FORKS — State Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz visited Forks High School along with representatives of junior taxing districts to underscore the critical role timber sales plays in supporting the Quillayute Valley School District’s financial needs.
Franz engaged with the school’s administrators, representatives from Clallam County, the Port of Port Angeles, the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the North Olympic Library System (NOLS), various junior taxing districts and timber interests and several community members on June 21.
“As a property-poor district, we are reliant on other revenue sources,” said QVSD Superintendent Diana Reaume, who presented key information regarding the district’s reliance on timber revenue.
Reaume highlighted the challenges in passing school bond measures due to the cost per $1,000 of assessed property value for taxpayers.
Reaume provided detailed figures, explaining that annual timber sale revenue constitutes about 2 percent of the district’s budget, averaging $968,963.
“This revenue is crucial,” she said.
The tour commenced in the Forks High School library, where Reaume emphasized that the school district is considered a property-poor district compared to others with significant industry and housing.
The QVSD board of directors has developed a 20-year facility plan, which plays a vital role in capturing timber revenue.
Reaume cited past and ongoing projects funded by timber revenue, including $11 million from the Common Schools fund in 2008 for additions to Forks High School.
The school district plans to run a replacement bond for Forks Middle School in 2027 and expects about $15 million from the Common Schools Fund.
During the past decade, the school district has completed several major projects, such as a biomass facility, Forks High School additions, roofing projects, the Spartan field and stadium, stadium bathrooms (now in progress), and various maintenance endeavors.
Reaume also highlighted the school district’s challenges with many unfunded staffing positions and mandates.
During the tour, the group visited the Spartan Hall of Fame decades display, the Spartan Gym, wrestling and weight rooms, the biomass building, Spartan Stadium and the new stadium bathrooms. Reaume shared future plans, including new turf and an area for high school fastpitch and baseball fields beyond the new Spartan field.
Franz’s visit highlighted the partnership between local timber sales and the educational infrastructure in Forks and elsewhere, demonstrating the broader impact of natural resources on community development and education.
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Christi Baron is the editor of the Forks Forum, which is part of the Olympic Peninsula News Group, composed of Sound Publishing newspapers Peninsula Daily News, Sequim Gazette and Forks Forum. She can be reached by email at christi.baron@forksforum.com.
