CSD Newsroom
The Latest from Camas School District
Board Highlights (just the facts)
Local Levy Certification & Future Bond – Superintendent Jeff Snell recently convened an Election Cycle Committee made up of past levy and bond election chairs and community leaders for feedback about two important topics: 1) local levy rate and 2) timing for a future bond. Jeff indicated he sought to understand what they perceive to be a reasonable levy rate with specific consideration around the changes the State made to tax collections as well as when they feel we should consider a future bond.
During public comment, some of the election committee members shared about the process and thoughts about the two topics. There was support for raising the levy rate from $1.50 per thousand of assessed value to $2.15 per thousand for the 2020 collection year. Comments included the promises we, as a district, make when asking for local support and how we’ve built a strong track record and level of trust with our community over the years. In February 2017, voters approved a local levy at a projected $3.06 per thousand tax rate. Since that approval, the McCleary decision changed the way we fund public schools which impacted school tax rates. The State School Tax rate in 2017 was $1.98 per thousand. Combining our local levy with the State School Tax rate resulted in a school tax rate of $5.04 per thousand ($3.06 + $1.98 = $5.04). For 2020, the State School tax rate is set at $2.89 per thousand. Setting a local levy tax rate at $2.15 aligns with the combined school tax rate that was shared with voters ($2.15 + $2.89 = $5.04). A more detailed look at school tax rates including a possible $2.15 rate can be found on our Budgets and Reports page. Based on current projections, the group anticipates we would not need to examine the need for a bond until 2022 or 2023. More details about the Election Cycle Committee’s work can be found at October 28, 2019, Election Cycle Committee Report.
Mill Town Pride Awards
Shaunak Desphane
We recognized Prune Hill fourth-grade student Shaunak Desphane who won 1st place in the 2018 Washington State School Bus Poster Contest. Shaunak is the first Camas winner to represent Washington State at nationals where he won 2nd place. The Washington Association for Pupil Transportation Board was so impressed, they hired him to design the cover of their 43rd annual conference and trade show program!
Pictured: Camas School Board President Doug Quinn, Shaunak Desphane, Superintendent Jeff Snell.
Tracey Malone
Leadership Clark County named our own School Board member Tracey Malone its 2019 Outstanding Alumnus. She was recognized at the organization’s leadership awards event on October 23 for going “above and beyond to serve in the community.” Congrats to Tracey!
Pictured: Camas School Board President Doug Quinn, Tracey Malone, Superintendent Jeff Snell.
You may have seen in the recent media that our own special education teacher Amy Campbell was named the Washington State Teacher of the Year. Amy's life mission is to change the way society views people with special needs and change the way people with special needs see themselves. She believes our schools should be models for inclusion where everyone can participate in learning together and experience diversity as an asset.
Pictured: Camas School Board President Doug Quinn, Amy Campbell, Superintendent Jeff Snell, and ESD 112 Deputy Superintendent Mike Nerland.
dis-ABILITY Awareness
Literacy Update
Career and Technical Education
Citizens Advisory Committee
Lynne Caldwell
Serena Donnelly
Rocky Fresh
Vijay Ilavarasan
Michelle Jackson
Kristen Kestel
Natalie Koprowski
Amy Linder
Sara Lyons
Parker Mach
Prem Manjooran
Maricel Mastrud
Donald Meeks
Kristen Mitchell
Carmen Moore
Kate Reng
Shawn Tay
Sheila Wallace
Facilities
The Board approved two lease agreements for the building we still affectionately call UL–at some point we’ll need to name the building, right? They also approved the final acceptance of the JWR roofing project and the Skyridge carpet project.
Would you like to see more? Agendas, supporting documents, and minutes are always posted here.
Hayes Freedom Heads to ABC Craft Championships
Fox Hosts Virtual All-School Author Visit
Lincoln Elwell: Pure Awesomeness
As part of a new student recognition program, the Camas School District Cabinet recently presented its Certificate of Awesomeness to Lincoln Elwell, a Helen Baller fifth-grader. Here are just a few of the things that make Lincoln truly awesome:
- Lincoln is a role model for younger students by modeling appropriate behaviors and modeling the Baller Big Three, which is being responsible, respectful, and safe. He has a positive attitude and is always willing to help out in any way possible.
- Lincoln is good at “scanning” the scene and identifying where assistance might be needed. Whether it’s helping take in signs from dismissal, holding doors, carrying items, or lending support to the “littles,” if he is there, you can bet that he is helping in some manner… and he never has to be asked.
- He is also very humble and makes little of his contribution to the Baller community. When you ask him about it, he says that he thinks everyone should just be doing their part. He also says that helping others makes him feel good.
Thank you for being a star in the Camas School District, Lincoln!
Contact Us
Email: communications@camas.wednet.edu
Website: camas.wednet.edu
Location: 841 Northeast 22nd Avenue, Camas, WA, USA
Phone: 360-335-3000
Facebook: facebook.com/CamasSchools
Twitter: @CamasSchools
Daylight Savings Time Ends
Early Release for K-5 Conferences
To make way for parent-teacher conferences, all elementary schools will release early November 4-8. School ends at 12:10 PM (Lacamas Lake Elem. = 12:25 PM) See the full school-year calendar here.