School Budget Approved, but not without reservations.
The budget for the coming school year has been set and there are few changes to the spending plan previous okayed by the budget committee. The vote for approval came Wednesday night by the Siuslaw School Board, however, it was not unanimous.
Jeff Davis – “There obviously, though, is concern about where we’re going to go as a district.”
Superintendent Jeff Davis said there was no discussion on the budget, simply a quick vote that was 7-to-two in favor of approval. Neither Paul Burns nor Board Chair Deena Mitchell commented on their votes during the meeting, but both had previously expressed concerns about an anticipated shortfall in future years. Partly to address those concerns, the board is working on scheduling a special meeting…
Jeff Davis – “In July to discuss the possibility of another local option levy.”
The current levy provides about 8-percent of the district’s operating revenue… just over a million dollars each year. Voters approved it three years ago and it’s set to run out at the end of next year.
Online Tickets Available
A new ‘box-office’ system is up and running at the Florence Events Center and manager Kevin Rhodes says it offers one more option for ticket buyers.
Kevin Rhodes – You can still buy tickets at the box office, you can still call in and get them on the phone, but you can get them on the website as well which makes it very convenient.”
The interactive system provides a comprehensive layout of the seating options, including views from each seat to give you an idea of what you can expect. Rhodes says the old system only provided for onsite or phone sales and after nearly a decade of use had become outdated. The new system didn’t require any up-front investment by the city, but it does add 65-cents to the cost of each ticket sold.
Read for the Need Results
Once again the efforts of a 14-year old Florence boy and a lot of his friends and family members will translate into feeding hungry people in Western Lane County. The Read for the Need Book Sale, June 1st and 2nd, raised nearly $8-thousand says 14-year old Taylor Graham. Graham organized the first book sale when he was seven years old and since then the nearly annual sales have raised more than $68-thousand. This year’s proceeds go to Florence Food Share. The emergency food box pantry provides assistance for between 500 and 600 area families each month.
Boys and Girls Club Art
A series of art camps aimed at area teens is set to begin soon. They’re coordinated by the Boys and Girls Club Teen Center, and offer a variety of different artistic outlets for youth between the ages of 11 and 18. Camps will offer a variety of different media including mono-print, ceramic, textiles and even the Japanese paper art of Origami. There’s a small fee in addition to club membership required. Information on dates, times and costs can be had at the Boys and Girls Club website, or by calling the center at 902-0304.