Washougal, WA — Dr. Mary Templeton, Washougal School District (WSD) Superintendent, was recently selected a 2018-19 “Superintendent to Watch” by the National Schools Public Relations Association.  She will be recognized this summer at the 2019 NSPRA Seminar in Washington D.C. with the 14 other honorees from around the nation.

The award recognizes district leaders with less than five years of experience as a superintendent who exemplify dynamic, fast-paced leadership with strong communication at its core.  Templeton was hired in Washougal in July of 2018 and is a first-time superintendent. She previously worked as a teacher for 15 years and an administrator in Spokane for the last 11.

“Communication is critical for letting our stakeholders know about the great things that are happening in our schools,” said Templeton. “It is exciting to help Washougal rise to become one of the top performers in the state of Washington.”

“I couldn’t be more pleased with the transformational leadership, community engagement, and relationship building Mary is engaged in,” said Cory Chase, WSD Board President, in a letter of recommendation sent in support of Templeton’s nomination.  “She has demonstrated dynamic leadership, fast-paced decision making, and shown the value of strong communications in the district’s efforts. I’m proud of our district and am certain that Mary is on the right track to help us achieve great things.”

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In his letter he went on to site examples of Templeton’s efforts including her connections with civic groups, parents and staff, her work to lead development of a new strategic plan, and her communications efforts during and at the conclusion of bargaining with the local teacher union.

“As one of several new superintendents in the region this year, Mary quickly became a highly respected leader among her peers,” said Tim Merlino, Superintendent Educational Service District 112 in his letter of
recommendation. “Her knowledge and passion for education, coupled with a dynamic energy and warmth, has made her one of the ‘go-to’ superintendents in Southwest Washington.”

He went on to point out that Templeton’s style of “leading through listening” is a quality greatly admired by the more than 400 WSD employees she guides.

“Mary effectively utilizes all communication strategies, both new technologies and traditional vehicles, to reach her audiences,” he said. “While her involvement in big-picture state-level education issues is admirable, she also takes time to visit one-on-one with a variety of stakeholders. She has made it her number one priority to get to know staff, parents and community members through conversations and in informal settings. She is always present in schools, hallways, classrooms, and athletic and performing arts events.”

“Our future is bright in Washougal,” said Templeton.  “And with a continued focus on communication, we will make sure the community is involved with us as we exceed our own expectations and aspire toward excellence.”

CAMAS, WA — A 19-year-old Vancouver man died in a motorcycle accident on Friday night, according to Camas police.

The Camas police and Camas-Washougal Fire Department responded to the 700 block of NW Lake Road shortly after 7:30 p.m., and the victim was found dead at the scene. There were no other vehicles involved in the crash, which is under investigation.

Speed appears to be a factor in the motorcycle accident, police said, and the name of the man is being withheld until family has been notified.

Northwest Lake Rd. between Lacamas Lane and Lacamas Drive was closed due to the investigation.

This story will be updated as more information is released.

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Welcome to our Shopper’s Guide! For the cover, we feature a Barrel-Art Bottle Holder from The Artful Attic.

Display your favorite bottle or the next one to open for your guest. Made from wine barrel hoops and reclaimed wood. Available in natural, dark walnut or red mahogany stain. Base Approx: L12″ x W 5″. $52.

The Artful Attic Boutique has an abundance of local artwork, home décor, custom laser engravings, candles, skincare, greeting cards and so much more to help you find the perfect gift.

Visit www.ArtfulAtticBoutique.com or stop at their showroom at:

217 NE 3rd Avenue, Camas, WA 98607

Phone: 360-210-4947.

ARKTANA SHOES — FACEBOOK LIVE STYLING EVENT!

Guide
Bueno Sandals!

Arktana is having a Facebook Live Styling Event on March 26, 2019 from 8 pm – 9:30 pm. The team at Arktana will be Introducing their new clothing line and want to show you all the ways you can mix and match each piece! They will be pairing each outfit with their fantastic shoes.

Visit www.Arktana.com or stop by at:

415 NE 4th Ave
Camas, WA 98607
info@arktana.com

(360) 210-4077

LILY ATELIER — SPRING ARRIVALS

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Jacket by Anorak. $124.

