Camas-Washougal, WA – Join volunteers and service club members in a fun and rewarding annual park beautification at Parker’s Landing Historical Park (west of Westlie Ford, Washougal), at the Camas-Washougal Port Marina.
The Annual Park Beautification Days take place this year on Tuesday, April 18 and Tuesday, May 16. It officially runs from 3 pm to 5 pm, however, anyone who needs to come before or afterwards is welcome. Enjoy the camaraderie and the “before” and “after” satisfaction of caring for this park gem – a national, state, and country registered historic site. And help prepare the park to look its best for the second annual Parkersville Day on Saturday, June 3 from 12 pm to 3 pm.
“We are asking volunteers to bring their own gardening tools, brooms, power washers, rags and water buckets,” said Susan Tripp, a Parkersville National Historic Site Advisory Committee Member. “The committee organizes and participates in these events. Bring your expertise in roses and other plant pruning and fertilization. The park depends on volunteers to clean out the winter stages and cut back the rapid spring growth and spouting weeds.”
Jeff Carlson, the newest member of the Parkersville National Historic Site Advisory Committee (PAC) to the Port, will contribute his expertise by power washing the aggregate Kiosk and Rose Arbor flooring and park benches, then sealing them. Last year, PAC Member Jeff Buchholz added a shelf to the volunteers’ garden shed, while others helped clear and clean it in preparation for summer watering.
The Lions Club weeded the rose arbor, brought rakes and brooms along with shears and muscle power. They pulled out bulb plants that had multiplied from one planter to covering part of the walking path. The Soroptimists replaced dead winter plants with new spring color in the Silo Planter and power washed its brick border. Other volunteers beautified planters, cleared out old vegetation, cut back overgrowth, and removed new weeds.
Since the park’s dedication on June 1, 1986, volunteers have been active partners in park preservation and beautification. With summers warming up over the last seven years, the historical park as an archeological site relies on volunteers, service clubs, and scouts to deep water the heritage trees, roses, and more in the main section of the park that is not irrigated.
“You’ll enjoy the outdoor camaraderie and the before and after feeling of accomplishment for just a couple of hours of handywork,” said Port Commissioner Cassi Marshall who has participated along with Port Executive Director, David Ripp. Commissioner Marshall is an active member of the PAC.
https://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/27151926/Annual-April-and-May-Park-Beautification-Commissioner-Cassi-Marshall-e1679955613203.jpg424960Ernest Geigenmillerhttps://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/07074147/lacamas_white_2-300x300.pngErnest Geigenmiller2023-03-27 15:29:022023-03-27 15:29:12Help Spruce Up Parker’s Landing Historical Park in April, May
Washougal, WA — Three generations of the Van Vleet family lived at Parkersville, a township established in 1854 by David C. Parker along the shores of the Columbia River and now a national, state and county registered historic site.
The second annual Parkersville Day June 3, 2023, from 12 pm to 3 pm at Parker’s Landing Historical Park, at the Port of Camas-Washougal will celebrate the rich history of the site and families such as the Van Fleet’s who helped shape the communities of Camas and Washougal.
In 1855, Lewis Van Vleet, Sr. traveled the treacherous Oregon Trail from Missouri and took up a residence on a donation land claim in Fern Prairie three miles north of Camas. A dairy farmer, he later brought milk to Parker’s Landing where it traveled by steamship to Portland. On January 16, 1877, the editor of The Independent wrote in a column title Parkersville, “Parkersville is situated on the Columbia River, about sixteen miles from Vancouver. We have at present two steamboats running opposites – the Gazelle and Caliope. They make two trips per week — Tuesdays and Wednesdays.”
In 1858, when Parker died, Lewis Van Vleet, Sr. accepted part of the Parkersville property for his services as the estate administrator. Lewis Van Vleet, Sr. and lived there briefly. Parker’s widow, Ann, retained ownership and lived on the west side of the 581.97-acre donation land claim with her married daughter Mrs. Eliza Wiley.
Louisa, “Lutie”, daughter of Lewis and Ann Van Vleet, became one of the first woman doctors in the Camas and Washougal area, and in Washington State to hold both a medical degree and a license to practice. She treated settlers and indigenous people, covering miles riding side saddle or traveling by horse and buggy. Louisa married William Spicer, a pharmacist and had three children, Cecil, Lewis, and Edith, before the marriage ended.
