Evans Valley Elementary School may have a second life as a co-op. “When Evans Valley Elementary School was closed in spring 2011, the parents and community of Wimer became inspired,” the emerging Evans Valley Education Co-op said on its website, www.evecoop.com. “We shed our tears, then got to work. A cooperative group of parents and volunteers have created a ‘new model’ in education.”
The co-op hopes to lease an annex and the grounds of the school, 8205 E. Evans Creek Road in Wimer, from the Rogue River School District.
“But that is not a done deal yet,” said the district’s new superintendent, Paul Young. “We have a ways to go before we determine whether or not this is the best thing for the district, and whether or not it’s even a contract that we can enter into with the PTA.”
He explained that the PTA is representing the co-op because the co-op is not a 501(c)(3) — an officially tax-exempt nonprofit.
“While many think a PTA is just involved when a school is open, technically, PTA is a community advocate 501(c)(3) that reaches out and provides family and community programs,” Mysti Jacob, president of the Evans Valley chapter, said in an email.
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