Almost a year after putting the old Dallesport Elementary building on the market, Lyle School District received two offers within a few weeks to purchase it for the full asking price of $1.6 million.
The Lyle School District Board of Directors accepted the offer from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and, at the November 17 regular board meeting, approved a purchase-sale agreement with the agency. The last step in finalizing the sale is for the Board of Natural Resources to meet and approve the purchase, scheduled for December 7, 2021.
Building Closed in 2016
The Dallesport School was built in 1996 after voters across the district approved a 20-year bond measure the year before. At that time, the enrollment in our Kindergarten through 5th grades was 232 students. Currently, the district has 102 students in those grades.
For Washington state schools, funding is based on enrollment. Nearly all school funding – whether it’s from the state, the federal government or locally-approved levies – is calculated on a per-student basis.
In spring, 2016 -- with less than half of the original enrollment and the district in financial difficulty -- the Lyle School Board made the only realistic decision, to close the Dallesport building before the start of the next school year. Operating two partially-full schools generated duplicate expenses, and there were academic opportunities in combining the campuses. For example, specialists like art, music and PE teachers can also provide instruction in the elementary grades on a shared campus.
Still, an empty building is still not completely free of expense. The district has continued to pay over $3,500 a month for utilities and maintenance of the Dallesport building, as well as the property tax on it. Worse yet, empty buildings are prone to deteriorate and are vulnerable to vandalism.
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Building Leased in 2017
The situation improved temporarily when the building was leased in January of 2018. The 10-year lease-to-buy agreement with Sagetech generated over $11,000 in monthly rent, and the property tax and utilities costs shifted to the renter. The agreement with Sagetech preserved district and community access and use of the playground toy, track and softball field.
Sagetech made improvements to the buildings, but hadn’t yet completed construction when the company developed financial problems. The company went into bankruptcy and, ultimately, receivership in 2019.
Before declaring bankruptcy, Sagetech formally requested to purchase the property per the terms of their contract. Eventually, however, the receiver released all claim to the building.
Sale of Property
Since that time, the district has worked with commercial realtor Deborah Ewing to market the property, resulting in the offers. After considering the offers and taking public comment, the board voted at the October 27 board meeting to authorize Superintendent Ann Varkados and district counsel to proceed with negotiating the final terms of the sale with the Department of Natural Resources.
The DNR has described plans to develop the building into a regional wildfire response center, with existing staff and resources from DNR’s work center in Husum being relocated to Dallesport. They anticipate approximately 65 employees stationed out of this response center.
In a letter to the Board of Directors, Washington Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz wrote, “In order to better protect our communities and natural resources, the state legislature recently dedicated funds for DNR to strengthen our state’s wildfire response, including adding firefighters and equipment and expanding infrastructure. The community of Dallesport and its former elementary school are located in a geographically advantageous position, uniquely positioned to help achieve our goal of strategically placing firefighters across Washington."
"From the start of this process, the district has looked for potential buyers who would benefit the local community," Superintendent Varkados said, adding, "The board and I are pleased with DNR’s plans for the property and proud that it will benefit not only the mid-Columbia Gorge but the entire region."
What Does this Mean for the Community?
The former school building and approximately one-half of the original lot are included in the sale. The sale will NOT include the Dallesport Community Center Building. The original 7+ acre parcel has been subdivided. As part of the sub-plat, the district has deeded the property the community building sits on to the county; the building itself was constructed by the county.
Nor will it include the track and softball field. The district and community will still have use of them and, it now appears that playground was already on county property.
The income from the sale will go into the district’s capital fund, the same place the rental income was deposited. By law, these funds can be used only for major repairs or improvements to district buildings.
Dallesport children who attend Lyle Schools, like all of the district’s students, will continue to benefit from much-needed work on the Lyle campus, including the replacement of an undependable, expensive and hard-to-repair HVAC system.
When and if growth occurs in the district, the Lyle campus is large enough to accommodate additional students and staff. Its central location means that students coming from all parts of the district will have comparable distances to travel.
Our school is participating in the Washington State Healthy Youth Survey during fall 2021. Because we are in a small district, the survey will be given to students in Grades 6 through 12th grade.
Lea la carta completa en español al pie de la página.
The Healthy Youth Survey included questions related to physical activity and diet, unintentional and intentional injury, substance use, sexual behaviors (grades 8 and older), abuse, risk, and protective factors, and access to school-based services. Survey results are used by schools, communities, and state agencies to plan programs to support our youth and reduce their risks.
Participation in the survey is voluntary and the students' answers are anonymous.
Most schools will be administering the survey online this year. No privacy issues were identified in the E-survey pilot conducted in 2019. This year, schools and districts are being instructed to disable any recording, keystroke tracking, and video capture software on school-issued devices used to take the survey. They are also going to instruct students to do the same on personal devices used for the survey
Please read the Parent and Student Notification Letter for more information about the Healthy Youth Survey.
Beginning October 1, 2022, students can apply for financial aid for the 2023-24 college school year. With all the uncertainty caused by COVID, education beyond high school is more important than ever. Applying for financial aid gives you more options for the future.
