KCEDA Board of Directors opposes Measure 97, vote NO
This “tax on top of tax” bill would mean five to seven percent more added to our goods and services
Klamath Falls, Oregon (October 24, 2016) – After thorough research the Klamath County Economic Development Association (KCEDA) Board of Directors is opposing Measure 97 and urging voters to vote “NO” on 97. The state of Oregon prides itself on having no state sales tax; Measure 97 is merely a back door approach to mask a state sales tax that would be applied before goods and services make it to the cash register.
There are multiple reasons to vote NO on Measure 97 but all of them boil down to the fact that it is a badly-designed tax that would impact every Oregon family and business by increasing costs for the products and services we use every day – from food, gasoline, phone services, natural gas and electricity to medicines, cable television, internet service, healthcare, cars and insurance not to mention retail services like clothing, household appliances and the toys and books we purchase for our children.
In simplest terms, Measure 97 is a deceptive, hidden sales tax. In order to hide this sales tax promoters of Measure 97 would impose a 2.5 percent tax on the companies that make, ship and sell the vast majority of the products and services purchases by Oregonians. Worse yet, the process of getting products to market for Oregon consumers would be taxed multiple times along the way. The “tax pyramiding” effect would tax each part of the process – producers, manufacturers and distributors – meaning the final taxation would be not just the original 2.5 percent but rather five percent or even seven-and-a-half percent before a product makes its way to a retail shelf.
Measure 97 is anticipated to increase state taxes by $6 billion. Studies by various organizations have concluded that most of the costs would be passed on to Oregon’s local businesses, family farmers and the end users, the consumers. But objective analyses have pointed to other disconcerting outcomes. Nonpartisan economists at ECONorthwest have determined that Measure 97 would be the equivalent of a 40 percent corporate income tax. The state of Oregon’s own study found that Measure 97 would cause the loss of 38,000 private sector job within the state.
Worse yet, there is no guarantee how the state Legislature would spend the money. The language of Measure 97 is deceptive. It is not a constitutional amendment; under state law and Oregon Supreme Court decisions, they cannot bind the Legislature’s spending decisions. And, contrary to having us believe the funds might be used for something specific, like education, the Legislative Counsel (the Legislature’s own top legal authority) has clearly explained that the Legislature could spent these tax dollars, “in any way it chooses.” One example points to a bail out of the pension fund of the government employees who both created Measure 97 and are funding the campaign to pass it.
According to KCEDA executive director Greg O’Sullivan, “Measure 97 is an unscrupulous and under-handed attempt to tax Oregon’s businesses and family farmers, often times more than once, in a behind-the-scenes way that will undercut every Oregon resident’s well-being. And, with no one overseeing how the Legislature would be spending those ill-gotten taxes flies in the face of how Americans legitimately do business.”
Clearly, Measure 97 is a deceptive, hidden sales tax. It’s bad for businesses, it’s bad for family farmers and it’s shameless in what it would do for families and individuals in the state.
About the Klamath County Economic Development Association (KCEDA)
Since 1975, KCEDA has reflected the best of private enterprise, responsibility and dedication. Its mission is to provide tailored recruitment and retention/expansion programs, new opportunities for jobs, and a diversified, value-added industrial base/expanded economic development climate in southern Oregon. Learn more at www.ChooseKlamath.com.
This article was in Monday’s (October 21st, 2016) Herald and News
Written By: Holly Dillemuth, H&N Staff Reporter
Missy Roberts, vice president of sales and marketing for PenAir, has eagerly watched the numbers for flights taking off and landing in Klamath Falls since the airlines first left the runway early on Oct. 5.
After nearly 30 inbound and outbound flights at Crater Lake-Klamath Regional Airport as of Thursday evening, Roberts likes what she sees.
“I watched the daily flight loads and they’re tremendous,” Roberts told the Herald and News. “They’re always in double digits. We couldn’t be more pleased with the market.”
More than 2,000 bookings with PenAir have been scheduled for the first 150 days of the operation in Klamath Falls, Roberts said.
“We could really do well in your market,” Roberts said.
It was announced at a reception at the Portland International Airport on Oct. 5 there could be a third flight added at the airport by summer 2017 if demand indicates the need.
