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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 5, 2002)
The INDEPENDENT, Decem ber 5, 2002 Page 13 NWRESD presents annual report to Banks, Vernonia school boards The annual report from the Northwest Regional Education Service D istrict (NW RESD) was presented to both the Banks and Vernonia School Districts at th e ir N ovem ber m eetings. Dr. Bud Moore, NWRESD Deputy Superinten dent and Sally Bunnel, Zone Three Director, made the pres entation in Banks, November 18. In Vernonia, Dr. Todd Her- berg, NW RESD S uperinten dent, made the presentation accompanied by Zone 5 Direc tor Del Fennell, November 21. Financial overview Both presentations gave an overview of the NWRESD an nual report previously sent to school board members. Like lo cal school districts, Education Service Districts (ESDs) re ceive the majority of their fund ing from the state school fund. Recent legislation requires that 90 percent of all money re ceived must be spent on stu dent-related services in, or by, local school districts. NWRESD serves 20 school districts in W ashington, Columbia, C lat sop and Tillam ook Counties and currently has the largest student enrollment of any ESD in the state. The 2000-2001 legislature passed a four-year equalization plan for ESD fund ing throughout the state, similar to school district equalization. Prior to that legislation, large metropolitan ESDs, such as Multnomah, received far more money per student than other ESD’s. I Strassel’s Auto Repair & Hydraulic Hoses) 2-4-6 Spiral Wire • Flange Head • Suction Hoses Adaptors • 3/16” to 2” • Bulk Oil Products 276 S unset , B anks • 503-324-9808 SUNSET LAUNDRY W ash...$1.00 Dry...250 1 8 0 S. M ain S tre e t, B anks O regon The financial overview fur ther illustrates the similarities of ESD funding and school district funding across the state. Both are based on Average Daily M em bership (weighted) or ADMw, and both have had re ductions in the amounts origi nally budgeted from the state school fund. NWRESD has an ADMw of 107,736 and is currently budget ed to receive $19,909,930 from the State School Fund, approxi mately $1.5 million less than the $21.5 million allocated by the legislature in June 2001. NWRESD can expect a further reduction of $800,000 if the Jan uary 28 income tax measure fails. Urge school boards to meet with legislators Moore and Herberg urged school board members to at tend the legislative dinner sponsored by NW RESD on Dec. 2. Members of both hous es of the state legislature will have an opportunity to engage in discussion with local school board members about the im pact of their decisions on local school districts. In an interview with The IN DEPENDENT, Herberg said that the NWRESD contains the districts of eight state senators (over 25 percent of the legisla tive body) and that he and oth ers have been working diligent ly with legislators to develop bi partisan, realistic solutions to Oregon’s school funding crisis. Herberg hoped to reach con sensus with the legislators prior to the Decem ber 2 dinner meeting with school board members. According to Her- berg, the agreement will in clude a solution for the short term funding crisis as well as a practical long-term solution to provide stable funding for Ore gon’s schools. In addition, Her berg said, he is also working to reach a similar agreement with Multnomah and other metropol itan ESDs. Herberg expressed hoped that superintendents, school board m em bers and legislators could work effective ly as a team during the upcom ing legislative session to re solve the current crisis. NWRESD includes 20 school districts Superintendents from the 20 school districts within NWRESD meet annually to agree on how ESD funding should be spent. The ESD is restricted by law to 10 percent of the total funds for internal operations. According to Moore, 27 percent (of the 90 percent remaining) is retained by the ESD to provide “core services" that local districts agree can best be provided at, or from, a central location. The remaining ESD funds are deliv ered directly to local school dis tricts. The annual report sum marizes the four areas of serv ice provided by the ESD - Ad ministrative and Board Services, Special Student Services, In struction and School Improve ment Services and Technology and Support Services. Report includes how districts use services The annual report also sum marizes how each school dis trict spent their allocation. In both Banks and Vernonia, the vast majority of the ESD alloca tion is used to provide special Student Services. These in clude early intervention/early childhood special education, school age special education and low incidence regional services (LIRS). In the Banks school district 83 percent of to tal funds were spent in areas of special student services. In Vernonia, 73 percent was spent on special student services. The remainder, 17 percent in Banks and 27 percent in Ver nonia, was spent on services that benefit all students in the areas of instructional and school improvement and tech nology and support services. According to the report, NWRESD will advocate for im proved funding for early inter vention and adequate funding for LIRS for all children in the district. Herberg said that NWRESD priorities for 2002-2003 include four m ajor areas: Continued delivery of high-quality direct services to special education students, especially for high need students who cannot be served by their local school dis tricts; addressing the needs of students who are English Lan guage Learners (ELL); helping provide access to technology for every student in the area; providing local districts with in creased student services in the areas of student assessment, curriculum alignment and staff training tor the purpose of im proving student achievement. A dditional inform ation, in cluding the complete annual re port, is available on NWRESD website.www.nwresd.k12.or.us Need a quick gift for Christmas, Birthday, etc.? Avon Gift Sets; shower gel, body lo tion, hand cream, etc. Many different vari eties available. Great for teachers, friends and secret pals. Call Janie at 503-429-8133 for more information. Prices effective to Dec. 20.
