First Student, Transportation Services Contractor for Fern Ridge School District, is experiencing a severe bus driver shortage. Some bus routes are being combined, which is causing late pickup and drop off times. First Student is actively working to recruit, hire, and train more bus drivers. Some new bus drivers are scheduled to be on board within the next couple of weeks. We would like to thank you for your understanding during this time and we hope to have all bus routes running smoothly very soon.
The Fern Ridge School District is pleased to announce the successful sale of $26.67 million in general obligation bonds, as approved by voters in May 2014. The sale was well-received by investors and thanks to favorable interest rates, total interest costs for the sale were almost $2 million lower than preliminary estimates, which allowed the debt repayment period to be shortened by three years without increasing the tax rate property owners currently pay. For more information, click here.
This is to inform you that the Fern Ridge School District Achievement Compact Committee will be meeting on Monday, September 15, 2014 at 4:00 p.m. at the District Administration Office, 88834 Territorial Road, Elmira, OR. For more information please contact 541-935-2253 Ext. 203.
All school offices will be closed on Monday, August 25, 2014 to allow for staff members to attend in-service activities. Offices will be open regular hours on Tuesday, August 26, 2014. Thank you.
With the future needs of our students as primary motivation and concern, Fern Ridge School District has purchased a small piece of property which lies between Elmira Elementary School and Elmira High School. Acquisition of this property follows the Capital Improvement Plan developed by the Fern Ridge School District Long Range Facility Planning Committee and DLR Group.
According to the plan, The Fern Ridge School District was to complete ten steps; one of which was to “Acquire strategic properties adjacent to Elmira ES and Veneta ES for future expansion and flexibility.” In part, the plan stated: Acquire strategic properties adjacent to Elmira ES and Veneta ES for future expansion and flexibility: The first phase of this plan does not require the acquisition of neighboring properties, but solutions toward future phases and potential growth that include neighboring properties would provide the District with greater flexibility. The Committee recommends land banking these properties if they become available at a cost within the prevailing market and within the constraints of the available budget.
This property could potentially be used for upgrading water systems, adding athletic fields, providing better access to and from the schools, or providing room for expansion of educational facilities.
The property is 10.79 acres and the purchase price was $335,000. The future sale of several other district properties will provide most of the revenue for this purchase. The transaction closed on Augsut 13, 2014. We are thrilled to be able to acquire this property for our students. – Dr. Sally J. Storm, Superintendent
Greetings! I hope everyone is enjoying a safe and fun summer with family. I have been here since July 1 and everyone has been very helpful and inviting! We are working this summer to spiff up the district for our returning students, staff and parents. Come by and see how things are looking! Sally J. Storm, Ph.D., Superintendent
The School Board is seeking community volunteers to serve on the Citizens Oversight Committee (COC). Committee members will be engaged during the design and construction phases of multiple aspects of the bond projects and make reports and recommendations to the Board. For more information, click here. Applications will be accepted until 2:00 PM on Monday, June 30, 2014.
A public meeting of the Fern Ridge School District will be held on Monday, June 2nd, 2014, at 6:30 pm at the District Administration Office, 88834 Territorial Rd, Elmira, OR. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2014 as approved by the Fern Ridge School District Budget Committee. A summary of the budget is available here. A copy of the budget may be inspected or obtained at the District Administration Office between the hours of 8:00 am and 4:00 pm, or online at www.fernridge.k12.or.us/budget.
First thing this morning is to give a heartfelt thanks to the Fern Ridge community for their vote of confidence in the election yesterday. While the election results are yet to be validated, your trust in the School District is appreciated and now the work to further earn that trust begins. One of the first tasks is to appoint an Oversight Committee to ensure that the projects are completed just as planned.
Again, thanks for your vote and we look forward to the improvements this will bring for the students of our community. – Dennis Friedrich, Superintendent
Regardless of the outcome of tomorrow’s Bond election, this District owes a debt of gratitude to a host of individuals; a list that is too long to itemize. From the PAC Committee, to those who wrote informational memos, letters and flyers, or just picked up a phone to inform someone of the details of the Facilities Plan and Bond, you are what makes this District great and we cannot thank you enough. – Dennis Friedrich, Ed.D., Superintendent