In July 1880, Louisa purchased 10 acres in Parkersville from her parents that her son, Cecil, would eventually inherit. In 1901, she married James W. Wright, son of Washougal pioneers Emily Durgan and Stephen Wright, Sr. She continued her medical practice, served on the Camas School Board for 12 years, and reluctantly ran for mayor. Without campaigning she lost by one vote. In February 1904, she bought 35 acres in Parkersville and retired to a quiet and mostly deserted Parkersville.
Dr. Louisa Wright died instantly on May 30, 1913, from a horse kick to the chin while hooking up a buggy. Her funeral, held at her home, was well attended by many, some arriving by boat and others by Chinookan canoes.
On June 18, 1917, Cecil changed his name by petition from Spicer to Cecil Van Vleet in admiration of his mother and grandfather. On July 21, 1917, he married Elsie Virginia Moore. They were both teachers. Cecil and Elsie lived at Parker’s Landing during the 1920s. After Elsie died on January 2, 1950, Cecil met his second wife, Mary Roberts, while playing bridge. They lived at Parker’s Landing until he died on December 4, 1977. Cecil was the last of the three generations of Van Vleet families to live there.
The VanVleet home stood in Section B of today’s Parker’s Landing Historical Park until 1978 when it was burned to the ground by an arsonist. The following Monday, a Camas-Washougal Historical Society was formed and pledged a $1000 reward to anyone uncovering the culprit. The society was formed by promoters of the house becoming a museum. The house was thought to have been built in 1878 in Fern Prairie and moved to its waterfront site and had been added to the National Register of Historic Places.
The new historical society named interim officers and historical advisors designating a Monday night meeting at 7 pm in the home of Mrs. Bernice Pluchos to discuss bylaws. Membership in the society was $4 per year for individuals and $7 for a family.
Meet members of today’s Camas-Washougal Historical Society, Washougal’s Two Rivers Heritage Museum, Clark County Museum, and Parkersville Heritage Foundation at the second Annual Parkersville Day at Parker’s Landing Historical Park at the Camas-Washougal Port. Learn about our rich local history in a fun, free, educational experience for all ages, on Saturday, June 3, 2023, from 12 pm to 3 pm.
https://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/22100425/Parkers-Landing-drawing-scaled.jpg18932560Ernest Geigenmillerhttps://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/07074147/lacamas_white_2-300x300.pngErnest Geigenmiller2023-03-27 14:49:092023-03-27 14:49:19Local History: Three Generations of Van Vleet Family Lived at Parkersville
The Camas-Washougal Community Chest and its partners, the Camas-Washougal Rotary Foundation and the Camas Lions Foundation, are pleased to announce the award of 31 grants totaling $140,000 to non-profit organizations delivering services, exclusively, to children and families in Camas and Washougal. The Rotary commitment to Service above Self also adds volunteers to the mix as they work to make a difference for many families.
The grants will fund such diverse services as emergency food assistance, aid to families in crisis or needing emergency services, safe temporary shelter for at-risk youth, a Safe Stay overnight car park program at St. Anne’s Episcopal Church, a homeless family day center located at Saint Thomas Aquinas in Camas and water quality monitoring in the Lacamas Creek watershed.
New organizations receiving grants for the first time are offering services such as financial help to cover registration and transportation costs for members of the Camas robotics team, help purchase supplies and maintain equipment for local children attending preschool, help purchase supplies and uniforms for students attending local technical academy, help fund planting of pollinator habitat and beautification along SR14 near Washougal, help fund basic living expenses for individuals in need who are transitioning out of foster care and help fund emergency financial assistance to normally self-supporting people who are unable to work and pay all their bills during cancer treatments.
Some of the non-profit organizations being funded in 2023 include Inter-Faith Treasure House, Children Home Society’s East County Family Resource Center, Janus Youth Program, Pink Lemonade, Family Promise of Clark County and Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership. First-time grantees include Camas Robotics Booster Club, Camas – Washougal Parents Co-op Preschool, Cascadia Technical Academy.