“The company continues to look at daily flight loads,” Roberts said. “As they continue to grow, it’s certainly an indicator that the market could handle more flights.”
Roberts acknowledged that any skepticism about the long-term profitability of the flight service is natural, especially since air service with SkyWest left town in June 2014.
“There was good reason to be skeptical,” Roberts said. “We’re doing a good job proving to the community that we’re a good, reliable, safe airline.”
Airport Operations Manager Joe Goetz agreed.
“For us it’s really important that the airline succeeds,” Goetz said. “We just continue to ask the community to continue purchasing tickets.”
And PenAir is also throwing in some perks as well.
Autumn is not always the busiest time of year for flight travel, according to Roberts, and the airline is adding some incentives for those who choose to make the trip to Portland.
Those who book a flight by 9 a.m. today for travel between Oct. 28-31 can do so for $99 each way.
A promotional code — LMT16 — is also being offered for 15 percent off any flight booked by Dec. 31 for travel by Feb. 29.
“For a company to come in and start a route at a slower time isn’t necessarily the best,” Roberts said.
“That’s why we’re offering the incentives.”
Roberts also shared some helpful hints to ensure an enjoyable flight.
Passengers are encouraged to arrive one hour early to flights if they have baggage to check. Those not planning to check baggage can arrive 45 minutes prior to departure. The cut-off is 30 minutes prior to departure.
Arriving later than this can impact the flight time, according to Roberts.
“It’s not just us, it affects Transportation Security Administration and it affects everybody on the aircraft,” Roberts said.
Not to mention, arriving late can mean the complimentary coffee might be gone.
“Come early, bring a book,” Roberts said. “Enjoy the free Wi-Fi.”
Parking at the airport is also free.
PenAir offers two flights daily during the week in a 340 Saab turboprop plane twice to PDX and one flight on Saturday and Sunday.
To book online, go to penair.com. Contact Linda Tepper at the Klamath Falls’ airport with questions about the new service at 541-883-5371.
This article was in Tuesday’s (October 18th, 2016) Herald and News
Written By: Holly Dillemuth, H&N Staff Reporter
A new Harbor Freight store will open its doors at 8 a.m. today at 3838 S. Sixth Street in the Town & Country Shopping Center in Klamath Falls.
Employees completed training and prepped the 16,500-square-foot store on Monday for opening day. Paul Romanus of StoreCrafters, a retail general contractor based in New York, confirmed the opening date.
About 30-some employees have been hired at the location to date, according to Zubied Ramzan, project lead for setting up the store.
A grand opening is planned for 8 a.m. on Nov. 2, according to Ramzan.
“We’ve got all positions filled at this location,” Ramzan said.
Cumberland Holdings, a California company, purchased the Town & Country Shopping Center in September 2013 for $2.4 million.
“We’re long-term owners,” said Scott Chernoff, a principal at Cumberland Holdings. “We want to put the right tenants in there.”
Chernoff said Harbor Freight first expressed interest in the South Sixth Street site in April earlier this year and submitted a letter of intent in May.
He believes there is potential to fill more spaces at the shopping center in the months to come.
“We are on the radar screen for a number of tenants that are considering expansion in Southern Oregon,” Chernoff said.
Chernoff is confident the shopping center is making retail strides from where it was more than three years ago, before Cumberland Holdings purchased the center.
“It was kind of a ghost town,” Chernoff said of the shopping center. “Now it’s vibrant. We’ve brought the occupancy percentage from about 40 percent to about 65 percent.
Chernoff also expressed confidence in Harbor Freight as a business, which sells a wide variety of tools, equipment, and more.
“It’s a very dynamic company,” Chernoff said. “They’re on rapid expansion (nationwide).”
Chernoff said the swift turnaround time for the store is due to simultaneous planning and working on a lease for the store.
In addition to Harbor Freight, Chernoff said Cumberland Holdings extended a lease with neighboring Big Lots for 10 years.
“As part of that, we expanded their store by about 5,000 feet,” Chernoff said. “They needed more square footage.”
Construction to add space at Big Lots is still underway, Chernoff said.