Try on this fantastic jacket by Anorak, and see all of their new Spring arrivals! Lily has been serving customers in Downtown Camas for more than 15 years.

Visit today at 237 NE 4th Avenue, Camas, WA 98607. 360-834-9215,

ATTIC GALLERY

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“Kitchen Thief”by Terri Axness.

Attic Gallery is having a 20% off sale during their remodel. Go see the beauty of “Kitchen Thief” by Terri Axness, and many other wonderful, original pieces of art.

Visit today at 421 NE Cedar Street, Camas, WA 98607. Phone: 360-833-9747, or visit online at www.atticgallery.com

CAMAS GALLERY

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Camas artwork by Tim Johnson.

Marquita Call, of Camas Gallery, welcomes you to see the work by Tim Johnson, and so many local artists. Johnson specializes in artwork depicting local Camas scenes, and gives profits from his artwork to charity.

Located at 408 NW 4th Avenue, Camas, WA 98607.

Phone: 360-817-2415.

Washougal, WA – The Two Rivers Heritage Museum reopened their doors March 1 to welcome visitors after their annual four-month closure for maintenance and display enhancements.  

“Winter is always a busy time for us,” said Camas-Washougal Historical Society President, Jim Cobb.  “Even though the museum is closed for guests, we have a lot cleaning, repairing and reorganizing to do to keep it looking good and our exhibits fresh.” 

In addition to new displays, a more modern security system was installed and additional space in the basement was organized for accessioning and curator work. 

One of the new exhibits is called “OH, Teddy!” and as might be expected, features Teddy bears. 

“While inventorying we found that we have lots and lots of dolls and Teddy bears,” said Karen Johnson, accessions volunteer and Oh Teddy curator. 

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Most of the collection came from the estate of Barbara Heriford, a local collector who had visions of opening a doll shop before she passed away.

“We decided it would be fun to replace the old toy exhibit and bring out these bears that had been packed away for so many years,” said Johnson. “All we had was a list, so we went to work locating them all.  It was a matter of pawing through boxes to find what we had.  It was actually pretty fun. You’d open a box and say, ’Oh, look what I found!’ Each box you opened it was like ‘oh look, oh look, oh look!’  The bears are all so different and cute.”

The process then took more than a month to decide which bears to display and figure out how best to show them. “We have so many bears we could not just line them up in a row,” said Johnson.  “I did research online to see how other Teddy bear exhibits were set up. I saw an exhibit from Japan which is the inspiration for the tight packed bears in the glass case we have now.” 

Since the bears were mostly from a collection, there was not a lot of story behind each of them.  So, Johnson decided to tell the story of the how stuffed toy bears became known as Teddy Bears.

“It is quite an interesting story,” Johnson teased. “It all started with a bear hunting trip President Theodore Roosevelt took in 1902. That is all I’ll say.  I’d like to invite visitors to come in to learn the rest!”

To help explain the Teddy bear story, Sunni Lambert, a 4th grade student at Cape Horn-Skye Elementary, was recorded telling its history so it could be played back for guests at a push of a button.  “Sunni did a great job and her recorded sweet voice telling this story helps to bring the exhibit to life,” Johnson said.

Another new display “Toys That Teach,” is a thoughtful and fun look at toys through the past that educated through play.  “It is an interesting display and we think it will engage conversation,” Johnson said. Retired contractor and teacher, Walt Eby, curated the exhibit.

Museum
Teddy Bears!

“Window to Our Past” is also new this year. Curated and created by Ivar Godtilbsen, the museum’s new computer network and support administrator features old pictures and QR codes. “It’s a new way of engaging our visitors,” explained Johnson.  “They can use their smart phones with a QR code App to learn intriguing stories behind some interesting pictures from our photo collection.”

The Two Rivers Heritage Museum is located at 1 Durgan Street in Washougal and open March through October.  Regular hours are Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.  Admission costs are $5 for adults, $4 for seniors, $2 for students and free for children under 5 and all CWHS members.  Group tours are available any day of the week (by appointment only).  Call 360-835-8742 for scheduling. 

Once again, to celebrate spring break, students may visit the museum for free April 4-6.  They must be accompanied by an adult.