Journey Theatre.
Foundation, East County Citizens’ Alliance, Komak and YWCA Clark County. For a complete listing of the grant awards see the grant summary below.
Thanks to CWRF, CLF and major donations from the GP Foundation, GP employees, Camas School District employees, City of Camas and Washougal employees, Port of Camas-Washougal employees, Windermere Foundation, and Watercare Industrial Services, CWCC is well on the way to funding these grants.
To reach its 2023 fundraising goal, however, the CWCC needs additional donations from individuals and businesses in Camas and Washougal. More information and donation forms can be found on the CWCC’s website at www.CamasWashougalCommunityChest.org
The CWCC, CWRF and CLF are registered 501 (c) (3) non-profit organizations for federal charitable tax deduction purposes.
2023 Grant Program Summary
Total number of grants awarded – 31 Total value of grants awarded – $140,000 Estimated number of individual services funded by grants – more than 30,500
Community Programs/Projects Funded in 2023
Boy Scouts of America – Cascade Pacific Council
Helps fund Campership Awards so that Camas and Washougal families in need can send their scouts to summer camp.
Camas Farmers Market
Helps fund “Produce Pals”, a weekly activities program to educate children about where and how food is produced. Kids completing weekly program receive a $2 token to spend at Camas Farmers Market for locally grown fruits and vegetables.
Camas Robotics Booster Club
Helps fund registration and transportation costs for students in financial need to participate in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) classes and activities. Will also help fund STEM education and outreach activities in the Camas and Washougal area.
Camas Washougal Parent Co-op Preschool
Helps fund operating budget, including buying classroom supplies and helps with maintaining and upkeeping the preschool in order to provide a safe place for the preschoolers to learn and play.
Cascadia Technical Academy Foundation (aka Clark County Vocational Skills Foundation)
Helps students to purchase required uniforms and supplies such as chef jacket for Culinary, scrubs for Applied Medical Science, tools and tool bag for Construction and textbooks. Also helps student’s family to meet emergency needs such as a gas card so parents can get to work, paying for a few nights lodging while temporary housing is found and buying food from CTA’s food pantry.
Let the cool furniture at One Stop Home Furnishings transform your home or office. https://onestophomefurnishings.com 2140 SE 8th Avenue, Camas, WA 98607. 360-834-1234.
Children’s Home Society – East County Family Resource Center
Helps fund operations at Resource Center. Helps fund parent education groups, youth support groups, emergency basic assistance, behavioral health services and health care services provided by ECFRC or by a partner agency.
East County Citizens’ Alliance
Helps fund a native pollinator habitat by planting native wildflowers in a state highway plot 200 feet long and twenty feet wide east of the Washougal River Road / SR – 14 roundabout. This is a first of its kind project in Washington and WSDOT is providing a landscape designer as a coordinator/ advisor.
Family Promise of Clark County
Helps fund an expansion of FPCares program that proactively assists families with services that will prevent them from losing their homes and entering the shelter system. Services may include rental assistance, payments for rent in arrears, security deposits, landlord mediation, locating housing and filling out applications.
Fort Vancouver Regional Library Foundation – Washougal Branch
Supports the Washougal Community Library’s summer reading program for kids and adults.
Friends and Foundation of the Camas Library
Helps fund several 100-year centennial projects including four special exhibit displays in the Second Story Gallery, six speaking engagements in a History Speaks! speaker series and the library will be collecting oral histories throughout the year and posting those stories to a hosted website.
Friends of the Columbia Gorge
Helps fund the Explore the Gorge classroom lessons and outdoor environmental education program for sixth graders in Jemtegaard and Canyon Creek Middle schools in Washougal School District.
General Federation of Women’s Clubs
Helps General Federation of Woman’s Clubs with purchasing books for all children in Pre-K programs in the Camas and Washougal School Districts. The program is aimed at all Pre-schoolers to grow their reading skills.
Impact CW – St. Matthew Lutheran Church
Helps buy food and grocery gift cards for families in need in the Camas and Washougal School Districts.
Inter-Faith Treasure House
Helps pay utilities (electricity, water, sewer, garbage and natural gas) so IFTH can continue to operate the east county food bank.
