Video: Henley’s Elementary School (Or Lack Thereof)

May 3, 2013 By
A scene from Joe Spendolini's video about Henley Elementary School, showing the library and other resource trailers.

Henley Elementary’s library is in this collection of modulars

In honor of the public information meeting held on Tuesday of this week at Henley High School, this week we’d like to highlight the video Joe Spendolini put together about Henley Elementary School and the challenges of teaching in a collection of modular buildings instead of a single building.  Mr. Spendolini was given a tour of Henley Elementary by principal Janell Preston and KCSD superintendant, Greg Thede.  While the camera was rolling, Mr. Thede and Mrs. Preston discuss some of the issues presented by the temporary solution that was developed while funding was to be procured to build a new school.  Lack of bathrooms, the chance of ruining library books and student safety are just a few of the problems Henley’s current situation poses.

While there have been arguments supporting staying the course for Henley Elementary, this video does a good job of showing just how challenging not have a proper school building is for the nearly 400 students.  From crossing a busy parking lot for lunch to the displacing high school students when the temperatures stayed below freezing for weeks during the winter, Mrs. Preston and Mr. Thede demonstrate why Henley Elementary needs a school.

If you’ve heard all the arguments as to how much time students take for traveling to the different buildings and why it’s difficult not to have a single, large bulding, be sure to watch the discussion Joe has with Klamath County Sheriff’s Deputy Melvin Ray (at the 6:10 mark).  Deputy Ray talks about trying to secure a campus in an era of child abduction and school shootings.

Again, we’d like to thank Mr. Spendolini for his time and talent in putting these videos together and allowing us to share them here.  If you’d like to watch the whole series he put together, be sure to visit his page “VIDEO: Where Will The $31 Million School Bond Money Go If Passed?”

 

Filed Under: 18-91, Ballot Measure, Endorsements

Video: Ferguson Elementary School

April 24, 2013 By
A can suspended by wire is used to prevent a water leak from a pipe at Ferguson Elementary School in Klamath Falls, OR.

A water-leak solution at Ferguson Elementary School

If you haven’t been in a Klamath County School District school lately, you may not be aware of some of the needs these schools have.  To illustrate how bond measure 18-91 will affect these schools, Joe Spendolini, creator of KlamathOnline.com, took his video camera to six of the schools.  The result is a compelling argument as to why our schools need this $31 million bond measure passed.

Mr. Spendolini very graciously allowed us to share the vidoes on our site.  Since the first open house presentation is being held at Ferguson, we thought we’d show the Joe’s video about Ferguson Elementary School.  In this clip, super-intendant Greg Thede and Ferguson principal Kelley Fritz give a tour of the school and show aging building and it’s more dire needs.

With freezing pipes, classrooms near freezing (see 2:40), and leaking pipes and roof, this is not the ideal environment to educate the future of Klamath County.  And for a real look at the ingenuity of the maintenance crew, be sure to skip ahead to the 4:34 mark!

Of the proposed $31 million, Ferguson will receive a little over $1.5 million to repair the roof, replace the failing, single pain windows, improve the heating system, and upgrade the lighting and fire alarm system.  The trouble spots highlighted in Mr. Spendolini’s video will be addressed by passing this bond measure.

We’d like to thank Joe Spendolini for putting this and the other videos together.  To see all of the clips Joe created about the Klamath County School District, visit his page “Where Will The $31 Million School Bond Money Go If Passed?“.  It’s a real eye-opening experience as to why the Klamath County School District needs these schools repaired.

Filed Under: 18-91, Ballot Measure, Endorsements

Chamber Of Commerce Endorses Klamath County School Bond

March 10, 2013 By

We have terrific news – the Klamath County Chamber of Commerce is in support of the Klamath County School District bond measure!  After hearing for and against arguments for the school bond measure and taking a member survey, the Chamber of Commerce put out a press release to “take a public stance supporting the funding effort as important for local economic development and business recruitment efforts.”

You can read the full press release on the Klamath County Chamber of Commerce’s press release page.  We have also provided the text below:

The Klamath County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors voted, in its February General Board meeting, to publicly endorse the Klamath County School Districts $31 million bond levy on the May 2013 ballot.

Following a member survey and presentations from both sides of the issue the board voted to take a public stance supporting the funding effort as important for local economic development and business recruitment efforts.

“The Chamber membership responded with nearly 80% yes in favor of an endorsement when asked in a recent survey,” said Executive Director Charles Massie, “and the number one reason stated was community economic development.”

The measure asks voters to approve a $31 million general obligation bond levy on the May 21, 2013 ballot. The bond levy is a 20-year capital improvement levy that will equate to a tax rate of approximately 53 cents per $1,000 of assessed value.  Proceeds will be used for the construction of a new Henley Elementary School, repairs and renovation on other KCSD schools including critical repairs on roofs, windows and heating systems.