CWHS representatives will be at the April First Friday, on April 5, in downtown Camas in the lobby of Journey Church.  They will have interesting local artifacts and information about the work progressing on the Gathering Place at Washuxwal project. 

“Our community has so much to be proud of in this museum,” Cobb said.  “We hope local folks who have not had a chance to see the museum will stop in and look around at all we have to offer.”

CWHS is always looking for volunteers and new members to join and help support the preservation of local history. More information about the CWHS and the Two Rivers Heritage Museum can be found on their website at www.2rhm.com.

Washougal, WA — The 11th Annual Dream Big “Stuff The Scholarship” event is coming up this Saturday, March 23 from 5:30 pm-10 pm at The Black Pearl Columbia River.

The annual event raises scholarship funds for Camas and Washougal High School seniors, and is organized by the Camas Washougal Business Alliance, which also coordinates Stuff The Bus.

“Our goal is to make as much money as possible, and we’re hoping to net $20,000 on Saturday,” said Tabitha Shaffer, one of the event’s organizers. “We give 100 percent of net proceeds to raise scholarship money.”

Audiences will be treated to a buffet dinner, drinks, and spirits, and will be entertained by Ambient Aerial performances by members of Halycon Shows. Kyle Eakins will serve as Emcee.

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“They do aerial acrobatic performances in a 30-minute show,” said Shaffer. “The audience will love it!”

The funds raised will go directly to Camas and Washougal seniors who should apply at www.cwbusinessalliance.com

“We encourage the seniors to apply, and to know the scholarship awards aren’t based solely off grades,” said Shaffer. “There isn’t a minimum GPA, but we’re looking for kids who are committed to community service. We want to see people give back to the community.”

It’s not too late to get your tickets. You can purchase them online at www.cwbusinessalliance.com

WASHOUGAL, WA — The Washougal Schools Foundation announces the winner of the event logo contest for the 16th Annual Student Stride for Education fun run. The winning artwork, featuring a smiling, round faced Stride Cat, was created by Dakota Duncan, a sixth-grader at Jemtegaard Middle School.  There were 23 entries from Washougal middle schools including JMS, Canyon Creek and Mt. Pleasant.

“Washougal Schools Foundation Student Stride for Education presents a unique opportunity for students to shine and not just on the race course,” said Stephanie Eakins, Event Director. “Long before the actual Stride event, our art contest runs from October to December and is open to all Washougal middle school students. Each year student creativity shines through in their art submissions. Each year brings new ideas and possibilities.”

This year’s cat was selected for its uniqueness that designers recognized would translate well to promotional materials. The Stride logo will also be featured on race t-shirts and promotional materials distributed throughout the community.

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The 16th annual Student Stride for Education will take place on Saturday, May 18th at Washougal High School’s Fishback Stadium. Race day registration opens at 7:15 am with the 5K Run starting at 8:00 am. Participants can register individually or as teams online atwww.washougalschoolsfoundation.org/stride or www.discoverydentistry.com

The WSF Stride has become a popular community event filled with healthy exercise, including an adult 5K run/walk and elementary school runs for each class from kindergarten through fifth grade. The event is the primary fundraising activity for the Washougal Schools Foundation, which is dedicated to enhancing the quality of public education and improving the lives of children in Washougal. The Foundation uses the proceeds of the WSF Stride for classroom grants and college scholarships.

About the Washougal Schools Foundation

The Washougal Schools Foundation seeks to enhance the quality of public education, helping to prepare students to constructively participate in the improvement of the community. The foundation offers Creative Classroom Grants in the Fall and Spring for projects up to $1,000 to teachers, staff, students, or community members. Mini-grants are offered throughout the year as well, each providing up to $250 to teachers for materials and programs. The foundation also awards Scholarships to select seniors graduating from the District. To learn more about the foundation and its contribution to the community, visit washougalschoolsfoundation.org

Following on the two town halls they held earlier this month in Yacolt and La Center, the three members of the 18th District’s legislative team will hold another town hall at the Port of Camas-Washougal on Saturday, March 16.

It’ll be the sixth town hall meeting of 2019 for Sen. Ann RiversRep. Brandon Vick andRep. Larry Hoff.

The town hall time and location on the 16th is:

12:30-2 p.m. – Port of Camas-Washougal, 24 S A St, Washougal, WA 98671

Rivers, Vick and Hoff will provide an update on the 2019 session and then take questions from attendees.

