Centralia City Grade School Superintendent Craig Clark says a large rise in assessed value in the district will likely lead to a Truth in Taxation Hearing at their next meeting.
Pending review by the Finance Committee, Clark is proposing a $400,000 increase in the levy over this year’s property tax collections which would be a 10.25-percent increase.
“The EAV went up so much that even by dropping the tax rate for the tax payers it’s still going to have a significant increase in the extension itself. With that increase to the extension the actual rate people will see on their tax bill is dropping relative to the past few years.”
Clark says they have not seen such a large increase in value of property in the district in the years he has been superintendent. He believes it is mostly being driven by a dramatic increase in the sales of homes being experienced throughout the area and nation.
The Centralia Grade School Board also moved forward on three projects recommended by Lunsford Architects. One project at the William Walker Education Center used by the Alternative Learning School will repair a badly deteriorated fenced in parking lot at the rear of the school.
“Going to take half the asphalt out. Bring in new top soil and get rid of all the old stuff under the asphalt and seed it with grass. And the other half, which was in pretty decent shape, will resurface and fix any cracks to make it look new again.”
Clark says the $31,380 project could be completed yet this year if the weather remains warm enough for the asphalt plant to remain in operation.
A $255,623 project was approved for a new 70 by 100 foot playground at Schiller School that will be located between the present school and the new multi-purpose room addition.
The third project is replacement of the Centralia Junior High School Roof and Mansard, including Tiger Gym at a cost of $735,000. Clark says the skylights that have been a problem with leaking during rain will be removed as part of the project.
Clark reported teachers worked hard and were successful in reaching 100-percent of the parents at Schiller and Jordan for parent/teacher conferences and 99-percent of those at Central and 92-percent at Centralia Junior High School.
The board acted on a number of personnel issues.
The Board approved the dismissals of the following:
- Marcus Burke, Bus Monitor
- Ron Staten, Bus Monitor
- Jodi Smith, Custodian
The Board approved the following hires:
- Tiffany Hudson as classroom paraprofessional at Central Middle School.
- Evalynne Snyder as individual paraprofessional at Central Middle School.
- Shelby Goodson as individual paraprofessional at Schiller School.
- John Osborne as individual paraprofessional at Jordan School.
- Rita Poore as 8th grade girls track coach.
- Kenya Stacey as 7th grade girls track coach.
- Jessica Hughes as 7th grade girls volleyball coach.
- Lisa Faught as Bus Monitor.
- Teresa Myers as Bus Monitor.
