The school boards of the Evergreen and Vancouver School Districts have been selected as 2009 'Boards of Distinction' by the Washington State School Directors' Association. The announcement was made at the association’s Annual Conference in Seattle this past Friday.
The two boards were among eight that were honored as 2009 WSSDA Boards of Distinction. The others are Issaquah, Pasco, Puyallup, South Kitsap, West Valley (Spokane) and White River.
The boards were selected under the association’s new Boards of Distinction Awards program. The program is the first official use of the new Washington School Board Standards adopted in June by the WSSDA Board of Directors.
Award applicants are required to submit an essay and supporting evidence to demonstrate how they are putting the new standards into practice. Applicants are asked to specifically address five of the eight standards:
Providing responsible school district governance
Setting and communicating high expectations for student learning, with clear goals and plans for meeting those expectations
Creating conditions district-wide for student and staff success
Holding the school district accountable for meeting student learning expectations, and
Engaging the local community and representing the values and expectations they hold for their schools.
Applications are evaluated by an independent review panel, and awards are given to those who receive at least 70 points out of a possible 100. Each of this year’s eight applicants received at least 80 points.
Members of the Evergreen School Board during the past year were Victoria Bradford, Joan Skelton, Troy Thomas, Holly Williams and Todd Yuzuriha. The superintendent is John Deeder.
Members of the Vancouver School Board during the past year were Edri Geiger, Mari Greves, Ed Rankin, Dale Rice, and Mark Stoker. The superintendent is Steven Webb.
Award-winning essays are made available to all school boards and districts in the state as an example of successful implementation of the new Washington School Board Standards. Essays are posted on the WSSDA Web site.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Notice of Value sent to Clark County property owners
Vancouver, WA – Notice of Value forms were sent to all property owners in Clark County on Nov. 19, 2009. These notices reflect the value of property as of Jan. 1, 2009, as required by law. Sales from 2008 were analyzed to determine values, and values on the notices will be the basis for 2010 property tax calculations.
Owners will see that most residential property values are reduced from prior levels, between 10 percent and 15 percent depending on sales in the surrounding area. Residential property values declined in 2008, although commercial property values remained stable.
Changes in the 2009 market will be analyzed Jan. 1, 2010, for assessments that will be the basis for 2011 taxes.
The notices are later than usual this year because Clark County moved to a new combined computer system for the Assessor and Treasurer’s offices. Property owners still have 60 days from the date on the notice to appeal property values to the Board of Equalization. For an appeal form, go to: http://www.clark.wa.gov/board-of-equalization/documents.html.
Owners will see that most residential property values are reduced from prior levels, between 10 percent and 15 percent depending on sales in the surrounding area. Residential property values declined in 2008, although commercial property values remained stable.
Changes in the 2009 market will be analyzed Jan. 1, 2010, for assessments that will be the basis for 2011 taxes.
The notices are later than usual this year because Clark County moved to a new combined computer system for the Assessor and Treasurer’s offices. Property owners still have 60 days from the date on the notice to appeal property values to the Board of Equalization. For an appeal form, go to: http://www.clark.wa.gov/board-of-equalization/documents.html.
Friday, November 13, 2009
County to consider deeper pay freeze to save $1.3 million in 2010
Vancouver, WA – The Board of Clark County Commissioners will consider freezing pay at 2008 levels for 286 management employees and at 2009 levels for 159 hourly workers not represented by labor organizations.
If the Board approves a proposed pay plan for 2010 at its regular meeting on Tuesday, the county would save about $1.3 million in salaries, wages and related benefits, such as employer contributions to Social Security, according to Human Resources Director Francine Reis.
She noted that management employees would face a second year without any pay increases, except for those promoted to higher level jobs. As a result, projected county payroll and related costs have already been reduced by roughly $2 million for 2009 and 2010.
“The county is facing extraordinary financial constraints and working hard to reduce spending plans to prevent a budget deficit of about $12.7 million,” Reis said. “The Board has asked administrators and managers to make every effort to minimize additional layoffs, which unfortunately leaves no room for pay increases.”
Clark County currently employs 1639 people. It has eliminated 207 positions since January 2009 through various personnel actions, including unfilled vacancies, layoffs, retirements and reorganizations.
To provide many public services, the county depends on sales tax collections tied to new construction and retail sales. Those sectors have been hard hit during the economic downturn. Property tax is another major source of revenue. However, it is capped by state law.