Janus Youth Programs
Provides funding for outreach efforts and overnight facility stays for Camas and Washougal runaway youth at risk for abuse and neglect. Re-introduces kids to safe housing. Provide case managers to help youth access community services to help them achieve stability.
Journey Theater Arts Group
Helps fund a portion of the Washburn Performing Arts Center rental fee to present the March production of Junie B. Jones, the Musical.
Kawanis Camp Wa-Ri-Ki
Helps fund their Outdoor Environmental Education Program by offering campers meaningful outdoor activities that support fun, healthy living, nurturing personal growth plus leadership and nature-based skills. Goals include better physical and mental health, increased self-esteem, respect and kindness for others, ability to lead, community participation and stewardship of natural resources.
Komak
Helps fund emergency financial assistance to normally self-supporting people who are unable to work and pay all their bills during cancer treatments.
Lacamas Watershed Council
Helps pay for volunteer training and buying water quality monitoring equipment and supplies. Water quality samples will be collected in the Lacamas watershed, including Lacamas, Round and Fallen Leaf lakes and Lacamas Creek.
Lifeline Connections
Helps fund youth activities, field trips and transportation costs to Camp Mariposa (they use Kiwanis Camp Wa-Ri-Ki’s facility) for children of families in need or suffering from substance abuse.
Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership
Provides classroom lessons and outdoor applied learning programs for youth, including habitat enhancement projects adjacent to Gibbons Creek in the Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge and Campen Creek in Mable Kerr Park.
Meals on Wheels People
Helps fund an expansion of the Medically Tailored Meals Program, an evidenced-based nutritional intervention tailored to clients needs. These meals include higher quality food and provide more diversity and variety of foods.
Pink Lemonade Project
Helps fund Pink Practicalities, a financial aid and assistance program. Covers costs that health insurance doesn’t, such as groceries, transportation services, lymphedema sleeves, lost wages, rent/mortgage payments, etc.
REACH Community Development
Helps buy groceries, baby essentials, cleaning supplies, hygiene products and similar basic household needs. Buys school supplies and holiday food baskets. Serves Gateway Gardens and Towne Square communities in Washougal.
ReFuel Washougal
Helps buy supplies such as sturdy clamshells, lidded bowls and heavy duty plastic forks and spoons to provide to-go meals during Friday meal nights. Also helps buy heavy duty raincoats for homeless or low income people in need.
St. Anne’s (Episcopal Church) Safe Stay Program
Helps fund a portion of St. Anne’s Safe Stay program including cleaning of the port-a-potty, use of outdoor electrical outlets, use of the Internet WiFi and use of showers, laundry and church kitchen.
TreeSong Nature Awareness and Retreat Center
Helps fund a ductless wall heater and the electrical wiring to complete its installation in the recently completed 30-foot yurt.
Unite! Washougal Community Coalition
Helps fund Sources of Strength Suicide Prevention Program at Washougal High School; Positive Community Norms Campaign “Love Your Life” in the Washougal Community; the Support Our Guiding Good Choices Parenting classes and the Support our Ambassador Youth Program.
Washougal School District – Principal’s Checkbook
Helps Washougal school principals provide for basic student needs to give low income or homeless students equal opportunities at school. Funds a portion of Adult Transition Program which trains students with disabilities for transition into appropriate work placement. Funds supplies such as shoes, clothes, hygiene products and food for Panther Den. Funds mobile laptop cart for families without access to technology and internet services. Funds Martin Luther King Jr. commemorative activities on all Washougal District school campuses.
West Columbia Gorge Humane Society
Helps fund the following programs and services designed to keep pets and people together during hardship, crisis or emergency: pet food pantry, temporary pet boarding, impound/owner surrender fee relief and veterinary assistance. Also funds a portion of the cost to supply ReFuel Washougal with pet food to distribute to the pets of homeless and low-income people using ReFuel’s other services.
YWCA Clark County
Helps fund a portion of the YWCA’s Independent Living Skills Program. The ILS program helps youth transition out of foster care to independent living by providing physical things such as clothes for job interviews, rental assistance, and furniture for new living spaces. The ILS program also provides education and training opportunities to help participants with their transition to independence.
