BG enrollment dips, class sizes climb
Enrollment in the Battle Ground School District is lower at the start of the new school year than last school year, according to data provided by school district officials.
Data shows total full-time equivalent (FTE) enrollment this October as 12,165, compared to 12,236 in October 2005, a drop of about 70 students. District enrollment stood at 12,048 at the close of the 2005-06 school year.
Officials reported total head count in all grades and schools as 12,982 as of October 2006, compared to 13,028 in October 2005.
Enrollment decline was most pronounced at Prairie High School where 71 fewer students enrolled this fall than last fall. Battle Ground High School noted a 19-student drop between the two school years.
The decline in enrollment helped moderate an expected rise in class sizes as the district reduced its teaching staff after voters turned down its proposed operating levy.
District public information officer Kelly O’Brien said the district now has 461 classroom teachers compared to 482 this time last year, a drop of 21 teachers. In addition, another 29 teaching positions were eliminated following levy failure, including music teachers, remedial teachers, media specialists, and special education teachers, said O’Brien. In all, 50 teaching posts were eliminated in levy-failure funding cuts.
The enrollment dip and reduction in the number of teachers has resulted in a decline in the number of students per class at the primary level, but an increase in class size at the middle school level.
In the district’s six primary schools, the number of classroom teachers now stands at 178.5, compared to 169.5 at the beginning of the last school year, an increase of about 9 teachers. O’Brien said more teachers are funded by the state at the primary level than at the middle and high school levels.
Primary enrollment rose about 42 students at primary schools between last year and this year, resulting in a reduction of class size of .5 students per class at Chief Umtuch to 2.7 students per class at Pleasant Valley.
At the district’s five middle schools, classes increased by about 3.5 students. Classes edged up somewhat (by .1 student per class) at Glenwood Primary School.
Last fall, the five middle schools had a total of 3,102 students in the September count, compared to 3,090 this fall. At the same time, classroom staff declined from 117.5 to 102.8, resulting in increases in class size.
The class size increase was most noticeable at Maple Grove Middle School where classes are about 5.1 students larger than last fall.
Classes at Pleasant Valley and Amboy middle schools are up about 3.7 students per class over last year.
O’Brien said the largest classes in the district have gotten larger.
Whereas Amboy Middle School had a class of 30 students last year, it now has a class of 35.
The largest class at Maple Grove Middle School is now 38 students, up from 31, said O’Brien.
Battle Ground High School now has a class of 37 students, and Prairie High has a class of 38. Lewisville and Pleasant Valley middle schools now have classes of 34 students.
For the current year, Battle Ground has accepted 293 students who applied for incoming boundary exceptions, compared to 358 who entered on exceptions last year.
Much of the difference in boundary exception students occurred at Prairie High School, said O’Brien. Whereas Prairie had 241 students enrolled on boundary exceptions last year, the school has just 171 this year.
More students left the district this year on boundary exceptions. O’Brien said 540 students opted out of Battle Ground schools this fall compared to 404 a year ago.
Battle Ground had based its 2006-2007 budget on a forecasted enrollment of 12,346.6 FTE students. The 181 student shortfall equates to a budget shortage of about $835,000. O’Brien said district officials are working to address the budget shortage.
For the 2005-06 school year, the district had based its budget on 12,033 students, but actually enrolled 12,234.
“We took two major losses--failure of the levy and decreased enrollment,” said district superintendent Shonny Bria of this fall’s budget and enrollment situation. “This presents a serious challenge as we work to maintain the successes in our district.”
Battle Ground currently uses 128 portable classrooms. The district started the 2005-06 school year with 108 portable classrooms in use, and added some during the year.
Hockinson classes increase
Classes in the Hockinson School District are also larger than last school year.
Hockinson superintendent Delcine Mesa-Johnson noted an increase in kindergarten class size from about 16 students per class last year to 18-20 this year.
Classes in the Hockinson District are larger at all grade levels.
Total enrollment in the Hockinson District now stands at 1,978.5 FTE, according to Johnson, an increase of 39 students over last year. Part of the increase is at the high school where the district graduated 75 students last spring and enrolled about 200 freshmen this fall.