In Washington, there are two ways to apply for financial aid:
- Most people should complete a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). The FAFSA is used by U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens to apply for both state and federal financial aid.
- The WASFA (Washington Application for State Financial Aid) is an application for state financial aid only. The WASFA is for people who are undocumented or who do not qualify for federal aid because of their immigration status -- and can be used in limited circumstances by others who cannot or choose not to file a FAFSA.
Applying for financial aid is a crucial first step toward college or job training. Many families assume they won’t qualify, but there’s more help available than ever before. Last year, a family of four making up to $102,000 could qualify for financial aid in Washington. The only way to know for sure if you’re eligible is to apply.
Learn more, get support, and apply for financial aid at wsac.wa.gov/apply.
(THIS ARTICLE WILL BE UPDATED IN OCTOBER, 2022).
Don’t Let Financial Aid Myths Limit Options for the Future
Download the Financial Aid Myths Flyer in English Descargue el folleto Mitos de la ayuda financiera en español
Think you can’t afford college or training? Financial aid helps many students pay for education beyond high school, and more families in Washington are now eligible. Even if you didn’t qualify before, you might now!
Myth #1: My parents make too much money, so I won’t qualify for financial aid.
Fact: Applying for financial aid is the only way to know for sure whether you qualify. With Washington College Grant, an eligible student from a family of four making up to around $102,000 per year can receive some money for college or training.
Myth #2: Financial aid only pays for universities. That takes four years—I need to start working now.
Fact: Financial aid can be used for many types of full-time or part-time education or training, including career and technical schools, community colleges, some apprenticeships, and yes, universities too. You have options!
Myth #3: I can’t apply for financial aid because I don’t know what I’m going to do after high school.
Fact: You can complete a FAFSA or WASFA financial aid application before applying for college or training. You can make your final choice about whether and where to go later, and you’ll know more about what you can afford.
Applications are now available for fall 2022! Learn more and apply for financial aid on the Washington Student Achievement Council website. http://wsac.wa.gov/
Parent-Teacher Conferences are coming up October 6 and 7. This fall, out of an abundance of caution, we are holding all conferences remotely. Parents are being sent letters inviting parents to participate at a specific time, either through a Teams meeting online or via a phone call. Please make a choice and send the letter back. Some secondary teachers are using email so check your account for an invitation if your student doesn't bring home a paper copy. If you do not have an invitation by Friday, please give your child's teacher a call or email them.
October 6-8 will be early release days for students. They will be dismissed at noon each day.
After living for the past 40 years in the mid-Columbia Gorge and serving on multiple non-profit boards, Marc Harvey is joining the Lyle School District Board of Directors.
The board selected Mr. Harvey from a field of three applicants to fill the open Position 4 school board seat on September 22. Applicants Brad Blazer - the father of a Lyle School District student - and community member Becki Vital also interviewed with the board at the evening business meeting. Current board members were hard-pressed to decide between the three candidates, extending their executive session to further discuss the candidates’ merits and select the appointee.
Ultimately, Mr. Harvey, who has served on several major Lyle area boards, got the nod: He was a founding board member of the Lyle Community Council in 2018 and also served on the Old Lyle Elementary School Supporters (OLESS) board, which manages the Lyle Activity Center. He also served six years as a port commissioner for the Port of Klickitat.
Mr. Harvey currently serves on the Mid-Columbia Fisheries Enhancement Group, a volunteer group focused on supporting salmon habitat restoration with oversight from the state Department of Fish and Wildlife. He also is an appointee to the Klickitat County Citizen Review Committee, which reviews county grant applications for salmon restoration.
Mr. Harvey moved to the mid-Columbia Gorge from his native Alabama in 1981 and recently retired from his job with Full Sail Brewing Company. He notes that he had read about the opening in the newspaper, and felt he had the time and energy to devote to the work. “Education is critical to our community and nation,” Harvey added.
Appleton resident Lisa Bren had been appointed to position 4 in October, 2020, and filed for election to the seat in June. However, Ms. Bren later resigned after a member of her immediate family accepted a job opportunity outside of the Lyle area. Her resignation came at the end of July, after the county’s filing period had already passed. Bren was the only candidate to file for the seat.
In these circumstances, the board appoints someone to fill the position, who will serve for the first two years of the upcoming four-year term. The November 2023 election will then determine who serves for the remaining two years of the term.
“We’re fortunate to find an individual with the experience Mr. Harvey brings to this position,” Board President Traci Waddington commented. “The learning curve for public school leadership is a steep one, but we are confident Mr. Harvey will pick it up quickly.”
Parents, we are currently experiencing a higher level of COVID activity in the community than last year. Testing is an important part of our strategy for keeping school open during this time.
We all know how challenging life has been during the pandemic and the stress it has caused on families -- especially when it comes to having to quarantine for symptoms or a close contact situation. Long quarantines are not ideal for learning and social development. The CDC and the state recently changed the requirements for the length of quarantine for someone who has come into close contact with a person diagnosed with COVID. You can read our letter here. Testing plays an important role in shorter quarantine times.