Camas, WA — 100 never looked so good, and the Camas Library is in celebration mode.
On April 4, 2023, the Camas Library will officially turn 100 years old, and you can help this Camas gem celebrate all-day and into the evening.
On April 4, 1923, the Women’s Club of Camas formed what is now the Camas Public library and since that date, it’s been bringing joy to this community. Now, 100 years later the Camas Library is hosting a full day of events that will include goodies, treats and a scavenger hunt for kids.
In addition to the festivities, every 100th person to enter the library will receive a special prize in honor of the momentous occasion.
At 4 pm, swing music and dancing will kick-off the evening portion of the festivities, which will also include a free raffle at 6 pm.
According to Camas Library Director, Connie Urquhart, this is a great opportunity to invite the whole community to visit the Library.
“It’ll be a fun time, plus it’s a great chance to look back at history,” said Urquhart. “It also gives the community a chance to remember the good times, and to also think about what the future could hold!”
https://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/15101038/IMG_9788-scaled.jpeg14452560Ernest Geigenmillerhttps://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/07074147/lacamas_white_2-300x300.pngErnest Geigenmiller2023-03-15 10:40:382023-03-15 10:40:47Events: Help Celebrate Camas Library’s Official Birthday on April 4
Camas, WA — Camas Police are searching for a homeless man who tried to set up camp inside the Liberty Theatre Thursday night, according to Rand Thornsley, the venue’s owner.
Thornsley said the man, whom police identified as Victor (based on security camera footage), is a local homeless man, who found his way into the theatre after it closed for business Thursday night. He is alleged to have broken into Washougal Times restaurant earlier this week, as well.
“He was discovered on Friday afternoon when the opening manager, Avery, went into the theatre,” Thornsley said. “He was in the balcony area and the other manager, Jakob [Potter], was right behind her, and they had him detained but he got away. He appeared to have stayed the night in the theatre and kept the back door open so it wouldn’t lock. Jakob was the one who tried to detain him.”
Thornsley said the intruder looked like he planned to stay a while.
“We think he left the building after we closed, went and brought his stuff and brought it back into the theater,” said Thornsley. “There are closets upstairs in the balcony area and he moved his stuff up there. Avery and Jakob made the report, provided the security camera images to the police, and they came through and swept through the building and the basement. It looked like he planned to stay there a while. They thought they had the back door secured.”
Then the intruder returned.
“Friday night he returned and was able to get the back door open and then he broke into the office,” said Thornsley. “He got into the lock up where we keep our cash. He took cash and keys, so we had the whole building re-keyed and put reinforcements on the doors. Jakob is handling things really well. He spent the whole day getting the theatre revamped, and made sure nothing was bothered. We are back to business as usual.”
Thornsley said police are searching for him.
“Now that he has some cash I think he’ll get out of the area,” he said. “Thats’s my personal opinion. This is a bummer, but it’s fortunate he wasn’t destructive.”
Police are hoping the public can help them find the intruder. Call 311 during the day, and 911 at night.
https://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/12132902/unnamed-3-e1678653209725.jpg439725Ernest Geigenmillerhttps://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/07074147/lacamas_white_2-300x300.pngErnest Geigenmiller2023-03-12 13:44:402023-03-12 13:44:51Camas Police Search for Liberty Theatre Intruder, a Homeless Man
Washougal, WA — Citing low voter turnout on the February 14 special election, and with 100 positions at risk, the Washougal Board of Directors has proposed re-balloting two failed levies — the replacement EP&O, and Capital — for a special April 25 election.
Levies fill a 20 percent funding gap in the Washougal School District (WSD) budget.
The replacement Educational Programs and Operations (EPO) levy, or Proposition 10, failed 51%-48% (more “no” votes) while Proposition 11, the replacement capital facilities and technology levy, failed 51.5%-48.4% (more “no” votes).
For the second special election, the levies are known as Propositions 11 and 12.
“Schools would not look the same without levy funds,” said Superintendent Dr. Mary Templeton. “Without this levy funding, Washougal School District would be unable to fund school extracurriculars, athletics, performing arts, classroom teachers to maintain smaller class sizes, technology devices, and more.