This article was in Thursday’s (October 13th, 2016) Oregon Business Magazine
Written By: Kim Moore, Oregon Business Research Editor
The Klamath County Economic Development Association projects $1B will be spent in the region over the next five years on infrastructure projects, much of it in the energy sector.
Kelley Minty Morris, chair of the Klamath County Board of Commissioners, and Greg O’Sullivan, executive director of Klamath County Economic Development Association, talked to Oregon Business about their efforts to attract tech companies to Klamath County, and how a sunny climate and world class recreation will draw graduates to the area.
OB: What are you doing to improve economic development in Klamath County?
Morris: One of my strategies is redefining us as a community. We have been a natural resources-based economy. That is an important part of our economy and we need to continue to push for appropriate policies that allow us to do those things. But at the same time we need to diversify. I am very committed to working toward that diversification and better using the university we have, the Oregon Institute of Technology, to provide opportunities for new types of economic development.
In Klamath County it is not a stretch to grow what we are doing in terms of technology and energy. We have 300 sunny days a year; we should be leaders in solar and geothermal. It is my strategy to encourage my community to look beyond what we have been in the past and look to growing new parts of our economy.
OB: How has your economic development model evolved to diversify your economy?
O’Sulllivan: It started about 18 to 12 months ago when we redid the economic development model here. It is now very much a private sector model with lots of public support. We started to look at our assets – Oregon Tech being one. Right beside Oregon Tech is about 400 acres of industrial property that is all finished out in parcels and lots but was never fully built out. Some folks got together on my board and decided to rebrand that as Tech Hills in cooperation with Oregon Tech.
We devised a whole new marketing strategy around the knowledge and innovation of Oregon Tech. We decided it only makes sense to go after advanced manufacturing and high tech companies that can use our grads. We have a 97% placement rate and these grads are going to places like Garmin, Boeing and Intel. Why can’t we capture some of that innovation and keep it locally? Part of our strategy is to contact those alumni companies to see if there is way if we could get a presence from those companies here. We are early in that strategy. We have contacted 20 to 30 of those companies. The early response is very good. We have got to keep going further down the road with that vision and provide some built space for companies to go to.
OB: Do you think it is possible that Klamath Falls could become the next tech hub?
O’Sullivan: I certainly do. Here is where we are at: The state of Oregon is short of industrial property. If you want to expand and retain companies in Oregon you have got to have places like Klamath Falls with its assets. There just isn’t the industrial property in Portland, Salem and other areas. It takes so long to bring new properties in because of the Oregon land use process.
Between Tech Hills and property at the airport, we have about 600 acres of industrial property waiting for companies. I do believe Klamath Falls can be the next tech hub because you have the recipe here: knowledge and innovation coming out of Oregon Tech and our local Klamath Community College. We have identified about a $1bn of investment that will come into this region in the next five years. Those are renewable energy projects and infrastructure investment. That is about 4,600 construction jobs in the next five years. Klamath Community College has said it will meet the demand for those construction trades.
OB: What is the biggest reason that graduates should stay in the area?
O’Sullivan: I think it is the quality of life. In my tenure, quality of life was not something we sold much. In today’s economy it is all about having a happy workforce and retaining a happy workforce. This is a different sell. If you are coming out of school and you want to go to the urbanized areas like Portland and San Francisco, Klamath Falls isn’t a good fit. But the average age of students at Oregon Tech is about 27 years of age. Many want to start a family. It makes sense for those graduates to be in a place with a low crime rate, wonderful weather and recreation. The sell hasn’t been hard.
OB: How close are you to finding a new president for the Oregon Institute of Technology?
Morris: The search committee has been working with a search firm to get a pool of applicants. We have approximately 40 applicants, which we are told by the search firm is a respectable applicant pool. We have face-to-face interviews scheduled for mid-October and on-campus interviews both at Klamath Falls and Wilsonville campuses in the early part of November. The goal is to present a candidate to the board of trustees in November and get someone on board at the first of the year.
OB: What kind of qualities and experience are you looking for in a new president?
