Camas School Board passes resolution for 2010 replacement levy - 11/13/09
November 13, 2009


The Camas School District Board of Directors approved a resolution this week that will ask voters to consider a three-year replacement levy to help fund student programs and services that are not covered by state basic education dollars.

According to Ina Martin, the district's Business Services Director, the Maintenance and Operations Levy on the February 9, 2010 ballot will ask voters to approve the following amounts:

Years: To be collected** Estimated rate*
2011 $10.4 million $2.68
2012 $10.7 million $2.63
2013 $11 million $2.57

Expiring Levy
2010 $10.1 million $2.68

*Rate per $1,000 assessed property value
**Based on estimated district total assessed value

(Note: Property owners in Camas will pay $2.68 per $1,000 of assessed value in 2010, the last year of the expiring levy. This is the same rate estimated for the proposed replacement levy. Over the three-year cycle, rates are expected decrease slightly each year.)

"The good news is that the estimated levy rate will remain relatively the same as the current levy," said Martin. "We worked really hard to assure property owners don't experience significant increases in their tax commitment to schools," she added.

Martin said the estimated rates are based on a modest increase in the district's overall property values, combined with forecasted enrollment data. "We use the best possible information we have at the time to estimate levy rates – but our practice is to be very conservative in our estimations," she explained.

Maintenance and Operations levies fund many basic education costs, special education, transportation, textbooks, safety programs and variety of other programs that are not fully covered in the state's funding allocation. The district cannot collect more money than is approved by voters, regardless of economic fluctuations and other financial factors.

"Local funding is critical to the continued operation of our schools," said Camas Superintendent Mike Nerland. He noted that the upcoming levy request comes on the heels of $1.6 million in district cuts from this year's budget. "The levy money we are seeking will not protect against further state cuts, but will help us retain some of the programs and services that are essential to student success," he said.

A detailed informational sheet will soon be mailed to Camas homes and several levy presentations will be occurring through the next three months to provide facts about the upcoming levy.

Camas High School hosts Fourth Annual Indoor Kite Festival - 11/05/09
Students of Camas High School's chapter of Family Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA www.fcclainc.org) have been busy planning for the 4th Annual Camas Indoor Kite Festival. In addition to hosting the event in the CHS gym, members will also be selling tickets at the door and providing concessions for the event.

This festival is the student's major fundraiser for the year and allows them to attend the Statewide FCCLA leadership conference. This conference provides students the opportunity to experience and participate in a professional meeting, compete for and receive recognition for their efforts, and meet other like-minded students from across the state.

November is National Family month. This event is truly a wonderful way for the family to spend an afternoon or two enjoying healthy, artistic activity while avoiding the chilly and rainy November weather!

Kite flying is typically something one associates with the sun, lots of wind, and going to the beach. In this case, the American Kite Flyers Association sanctioned event is coming to the Portland Metro Area and the wind and the sun or rain is not a factor because this kite competition will be warm and dry inside the beautiful Camas High School Gymnasium, located about 15 minutes from the Portland/Vancouver area.

The first question that pops into most people's minds when they hear the phrase "indoor kite flying" is, "How do you fly a kite indoors? Do you use fans?" The response is an emphatic no. The kites that are used are so light that small amounts of arm and body movement on the part of the flyer is enough to send these marvels made of former NASA materials sailing with a grace and beauty that has left many a person wondering, "How can this be happening?" The kite's movements are set to music and the choreographed ballets are scored by a panel of judges who grade how well the flyer interprets the music, fly their kite or kites, and present showmanship.

Regional, National and International Champion kite flyers from Washington, Oregon and Canada will be there to participate in this American Kite Flyers and Northwest Sport Kite League sanctioned event. The results of the four separate competitions on Saturday and Sunday will count toward a regional championship which is key to qualifying for competition at the National level. On Saturday and Sunday, activities will include ballet competition, demonstration flying, hot tricks competition, kite making and the opportunity have a lesson and try your hand at flying yourself. See the website for a schedule of events: http://nwskl.org/camas.htm

FCCLA is the only national student leadership organization that focuses on the multiple roles of today's individual as family member, wage earner, and community leader. The organization's mission is to promote personal growth and leadership development through Family and Consumer Science Education. Members build skills for life through planning and completing projects using creative and critical thinking, interpersonal communication, practical knowledge, and vocational skills.

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