Revised capital facilities bond to be discussed at July 24 meeting
Lopez School Superintendent Bill Evans will be presenting a proposal at the regular July board meeting that the district place a revised capital facilities bond on the November 2014 ballot.
“We have listened carefully to the many people who have shared their feelings about the most recent, unsuccessful, capital projects bond election. The school has definite facility needs that must be addressed as soon as possible, for the safety, well-being, and educational growth of our students,” said Superintendent Evans. “ We have developed a proposal that responds to the messages we heard from the community about the last bond effort, including the need to significantly reduce the total cost of the bond.”
Those messages, Evans says, include strong support for the school, consensus that work needs to be done to keep the buildings up, agreement that safety and security issues have to be addressed, and that enhancement of academics is an important focus of the work. “It was clear,” says Evans, that the community views it important to extend the physical life of the school buildings in order to continue to have a great school. It was also clear that this must be accomplished at a significantly lower total cost.”
The proposal recommends that a bond be placed before the voters this November, so that work can be started in the summer of 2015. The proposal includes forming a design advisory committee, with broad representation of community and school, to advise school officials and their planners about bid designs for the proposed work. If approved by the board to be placed on the November ballot, there will be a broad communication effort, including public meetings, to share information about the bond measure.
The board will discuss the proposal at the School Board meeting, and an opportunity for public input will be provided. Attend the meeting on Thursday, July 24, at 6 p.m., to learn about, and provide input regarding the proposed capital bond project election. For further information contact Superintendent Evans at 468-2202, or bevans@lopez.k12.wa.us. “Better yet,” says Evans, “stop by and talk with him over a cup of coffee.”
School board to consider approval of budget
The Lopez Island School District Board of Directors will meet for their regular July School Board meeting on Thursday, July 24 at 5 p.m. in the school library. There will be two very important financial issues being considered by the board at that meeting – the annual general operating budget and a proposal from Superintendent Evans to the Board for a revised capital projects facilities bond. The start time is earlier than usual, as the regular board meeting will be preceded by a budget hearing, in which the public is invited to hear a presentation and provide comments regarding the proposed School Year 2014-15 annual budget.
The budget hearing, starting at 5 p.m,, will be an opportunity for public input into the budgets that will be presented to the board for consideration of adoption during the regular meeting that begins at 6 p.m. The annual general fund budget governs the spending of the majority of the district’s revenues for the year. The approximately $4 million general fund budget has been developed by the district administration and financial staff, with the assistance of a budget committee that included broad representation from staff, administration, and community.
The new finance team from North Central Educational Service District, with whom the Lopez School District has begun contracting for business manager and financial services, will be present at the meeting. You are invited to come and meet the folks who will be helping Lopez School with business manager and other finance matters.
You are invited to attend the School Board meeting on Thursday, July 24 at 5 p.m. in the school library, to hear more, and/or provide comments about the budget. For further information about this important financial matter, please contact Superintendent Evans at 468-2202, or bevans@lopez.k12.wa.us.
