board, it will be voted upon by the people of Klamath County. And years of discussion, debate and study may come to an end. New Sfars Discovered SAN FERNANDO. Calif. (UPD Discovery of stars too faint to be seen, but detectible by use of an extremely sensitive infrared telescope, was reported Wednes day by International Telephone and Telegraph Corp.'s federal lab oratories. Scientist Freeman Hall said the extremely sensitive temperature measuring instrument used to detect the newly discovered stars also indicated that some stars already known emit as much as 36 times more infrared radiation that previously estimated. Noting that the hottest stars emit bright visible light while cooler ones emit heat waves with much fainter visible light, Hall said the heat - measuring tele scope used in making the discov eries was so sensitive that meas urements sometimes were inter rupted by heat from insects as they flew past. At one point, the work was disturbed when heated air cur rents rose from a cigarette burn ing 50 feet away. The scientist suggested that the discovery may require modi fication of present theories on the evolution of the stars and the universe. Governor Yon't Make Flat Cut In Services SALEM (UPIi Flat, across the board cuts in state services will not result if the tax measure is defeated Oct. 15, Gov. Mark Hat field said today. He said if the tax measure is defeated ' I would be required by law to cut the budget. But I do not yet know where cuts would be made. This would have to be selective." He added, "The reports ot pro posed cuts submitted by various state agencies are for information and Guidance only, and do not nec essarily mean that those are tne cuts that would be ordered." Appling Comments Hatfield's comments were sparked by Secretary of State Howell Appling Jr. at today's Board of Control meeting when, he said "if institution superintend ents want to put out these ideas that's all right, but I'm not going to mislead the public." At the meeting, board secre tary Nick Peet submitted a list proposing $7 million in cuts from the $50 million board of control supervised state institutions. If the tax measure is defeated this is not going to be easy, it will result in serious cutbacks," Peet said. Appling said he would not ap prove such cutbacks. "I would want time to make an exhaustive study of every op eration before I determined which cuts 1 would approve," he said. Appling said "I'm glad to hear the governor clarify his position. Nobody can say at this time what specific items would be elimina ted. But that's not the impres sion being given by some state agencies. Belton Agrees Slate Treasurer Howard Belton said "I am glad to hear this clarification. I would hesitate to vole to accept these cuts." Hatfield said "1 can't say now which agencies would be cut, or whether they would be cut 10 per cent or 30 per cent." He said the decision on whether to call a special session would have to be made, and cuts could depend on what action the legis lature might take. Appling insisted cutbacks would have to be selective, with pos sibly some services eliminated, and others receiving only minor adjustments. Copies of tlie proposed cutbacks were not released to the press. A COSTLY MISTAKE WASHtNr.TnV (UPII Tl, .General Accounting Office (GAO saw i ucsciay wai uio icaerai gov ernment was making a costly mis take bv rrntinrr tnatenit nf numlncr its post olfice facilities. 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