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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (May 8, 2019)
Wednesday, May 8, 2019 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon Oregon offers $2 billion for schools By Sarah Zimmerman Associated Press SALEM (AP) 4 Oregon legislative leaders laid out their plan to raise billions in dollars in revenue for schools, as teachers are readying them- selves for a walkout to protest a chronic disinvestment in the state education system. Co-chairs of the Joint Committee on Student Success said Thursday, April 4, they9ll be able to raise approximately $2 billion in extra revenue each biennium to fund school initiatives focused on early education, increased class time and addressing mental and behavioral health issues in the classroom. Educators praised the plan, but didn9t say if it was enough to put an end to a planned teacher walkout in May. The Oregon Education Association, the state9s largest teachers union, said they are monitoring the outcome of the legislature9s revenue proposal. <Oregon schools are in cri- sis,= said John Larson, presi- dent of the Oregon Education Association in a statement. <If the legislature is able to fully fund their Student Success Act, we could make game- changing investments in all students, including students of color, low-income stu- dents, and students from other historically disadvantaged backgrounds.= The money will come from a new commercial activ- ity tax, which takes a portion of a business9 total revenue. Legislators are still working out the final details, but Rep. Greg Smith, a Republican from Heppner, said the tax is meant to be <spread very thinly across all businesses,= with exemptions or smaller fines for small businesses. The $2 billion in expected revenue will go to a newly created <Student Success Fund,= which will fund addi- tional educational programs and other school initiatives including smaller class sizes and more counseling services. At least 20 percent of the Student Success Fund money will be invested into early education, including special education and the state9s pre- school programs. Another 30 percent will be earmarked for statewide initiatives, including universal free meals and bul- lying prevention measures. The rest of the money 4 approximately $1 billion every two years 4 will go directly to schools to be used to improve educational out- comes in a state that suffers from one of the lowest gradu- ation rates in the country. To access that money, schools will have to submit proposals on how they will use the funds. The plans must address mental and behav- ioral health needs, and work to reduce educational barriers for students of color and other underserved students. Educators have said that a lack of funding has forced schools to cut programs, expand class sizes and lay off staff. Schools have also reported not being able to afford enough counselors or other resources to address their students9 complex mental health needs, a problem that has only gotten worse over the past decade. Teachers have reported an increase in violent behavior from students, and a survey of 2,000 Oregon teachers found that 56 percent of educators have evacuated their class- rooms at least once in the past year because a student was considered a threat to others. <Education is almost the last thing that our schools are doing because they have kids who come in who are food insecure, who are hous- ing insecure, who are deal- ing with untreated mental and behavioral issues,= said Rep. Barbara Smith Warner, a Democrat from Portland and one of the co-chairs of the student success commit- tee. <Schools have become the de facto provider for all these services, yet we aren9t funding them.= The state will monitor how effectively schools are using the money and whether districts are meeting their Moth er’s Day Brunch performance goals. Struggling schools will be given more resources and technical assis- tance to boost student success. <We9re very support- ive of this plan,= said Jim Green, executive director of the Oregon School Board Association. <We have under- funded our education system for 30 years and this is a great attempt at trying to address that.= G o v. K a t e B r o w n expressed disappointment that the plan didn9t include extra money for higher education, including community colleges and universities. She told reporters that higher education is essential for the state9s plan to provide quality education from <cradle to career.