Page 12
The INDEPENDENT, November 20, 2008
School Board work session focuses on 2009-10 budgetary losses
Discussion of potential re-
sponse to the failure of the
bond measure began the work
session prior to the Banks
School Board meeting on No-
vember 17. Superintendent
Marv Ott told the board that un-
official election results show the
bond measure lost by 77 votes,
about two-percent. A recount
may be requested, but all costs
associated with the recount (in-
cluding attorney fees, court
costs and election staff time)
are paid by the loser of the re-
counted vote, an expense risk
that Ott did not advise.
The board praised the efforts
of the facilities committee and
the PAC. Discussion of possi-
ble reasons for the measure’s
failure included an apparent
loss of effort towards the end of
the campaign, insufficient pro-
fessional guidance for the PAC,
damage from misinformation,
and failure to get early support
from staff. Debbie Wycoff, PAC
treasurer, told the board that
the PAC was receiving calls of-
fering new donations for a con-
tinued campaign. Board Mem-
ber William Moore put a damp-
er on discussion of a new at-
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tempt when he said that an
election official had told him
that the double majority re-
quirement was only extended
to even numbered years in the
recently passed measure. Ott
said that lots of discussion at
the Oregon School Board As-
sociation convention he recent-
ly attended was about being
able to propose tax and bond
measures on the May ’09 bal-
lot. Ott will get clarification, say-
ing that he would “hate to loose
momentum.”
Continuing his report from
the OSBA convention, Ott relat-
ed that Governor Kulongoski
said that School Improvement
Funds will not be distributed for
the second half of the bienni-
um. This will mean a $285,000
reduction in expected revenue
for the district. Ott and district
business manager Simon Lev-
ear have begun looking at the
budget to identify where to
make cuts. School districts
across the state have begun to
add back programs cut in the
last round of extreme budget
reduction, like the return of jun-
ior high sports in Banks. Now
all programs will have to be
looked at again. Levear told the
board that the transportation
contract dated from the 1970s,
though many revisions and ad-
justments had been made over
the years. He received ap-
proval to begin a competitive
bid process to ensure that the
district is getting the best possi-
ble deal. Ott concluded this dis-
mal discussion of finances by
telling the board that “ things
are worse now than they were
ten years ago.”
The board meeting following
the workshop was exceptional-
ly short because a scheduled
presentation from sixth grade
Outdoor School students was
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from the stands was an impor-
tant part of winning that compe-
tition. High School Principal Jim
Foster said that it was a very
tough game, well fought and
won. The next playoff game will
be at home on Kelly Field to-
morrow night. Board chairman
Duane Lundsten said that all of
the board members present
were planning on being there
and he encouraged the com-
munity to attend and support
the team.
Banks Tree Board reports annual planting
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removed from the agenda at
their request. Bob Huston intro-
duced two teachers; Linda
Beauchaine is new to the dis-
trict and Jo Shilling has moved
to a full-time position in first
grade. Mr. Ott announced the
failure of the bond and there
was a brief discussion reiterat-
ing the earlier discussion at the
workshop.
Board member Kathy Edison
said that the state football play-
off game in Baker City was well
attended. She said that several
players told her that the support
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The Banks Tree Board
planted two new ornamental
smoke bush (Cotinus) royal
purple trees. The Fall educa-
tional and tree planting event
was held November 15 at the
Banks “Welcome” sign (located
at the cloverleaf exit of state
Highway 6 and state Highway
47.) Tree Board member Mike
Lyda, of Lyda Excavating, dug
the holes for the two beautiful
ornamentals. Tree Board mem-
bers Mitty Brady, Mike Lyda,
and Fran Todd were on hand,
as was Banks Public Works Di-
rector Jim Hough. Oteka Todd,
the granddaughter of Fran
Todd was also attended to
learn about trees and the best
time to plant them (November).
The day was designated Fall
Tree Planting Day in Banks by
a Proclamation issued by the
Mayor and City Council.
Please see page 21
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