Freshman Rep. Larry Hoff has been busy learning the ropes as one of the newest lawmakers, and his bill to create a short form death certificate in Washington state has been unanimously approved by the state House.

Substitute House Bill 1799 would allow state and local registrars to issue a short form death certificate that does not list a decedent’s Social Security number, the names of their parents, or information about the cause and manner of their death. Those who would be able to request a short form include:

  • Specified family members, guardians and representatives;
  • Funeral directors or establishments;
  • A title insurer or title insurance agent handling a transaction involving property in which the decedent held a right, title or interest; and
  • A person who demonstrates that the certified copy is necessary for a determination related to the death, or for the protection of a personal or property right related to the death.
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Contact Your Lawmakers

Residents seeking more information may contact any of the legislators’ offices:

Sen. Ann Rivers
Email: Ann.Rivers@leg.wa.gov | Phone: (360) 786-7634

Rep. Brandon Vick
Email: Brandon.Vick@leg.wa.gov | Phone: (360) 786-7850

Rep. Larry Hoff
Email: Larry.Hoff@leg.wa.gov | Phone: (360) 786-7812

The Hockinson School District (HSD) Board of Directors has selected Steve Marshall to be the district’s new superintendent.

Marshall was one of four candidates who visited HSD on March 4 for a series of interviews with teachers and classified staff, Hockinson High School students, principals, district office staff and the School Board. The finalists also participated in a community forum where they answered questions posed by attendees.

He currently serves as director of Educational Resources at Camas Public Schools.

“The Board is thrilled with the selection of Steve Marshall and thankful for the community’s and staff’s enthusiastic and significant participation in the interview process,” said Dave Olson, chairman of the Hockinson School Board.

The Board will work to formalize the details of the superintendent’s contract, which is expected to begin July 1, and hopes to approve it at its March 25 regular meeting.

Marshall served as Camas High School principal for nine years, finishing his service in 2017. He is very involved in the local community, serving on the Downtown Camas Association board, and working with the Camas-Washougal Rotary. He’s been a great champion of the community, and most recently engaged citizens to support Downtown Camas in their Small Business Revolution efforts.

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A bill sponsored by Rep. Larry Hoff to create a short form death certificate in Washington state has been unanimously approved by the state House.

Substitute House Bill 1799 would allow state and local registrars to issue a short form death certificate that does not list a decedent’s Social Security number, the names of their parents, or information about the cause and manner of their death. Those who would be able to request a short form include:

  • Specified family members, guardians and representatives;
  • Funeral directors or establishments;
  • A title insurer or title insurance agent handling a transaction involving property in which the decedent held a right, title or interest; and
  • A person who demonstrates that the certified copy is necessary for a determination related to the death, or for the protection of a personal or property right related to the death.
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According to Lifelock, nearly 800,000 decedents are intentionally targeted in the United States every year by identity thieves. Hoff says a short form death certificate would ensure sensitive personal information is kept out of the public domain, which would help thwart their efforts.

“Unfortunately, identity theft is a lucrative business,” said Hoff, R-Vancouver. “Cybercriminals have no hesitation whatsoever about stealing the personal information of decedents and profiting from it, so we have to fight back. This bill would help us do that by protecting decedents and their loved ones from being targeted. The creation of a short form is the right path forward for our state, and I was glad to see the bill receive unanimous support from my colleagues.”

Substitute House Bill 1799 now moves to the Senate for further consideration.

The lingering effects of the McCleary legislation and subsequent “fix” are leaving school districts across the state with massive budget deficits, and Camas is no exception.

Camas School District leaders have been very public for the past year that the new state funding model would have draconian budget effects, and CSD Superintendent Jeff Snell reports the district is officially grappling with an $8 million shortfall in the upcoming 2019-20 school year.

“An $8 million deficit is the reality,” said Snell. “Layoffs are coming. There has to be a reduction in force, there’s no way around it. We will send notices out on May 15 for certificated staff, and June 1 for classified staff. Sometimes you have to over-inform people that they may not have a job.”

Snell wishes this wasn’t the case, and regrets having to layoff valuable employees.

“This is just the model that we’re in because of the timing of the Legislature,” said Snell.