Morris: We are open-minded. We are genuinely looking for a person who is the right fit to take Oregon Tech to the next level, whether it is someone from traditional academics or someone from the business community. The committee wants a dynamic, energetic leader, who also understands the connection between the university and the Klamath community.
To read this article and others on the Oregon Business website, please refer to the link below:
Rebranding Klamath County (Oregon Business)
This article was in Friday’s (October 14th, 2016) Herald and News
Written By: Gerry O’Brien
Starting this fall, men and women enlisted in the U.S. Air Force can take aim at a bachelor’s of applied science in business administration, according to a news release from Klamath Community College.
This “Base to Bachelor’s” opportunity for active duty airmen is a collaboration between Klamath Community College and Eastern Oregon University in La Grande. 2016 is the first year this partnership-based program is being offered.
All parties involved signed off on the pact Thursday at Kingsley Field.
“It’s an honor that KCC is able to assist our men and women in uniform in reaching their education and career goals,” said KCC President Roberto Gutierrez. “The online, distance learning provided by this new collaboration makes higher education more accessible for those serving our country in Klamath Falls and beyond.”
To read this article and others on the H&N website, please refer to the link below:
KCC, EOU Ink Learning Pact (Herald and News)
This article was in Thursday’s (October 6th) Herald and News
Written By: Holly Dillemuth, H&N Staff Reporter
PORTLAND — Fresno, Houston, Kalispell, Klamath Falls.
The name of the Klamath County seat was listed in departures at Portland International Airport Wednesday afternoon, as local leaders handed out swag bags detailing local attractions for the area just feet away at the international airport.
It finally happened: Wednesday marked the inaugural day of operations for inbound and outbound PenAir flights from the Crater Lake-Klamath Regional Airport to PDX, and the long awaited event was met with jubilance by passengers of Flight 170, the first flight on PenAir’s 340 Saab turboprop aircraft. Passengers were the first to travel the new route.
“To have it right here is outstanding,” said Jim Rockholt, who traveled on the first flight Wednesday with his mother, Darlene Shults.
City Councilwoman Trish Seiler agreed.
“It’s a catalyst for change, for helping us turn the corner,” Seiler said. “It’s important that the community support the airport as an economic driver, which means, buy tickets.”
And people are buying tickets.
There have been more than 2,000 flight bookings covering the first 150 days of air service in the Klamath Basin, according to Missy Roberts, director of marketing for PenAir, during a special ceremony before the 6:40 a.m. flight.
“The community – they have come out in full force,” Roberts said.
“That’s the largest we have ever had for any single new route that we’ve had.”
Roughly 30 of those ticketholders, including Airport Manager John Barsalou, Mayor Todd Kellstrom, City Manager Nathan Cherpeski, Commander Jeff Smith of the 173rd Fighter Wing, and more arrived bright and early at the airport to fill seats on the first flight out Wednesday.
Also among the group of passengers was U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR), eager to check out the new-to-Klamath Falls airline.
“This is the dawn of a new era for possibilities for the Basin,” Wyden said early on Wednesday morning, following a small gathering of passengers, airport and Transportation Security Administration officials.
“Having these kinds of flights is going to be a huge economic multiplier for the community.”
The morning flight arrived in Portland with a warm welcome by Port of Portland officials, who hosted a reception for passengers and shared in the celebration of a new service to Klamath Falls.
“We’ve had a lot of new flight announcements, both domestically and internationally,” said Bill Wyatt, executive director of the Port of Portland. “But I have to say none of them have been as satisfying as this one, because it connects two very important points in Oregon.”
U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) joined the celebration and ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Portland International Airport before flying with the group on the return flight to Klamath Falls that arrived just before 3 p.m. for an additional ceremony in Klamath Falls.
Sen. Merkley praised local leaders for their efforts to pursue a solution to air service and a legitimate security screening option.
“It’s hard to imagine how you can sustain an economy if the folks that you’re trying to recruit have to fly in to another city and take a fairly long, windy road to get to you,” Merkley said, speaking of routes between Klamath Falls and the Rogue Valley.
“They won’t come if there’s not an easy way to get there.”
Merkley shared an update on legislation sponsored by both sides of the political aisle, and from legislators in other states.