“Levies pay the people on the ground at schools, teaching and supporting Washougal youth. The reality is that without levy funding, significant cuts would need to be made to school staffing, which is 85 percent of the budget. A list of cuts that would be needed in the event of a double levy failure was reviewed with the board at their February 28, 2023 meeting. The list is available on the district website, and includes 40 teaching positions, 44 classified staff positions, five administrative positions, and 155 coaches and club advisors.”
Templeton added that “levies are important to strong schools and a strong community.”
The Washougal School Board has scheduled listening tours to gather feedback from voters about the recent levy results, and has shared a survey with district parents, staff, and community members.
WSD said “reintroducing the measures on the April ballot provides opportunities for the district to correct misconceptions and misunderstandings of the proposed levies that have surfaced in conversations with voters and in the survey results.”
The cost to run a special election varies by the size of the jurisdiction, but according Washington state RCW 29A.04.410: “Every city, town, and district is liable for its proportionate share of the costs. Special election costs must be borne by the city, town, or district concerned.”
February 2020’s special election cost $44,000, as a reference point.
In their statement, WSD said The board has highlighted the need to clearly communicate that the levies are not new taxes, and plans talk directly about the impact on student programs should the levies fail again, and ensure voters understand value of the programs and staff supported directly by the levies.
“Our youth need opportunities to engage in positive after-school activities,” said Jim Cooper, WSD Board Member. “The local levy is the way school districts in Washington state fund the sports and clubs that engage kids .Can you imagine what the Washougal community would be like with 1,000 teenagers hanging out after school with nothing positive to do?”
WSD said these levies are not new taxes, but rather they replace the EP&O Levy and Tech Levy expiring at the end of 2023. Combined, the proposed EP&O and Capital levy rates are lower than school levy rates approved by Washougal voters in 2020. The EP&O levy is proposed at a rate of $1.99 per thousand of assessed valuation, which is lower than the previously approved $2.14 rate. The EP&O and Capital levies work in tandem to fund student programs, staffing, and keep schools in good repair.
Voters are invited to Listening Tours hosted by the Washougal School Board to gather feedback from voters about the recent levy results. At these events, citizens may sit and chat with a board member, ask questions, and share ideas about Washougal schools.
The public may also provide feedback to the school board via a survey. Listening tours are scheduled for March 16 & 28, and April 11 and 21. Time and location information is available on the Washougal School District website.
If the second levy fails, the school board would need to take action to determine next steps. Most reductions would occur after the end of the current school year. The impacts of these significant cuts would be visible starting in the 2023-24 school year.
https://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/07182914/FD4176F2-CF1C-4749-9240-50CBA2982512-1030x714-1.jpeg7141030Ernest Geigenmillerhttps://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/07074147/lacamas_white_2-300x300.pngErnest Geigenmiller2023-03-07 18:39:112023-03-07 19:02:58Washougal’s Failed Levies Head Back to Voters in April Special Elections
Camas, WA — In response to social media posts about local teachers, parents and supporters rallying to save Hayes Freedom School from the chopping block, Camas School District (CSD) Superintendent, Dr. John Anzalone, issued a clarifying statement Wednesday afternoon to parents.
The Camas Education Association (CEA), the local teacher’s union, rallied supporters beginning Tuesday night to meet at next Monday’s CSD School Board meeting to express their support of Hayes and the work they do there. They had received credible information that closing Hayes was part of a broader cost cutting measure to save the district $6 million.
“I was able to get more information and the proposal was to move Hayes and merge it with Discovery, not ‘close’ the program,” said Marci Zabel, CEA President. “While I understand that is good for business, that would not be good for the population of students served at Hayes Freedom HS. No decision has been made as of yet, it is an option they are considering. We will continue to push our members and community members to urge the CSD School Board to keep HFHS where it is and come up with another solution that does not have such a negative impact on students.”
In today’s statement, Anzalone said the following:
“We are aware of posts and comments on social media implying that Hayes Freedom High School will be closed due to impending budget cuts. This information is false, and I’d like to clarify our process and outline our budget development timeline.