With 700 students, Johnson now describes the high school as near capacity as it begins its fifth year of existence.
Johnson said portables may be added to the high school as growth continues.
The district presently uses 20 portable classrooms, 14 at the primary school and six at the middle school. Another building could be in the future, said Johnson, as enrollment grows.
To defer the need for more classrooms, said Johnson, the district may approve fewer boundary exceptions. The district declined about 50 boundary exception applications this year, said Johnson, allowing primarily continuing students and the children of employees to enroll. In the future, said Johnson, the district may deny applications even from students previously approved and enrolled in Hockinson.
Board policy states that renewing applications are not automatic, said Johnson.
In addition, district personnel are scrutinizing enrollment information more carefully for proof of residency, requiring even utility bills to assure place of residence. Johnson said some student enrollments have been turned away on the basis of false residency information.
The 150 students with boundary exceptions come from several districts, said Johnson, including Vancouver, Evergreen and Battle Ground. Boundary exception applications cite smaller classes and more personalized education as reasons for seeking entry into the Hockinson district, said Johnson.
The district based its current budget on an expected enrollment of 1,965 students compared to a current enrollment of 1978.
The Hockinson School Board adopted a budget for the just-completed 2005-06 school year that relied on $350,000 of reserves to meet expenses. By the end of the fiscal year, the Hockinson district actually used about $400,000 in reserves due in part to an enrollment below forecast. The district’s 2005-06 budget was based on an enrollment of 2,014 students, or about 75 more students than actually attended.
To help balance the budget this year, said Johnson, the district reduced its teaching staff by five positions--one at the primary school and two each at the intermediate and middle schools.
La Center class sizes nudge upward
Class sizes in the La Center School District are also up from last year, according to district superintendent Mark Mansell.
Total district enrollment now stands at 1,407 students, said Mansell, up from 1,394 last year.
The district has noticed some unusual situations with class sizes.
La Center had 125 second graders last year, a number district officials had forecast to grow to 133 in this year’s third grade. But instead, third grade enrollment has declined to 117 students, said Mansell.
For the 2005-06 school year, La Center had based its budget on 1,361 students, said Mansell, but enrolled 1,394. The additional students added about $175,000 to the district’s cash carryover which totaled about $700,000.
For the 2006-07 year, the district based its budget on 1,460, or about 53 students more than have enrolled.
“We think we will be okay,” said Mansell, citing housing developments soon to be constructed, and the likelihood of growing enrollment during the year.
Mansell said the district added one portable classroom for this year, bringing to 11 the number of portable classrooms in use. The district used 10 portable classrooms last year. One of the five double-classroom buildings at the high school is in use, three are empty, and the fifth is used as a district office, said Mansell.
This year’s La Center enrollment includes 97 students admitted on boundary exceptions.
Enrollment up in Woodland
Enrollment in the Woodland School District is now 2,075 FTE students, up 29 students from last year.
District business manager Stacy Brown said the district graduated 106 students last spring and enrolled 197 freshmen this fall.
Class sizes have been reduced from last year, said Brown, with the addition of one teacher each at the third, fourth and sixth grade levels.
The Woodland district had based its 2005-06 budget on an enrollment of 1,980 students, but 2,046 students were actually enrolled. The additional revenue from the extra students, said Brown, was used for an emergency roof repair and the purchase of technology equipment a year earlier than expected.
The district’s 2006-07 budget forecasts an enrollment of 2,085 students, 10 more than have enrolled so far. Brown said the shortfall is not yet considered a problem. More students may yet enroll, she said.
Brown said boundary exception applications have been closed at the primary, middle and high schools. The district presently has 48 incoming boundary exception students, said Brown.
Woodland has 20 portable classrooms in use, eight at the primary school, two at Team High School, and eight at Woodland High School.
Enrollment grows in Ridgefield
The Ridgefield School District ended the 2005-06 school year with 1,867 students, and opened its doors to 1,928 this fall, an increase of 61. Those 61, said interim district superintendent John Simpson, are spread throughout the district.