“Congressman (Greg) Walden played an instrumental role,” Merkley said. “He and I lobbied other members of the House and eventually the House passed a bill and the Senate passed the bill that’s part of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) authorization.”
The legislation is known as the TSA Fairness Act.
The bill has not been signed into law, but TSA has since refederalized security screening in Klamath Falls, which spurred the start of air service this month.
“A big thank you to TSA for jumping in even before the ink was fully on the legislation,” Merkley said.
“A big thank you to everyone.”
Local leaders returned to Klamath Fall Wednesday afternoon to a terminal building swelling with pride and hope for a future with commercial air service.
“It’s been two years of working with a lot of people involved,” Seiler said. “All of our efforts have finally come together.”
This article was in Monday’s (October 3rd, 2016) Herald and News
Written By: Stephen Floyd, H&N Staff Reporter
In the span of two years, Basin Gaming has gone from an effort to preserve the culture of like-minded hobbyists to a business growing beyond the bounds of its walls.
Founded by owner Robert Kayton in 2014, the Klamath Falls store has recently moved to a venue three times its previous size with plans to potentially expand further if the business continues to grow.
Kayton is among a local group of enthusiasts who share a love for board games, miniatures, trading cards and role-playing games. For a while the only store catering to this crowd was Astral Games on Main Street, a satellite location for the same-named store in Medford.
When news of the local store’s closure broke in mid-2014, Kayton and others were dismayed and began contemplating what would become of their local gaming experience.
“We saw the players and we saw the people willing to be here, we just didn’t see the service being provided,” said Kayton.
With backing from fellow gamer Jason Poff, Kayton opened Basin Gaming on Sept. 24, 2014, at 932 Klamath Avenue. The store offered many of the same products as Astral Games including Magic: The Gathering, Dungeons & Dragons, Yu-Gi-Oh and other table-top games.
It wasn’t long before business started doing better than expected and, after the first eight months, Basin Gaming leased the storefront next door to better-accommodate players at their regular tournaments. Kayton said he is not particularly sure what led to the boost in their customer base, but suspects it had to do with one of their best-selling products, Magic: The Gathering cards.
Kayton said a popular set from the game was released in May of 2015 and likely helped drive business to the store. Though board games, other card games and collectibles do well, Kayton said Magic cards are the backbone of his business model between local sales and online purchases.
“Magic is the reason we can stay open,” he said.
Business continued to do well for Kayton following the expansion. More customers were coming in from off the street or after finding the store on Facebook, though not always for the services offered.
With a name like Basin Gaming, Kayton said more than a few people have dropped by looking for video games or a gambling venue.
“We’ve had people coming in saying, ‘Where’s the poker?'” he said.
They also found themselves involved in local events such as Comic Con at the Klamath County Library and Tech Con at Oregon Institute of Technology. Kayton said their participation will continue at these events, including Comic Con on Oct. 22. He said their involvement in Tech Con, slated for next January, may also assume a more administrative role to help the college achieve their vision of what the event should be.
As business kept growing into 2016, Basin Gaming again saw the need for expansion, this time contemplating the purchase of their own building. But Kayton said the business needed to have a longer history of operations before it could qualify for a real estate loan.
“We were just too new a business to make that a reality,” he said.
Kayton said he then saw a “For lease” sign at the old location of Tequila’s Sports Bar & Grill at 1111 Main Street. After finding the terms of the lease agreeable and the property owners easy to work with, Basin Gaming started making plans to move up the block.
With help from employees and loyal customers, the store’s inventory was moved into their new location the week of Sept. 19 and they were open for business that Wednesday. Kayton said the transition has been “seamless” and, being in a more visible location, business has already started to improve.
“We’ve had more walk-ins in the last week than we’ve probably had all year,” he said.
He also said the other stores on that end of the street compliment each other, between Nerds R Us drawing the gaming demographic and Jump ‘N’ Jax bringing families to the block.
“This little area right here has a lot of synergy,” said Kayton.
But even in the midst of starting and growing a local business, Kayton has continued to work as an educator for the Klamath County School District, where he currently works full-time as the band instructor for six elementary schools in and near Klamath Falls. Kayton said balancing the two can be a challenge, but said it is easier because of how much he enjoys the environment Basin Gaming has created.