To deal with the upcoming shortfall, CSD is taking several actions now, which include tightening the belt, and organizing a community-based budget committee.

Tightening the belt measures:
• Reduced non-staff budgets (supplies) by 3%.
• One-year contracts for any new district employee hires.
• Cabinet raises start mid-year.

Critics say more needs to be done before laying off teachers and staff. The budget committee meets regularly to work out considerations which will be presented to Snell at the end of April. Snell will then review those considerations, and make recommendations to the School Board.

Camas School
Camas Superintendent, Jeff Snell, discusses legislative updates.

“They’ve been working hard and report to the School Board about progress,” said Snell.

“These seem like logical steps to take when facing tough budget decisions and are areas that do not impact student learning,” said Shelley Houle, president of the Camas Education Association (CEA).

CEA will be working closely with CSD during the layoff process.

“CEA works closely with management and follows a process that is set in our current bargaining agreement,” said Houle. “Ultimately CSD makes the final decisions, but CEA makes sure the process is followed.”

So, what is that process?

“There is a seniority factor found on page 39 of our contract,” said Houle. “The first step, though, is for the board to adopt a reduced educational program. Then there are steps to make sure that remaining positions will be filled by educators with the proper certifications, endorsements, and/or licenses. This section is quite detailed, but must be decided before looking at seniority. Then at the top is seniority in Washington State, followed by Camas School District, and then years in the profession. Following that is credits earned beyond BA or MA, flexibility of certification, and then lottery.”

During bargaining sessions last summer, lead CEA negotiator Mark Gardner dismissed talks of layoffs, claiming they were district scare tactics aimed at denying teachers the full promise of McCleary.

So, should CEA have settled for the 4 percent raises offered early in the negotiations? Is CSD misinterpreting the law?

“2019-20 was projected to be a dip year when levy changes were being felt the most and districts are planning on how to manage that,” said Houle. “McCleary significantly increased public education funding including money for compensation. The state was not doing its paramount duty. Legislation passed that greatly changed the structure of funding. I wouldn’t call it a misinterpretation. Districts must now restructure and reprioritize based on the new model.”

Camas School
CEA at their general membership meeting in August 2018.

If the new model ends up laying off teachers all over the state how is that helping things?

“I can’t make a hindsight decision on our negotiations,” said Houle. “We bargained on the current conditions for the increased funding that McCleary provided. The state had failed in its paramount duty which included compensation. With a new model comes a shift in how money is spent. We have a teacher shortage in our state and country. With increased compensation comes better recruitment and retainment. But first, budget decisions have to be made. We hate to see any reductions in staff because we value our colleagues and the important work they do every day for students.”

So, knowing the new model would result in layoffs, of which they were very transparent, why did CSD agree to last year’s CEA settlement?

“There were very strong political forces at play, financials in a new model, and we were still trying to understand the impact of the new model,” said Snell. “There was a massive infusion of cash and as those come out you try to come up with solutions that are going to work. And, we felt it was our job to get classes started on time. Teachers needed to be teaching.”

“These are the realities. When you look across the landscape, our raises were consistent with other districts. You have to have a workforce that’s competitive and is compensated fairly. We feel like we have a great staff, but we also have this big conundrum we’re trying to work through. Trying to be very thoughtful about the entire problem. We’re doing the best we can with what we’ve been given. Because the models change, either the Legislature has to do things differently, or we have to make major cuts.”

Camas School
Camas School Board at a recent meeting.

He said the process doesn’t just happen with one decision point.

“It’s an incredibly complex new funding model, and it took several months to really understand it,” said Snell. “I care about our schools and staff and I want the best for everyone there. I try to be as transparent as possible, and that’s why we started the budget committee. You walk this fine line of is that it’s so complex it’s really hard to explain.”

Senator Ann Rivers said the problem with the legislation is that it put all the money out in one lump sum.

“When we agreed to the bill it was meant to release the funds over time, in a more gradual way, but they changed it at the last minute, and all these billions went out at once,” said Rivers. “It was like dragging a doughnut through a fat farm! Everyone wanted a part of it, and suddenly the Washington Education Association (WEA) started talking about 25 percent raises — and it wasn’t true.”

