WUSD discusses Measure I funds, other business
Willits Unified School District ( WUSD) held its monthly meeting via Zoom on Nov. 18. Reopening plans were not discussed in detail as Mendocino County recently went back into the Purple Tier, which does not allow for classroom-based instruction.
WUSD Superintendent Mark Westerburg said, “Measure I passed, which I am really pleased about.” Board members also expressed gratitude for the passage of the measure. Westerburg suggested the district only draw $25 per $100,000 assessed property value for each taxpayer on the first draw, rather than $ 40 per $ 100,000 assessed value that the measure allows for, given the economic state of the county. He said, “I think the $25 would generate enough revenue to let us get started and do some of the main projects we need to get done without necessarily hitting the taxpayers as hard as we could.”
WUSD board president Alex Bowlds agreed on the $25 draw, given that the COVID pandemic is causing financial hardships for some residents. The lower draw amount would generate $2.8 million for the school district, $400,000 of which will go to the charter schools. Some of the first things the district will do with the funds is to repave the parking lot at Willits High School to prevent getting dropped from their insurance, fix the roof at Blosser Lane Elementary School, and repair the heating and cooling system inside the main building at the high school. A decision about the amount of bonds to sell will be made at the next board meeting in December.
Director of Fiscal Services Nikki Agenbroad said that enrollment is down at WUSD. Board Member Jeanne King stated that it is important to keep an eye on where these children are going. Agenbroad stated analysis had recently been done on that issue and reported that quite a bit have moved out of the area and some have transferred to other local schools.
Tessa Ford provided the WTA comments and urged WUSD staff to continue wearing masks. She said, “We need to do this together
as a community, it’s only going to work if we all do it.” Dawn Mccelland took a report of certificated employees and reported kindergarten and first grade teachers want permission to meet two on two and go back to an a.m./p.m. schedule as soon as it is safer to do so. She said, “I hope we can put the focus on those grade levels, to help those kids first.” For second grade
and up, the majority want to continue with distance learning, but Special Education teachers would like to meet with more children in pods.
Westerburg said that Jan. 24 is probably the target date for reopening, depending on which tier the county is in at that time. He said planning and talking about classroom-based instruction is a good idea
so the schools are prepared. The district is waiting for air purifiers that have been ordered to arrive.
Westerburg said they have been trying to hire custodians, however have not received any applications at this time.
Bowlds said the board has received a lot of letters about reopening. Westerburg reminded community members that when they write a letter to the school board, it is public information that can be viewed by the public if requested.
California State Employee Association representative Dan Green expressed gratitude to the United States Forest Service for using the high school during the August Complex Fire.
He said, “They were great tenants and they didn’t seem to leave any kind of mess.”
There was a discussion of declaring surplus the plot property adjacent to Blosser, which would allow the district to sell the parcel further down the road if they chose to do so. All members approved aside from Paula Nunez.
Parent Volunteer Jenny Nelson was appointed to Mendocino County Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA) Community Advisory Committee. Westerburg said, “I know she will do a great job.” King echoed a similar sentiment and said, “Jenny is wonderful…she is such an asset to the school district, to children and to parents also because she is a good communicator, I appreciate her greatly.”