Simpson said enrollment forecasts used in budgets have been close to actual numbers.
For the 2005-06 school year, the Ridgefield budget was based on an enrollment of 1,869 students, about the same as actually enrolled.
And for the current 2006-07 school year, the budget is based on 1,885 students, or about 43 students fewer than have actually enrolled, which may result in extra revenues.
Simpson said the district presently has 55 incoming boundary exception students, and has not turned away such applications.
Simpson said the district now has 25 portable classrooms in use, compared to 22 last year.

Mayors ask Murray for
help with infrastructure
Alice Perry Linker
staff reporter
Two issues were on everyone’s mind when North Clark County mayors met with U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, (D-WA) Oct. 9: Greater sewage treatment capacity and transportation.
Murray visited Battle Ground for a roundtable discussion that included Mayor John Idsinga, La Center Mayor Jim Irish and Ridgefield Mayor Gladys Doriot. The discussion was open to the public, but public comment was not taken.
Murray said that federal funds for new or expanded sewage treatment plants and money for transportation projects have declined greatly in the past few years.
“These grants have gone down and down and down,” she said about funding for sewage treatment plants. “Wastewater treatment has become the forgotten stepchild.”
All three mayors discussed the county’s rapid growth and its impact on each city’s infrastructure. Clark County Commissioner Betty Sue Morris told Murray that Battle Ground, Ridgefield and La Center are “poised to grow.”
Morris summed up the need.
“I’d like to make a plea for increased sewer capacity,” she said.
Saying that funds are “tighter” and finding money for sewer construction or improvement is “tough,” Murray asked the assembled mayors if their cities’ growth would be stalled without sewer improvements.
All indicated that a lack of increased sewer capacity would affect growth, and interim Ridgefield city manager Justin Clary went even further, saying that without adequate capacity, a moratorium on new building would be imposed in his city.
Irish told Murray that La Center’s ability to expand to the I-5 junction will depend upon its ability to provide wastewater treatment west of the existing city.
Calling the Oct. 9 conversation “timely,” Murray said, “I look forward to working with you and your having the infrastructure in place so you can determine your future.”
Transportation funding has shared the fate of wastewater treatment funding, said Murray, a member of the Senate Transportation subcommittee.
It’s “much harder to get transportation funding” than several years ago, Murray told the mayors. She said transportation issues must be addressed with “fewer federal dollars.”
The three mayors all brought transportation concerns to Murray’s attention. Clary of Ridgefield asked for $2 million in 2007 and 2008 to finish the preliminary work needed to improve the Pioneer Street-I-5 interchange.
Idsinga said federal funds would move the SR-502 widening project forward. Widening SR-502 will give Battle Ground better access to the proposed I-5 interchange.
La Center’s Irish asked for funds for a second bridge across the Lewis River, saying that as property between La Center and Woodland is developed, those residents will avoid I-5 by going through La Center and across the bridge.
“Without any growth in La Center, the one bridge will fail in 20 years,” he said.
Transportation was also on the mind of Ridgefield Port Director Brent Grening who called for an arterial network of streets connecting the cities.
“Don’t use I-5 as the primary arterial,” he said. “Freight is expected to double (in a few years). Transportation is a big item, and we’d like to make a timely investment before the problems really get going.”
Battle Ground’s Idsinga read a list of his city’s needs, and he asked that the Community Development Block Grants be continued. He said Battle Ground had spent $2.7 million in grants in the past to provide sidewalks for children to walk to a park and to school and for senior center projects.
“There has been a cut of $1 billion that we’re trying to restore,” Murray said.
Idsinga said the city needs money to remodel the fire station and to expand the city’s park system.
The city hopes to build trails to connect Battle Ground Lake State Park with city parks on the east side, he said.
“We’d like to loop and connect these parks,” he said. “It could be a pedestrian, equestrian. We need a lot of help there.”
Idsinga said the parks would include 320 acres and cost $14-$15 million.
A complaint from Battle Ground’s acting city manager Dennis Osborn about the difficulty of working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on wetlands mitigation drew a comment from Murray.