“We mentioned in our communication on February 1, 2023, that our leadership team is examining ways to reduce our budget by a target of $6 million, representing 5% of our budget. One of many options under consideration is looking for ways to share staffing among our smaller, choice high schools: Camas Connect Academy, Discovery High School, and Hayes Freedom High School. I want our community to know that we will not eliminate any of our high schools during this arduous budget process, and Hayes Freedom High School will not be relocated.
“Our exploration and planning, which are still in development, will include reductions at the central office, building administration, classified staff, and certificated staff. In order to minimize impacts on students, we will first focus reductions on district office personnel and building administration.
“As we continue to examine possible areas for reductions, these principles will help guide decisions, including reducing staff positions and programs. Each principle is just one lens; we acknowledge that some may create tension when put up against others.
We will continue to use Seeing and Serving EACH Student as a guide and filter.
We will reduce or delay non-employee-related costs first.
For each reduction, we will consider the impact on students, particularly those with the highest needs.
Whenever possible, we will use attrition and consider not filling vacant positions.
We will look at our current initiatives and consider which are having the most impact on learning.
We will consider reductions that create closer alignment with the state’s prototypical school funding model.
We will focus on additional operational efficiencies and consider what the impacts would be.”
The following represents a general budget and staffing timeline, said Anzalone:
Late February to early March – Possible board resolution to reduce the budget by $6M. There would be no specificity regarding how the reductions are made. This is the formal first step in the budget reduction process.
Mid-March – First round of staffing cuts announced
End of March – Target date to notify all impacted staff
May 15 – Contractual deadline to notify impacted certificated staff
June 1 – Contractual deadline to notify impacted classified staff
This is the graphic used in social media posts to support Hayes Freedom.
https://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/22150939/Hayes-Freedom-High-School.jpg4001200Ernest Geigenmillerhttps://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/07074147/lacamas_white_2-300x300.pngErnest Geigenmiller2023-02-22 15:20:242023-02-22 15:20:34Camas School District: Hayes Freedom High School Not Closing
Camas, WA — The Readiness Group is officially opening its doors on Friday, February 17 with a major Grand Opening event and ribbon cutting from 5-9 pm.
The facility, which is located at 3316 NE 3rd Ave next door to Walgreens and Grocery Outlet, is a store that helps people prepare for emergency and disaster planning.
The store offers the following services:
Emergency preparedness and disaster planning.
Smokeless range training
Classroom for firearms
Taser training
Self defense classes
Laser training
Community classes on first aid and fire safety, trauma, surviving a car accident, how to pack a go bag.
Foraging class
The veteran-owned and operated business offers a variety of products, as well:
Ammunition
Cleaning supplies
Range supplies
Eye protection
Targets
Target stands
The Readiness Group also offers medical supplies, which include first aid, trauma kits, a la carte features with individual kits that are customized.
They will also sell gun holsters and conceal devices like purses, as well as firearms parts, apparel, body armor, carriers, range bags, sunglasses, watches, belts, etc.
“We are getting in with a lot of phenomenal product,” said co-owner Daniel Stanton. “We have a couple distributors that are new to the Pacific Northwest. We’re not trying to be a run of the mill store. It’s a high quality store. We have a custom holster manufacturer that makes holsters for us. We put a lot of thought in the knives and equipment we sell.”
The company is a partnership with multiple entities, with a division that offers defensive construction, such as safe rooms, home security camera systems, bars on windows, and landscaping to deter criminal activity.
“Criminals look for ease of access for the haul,” said Stanton. “Make your ease of access look difficult and ensure your appearance deters criminal activity. Keep an eye on your neighbors, which is part of security training.”
Their Gun Fighting Systems division offers consulting. Their training classes run at night: Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
And they plan to offer some self defense and weapons detection courses. It’s really the whole gambit of defense, preparedness and security.
Washougal, WA — According to the Clark County Elections Office, Washougal School District voters are rejecting the district’s two replacement levies that were placed on the February 14 special election ballot.
The latest results show WSD’s replacement educational programs and operations (EPO) levy, or Proposition 10, had received 2,433 “no” votes (52%) and 2,331 “yes” votes (47.8%), while Proposition 11, the WSD’s replacement capital facilities and technology levy, had received 2,322 “no” votes (51.7%) and 2,172 “yes” votes (48.2%).
