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Thursday, September 27, 2018 • Vol. 134, No. 13 • Oregon, WI • ConnectOregonWI.com • $1.25
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Oregon School District
Twice as Healthy OHS wins second straight national award SCOTT DE LARUELLE Unified Newspaper Group
Whether it’s looking after students’ emotional well-being or simply making sure there are healthy snacks in the vending machines, Oregon High School’s holistic approach to students’ mental and physical health has garnered another national honor. This month, the school won its second straight “A m e r i c a ’s H e a l t h i e s t Schools” award from the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, a national organization that “empowers kids to develop lifelong, healthy habits,” according to a news release from the organization. Schools earn the distinction by meeting criteria for serving healthier meals and snacks, getting students moving more and offering high-quality health and physical education. This year, 461 schools from 26 states were
honored, including 13 from Wisconsin, two from Dane County. Oregon High School was awarded a second consecutive Bronze Award, with the awards given out for two-year periods. This year’s award winners are recognized for the 201718 and 2018-19 school years. Last year, all five other OSD schools received the Bronze Award, and they’ll be eligible again for the award next year. Alliance for a Healthier Generation marketing and communications manager Megan Walcek told the Observer in an email OHS left an impression for its work involving parents and community members in decision-making, getting students moving through quality physical education, offering different fruits every day of the week and offering staff accessible, free or lowcost physical activity and fitness programs to help them stay healthy. OHS health and family consumer science teacher Juanita Weinert told the Observer that even
Turn to Healthy/Page 12
Photo by Kimberly Wethal
The Panther mascot rides down the parade route during the homecoming parade Friday, Sept. 21, on Lincoln Street.
Panther pep
Oregon High School and the rest of the district celebrated homecoming on the afternoon of Friday, Sept. 21, with a pep rally at the high school and a parade down Lincoln Street. The Oregon Panthers won their homecoming football game later that night, defeating the Stoughton Vikings 35-10.
Inside More photos from OHS Homecoming parade and pep rally Page 2
Oregon School District
Tax rate will drop slightly for 2018-19 Decrease is third straight but varies by municipality SCOTT DE LARUELLE Unified Newspaper Group
Year 2018* 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013
Equalized value $2,395,710,066 $2,264,376,244 $2,134,229,573 $2,003,124,120 $1,931,098,778 $1,849,872,100
Percent growth +5.80 +6.10 +6.55 +3.73 +4.39 -0.93
percent from last year. The votes followed a brief budget presentation by district business manager Andy Weiland, who said the mill rate is back to 2009, pre-Act 10 levels. “We’ve gone up and now back down,” he said. Most important for taxpayers is the $10.9 mill
Mill rate 10.90 11.56 11.73 12.11 11.98 12.31
rate – down from last year’s $11.56 – meaning the owner of a $200,000 home would pay $2,186 in school taxes. While that means a drop of about $130 on that home, increasing property values could negate much of the mill rate drop, though it will vary by municipality.
District growth is expected to dip slightly, from 6.1 percent last year to 5.8 this year. One of the factors still unclear is the amount of state funding from the 2017-19 biennial budget. Weiland said he used a $0 base per student increase in state funding to determine the budget, and an increase in per-student “categorical” aid (for 2018-19 only) from $450 to $654. Those numbers are expected to be in by next month, when the board must approve a final 201819 budget. Email Unified Newspaper Group reporter Scott De Laruelle at scott.delaruelle@wcinet.com.
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OHS student Keira Hanmer puts together a healthy salad for her lunch on Tuesday.
As Oregon School District officials put the finishing touches on the 2018-19 budget, district electors provided a main piece of the puzzle Monday night, approving a slight drop on the mill rate for next year. At the district’s budget meeting and annual meeting, electors unanimously approved the 2018-19 mill rate of $10.90 (per $1,000 of assessed property value), and a tax levy of $26,122,171, down 0.17
OSD budget