“I hear those (complaints) all the time,” she said. “I’ll work with you to get everybody in the same room to talk about it.”
Murray made no promises to the mayors for funding, and she indicated that satisfactory financial solutions to the problems would not come soon.

Operator predicts 1,000 freight cars
Rail business has increased on the Clark County-owned Chelatchie Prairie Railroad, now operated by Columbia Basin Railroad Company based in Renton.
“We have noted a major increase in rail business in Clark County, creating economic benefits and the potential for further benefits in the region,” said Eric Temple, vice president of Columbia Basin Railroad.
Temple said annual rail traffic has increased from 65 cars in 2004 to an estimated 1,000 cars in 2007, an increase of 1500% in three years.
Columbia Basin moved 61 cars during the second quarter of this year.
Columbia Basin took over operation of the railroad in December 2004.
Temple attributed the increase to a cooperative working partnership with Burlington Northern Railway and applying long-time industry experience which have enabled Columbia Basin to “transform the county’s railroad from an economic drain to an opportunity for growth for businesses and residents of Clark County.”
Temple said new industries have begun using rail transportation services. The estimated 1,000 cars in 2007 will include incoming plastic pellets, agricultural commodities, building materials, and sand and gravel, said Temple. Rail track materials will be outgoing, he said.
Temple declined to identify the new users who
Temple said he has plans to refurbish the existing track and build new rail infrastructure which would make Clark County even more accessible to businesses while creating more jobs for residents.
Temple said he has acquired about 3 1/3 acres along the railroad at 88th St. in Vancouver where he plans to build rail access and offer property for industrial users.
“The booming rail business has caused Clark County to become more accessible,” said Temple. “The idea of doing business in Clark County has become very attractive to companies around the world. We are happy to see that the county is able to grow with the progress of the railroad to create more jobs and business for the region.”
“The progress had the potential to be stopped in its tracks if land hadn’t been made available to allow companies to do business along the tracks,” said Temple. “We are very optimistic that companies from around the world will now consider locating in Clark County once this new land becomes available for development.”
Temple lauded Clark County planners for moving toward zoning agricultural lands along the railroad for industrial uses. Such changes could be part of the comprehensive plan update now underway and slated for adoption by year’s end.
Under the agreement between Columbia Basin Railroad and Clark County, Columbia Basin pays nothing to the county for use of the 33-mile railroad until the company moves over 1,000 freight cars in a year.
County planner Steve Schulte said Columbia Basin is to pay $10 per car for each car over 1,000 and less than 2,000 moved in any year.

Woodland artist creates detailed pieces
Alice Perry Linker
staff reporter
Denise Hambrook is a northwest artist with a southwest point of view.
The Woodland sculptor, painter and bead worker enjoys recreating the native Americans of the Southwest and the Plains. She has done clay sculpture figures showing hunters in buffalo skin head dress and leather leggings. “Buffalo Warrior,” a seven-inch tall clay figure, wears beaded moccasins and clothing and carries a leather shield painted in reds and golds and featuring a painted buffalo skull.
One piece with a definite northwest feel is a clay sculpture of Sacagawea and her baby Pompey. Hambrook said she will have that piece cast in bronze. The Shoshone woman who accompanied explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark on their historic journey is shown riding horseback and pulling a sled.
Hambrook works at a studio on the North Fork Buffalo Ranch and shows by appointment only. She may be reached at (360) 225-0694.
The native of Jamaica and 23-year resident of the northwest also paints in oils and does bead work using Czechoslovakian seed beads. She likes to sculpt miniature cradle boards and decorate the boards with seed beads.
“I do very detailed work,” Hambrook said. “I like a lot of detail--I want every bit of detail or I’m not happy.”
One of Hambrook’s specialties is hand-painted buffalo skins. She said she has a 51-square-foot buffalo hide painting hanging in her studio.
“I’ve kept the hide for display,” she said. “It’s a prime winter hide.”
Hambrook who also paints oil portraits said she has done family and individual portraits.
“I’m working on a portrait of a neighbor, and I painted a 30-x-40-inch portrait of a Russian family,” she said.