The Chamber board recognized that any tax measure is likely to meet with a mixed reaction from voters, many of whom are concerned with the state of the economy in our region, as well as impacts to senior citizens and family farmers.  But, the fact that this bond measure is restricted to construction and renovation projects means all the revenue from the bond will generate business activity in the Basin, with the economic impact likely to be multiplied as contractors and vendors carry out the work of improving our school facilities.

Additionally, well-maintained schools are essential to upholding the image and livability of all our communities, which in turn sustains a robust business environment and healthy market for housing and property sales.

Stan Gilbert, Chamber President, said, “Schools and education are a number one priority for community economic health, growth and vitality.  It is one of the first questions people ask when inquiring about the community and one of the first places they visit when considering a move to Klamath County.  We need to support local solutions to this issue.”

The Klamath County Chamber of Commerce has served Klamath County since 1905. It is a member-based association made up of businesses and individuals who work together to advance the civic, economic, industrial, professional, and cultural life of Klamath County and the City of Klamath Falls, through advocacy and broad communication connections.  Membership is available to businesses, organizations (including non-profits) and individuals. If you are interested in learning more about the Chamber, call (541) 884-5193 or visit the website www.klamath.org.

Before closing, we’d like to thank the Klamath County Chamber of Commerce for supporting Klamath County schools.  By investing in our schools, we’re investing in our future, and it’s wonderful to see the business community voicing their support for this investment.  And if you’d like to add your voice or support, please see how you can help.

Filed Under: Endorsements, Supporters

Herald and News Supports Klamath County School Bond

February 10, 2013 By

In case you  missed it, here’s the Herald and News’ February 10th, 2013 endorsement of the Klamath County School District’s bond measure 18-91:

School bond issue built with care and no fluff

County district needs to upgrade its facilities

Good schools pay off in many ways.

They are often the core of a community and its neighborhoods — not just for education but for community events.

Good schools, which obviously include more than good buildings, also should be viewed as an economic incentive to attract business and professional people to Klamath Falls. Want doctors? Good schools can be a big part of what it takes to attract them.

The Klamath County School District has a $31 million bond issue on the May 21 ballot that speaks to all of those points, especially the welfare of the students and the educational atmosphere in the schools.

The district is playing catch-up with much-needed renovations and repairs, focusing on improvements that will last at least 20 years — the life of the bonds. A tax levy of 53 cents per $1,000 in assessed value would be used to retire the bonds. That comes out to $53 a year for someone who owns property with an assessed value of $100,000.

The “neighborhoods” involved in the widespread school district include small communities such as Gilchrist, Bonanza, Bly, Chiloquin, Keno, Merrill and Malin. The county district, however, also serves some of the urban area’s most heavily populated neighborhoods with three large elementary schools, a junior high and two high schools in the suburbs and close-in rural area.

All of the schools would get needed help from the bond issue’s projects, which range from completely replacing one school, Henley Elementary, to large-scale upgrades in fire alarm systems and lighting — obviously important to the safety of students and staff.

Henley Elementary School is served by portable units brought in after the building was closed in 2006 because of an asbestos problem discovered when other repairs were being made to the roof.

Replacement of the school was part of a $74.9 million bond issue defeated in 2006 for the school district. It’s been 40 years since the school district had a bond issue approved, and bond issues are usually the way that tax districts, such as school districts, pay for big capital projects.

Henley Elementary is the biggest single project in the package — $19.4 million. Some of the other major projects include Chiloquin Junior-Senior High School, $2.36 million; Ferguson Elementary School, $1.56 million; Peterson Elementary School, $1.6 million; and Stearns Elementary School, $1.45 million.

There are repairs and upgrades for every school in the district.

The care taken to develop the capital program was impressive. As Ray Holliday, the spokesman for the group, said in a meeting with the Herald and news editorial board: No salaries, no books, no other staff, no athletics, no fluff is in the proposal. It’s strictly a capital improvement program to last for years. An oversight committee, including members of the public, would be established to see that money is properly spent.

The school district carries no bonded debt and ranks as the lowest in bonded debt among Oregon counties, a position that will change little even if the bonds are approved.

It looks to us like the district and its supporters have done a proper job and the proposal deserves voter support. We hope that open houses at the various schools will be included in the runup to the election because the buildings themselves are probably the best selling point.

It’s tough to ask people during a recession to raise taxes. We understand that. But we think taking good care of schools can be part of the answer.

A map of the district is available at the school district’s website, kcsd.k12.or.us, on the left side of the opening page. The county district surrounds the Klamath Falls City School District, which is a separate district and isn’t involved in the

Editorial board

    The H&N View represents the opinion of the Herald and News Editorial Board.  Its members  are Publisher Heidi Wright, Editor Gerry O’Brien and Forum Editor Pat Bushey.

    Community advisers to the editorial board are Jeff Ball, Chip Massie and Sara Marcus.

    Pat Bushey wrote today’s editorial.

Filed Under: 18-91, Ballot Measure, Endorsements