The INDEPENDENT, August 7, 2008
Page 13
Banks School Board approves language for $25.5 million bond
At their July 28 meeting, the
Banks School Board of Direc-
tors voted to authorize the bal-
lot title and explanatory state-
ment of a ballot measure in the
November election for a bond
not to exceed $25.5 million.
The board had previously de-
cided this issue, but the lan-
guage of the bond had not
been agreed on. The district
can now file the measure and
get a measure number.
Construction
Consultant
Rick Rainone spoke to the
board about how to proceed.
He said that there were a few
things that would need to be
done before November if the
district wants to start construc-
tion next summer, in the event
that the bond passes. The cost
of these items would be just
less than $50,000. Rainone
said that starting the wetlands
survey and selecting an archi-
tect were the two most urgent
things.
Preliminary wetland studies
have been completed, but a
more extensive one must be
completed before construction
can begin. Rainone said that he
had seen wetland studies take
over 14 months to be complet-
ed in other districts. He also
said that hiring an architect
would allow the district to get a
master plan for the district
which will be necessary for all
future planning. It is possible
that the district could even have
some schematic design before
the election.
Starting construction next
year, Rainone explained, would
save the district both time and
money and would get students
and teachers in new buildings
sooner. He stressed that these
were things that the district
would have to do in any case,
thus it was a responsible ex-
penditure of money. Starting
these items would not lock the
district into any specific timing
of construction, but would
make a 2009 start date possi-
ble.
The board directed Rainone
to proceed with the wetland
study and to bring an RFP for
an architect to the next board
meeting in September.
The board also held its an-
nual election of the board chair
and vice chair. Duane Lundsten
will remain as chairman for an-
other year and Will Moore was
elected to the vice chair posi-
tion.
During a work session pre-
ceding the meeting, Superin-
tendent Marv Ott reported that
the school district has reached
an agreement to purchase land
adjacent to the post office. The
deal will be completed in Janu-
ary and plans will be made to
use the property next summer
to help alleviate traffic flow is-
sues.
The board also voted to ap-
point K & L Preston, Gates &
Ellis LLP as District Bond
Counsel and heard a first read-
ing of several policy updates.
The consent agenda includ-
ed the following personnel
changes:
Resignations:
• Michael Weaver, high
school math teacher
• Elaine Fox, student servic-
es director
• Becky Cottam, elementary
school library
Hiring:
• Thao Newman, 181 day
maintenance contract
• Anthony Cicorcia, junior
high social studies teacher
• Bridget O'Leary, title I
Reading teacher
• Jerimy Kelley, high school
language arts teacher
• Jo Schilling, elementary
kindergarten teacher
• Krisit Schutt, secondary
special education instructional
assistant
• Bobbie Woodruff, second-
ary special education instruc-
tional assistant
• Wendy Holland, elemen-
tary special education instruc-
tional assistant
• Shei Rue, secondary spe-
cial education instructional as-
sistant
• Trish Birr, elementary in-
structional assistant.
Farmers Market
now every Mon.
The Banks Farmers Market
has been expanded and will
now be held every Monday
evening in August, from 4:00 to
8:00 p.m., at Log Cabin Park
(also called Neighborhood
Park) on Main St.