Most county programs are facing their third round of budget cuts since 2008. Some departments, such as Community Development and Public Health were cut harder and sooner, due to difficulties in the construction industry and with statewide funding for health programs.
If the Board approves a proposed pay plan for 2010 at its regular meeting on Tuesday, the county would save about $1.3 million in salaries, wages and related benefits, such as employer contributions to Social Security, according to Human Resources Director Francine Reis.
She noted that management employees would face a second year without any pay increases, except for those promoted to higher level jobs. As a result, projected county payroll and related costs have already been reduced by roughly $2 million for 2009 and 2010.
“The county is facing extraordinary financial constraints and working hard to reduce spending plans to prevent a budget deficit of about $12.7 million,” Reis said. “The Board has asked administrators and managers to make every effort to minimize additional layoffs, which unfortunately leaves no room for pay increases.”
Clark County currently employs 1639 people. It has eliminated 207 positions since January 2009 through various personnel actions, including unfilled vacancies, layoffs, retirements and reorganizations.
To provide many public services, the county depends on sales tax collections tied to new construction and retail sales. Those sectors have been hard hit during the economic downturn. Property tax is another major source of revenue. However, it is capped by state law.
Most county programs are facing their third round of budget cuts since 2008. Some departments, such as Community Development and Public Health were cut harder and sooner, due to difficulties in the construction industry and with statewide funding for health programs.
H1N1 vaccine clinic to open evenings Nov. 4 - 6
Vancouver, WA -- Public Health will change hours of operation for its H1N1 vaccine clinic to accommodate working parents and prevent children from missing school. Clinic hours will remain 9 a.m. to noon on Tuesday, Nov. 3. On Wednesday, Nov. 4 through Friday, Nov. 6, the clinic will be open from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. There will be no morning hours. The clinic is located at 6100 E. Fourth Plain Blvd., Vancouver, Washington.
Because of the very small amounts of vaccine received to date in Southwest Washington, Public Health is administering vaccine to the following groups only:
§ Pregnant women because they are at high risk of complications from H1N1.
§ Healthcare workers because they can be a potential source of infection for vulnerable patients and also because increased absenteeism among healthcare professionals could reduce healthcare system capacity.
§ Children ages 6 months through age 19 in group settings, which increases the likelihood of disease spread.
§ Parents and caregivers of children younger than 6 months, so they don’t pass the virus to their infants.
As vaccine production increases over the coming weeks, health officials expect enough vaccine will eventually be available for everyone. For more information, visit www.FluNewsSWWashington.org or call 1-877-510-2772.
Because of the very small amounts of vaccine received to date in Southwest Washington, Public Health is administering vaccine to the following groups only:
§ Pregnant women because they are at high risk of complications from H1N1.
§ Healthcare workers because they can be a potential source of infection for vulnerable patients and also because increased absenteeism among healthcare professionals could reduce healthcare system capacity.
§ Children ages 6 months through age 19 in group settings, which increases the likelihood of disease spread.
§ Parents and caregivers of children younger than 6 months, so they don’t pass the virus to their infants.
As vaccine production increases over the coming weeks, health officials expect enough vaccine will eventually be available for everyone. For more information, visit www.FluNewsSWWashington.org or call 1-877-510-2772.
Gov. Gregoire orders flags flown at half-staff Thursday, Nov. 5
Flag lowering honors fallen soldier from Vancouver
OLYMPIA – Gov. Chris Gregoire has directed that flags at all Washington state agency buildings be lowered to half-staff Thursday, Nov. 5, in memory of U.S. Army Private First Class Christopher Walz of Vancouver. Walz was killed this week in Afghanistan when his military vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device.
Flags should remain at half-staff until close of business Thursday, or first thing Friday morning, Nov. 6.
Congress amended the U.S. Flag Code to give governors the authority to lower flags when a state resident in the military is killed in the line of duty. Other government entities, citizens and businesses are encouraged to join in this recognition.
OLYMPIA – Gov. Chris Gregoire has directed that flags at all Washington state agency buildings be lowered to half-staff Thursday, Nov. 5, in memory of U.S. Army Private First Class Christopher Walz of Vancouver. Walz was killed this week in Afghanistan when his military vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device.
Flags should remain at half-staff until close of business Thursday, or first thing Friday morning, Nov. 6.
Congress amended the U.S. Flag Code to give governors the authority to lower flags when a state resident in the military is killed in the line of duty. Other government entities, citizens and businesses are encouraged to join in this recognition.
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