SCHOOL BOARD POSTPONES CONSTRUCTION BOND VOTE

By Chris Cook - Forks Forum editor

A construction cost of over $300 per square foot is too high, Quillayute Valley School District Superintendent Diana Reaume told the district’s board at its Tuesday, Dec. 18 meeting.
Reaume suggested putting off a vote on what could be a $16.5 million addition to Forks High School until May, or possibly the general election in November.

“We know the instructional needs,” Reaume said, “the question is the cost.” She said bids at a considerably lower per square foot cost are expected to come in.

Voters who live within the boundaries of the Quillayute Valley School District would make the decision on whether to approve the bond measure, which would fund a good deal of the total cost.

A February election date was proposed at board meetings held in the past few months.
 Reaume said instructional needs are a top priority in the design, which would include plans for new classrooms and administrative offices.

An upgrade of Spartan Stadium and an artificial turf covering for the school’s football field would require additional funding.
“We know the number of classrooms, we just need to work on the configuration, and on what would be demolished,” Dave Dickson, QVSD board chairman said.

Reaume said that by the end of February the design and configuration of the school addition should be ready.
Board member Bill Rhode said the public needs to be clearly informed of the project once the design is settled.

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Additional QVSD news

• The November cash QVSD cash balance was $412,514, up from about $220,000 in November 2006.
• QVSD Superintendent Diana Reaume is schedule to speak before legislators on virtual learning. The local school district serves as home district for about 1,200 students enrolled in the online Insight Schools program in Washington. She said at the recent board meeting there are questions regarding the cost of educating virtual students versus students attending mortar and brick schools, whether the cost for a virtual student is lower.
• Board member Sharon Penn said the Quileute Tribal School is awarding store gift cards to students with straight A’s and B’s. She said the incentive is working.
• A bid is being sought from local contractors for repairs to the district’s bus barn located on Highway 101 on the north end of Forks. The cost is expected to be about $10,000.
• The Forks High School ASB is holding a blanket drive after the Christmas holidays, and held one prior, too. The Readiness to Learn program is providing blankets and jackets to those who need them, with demand up due to higher heating fuel costs.
• A presentation by Insight Schools is scheduled for the Jan. 22 school board meeting. Board member Bill Rhode asked for a breakdown by school district of where the students are located who are going to school online.