News from around the district

Propane buses hit the roads in Camas, district sees cost savings

Camas School District purchased 10 new, full-sized propane buses from Western Bus Sales to diversify its diesel fleet last fall and has realized multiple benefits thanks to this technology.

The Blue Bird Propane-Powered Vision(R) school bus is a conventional Type C school bus which runs on propane instead of diesel fuel. Designed and built for maximum quality and reliability, this bus utilizes the latest advancements in propane technology, including the ROUSH CleanTech Liquid Propane Autogas Fuel System and a Ford 6.8 liter engine.

Propane buses in the Camas fleet can be identified by the protruding engine at the front of the bus and this sticker on the side.

The district is realizing much more than a simple cost savings in fuel (the current propane rate is $1.72 vs. diesel at $3.30 per gallon); use of the propane buses qualifies the district for the Alternative Fuel Excise Credit–a $0.50 per gallon rebate. Additionally, the new propane-powered buses reduce the district’s carbon footprint because propane produces 60% less carbon monoxide, 12% less carbon dioxide, 20% less nitrogen oxide and up to 25% less greenhouse gases than gasoline.

Propane, also known as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), is the most widely used alternative fuel in the United States due to its high energy density, clean burning properties, established infrastructure, and domestic availability. Propane is also the third most used vehicle fuel, behind gasoline and diesel.

A colorless and odorless liquid, propane is a mixture of hydrocarbons found in natural gas and is refined from crude petroleum. Propane has a high octane rating and is usually less expensive than gasoline. Propane-fueled vehicles emit less carbon dioxide and fewer smog-forming air pollutants than gasoline-powered vehicles. Propane is non-toxic and presents no threat to soil, surface water, or groundwater.

Propane is used mainly by fleets because propane vehicles have a good driving range and the gaseous state of propane eliminates cold start problems associated with liquid fuels. Propane is also popular because of lower maintenance costs. Propane engines have been documented to have an engine life up to two times that of gasoline engines. For example, Portland Public Schools’ buses have been fueled by propane since 1985.

Benefits of Propane-Powered Buses

* Propane exhaust creates significantly less smog-forming and toxic air pollutants than gasoline or diesel.
* Propane is considered an alternate fuel under the Energy Policy Act of 1992.
* 85% of propane fuel (LPG) used in the U.S. comes from domestic sources.
* Propane is less expensive per gallon than gasoline or diesel.
* Propane vehicles have the longest driving range of any alternative fuel – more than 250 percent farther than compressed natural gas, about 60 percent farther than methanol, and 25 percent farther than ethanol.
* Those who drive propane-powered vehicles say that there are no significant driving differences between dedicated propane vehicles and diesel-powered ones.
* Many propane vehicle fleets have reported 2 to 3 years longer service life and extended intervals between required maintenance compared to diesel vehicles.
* Propane vehicles have reduced cold start issues than diesel vehicles.

Camas placed on the College Board’s 3rd Annual AP® District Honor Roll

Camas School District 117 is one of 539 public school districts in the nation being honored by the College Board with a place on the 3rd Annual AP® Honor Roll, for simultaneously increasing access to Advanced Placement coursework while maintaining or increasing the percentage of students earning scores of 3 or higher on AP exams.  Achieving both of these goals is the ideal scenario for a district’s Advanced Placement program, because it indicates that the district is successfully identifying motivated, academically-prepared students who are likely to benefit most from rigorous AP coursework.

Since 2009, Camas School District 117 increased the number of students participating in AP from 253 to 478 in 2012, with nearly 78% scoring a 3 or higher on AP Exams.  More than 90 percent of colleges and universities across the U.S. offer college credit, advanced placement or both for a score of 3 or higher on an AP Exam — which can potentially save students and their families thousands of dollars in college tuition.

“Camas is one of 73 districts in the nation to appear on the honor roll for the two consecutive years. In Washington, only three other districts hold this distinction,” commented Superintendent Mike Nerland. “It is a testament to the hard work of our students, talented staff and quality educational program offered not only at the high school level, but at our middle and elementary schools as well.”