ENHANCED PROGRAMS & OPERATIONS LEVY
Washougal voters were asked to consider a replacement Enhanced Programs and Operations Levy (EP&O) to fund services and operations not funded by the state or federal government.
These services include:
Instructional Support: Librarians, secretaries, para-educators, textbooks, curriculum, food service, AVID program, community programs including Spanish Speaking Family Nights, preschool, and the Drug Free Communities grant match
Student Learning & Staffing: Art & music, Advanced Placement, Highly Capable Program, professional development & training, substitute teachers, classified staff substitutes, special education teachers and support staff, English Language Learner support, teachers above state funded levels to keep class sizes lower.
Athletics & Activities: School athletics, coaches, advisors, performing arts programs, extra-curricular activities, transportation
Health & Safety: Security staff, counselors, nurses, Family Community Resource Coordinators
The EP&O Levy will be assessed at $1.99 per thousand of assessed value for tax years 2024, 2025, and 2026. The levy is projected to generate $9,500,000 in 2024, $10,500,000 in 2025, and $11,500,000 in 2026.
CAPITAL LEVY FOR TECHNOLOGY, HEALTH, AND SAFETY
According to WSD, the Technology Levy dollars pay for the district’s 1:1 initiative, up-to-date computers and devices, classroom instructional technology, professional development and coaching, technology infrastructure and staffing, and digital curriculum and software.
Starting in 2025, as bond collections decrease, the proposed Capital Levy would increase by a corresponding amount to fund some additional projects.
If approved, the Capital levy would be assessed at $0.21 per thousand of assessed value for tax year 2024, $0.84 per thousand in 2025, and $0.85 in tax year 2026. The levy would collect $950,000 in 2024, $3,950,000 in 2025, and $4,150,000 in tax year 2026.
The additional funds would be used to replace the roof at Washougal High School, improve security at our schools, improve ADA access for main entrances, update carpet and vinyl flooring in schools, and install more efficient heating systems and controls.
CAMAS, WA –- Following the interviews for the City of Camas Police Chief position, officials with the City of Camas announced Thursday that the search for the next Chief will continue for the time being.
City of Camas Mayor Steve Hogan said that the initial candidate pool was trimmed down to two finalists, however, he’s interested in finding candidates to better fit for Camas’ needs.
Mayor Hogan acknowledged that the finalists were both excellent candidates, each with unique strengths they could bring to the position. However, the decision was made to continue the search.
“While it’s unfortunate the position was not filled, it will be reopened as Camas continues to search for the City’s next Police Chief,” said Hogan.
In addition, current Camas Police Chief Mitch Lackey has agreed to push back his retirement date to provide support to the City while the process to hire his replacement continues.
City of Camas Communications Director Bryan Rachal acknowledged hiring for public sector positions is challenging.
“It’s difficult to hire for any position lately, but especially difficult to hire Police Officers,” he said. “There are numerous factors that play into that, including availability of positions and varying levels of pay. In addition to recruiting for the Chief, we’re also recruiting for Officers currently.”
Citing privacy measures, the city will will not release the names of the top finalists.
Rachal said the city is using The Bob Murray recruiting firm to help fill this position, which is a contract that costs Camas $18,500 plus expenses, not to exceed $25,000.
“As mentioned, since we were not successful this round, they are performing the next recruitment process at no additional cost to the City,” Rachal clarified. “We will NOT pay anything additional for the recruiting services.”
Background checks for both finalists cost about $6,000 for full investigations. Background checks are required at a certain level for Police Chief applicants and certain requirements must be met when doing them, which is why that cost is higher than a standard background check.
At this time, Hogan hasn’t made clear exactly why the candidates weren’t a good fit. All five candidates attended a public meet and greet last year at Camas Public Library.
https://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/09201507/IMG_2638-scaled-e1676002564170.jpeg9402560Ernest Geigenmillerhttps://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/07074147/lacamas_white_2-300x300.pngErnest Geigenmiller2023-02-09 20:22:102023-02-09 20:48:39Camas Police Chief Search: Finalists Not Good ‘Fit’ for City, Says Mayor
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