District overview
Fossil School District 21J
Funding structure, how it compares to peers, and where major projects stand.
A tiny rural district that runs a statewide online charter
Fossil School District 21J serves the town of Fossil in Wheeler County, Oregon, with Fossil Grade School and Wheeler Junior/Senior High School (grades 7-12), which together have well under 100 students. The district also sponsors the Fossil Charter School distance-learning program. Run under contract with Distance Learning Solutions, Inc., it enrolled 4,039 students statewide in September 2026. State school funding follows those students, so the district's 2026-27 budget totals $76.6 million. A five-member elected board governs both.
Online program drives the budget
The 2026-27 budget is $76,588,811, with a permanent tax rate of $4.3963 per $1,000 of assessed value.
Long waitlists
The program held a lottery, and more than 800 students were still on its waitlist in fall 2026.
Co-op with neighbors
Fossil, Spray and Mitchell share sports, and a co-op committee raised merging into one unified district in April 2026.
Community debate
Overflow crowds in August and September 2026 raised curriculum, library-book and communication concerns.
Board members say the online program is fully staffed for growth, and the district says it has added spots only when ready.
Where the district stands
Major projects
Locker room remodel / library addition
in designThe district hired Pillar Consulting as design professional in July 2026, and the project was proceeding as planned in September.
- Architect/engineer RFP issued
- Pillar Consulting selected
- Moving forward as planned
Funding
Capital projects fund
2027-37 Distance Learning Solutions contract
proposedA 10-year contract renewal with the company that runs the online program is on the October 26, 2026 agenda.
- Contract amendment approved
- Amendment #12 approved
- 2027-37 contract on agenda
Funding
State School Fund (online charter ADM)
Recent news
Built from board agendas and minutes (November 2025 to October 2026) posted on www.fossilschools.com, plus the 2024-25 audit and district policies.
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