Sean C. Morgan
The Sweet Home School Board instructed Supt. Tom Yahraes Monday night, Feb. 11, to look into drilling wells and into whether the district has water rights to use Ames Creek to water its high school fields.
The district saw a 45-percent increase in the bulk water rate last year, driving an increase in projected annual water bills for the athletic field south of the high school from $31,000 to $45,000 and for the baseball field from about $10,500 to $15,000.
The city last year increased the bulk rate for water from $5.20 per 100 cubic feet, approximately 748 gallons, to $7.54 per 100 cubic feet.
The district had not received any notification about the rate increase until officials saw it in the bill, Yahraes said. This was at a time when the district had been discussing developing a soccer and football field below the Junior High for school and community use.
The district also has discussed developing and irrigating a softball complex at Foster School for community use, he said.
Business Manager Kevin Strong and Yahraes approached the city’s Administration, Property and Finance Committee in late February with a proposal. Members of the committee are City Councilors James Goble, Diane Gerson and Dave Trask.
The city falls short of national standards in park amenities, Yahraes told the School Board Monday evening during its regular meeting. District officials pitched an idea to develop park space on district property in exchange for cutting water charges to the district for irrigation.
The committee “unanimously rejected the proposal,” Yahraes said.
The councilors said during the meeting that they were open to continued discussions.
Yahraes said he’s heard a few comments about drilling wells or using Ames Creek to irrigate the fields. Staff did some initial exploration of the idea, but he wanted feedback from the School Board.
Greater Albany Public Schools has drilled wells for irrigation due to the high cost of water, he noted, and that proved to be a cost savings.
Additionally, Yahraes learned while talking with the district’s architect that wells can be useful as a water supply during emergencies.
“I think we have to explore if there’s any water rights on Ames Creek before we go any further,” said Jim Gourley, board member.
Board member Chanz Keeney asked what the rationale for the increase was. He said if his power bill went up 45 percent, he would like to know why.
“I would like to know from the city why they jacked our rates up,” Keeney said. The district invests in athletic fields, he said, and water rates “get jacked.”
“I’m definitely in favor getting some wells on our fields,” said Mike Reynolds, board member.
If the city has related infrastructure expenses underlying the rate increases, Chairman Jason Redick said, “we can help address it by becoming self-sustaining.”
The district cannot simply watch “rates go through the roof,” he said, especially as the district is preparing to talk about salaries with teachers.
Yahraes said he would look further into drilling wells or using Ames Creek.
Present at the meeting were Gourley, Keeney, Jason Van Eck, Reynolds, Redick, Angela Clegg, Debra Brown and Jenny Daniels. Toni Petersen was absent.
In other business, the board:
– Approved the 2019-20 school calendar.
For students, school begins Sept. 3. Christmas break begins Dec. 23 and ends Jan. 3. Spring break begins March 23 and ends March 27. High school graduation will be June 5. The school year will end on June 11. The district will continue to release students early on Wednesdays to provide professional development.
– Extended contracts for all teachers and administrators by a year with the exception of two temporary teachers. The board also extended its contract with Yahraes by a year, through 2022. Teachers and administrators have a three-year rolling contract that is reviewed and and may be renewed annually.
– Approved the resignation of Madelyn Suffridge, science teacher, Sweet Home High School; Tiffany Bolman, math teacher, Sweet Home Junior High; and Kelsey Harris, PE teacher, Sweet Home Junior High, effective June 30.
– Approved the resignation of Melissa Klumph, math teacher at Sweet Home High School. She said she was resigning for personal health reasons after working in the district for 16 years.
– Adopted new language arts curriculum, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Journeys, for kindergarten through sixth grade, The new curriculum and textbooks, will cost $197,012.
– The filing deadline to run for a seat on the School board is March 21. For more information, call the district office at (541) 367-7126.