= Entertainment & Events MAY 8 WED MAY MAY 11 SAT DJK9 Rawkstar KARAOKE NIGHTS! FRIDAY • SATURDAY Prime Rib Fridays 5pm! 175 N. Larch St. t. 541-549-6114 hardtailsoregon.com Facebook darcymacey MAY 13 MON “I tend to think of songs as the whiskey of writing. Distilled down to the essence, powerful, concentrated, immediate. You can take it all in and really feel it in just seconds.” An eclectic folk trio that seamlessly combines soul-touching harmonies, varitextured instrumentals, and poignant lyrical content into a beautiful sonic tapestry. ? Sisters Saloon Poker Night 7 p.m. Every Wednesday! $20. For information call 541-549-7427 or go to sisterssaloon.net. Cork Cellars Tasty Thursday Hosted Wine Tasting 5 to 7 p.m. For additional information call 541-549-2675 or 16 go online to corkcellarswinebistro.com. THUR Sisters Saloon Karaoke Night 9 p.m. to midnight. Every Thursday, no cover! For additional information call 541-549-7427 or go to sisterssaloon.net. MAY 17 FRI MAY 18 SAT The Belfry Live Music with Slaid Cleaves 8 p.m. For tickets call 541-815-9122 or go to BelfryEvents.com. Hardtails Bar & Grill DJK9 Rawkstar Karaoke Night! 9 p.m. Every Friday, no cover! For additional information call 541-549-6114 or go to hardtailsoregon.com. Cork Cellars Live Music with Mark Conklin 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. No cover! For information call 541-549-2675 or go online to corkcellarswinebistro.com. Hardtails Bar & Grill DJK9 Rawkstar Karaoke Night! 9 p.m. Every Saturday, no cover! For additional information call 541-549-6114 or go to hardtailsoregon.com. MAY Hardtails Bar & Grill Open Mic & Jam Night 7 p.m. Every Monday, no cover! For information call 541-549-6114 or go to hardtailsoregon.com. MAY Sisters Saloon Trivia Night 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Sign-up is at 6:15 p.m. Free, every Tuesday! For additional information call 541-549-7427 or go to sisterssaloon.net. 20 MON Sunday, Sund day May 12 Hardtails Bar & Grill Open Mic & Jam Night 7 p.m. Every Monday, no cover! For information call 541-549-6114 or go to hardtailsoregon.com. MAY May 24 / Fri / 8 PM Rainbow Girls Ponderosa Forge My Own Two Hands Art Auction & Party 5:30 p.m. dinner with music by The Sugar Beets. For tickets and info call 541-588-7063 Hardtails Bar & Grill DJK9 Rawkstar Karaoke Night! 9 p.m. Every Saturday, no cover! For additional information call 541-549-6114 or go to hardtailsoregon.com. Fika Sisters Coffeehouse Pine Meadow Ranch Creative Round-Up 3 p.m. Artists Bean Gilsdorf and Diane Jacobs 14 will present current works in progress and answer questions. TUES Call 541-588-0311 for information. Sisters Saloon Trivia Night 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Sign-up is at 6:15 p.m. Free, every Tuesday! For additional information call 541-549-7427 or go to sisterssaloon.net. MAY Slaid Cleaves Hardtails Bar & Grill DJK9 Rawkstar Karaoke Night! 9 p.m. Every Friday, no cover! For additional information call 541-549-6114 or go to hardtailsoregon.com. MAY 15 WED May 17 / Fri / 8 PM Sisters Movie House The Emperor’s Club 6:45 to 9 p.m. Part of the Creativity, Culture and Faith Series. For information call Sisters Community Church at 541-549-1201. Sisters Saloon Poker Night 7 p.m. Every Wednesday! $20. For information call 541-549-7427 or go to sisterssaloon.net. Paulina Springs Books Community Game Night 6 p.m. Second Wednesday of every month. For information call 541-549-0866. Sisters Fire Hall Author Presentation with Bill Sullivan 7 p.m. “New Hikes in the Central OR Cascades.” For more info MAY call 541-549-0866 or go to paulinasprings.com. 9 THUR Cork Cellars Tasty Thursday Hosted Wine Tasting 5 to 7 p.m. For additional information call 541-549-2675 or go online to corkcellarswinebistro.com. Sisters Saloon Karaoke Night 9 p.m. to midnight. Every Thursday, no cover! For additional information call 541-549-7427 or go to sisterssaloon.net. 10 FRI HAPPY HOUR MON-FRI 4-7pm 13 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 541-549-3663 PUB OPENS 1 HR. HR PRIOR TO SHOWS BelfryEvents.com At Aspen Lakes 541-815-9122 21 TUES Events Calendar listings are free to advertisers. Submit items by 5 p.m. Fridays to lisa@nuggetnews.com ?