McKenzie Prepares For New School Year

FINN ROCK: As summer winds down, the McKenzie School District is looking ahead to the first day of classes. At its August 20 meeting, the board of directors highlighted everything from new weightlifting equipment and drainage fixes to strategies for boosting enrollment.

Registration numbers were reported to be slightly higher than last spring as fall athletics are already underway. High school football and cross country teams are now in training, it was noted, with the first volleyball game scheduled for August 27 and the first cross country meet set for September 4

Regular district-wide training programs were also on the district’s calendar., along with teacher and educational assistant training sessions at Lane Community College and the University of Oregon.

“We’re making sure our staff have the tools they need to start the year strong,” Superintendent Lane Tompkins said. “Partnerships with the university and the community college are a big part of that,” he added.

In other action, a resolution was unanimously approved to raise construction excise tax rates to $1.67 per square foot for residential projects (up four cents) and 84 cents per square foot for non-residential projects (up two cents).

Around the school campus, a weight-lifting cage has been added to the gym’s weight room, and a concrete pad has been prepared for a generator designed to keep coolers, freezers, kitchen equipment, and communications systems running in the event of an outage. Drainage issues in the science wing, it was noted, are also being addressed.

Board members devoted time to discussing four main goals: improving facilities, supporting fire recovery, understanding the community’s needs, and opportunities to grow enrollment for UpRiver Online The new program is a K-12 online charter school available to families throughout the state. Ideas included using student testimonials to highlight its benefits, opportunities for personalized learning plans, and making transportation options clearer to families living outside the McKenzie School District’s boundaries.