School district sets public fee schedule

Board may close skatepark

At their regular meeting last Thursday, the Orcas Island School District (OISD) Board discussed the use of the skateboard park and approved an increased fee schedule for use by the public of OISD facilities.

Board member Scott Lancaster and members of the public expressed their concerns that adult behavior at the skatepark, including smoking, public consumption of alcohol and littering, were in violation of OISD rules and creating an unhealthy atmosphere for local youngsters who make use of the park.

In addition, OISD maintenance manager David Mierau said that the costs of maintaining sanicans and a dumpster at the Eastsound skatepark, are considerable. “Younger kids and parents have helped keep the park clean,” said Mierau, but with the park being well-known as the “best skate park on the west coast,” hundreds of off-island people may show up at the park, especially during the summer. Even during the school year, “There’s a lot of traffic and mess – booze and beer,” said Mierau.

The board will call a meeting with the community, including the Sheriff’s office and the Orcas Island Prevention Partnership to discuss the closing of the skate park and other options to address the situation. The board also discussed adding use of the skatepark to the rental fee schedule approved later in the meeting.

Lancaster said, “We can’t afford for [the situation at the skatepark] to just keep on going without there being any benefit to local kids.”

The board approved the revised policies regarding the use of district facilities and their rental fees. Fee per hour categories are broken down as follows:

Category 1 – Kid use for local non-school sponsored/non-proft/gov’t groups

Category 2 – Adult use for local non-school sponsored/non-proft/gov’t groups

Category 3 – All commercial or for-profit entities, groups, enterprises or individuals.

Facilities under this policy include OISD classrooms, cafeteria, kitchen art room, gym, wood shop, weight room, library, band room, fields and tennis courts. A special half-rate applies for the Orcas Island Recreation program’s Wednesday afternoon half-day daycare program.

Board member Tony Ghazel said, “We’re trying to lose less money by increasing fees – we’re not trying to gouge anybody.”

Staff reports

Kindergarten teacher Mandy Randolph and Marine Science/OASIS teacher Marta Branch both expressed their pleasure at being re-instated at OISD schools. Branch said, “I’m delighted that I’m teaching marine science, thanks to the generous donation of community members. Today we went on a whale-watching field trip, courtesy of Deer Harbor Charters and Tom Averna.”

Randolph said, “It’s really exciting to be hired back and working with my students – thanks for all the fundraising and efforts to get me back.”

Superintendent/High School Principal Barbara Kline reported that the new roof on Waldron is installed and that the OISD website has been updated. The new purchase order system is also in place and functioning well, Kline reported.

ASB funds

In the past, the Associated Student Body (ASB) fund has not been charged back for expenses it incurs using money from the OISD General Fund.

Board member Keith Whitaker said, “All ASB-appropriated expenses will be billed back to them.”

Tony Ghazel said, “The ASB needs to be aware that some expenses have not been charged to them in the past, and as a board, we need to make sure that this is happening.”

2004-2009 Bond

The board will meet at 4 p.m. on Oct. 7 for a workshop on the bond issue.

For Brownell’s report on the meeting of the State Basic Education Task Force with her and Kline, go to www.islandssounder.com, “Communities.”

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