When she’s not painting or creating in clay, Hambrook accepts contracts for creating unique interiors. In a log home in Biggs, OR, she has created a chandelier of a teepee sitting on a wheel. The chandelier is 4-ft tall and 3-ft in diameter. For the same log house she has painted the kitchen cabinets in an American Indian motif.
“I’ve also done murals,” she said. “I’ll do whatever a person wants. I do mostly commission work.”

Cowlitz Fair will continue free fair admission
Admission to the 2007 Cowlitz County Fair will be free.
Fair officials reported last week that the 2006 fair netted $6,643, compared to the 2005 fair which required a county subsidy of over $37,000. The difference was free admission.
“We are very pleased with the results,” said Cowlitz County commissioner Jeff Rasmussen. “Our goal was to increase participation and to decrease the annual subsidy.”
Admission was free on the first day of the 2005 fair and attendance set a record for that date.
Early in 2006, the county commissioners decided to make every day a “free admission” day, anticipating that revenues not collected from admission charges would be made up with increased revenue from vendors and carnival proceeds. Rasmussen said the net proceeds verified that expected outcome.
In addition to added revenues, the fair was able to cut expenses by not collecting and processing admission receipts, and reducing gate staff.
“We are pleased to announce that the 2007 Fair will be free as well,” said Rasmussen, “and we plan no significant changes.”
The 2007 fair is set for Aug. 1-4. Rasmussen opened the door to adding another day to the fair if an outside organization could be found to fund big-name entertainment.
“We set all kinds of records this year and we expect to see even more people attend next year’s event which promises to be bigger and better as the word gets out about the free admission,” said commissioner Kathleen Johnson. “We give great accolades to the Fair staff for their dedication in putting on the fair this year and such high attendance every day.”
The 2006 fair garnered an additional $15,500 in carnival proceeds as compared to 2005. The combined revenue for the 2006 rodeo and demolition derby events saw an increase in revenue of more than $25,000 between the two years.
In 2005, admission fees brought in $44,896.
Fair spokesman Mike Moss said total fair attendance in 2006 was 51,127, with over 10,000 people attending each day and over 14,000 people attending on Saturday. Attendance at the 2005 fair was 27,631.
Moss said a $3 parking fee generated about $20,000 this year, with 40% of the proceeds going to the county and 60% to a Kiwanis Club. The same fee will likely continue, said Moss.

Hearing set on Lewis River dam operations
Woodland residents will have an opportunity to comment on the plans for notifying people who live along the Lewis River about dam spills during periods of high water runoff caused by rain or snow melt.
The public hearing will be held Wed., Oct. 18, 7 p.m., at Woodland City Hall, 100 Davidson Ave. Questions and comments will be taken until 8:30 p.m.
Bekki Witt, a spokesperson for PacifiCorp Energy, said public hearings are an outgrowth of a relicensing settlement signed in 2004 between the privately-owned power company and federal agencies, Indian tribes, state agencies and the city of Woodland.
PacifiCorp, the corporation that owns Pacific Power, owns three dams on the Lewis River, Swift 1, Yale and Merwin. During high runoff periods in winter and spring, the company releases water behind the dams into the river.
Information will be provided at the hearing about methods used for PacifiCorp to contact affected agencies, Witt said. Several agencies, including Cowlitz Emergency Management, are expected to attend the public meeting. PacifiCorp will provide residents with a list of contacts during high runoff periods.
A fact sheet being prepared to distribute to residents was not complete by The Reflector deadline. People who cannot attend the public meeting may pick up copies of the fact sheet at the Woodland Tourist Information Center, 900 Goerig St.
“We want to work with the residents and coordinate notification (of runoff),” Witt said. “Sometimes it happens on the spur of the moment.”
Witt said water released from Lewis River dams during periods of high flow could result in flooding in the Woodland area. Just how those who live along the river are to be notified of such situations is the subject of the Oct. 18 public meeting.
The three dams generate hydroelectric power for Pacific Power in Oregon, Witt said. Cowlitz PUD provides electricity for Cowlitz County, including most of Woodland.