“This is such a fun thing to come and do and interact with people,” he said of the store. “I look forward to coming here.”
If business continues growing, Kayton said he wants to begin offering video games and access to online and virtual reality gaming in a setting similar to an internet cafe. He said a satellite store of their own may also be in the future, but that all relies on how the new location performs.
“It really depends on how it is received,” he said.
Kayton said his ultimate goal is to provide a space for the gaming community that is open and inviting, both to beginners and veteran gamers. He said, if a new customer were to walk into his store, he hopes they find themselves forming new relationships with fellow players.
“If you’re willing to come here and give a game a try, you’ll definitely make friends,” he said.
A grand opening to celebrate Basin Gaming’s new location is scheduled for Saturday and will feature sales on all products except individual cards. The store is open from 2 to 10 p.m. and those seeking more information can call 541-238-5159 or go towww.basingaming.com.
To read this article and others on the H&N website, please refer to the link below:
Gaming Business Finds Magic Formula (Herald and News)
This article was in Sunday’s (October 2nd, 2016) Herald and News
Written By: Gerry O’Brien, H&N Editor
The Running Y Ranch Resort has been selected to host the 21st annual Travel Southern Oregon (TS0) Symposium on March 6-7, 2017, in Klamath Falls.
General Manager George Rogers said, “Running Y Ranch Resort is very excited to host this long-standing tourism industry event in March. Travel Southern Oregon has been a marketing leader for over 20 years. Its annual symposium is well-known throughout the tourism and hospitality industry for bringing the industry’s leading speakers and leaders together for an impactful day of presentations and interactive discussion. And, the Running Y Ranch Resort is an excellent choice for thisevent, as it captures the essence of Southern Oregon’s recreationally-based economy.
According to Jim Chadderdon, Executive Director of Discover Klamath Visitor and Convention Bureau, the local tourism agency: “Klamath Falls is honored to host this event. Tourism is a major economic driver to Southern Oregon and Klamath Falls, and the Running Y Ranch Resort provides an excellent location to bring travel, tourism, and hospitality professionals together for a day of professional education.”
While details are still being finalized. Travel Southern Oregon’s event typically includes keynote speeches by leaders of Travel Oregon, the Oregon Restaurant and Lodging Association, and others. Past speakers have addressed travel trends, demographics in tourism, marijuana/cannabis tourism, digital marketing, wine industry partnerships, attracting bus tour operators, regional sports marketing, and more.
“If you or your business is even remotely involved in catering to visitors, this is a not-to-be-missed event. The networking, presentations, and insights are critical to staying on top of industry changes and hence growing your business,” Chadderdon said.
To read this article and others on the H&N Website, please refer to the link below:
Tourism Symposium to be Held at Running Y (Herald and News)
This article was in Sunday’s (October 2nd, 2016) Herald and News
Written By: Samantha Tipler, Herald and News
This year the Klamath Promise is unveiling a new slogan.
Those behind the effort toward 100 percent high school graduation felt “Graduation, we all play a part” was no longer sufficient for the broader reach the movement has taken in the three years since its inception. The new logo: “Success Through Education.”
“It’s evolving,” said Klamath Promise Coordinator Anne Hiller Clark. “It’s definitely not what it was when we started.
Just the list of different events shows how the strength and impact of the Klamath Promise has changed over the last three years.
When the Klamath Promise kicked off in November, 2013, the goal was simple: 100 percent of students graduate ready for college and career. Since that time, the Klamath Promise has been behind or inspired many community efforts such as:
- The door project: In 2014 community members and businesses wrote messages on brightly painted doors to inspire students. Those doors were then placed in schools around the county;
- Cinnamon rolls: Green Blade Bakery decided to offer a class free cinnamon rolls if they set a record for the number of perfect attendance days in a row;
- Clap-Out: Roosevelt Elementary school holds a “clap out” every spring to send fifth-graders on to middle school with a cheer. They’re greeted by Klamath Union High School graduates to remind them they’re on the road to graduation;
- Graduation Walk: Community members walk to visit homes of students in danger of dropping out, reminding them how many people are encouraging them to graduate.
