October 2015
These monthly messages are intended to keep key stakeholders informed about the happenings in Hermiston School District and to provide an opportunity to give the district timely feedback about its initiatives. If you have suggestions for other topics you believe should be addressed in a future Key Communicators message, please let us know!
With regards,
Dr. Fred Maiocco
Superintendent of Schools
Hermiston School District saw historic student growth when the doors opened this fall, up over 200 students from last year!
At its September 14 meeting, Deputy Superintendent Wade Smith informed the Board of Education that the district grew by 213 students, relative to the same date last year. District enrollment stands at 5,531 students, after no-shows were removed from the count.
Based on a recently-commissioned Portland State University Population Research Study, the district expected around 100 new students, in accordance with the study’s “mid-range” growth forecast. However, the district surpassed the study’s “high-growth” projections by one additional student. “The district currently utilizes 24 modular classrooms to accommodate recent student growth; this is four more than were being utilized prior to our last bond measure,” stated Smith. “If we continue at this pace, we will need a total of 81 portable classrooms in the next eight years, where over 1600 students will be housed. Although portables are appropriate for short-term enrollment surges, they are not efficient nor cost effective to address long-term community needs.”
As a result of this year’s record enrollment, the District has been forced to cap multiple classrooms across its five elementary schools and to shuttle students to other schools that can accommodate the new students. “It is getting extremely difficult as all of our campuses are at or near their maximum capacities,” noted Smith. “Without additional modular buildings next year, we will not have any classrooms to which we can shuttle students.”
Desert View Elementary School, which was designed for 427 students, now maintains a student population of over 600 students. Class sizes are increasing across all levels as additional students are shuttled into the few remaining open spaces left across the district’s eight campuses.
Smith urged the Board to thoroughly evaluate the recommendations from the Facility Master Planning Committee and to act swiftly in addressing multiple campus capacity concerns. Based on the PSU population study, over the next eight years the high school will grow to 2,000 students, almost twice the attendance it maintained when the last addition was completed thirteen years ago and the total district student population nearly 7,000 students.
The Facility Master Planning Committee’s report and analysis can be reviewed on the district’s website by clicking here.
In 2008, the community approved a $69.9 million bond to replace Armand Larive middle school, Sunset and West Park elementary schools. Since that time, the district has grown by over 600 students. In 2008, 20 modular classrooms were in use across the district; there are now 24. To review the outcomes of the 2008 school bond and provide long term capital planning recommendations for the district in light of present challenges, the Board supported the formation of a Citizens’ Review Committee.
The CRC will evaluate the infrastructure challenges facing Hermiston School District, including aging schools, high student enrollment growth, safety and security risks, and the district’s current tax burden. Building upon prior work by the District’s Facility Master Planning Committee, including its Comprehensive Facility Master Plan, the committee will review the outcomes of the 2008 school bond and provide long term capital planning recommendations for the district. The CRC’s final recommendation to the Board is expected on or before April 4, 2016.
In a presentation to the School Board, Deputy Superintendent Wade Smith noted the record enrollment growth, which results in class sizes that now exceed optimal student-to-teacher ratios in some locations. The strain placed on core infrastructure at the district’s older facilities is also noteworthy. Desert View Elementary School’s 600 students utilize common spaces, such as the gymnasium and library, which are undersized to appropriately serve the higher number of students.
Establishing the CRC is part two of a deliberate five phased approach to a potential capital construction bond tentatively planned for May, 2017.
- Phase 1. Technical Analysis. Oct. ’13 – June ’15: Facility Master Planning Committee Work-research, data, and analysis performed
- Phase 2. Focus Groups. Nov. ’15 – Mar. ’16: Citizens’ Review Committee/Staff & Consultant Involvement-CRC presents to Board in Mar. ’16, Develop school/stakeholder teams, Consultant procurement for technical assistance
- Phase 3. Initial community outreach. Mar. ’16 – Jun. ’16: Initial Community Outreach and Feedback-Community interactions, Phone and other survey mechanisms
- Phase 4. Community refinements. Jun. ’16 – Jan. ’17: Continued Community Outreach and Refinement-Additional input and feedback mechanisms, Credit rating analysis, Etc.
- Phase 5. Ballot question consideration. Jan.’17 – May ’17: Board Considers Bond for May ’17 Election-Board authorizes bond, Community engagement and information opportunities, May ’17 election
Energy Trust Award. The Columbia Basin Student Homebuilder Program was recently awarded the Energy Trust award for Fieldstone #1, the first home completed through the CBSHP. The plaque states “Energy Trust of Oregon is proud to honor the Columbia Basing Student Homebuilder Program for the completion of its first EPSTM qualified home. The 2015 home is 25 percent more energy efficient than a standard newly built home.” Energy efficiency was a focus in the construction of Fieldstone #1. Products such as enhanced insulation, premium efficient windows, conditioned space sealed ductwork, and state-of-the-art heating/cooling systems were installed in the home, as well as energy efficient lights and high-end energy conscientious appliances.
Hermiston School District is also proud to share that it was named a 2015 Top Workplace by The Oregonian Media Group, one of just one hundred companies and organizations in Oregon and Southwest Washington. The designation is based solely on surveys about the district as completed by HSD employees.
In the spring of 2015, district staff members completed a brief survey about the district and school in which they work, with questions focused on organizational health. Results show that district employees believe in the direction the district is going and that the district operates by strong values and ethics. Employees feel connected, stating that they are part of something meaningful and feel genuinely appreciated and well-informed of decisions.
“I couldn’t be more proud of our employees,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Fred Maiocco. “The greatest strength of our organization is its people!”
Workplace Dynamics originated the Top Workplaces identification in 2006, based on the simple belief that “The most successful companies are the ones that employees believe in.”
According to its website, Workplace Dynamics states, “The response has been overwhelming, 5 years on, over 4,000 organizations now participate in the program each year. We partner with 30 of the most prestigious publications in the country. And over a million people complete our employee survey each year to tell us about their company.”
For the information on the award, you can visit Top Workplaces web site, or for the entire Oregon and Southwest Washington list, click here.