Rivers said once the unions put that out about 25 percent raises, it galvanized their membership, and pushed them to issue strike threats.

“The WEA misled their teachers, the public, and some school districts felt like they were extorted — forced to give teachers raises they knew they couldn’t afford.”

Did Snell feel like he was extorted?

He said no.

“I have a role to try to find balance and see our workforce costs and compare them to what we need to offer,” he said.

And, Snell also discussed the complexities of budgets in this new funding model.

“Budgets in public schools are very challenging because you don’t know what the revenue is from the Legislature,” said Snell. “We can see right now there are all kinds of bills out there that can change things. There are changes but it’s within a similar structure. The challenge has led to confusion and different interpretations and you see negotiations that are really challenging. You have a Legislature that is still wrestling with this.”

Did the McCleary legislation unintentionally create more harm than good?

Eric Engebretson, president of the Washington Association of Educators (WAE) said the Washington Education Association (WEA) played a key role in pushing the Supreme Court decision and in lobbying for the legislation that is causing today’s havoc.

“The legislation had good intent, but it also has a mixed message,” said Engebretson. “It’s not as clear as we would have liked to have seen. It’s tied the districts hands in some ways, it’s tied the union’s hands in some ways … some think it’s pass-through money and others say they can do what they want so we hope that everything gets revisited soon …”

Snell said the teacher’s unions are about taking care of the teachers.

“If you have a union that’s responsible for wages for your group, then you need to change the model for more capacity,” said Snell. “The WEA forced the system to change the model. They created a crisis in the system that then prompts increased funding, that’s what the McCleary decision did, and so it disrupted this system and created a new system. I don’t know if WEA is worried about the system. They care about their teachers. The WEA is in charge right now. I understand there are forces at play with different interests.”

Snell calls it a conundrum.

“Raises caused this problem, but raises also retain amazing staff members,” said Snell. “Here we are. There’s a deficit. We’re trying to make good decisions. Good decisions are always challenging.”

Houle said, “The WEA’s mission is to strengthen public schools. And yes, the legislators need to continue fixing the law and decrease the havoc!”

Camas School
Camas High School 2018 Graduation ceremony.

Can this be resolved before layoffs happen?

Eighty-six percent of the CSD budget is personnel, and with the need to cut $8 million during the next school year, it’s likely dozens of teachers and staff will be laid off — if nothing changes.

“The legislature is listening. They talk about levy, about special education funding, and increasing that to help balance things,” said Snell. “The Governor’s budget has relief for us, but that’s just one component. What are the changes to the model for the 2019 year? We don’t know.”

Houle is spending today in Olympia.

“I am meeting with other WEA political action committee board members for a legislative update and for more training,” said Houle. “I was up there on Presidents’ Day lobbying and will be doing so again later this month. All in all, we want schools to remain a safe place for our students to learn. CEA will continue to lobby for increased special education funding, levy flexibility, and increased funding for safety (counselors, nurses, etc).”

With layoffs looming, was it right for the School Board to give Snell a 5 percent raise?

The school board approached Snell with a 5 percent raise offer, from December on.

“In my mind, it’s 3.1 percent because it started mid-year,” said Snell. “I have a $163,000 base salary. It’s an important job.”

What’s next?

Snell said the district leadership will be working closely with union leadership and talking to them about the process, and trying to be as transparent as possible knowing that it impacts the CSD fund balance. He said it’s essential to start to change the model, and that expenditures need to line up with income.

“What happens next is the committee develops considerations for me, and I will develop a budget and present it the school board,” said Snell. “This will happen at the end of April with the Legislature and we’ll then do our best guess to speculate what the Legislature will do, and then we’ll formally adopt it in August. Before all that, we have contractural obligations and we have notification dates for employees.”

“Non-personnel cuts includes supplies, travel, utilities, gas, buses, contracted services through special education,” said Snell. “There’s a lot there. We would probably look at a percent applied to those things. We need to realize savings to those costs. Look at extracurricular expenses, which are paid through levy and student fees. Do we hold those? In the short term, I don’t want to make decisions that remove programs. Our desire is to maintain programming. In year two or three if you see the revenue is not coming then you might have to reduce programming. Regarding buses, we try to keep on depreciation cycle because we get funds from the state.”