And in the past year, the Klamath Promise has put in two major events it hopes to make annual.
The Graduation Sensation brought all the schools in the county together, when all the graduating seniors marched down Main Street in Klamath Falls on June 2. Community members, business owners and government officials lined the streets cheering them on.
And just this past week, the Herald and News and Pacific Power kicked off the new school year by bringing all the seniors in the class of 2017 to the Ross Ragland Theater, inspiring them with speaker Aric Jackson at the Graduation Motivation event.
Though it’s not a new goal, the Klamath Promise continues taking on a major issue this school year: chronic absenteeism.
“The theme is ‘Success Through Education,’ and attendance is one of our big goals across the board for all the ages we work with,” Hiller Clark said.
Chronic Absenteeism is when a student misses 10 percent of the school year or more. This is different from overall attendance rates at a given school, as it focuses on the individual students and how missing class impacts them. Chronic absenteeism adds up to missing about 20 or more school days a year, said Klamath Falls City Schools Superintendent Paul Hillyer.
“The likelihood for students who have been chronically absent for several years to go on to an on-time graduation is very slim,” he said. “Having isolated this key variable has caused schools to work very hard and invest resources in improving attendance.”
This school year, the city district and Klamath Promise are cooperating in the Strive for Five initiative, the goal of students missing no more than five days of school this year. The Klamath Promise is also working with Oregon Tech to complete research to understand barriers students face on the way to graduation.
Another reason to change the motto to “Success Through Education” is the need to address all types of students, not just those headed for a four-year college.
“We have, over the last year, seen the need to give more opportunities for students to explore trades careers,” Hillyer said. “These trades careers also provide excellent middle class incomes to help bring students and their families a living wage.”
Thus “Success Through Education” doesn’t just mean graduating and going on to college. It can mean getting the training in high school for a trades career, also known as technical education, or going to Klamath Community College for any number of certificates.
Both Hillyer and Hiller Clark say there has been an evolution in the cooperation between Oregon Tech, KCC and the local high schools in both the city district and the Klamath County School District.
At the Graduation Motivation event last week, when Aric Jackson asked how many students were earning college credit, hands went up throughout the theater. Programs such as dual credit, College Now and pathway programs have made it easier and easier for students to earn college credit in high school, taking them toward a four-year degree or toward a certificate that will help them get a job after graduating.
“Two school districts can work in conjunction with our higher education partners to bring more opportunities for students at all high schools,” Hillyer said.
Training students in high school, college certificates or college degrees can add up to improvements for the local economy.
“We realize local economic development cannot happen without the preparation of a ready local workforce,” Hillyer said.
Part of that is ensuring schools are successful, as potential employers look to schools as a factor when deciding whether or not to relocate to an area like Klamath.
The Klamath Promise placed an advertisement in the local Discover Klamath visitors guide.
“To indicate to potential employers and people moving into the area that the community supports the schools,” Hiller Clark said, “and we are creating a pipeline of skilled workers for potential employers.”
“The Klamath Promise’s success equals Klamath Falls’ success,” Hillyer said.
One of the biggest changes since the Klamath Promise started in 2013, Hiller Clark said, is the number of cooperating agencies, businesses, faith leaders, community organizations and other partners.
“It’s grown from an effort that started out in the city schools to deal with their graduation effort to one that includes all the schools in the county,” she said. “Working closely with bringing the city and county school districts together to address not only the graduation rate issue, but other issues students face.”
Issues such as attendance, preparing for kindergarten and early learning, preparing for college, college credit in high school and helping students find the paths they want to take in life.
By getting many people from throughout the county working under the umbrella of the Klamath Promise, more are communicating on who does what and how they can work together — toward 100 percent high school graduation and success through education.
“I think it’s grown into something that is bigger,” Hiller Clark said. “The strength of it is it’s brought so many sectors of the community together to work on these issues in a broader way. So that it’s not just educators looking at education specific issues, and healthcare looking at those issues students have, and nonprofit mentoring organizations looking at providing mentors. It’s all of those groups now saying how we can work together to help the student as whole.”
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