For the first time in four years, facilities fees will see an increase in the Oakdale Joint Unified School District. At the April 23 regular meeting of the Board of Trustees, the board unanimously approved a resolution to increase the Level I fees. There was first a public hearing on the matter where the board heard a brief report by Ken Reynolds, who compiled the 2012 Developer Fee Justification Study.

On Jan. 25, the State Allocation Board increased the lowest level fees. In order to align with the new state levels, the OJUSD had to conduct a public hearing and pass a resolution.

The district will collect the maximum allowable at a rate of $3.20 for Level I residential school facility fees and $0.51 per square foot for Level I commercial/industrial fees, beginning June 23, 2012.

In reports, Director of Categorical Programs Kristi Rapinchuk gave a presentation to the board about the cyber safety education in the district. There were questions and discussion from the board and students in the audience, including a comment from OHS student Amy Bolme who said that cyber bullying is worse than bullying on campus because people are “literally and figuratively hiding behind a keyboard.” Trustee Tina Shatswell also commented that cyberbullying is “ridiculously out of control.” Rapinchuk invited student participation on the cyberbullying action team and noted that she will start working on expanding the program.

The next regular meeting of the OJUSD Board of Trustees will be at 6:30p.m. on Monday, May 14 at the OJUSD Technology and Staff Development Center, Building B, 331 Hinkley Ave., Oakdale.