CHIMACUM — The Chimacum School District should focus on a small number of significant goals, hold frequent meetings and create a Facebook page to support the district’s vision, members of the public recommended.
Their recommendations were made at a Wednesday night meeting of about 50 people with School Board members at the high school library, where the district treated attendees to a spaghetti meal.
They began in small groups and then expanded to larger discussions about the district’s direction.
The district is engaging the community to shape its future, said Superintendent Rick Thompson.
“Our purpose is to have a conversation with stakeholders and community members to find out what they want in the district,” Thompson said.
“We want to focus on the school district’s identity and academic programs and build community partnerships.”
The school district does not plan to immediately make an effort to pass a construction bond after a $29.1 million proposal failed to gain a 60 percent supermajority for the third time in April.
Levy proposal
Instead, the district is focusing on proposing a replacement maintenance and operations levy in February 2017.
The amount of that levy is yet to be determined, Thompson said.
The current maintenance and operations levy will expire at the end of 2017. It provides 20 percent of the district’s revenue, he said.
Before the measure goes before voters, district officials are seeking greater community input.
District officials are soliciting ideas from the community about changes members of the public would like see in the district, Thompson has said.
“We want to develop our volunteer program, continue to support career and career and technical education programs, and make the dialogue between the schools and community members who don’t have children in the district more meaningful,” Thompson said last week.
The results of Wednesday’s meeting will be analyzed further, with another meeting planned for the fall, Thompson said.
A levy is typically used to fund essential educational operations and maintenance of existing buildings, and fills in the gap where state funding falls short, Thompson said.
Board appointee
The school district also is seeking a new board member to replace Maggie Ejde, whose resignation will be effective Monday.
Ejde was appointed in 2014 to fill an unexpired term and was elected in November 2015 to a four-year term.
The new appointee’s term will extend to 2017, when an election will be held for the remainder of the term through 2019.
The application deadline is June 24.
Several applications have been received, Thompson said.
For more information, see www.csd49.org.
For an application, see http://tinyurl.com/PDN-Chimacumapplication.
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
