Textbook Fund Goals
Need for New Texts
Several changes in Oregon tax allocation over the past decade have caused huge fluctuations in K-12 education funding patterns, which have adversely affected the Siuslaw School District. As a direct result, the district has reduced many student services, course offerings and severely limited the acquisition of student textbooks. Currently many Siuslaw courses including Math and English have only a single set of 30 books for students to use while in class. These students do not have texts to take outside of class to complete class work, do homework, practice problems or to take home to prepare for exams.
Community Support
Recently, members of the Siuslaw School District 97J Board and others proposed Measure 20-108 (1), a five-year tax levy to raise approximately one million dollars annually in order replace the cut student services, course offerings and to purchase textbooks for Siuslaw students. Although 2,823 Florence area voters said they were willing to pay an average of $155 (2) more in property taxes for the next five years to ensure adequate funding for Siuslaw students' education, the Good Cents for Kids measure failed 48.5% to 51.5% in the May 2006 general election. >If the 2,823 Florence area voters1 willing to pay an average of $155 (3) in additional school taxes for the next five years would make a one-time donation of $150 (the average value of two text books), the total could fund all textbook acquisitions for the next five years. Florence Bridge plans to capitalize on the momentum of the Good Cents for Kids campaign by asking citizens to donate directly to the Textbook Fund.
Cost of Books
The average cost of a student text is $75 (4). Although the lower grade-level books are less expensive the mean is shifted up due to the higher number of more expensive subject texts for upperclassmen. Additionally student workbooks range from $2 - $26 and shipping rates vary from 5%- 10% depending on size of order. According to Mark Duquette, Harcourt book representative4, instructor materials and workbooks are often provided at no charge if so requested when an order is placed. There are approximately 110 students in each grade level. Example: to buy Algebra texts for 110 tenth grade students at $80 each ($8,800) plus 5% shipping ($440) would cost $9,240.
How Will Money Be Spent?
Any funds raised for textbooks will go directly to the purchase of textbooks. Money raised for textbooks will not be used to solicit more funds. The Florence Bridge will raise the money and ensure that it is only spent on textbooks. The decision of which textbook titles to buy is completely within the purview of the School District and no representative of Florence Bridge or Western Lane Community Foundation will interfere with the school district's decisions. Each school's Principal is responsible for ordering textbooks for his/her school. A site council makes recommendations and prioritizes textbook need. Gerald Hamilton the Siuslaw District Superintendent will divide the raised money between the district's schools as he sees fit. Textbooks are typically ordered from the Northwest Textbook Depository (NWTD) in June, for July payment and August delivery to Siuslaw schools. Oregon's Board of Education contracts texts for six years on a seven-year subject area rotation. For example, new editions of Science textbooks will not be available until 2010. The NWTD maintains textbook inventory in all subject areas, so if money is raised the students do not have to wait until 2010 to have a science book they can take home.
How Will Money Be Raised?
Florence Bridge volunteers: Rachel Pearson, ten year resident, active school volunteer; Caroline Estill, Florence Bridge founder, retired graphic artist; and Laura Smith, recently relocated MS Biologist, are spearheading a grassroots fundraising campaign to contact other Florence citizens who believe that children need textbooks to be successful students. We plan to pursue low and no-cost avenues of fundraising. Personal e-mail solicitations, speaking to area groups, posting flyers and, of course, advertising the Siuslaw Textbook Fund on the Florence Bridge web site, FlorenceBridge.com.
May 2006 Election Results
- (1) Lane County Elections Results - May 16, 2006
- Official election results from Lane County Web site June 2006
- Siuslaw School District 97J Measure 20-108 Vote Count Percentage
- Yes 2,823 48.51%
- No 2,997 51.49%
- (2) Measure 20-108 proposed a five-year tax of $0.85 on $1000 assessed taxable property value. Estimated average tax increase per household, per year $154.70.
- (3) Average price of a house in Florence is $182,193. Based on HomeGain 2006 updated data on average tax assessed value of the 2,802 housing units in Florence OR.
- (4) Siuslaw Textbook Representatives:
- Harcourt., Mark Duquette, 16505 NE 40th St, Vancouver, WA 98682, Tel: (503) 756-4494 , Fax: (360) 833-1664, mduquette@harcourt.com
- Macmillan-McGraw-Hill, Oregon and Alaska Representative: James "Rusty" Slay, 21675 SW Hedges, Tualatin, OR 97062, Tel: (503) 692-5011 Fax: (503) 691-5938, Email: rusty_slay@mcgraw-hill.com
Comments/Questions?
- TextBookFund@Gmail.com
- Laura Smith 991-639