In an effort to reduce the amount of time our families have to wait for COVID test results, we can now provide testing for staff and students who have been identified as a close contact to someone with COVID, or who have symptoms, here at the school. This will also help reduce the strain on local medical offices and the hassle of getting your kids to a testing location.
There are a few things we would like you to know:
We will never test a student without a signed permission slip and the parent present. The parent or student is usually the one to administer the shallow nasal swab. This swab only needs to be inserted ¼ to ½ inch into the nose.
We currently offer two different tests to our students and staff.
- Rapid antigen tests. We currently offer this test to quickly screen for a positive. If a rapid test comes back negative, it is followed with a PCR test to confirm the results.
- PCR tests. This test will be given with parental consent after a student has experienced COVID-19 symptoms and the rapid test showed negative. Parents will not be charged for this test, but if you have insurance, your insurance will be billed. You will be sent a link after giving consent for the test, and you will enter your insurance information there. Your student’s results will also be available to you within the next 48-72 hours.
We are not a public testing site. We cannot offer testing for anyone other than our students and staff as it is needed. (Again, please be assured that we will not test anyone without explicit consent and a signed permission form)
If members of your family who are not students in Lyle School develop symptoms, it’s still important to get tested.
Where can you get tested? The first step is to call your medical provider or the Klickitat County Public Health Department at 509-773-4565. The health department's hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The following medical clinics all offer PCR testing for non-patients by appointment:
- North Shore Medical Group in Bingen
- MCMC in The Dalles
- Klickitat Valley Health in Goldendale
For contact information and more testing site options, go to https://www.gorgeimpact.com/testing
We are so disappointed to have to make this announcement, but -- after lengthy discussions among the administrators of the three districts that participate in our sports co-op, as well as our competitors -- we have decided that we will have to cancel tomorrow night's football game against Dufur (9.10.21).
Our co-op and Dufur both have student athletes and/or adults in quarantine due to potential exposure to an individual or individuals who have tested positive for COVID. Until we know they are all healthy, we feel the right thing to do is to prevent additional people from being exposed.
In addition, volleyball games through September 16 are cancelled, again due to student athletes in quarantine.
And lastly, all practices, including JH Volleyball, JH Football, HS Volleyball and HS Football are canceled until next Monday, September 13. We are very sorry for the inconvenience but please remember our top priority is the safety of our students, staff and families.
To get the latest schedules, you can always go to our website and click on the calendar in the main navigation menu, or "Athletics" in the drop-down menu under "Lyle Secondary School" -- https://www.lyleschools.org/District/1425-Untitled.html.
The Lyle School District Board of Directors is seeking a district resident to fill an at-large position on the board, which was vacated by Lisa Bren on July 28. The appointee will serve through the next general election in 2023, and may file for election to the position.
Per board policy and procedure 1114, all citizens are invited to nominate candidates for the position. Nominees must be registered voters who reside within the Lyle School District boundaries. When a nomination is received, the district will reach out and invite the nominee to apply.
Candidates are welcome and encouraged to self-nominate by submitting the form below.
Please submit your application by September 17, 2021
The board will interview the first round of applicants/nominees at the next regularly scheduled board meeting, Wednesday, September 22, 2021. Applicants will be contacted with their interview time.
Please go to the school district website, www.lyleschools.org, for more information and a nomination/application form.
The staff at Lyle School welcomes students back again full-time for the 2021-2022 school year beginning Wednesday, August 25. Wednesdays are still one-hour late start days to allow staff professional development time.
On Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, classes start at 8 a.m. On Wednesday, classes begin at 9 a.m.
Wondering what childhood immunizations your child needs to have to start school? You can find a list on the Health page. Go to the main district webpage, www.lyleschools.org, and click on the Apple "Health Information" icon under the main sliding photo banner on the page.
Here's where to find other important information:
Bus schedules - On the main web page, look for the bus icon immediately under the sliding photo banner. These schedules are updated frequently, especially at the beginning of the school year as we fine-tune the routes.
Breakfast and lunch menus will be posted on the webpage monthly. On the main web page, look for the paper bag "school meals" icon.
If your child attended Lyle School last year, remotely or in person, he or she is already registered for the coming school year. If there are any changes to your address, phone number or email address, please be sure to give us a heads up. To support your child’s success in school and in emergency situations, it’s vitally important that we are able to contact you quickly.
What about School Supplies? Lyle School District provides the supplies necessary for basic education. If you are able to shop for your child or you're a community member who would like to donate a few things for our students, our administrative team put together a list of a few suggested items that can be helpful for students, And, if you're a parent who needs help buying any of these optional items, please call the office at 509-365-2211, ext. 120.
Grades K-5
- Backpack
- Closed toe shoes (for daily wear, not to leave at school)
- Coat/Jacket/Gloves/hat (seasonally appropriate)
- Lunch Box if your child chooses to bring lunch
**Please put your child’s name on everything.
Grades 6-12
- Backpack
- Binder/Notebook
- 1-2 permanent markers (Sharpie Style)
- Pens
- Highlighters
- 3-5 Spiral notebooks per Trimester
- Wireless Mouse
- Coat/Jacket/Gloves/hat (seasonally appropriate)
**Please make sure that student’s name is on everything