Colfax Elementary School has moved into the 21st Century, reports Jon Ray, district superintendent/principal.

“Who would have been able to guess one year ago that we’re where we are,” said Ray. “Even though budget cuts are coming down, we’ve had some incredible timing on things.”

Last year, the district applied to the state for a share of the state’s critical hardship maintenance funds to repair the parking lot and bus lanes at the front of the Ben Taylor Road school.

“Our parking lot was to the point where it was beginning to deteriorate. We had to do some preventive maintenance. In another year or two we’d have cracks and pot holes,” Ray explained.

Just recently, the district learned it would receive $817,000 in critical hardship maintenance funds over the next five years.

“For the first time in history because the budget went where it went, the government and legislators declared that money unrestricted,” he continued. “We can take the money and spend it wherever we need.”

With the first installment — $105,000 – the district hired Baldoni Construction from Newcastle to widen and resurface the parking lot in front of the school as well as the area in front of the pre-school and after school classrooms.

“What we’re doing with that money is trying to put as many local contractors back to work,” Ray said. ”We’re trying to stimulate our economy as much as we can.”

Another portion of the funds are being used to install surround sound as well as SMART Boards, a touch-sensitive, interactive whiteboard that connects to a laptop computer and digital projector, in all classrooms, including the Special Ed room. Cost is about $8,500 per classroom, Ray said.

Norris Electric in Auburn did the electrical work in preparation for the installation of the SMART Boards.

The gymnasium floor was “spruced up,” Ray said. After the floor was sanded down to the original hardwood, the Bulldog mascot and basketball court lines were repainted before it was refinished.

Thanks to a donation from APT and the Class of 2009, a new scoreboard has been purchased and installed in the gym.

The school board had already made the commitment to keep classroom size reductions – 20 students to one teacher in K-3 classes and 25 students per teacher in grades 4 to 8 – as well as keep a full-time physical education teacher.

“We’re going to pay for that over the next five years using those installments (from the state), he noted. “We couldn’t have predicted it would be unrestricted. If we had known that we would never have gone for Measure Q (last November’s failed bond measure).”

In the second bit of good news for the district, Ray pointed out that partnering with Colfax’s charter school has provided the district with another source of revenue.

Accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Placer CORE was established in 1998 as a public charter school as an option for parents, students, teachers and community members to provide an alternative to the public school system.

“We’re the authorizing agent for Placer CORE,” Ray explained. “They’re still considered an independent charter and have a board that oversees their operation. I’m an advisor and (board member) Carmen (Armstrong) is a member of their board.”

In return, the district receives a three- percent oversight fee.

In addition, the district is providing special ed services to their students, which provides an additional source of revenue for the school while adding to the resources available to the charter school.

“There will be expenses, of course,” he said. “They’ll be using classrooms and special ed services. It’s what’s best for the community. The community now has a lot of viable options.”

Best of all, Ray concluded, “we’re able to reinstate our eight-percent reserve. We’re able to take money and put it back to work for us.”