A total of 539 school districts across 44 of 50 states in the U. S. and six Canadian provinces achieved honor roll status. The state of Massachusetts was represented by the largest number of AP Honor Roll districts, with 46, followed by Michigan, with 39.

“We applaud the extraordinary efforts of the devoted teachers and administrators in these 539 districts, who are fostering rigorous work worth doing. These educators have not only expanded student access to AP course work, but they have enabled more of their students to achieve on a college level—which is helping to create a strong college-going culture,” said College Board President, David Coleman.

Helping more students learn at a higher level and earn higher AP scores is an objective of all members of the AP community, from AP teachers to district and school administrators to college professors. Many districts are experimenting with a variety of initiatives and strategies to determine how to expand access and improve student performance simultaneously.

“There has been a great victory among educators who have believed that a more diverse population could indeed succeed in AP courses. In 2012, AP scores were higher than they’d been since 2004, when one million fewer students were being given access. These outcomes are a powerful testament to educators’ belief that many more students were indeed ready and waiting for the sort of rigor that would prepare them for what they would encounter in college,” said Trevor Packer, the College Board’s senior vice president of the Advanced Placement Program. “While we recognize that there is still much work to be done to prepare students for college, I find myself inspired daily by what they are achieving.”

Inclusion on the 3rd Annual AP District Honor Roll is based on the examination of three years of AP data, from 2010 to 2012 for the following criteria:

Districts must:

1. Increase participation/access to AP by at least 4 percent in large districts, at least 6 percent in medium districts and at least 11 percent in small districts;
2. Ensure that the percentage of African American, Hispanic/Latino, and American Indian/Alaska Native students taking AP Exams did not decrease by more than 5 percent for large and medium districts or by more than 10 percent for small districts;
3. Improve performance levels when comparing the percentage of students in 2012 scoring a 3 or higher to those in 2010, unless the district has already attained a performance level in which more than 70 percent of the AP students are scoring a 3 or higher.

When these outcomes have been achieved among an AP student population made up of 30 percent or more underrepresented minority students (Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, American Indian/Alaska Native) and/or 30 percent or more low-income students (students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch), a symbol has been affixed to the district name to highlight this work.

The complete 3rd Annual AP District Honor Roll can be found here.

Board appreciation month

As citizens who serve children and represent their communities, individual school board members face complex and demanding challenges. Yet, few people fully understand the scope and far-reaching implications of board members’ responsibilities. Camasonians should recognize the vital contributions of these men and women and focus attention on the crucial role these elected leaders play in the education of our children. They truly make a difference every day.

Their job is to establish a vision for the education program, design a structure to achieve that vision, assure schools are accountable to the community, and strongly advocate continuous improvement in student learning. That job entails an endless string of meetings and school functions to attend; multitudes of reports, agendas, proposals, and other information to read and study; and a host of difficult decisions to make.

School board members come from all walks of life. While they wear many hats in their day-to-day roles, board members put on a collective hat when they get down to the business of leading their school districts. Board members must pull together as a team toward a common goal—helping our students achieve.

Our board members contribute hundreds and hundreds of hours each year governing this district. Whether crafting policies, hiring administrators, listening to staff and student concerns, or recognizing outstanding programs, board members always keep their eyes on the goal of student achievement.

The time spent in board meetings represents just a small fraction of the hours school board members devote to their jobs. They work hard at seminars and training sessions to keep abreast of the latest changes in state and federal regulations and learn trends in educational leadership. They also are deeply involved in community activities, and spend many hours in the schools and at extracurricular events. Their love of learning and concern and caring for students, staff, and the community drive board members’ desire to ensure every student can succeed.

In recognition of this service, January is designated as School Board Recognition Month and countless districts across the state will take this opportunity to say thanks to our trustees for giving so much to their communities. Make a special effort to tell each school board member
that his or her hard work has been noticed and is truly appreciated.

Click here to meet each board member.