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About Appeal tribune. (Silverton, Or.) 1999-current | View Entire Issue (May 10, 2017)
Appeal Tribune Wednesday, May 10, 2017 3B Commentary How is school district measuring up? GENE PFEIFER Historically, school board members are the most In 1993 and in 1999, a Silver Falls School District task force was formed. Both times my peers selected me as chairman. Why were we meeting? It was because the high school was deemed to be getting overcrowded, with talk about adding “modules”. Many believed that that was a poor investment, and we rec- ommended a new high school with the condition that the Schlador Campus be maintained for an upgraded and remod- eled in-town middle school. A Recent re- view by local experienced architects and engineers indicate that the whole 100,000 sqft campus may be seismically correct- ed and upgraded as a middle school for under $10 million, versus new for $30 to 40 million. After two bond failures with the pub- lic owners voting 57%, “no”, the majority of our current School Board continued with the intent to demolish the primary Schlador structure. Ignoring the written precedent, a $4.5 million proposal by Dalke Construction to solve the problem economically, the current superinten- dent then told the board, “We have been given a directive to vacate Eugene Field and move students around”. What was his solution? “Modules”. We now have a school board election. Historically, school board members are the most education-minded, fiscally re- sponsible individuals in a community. They do not focus on delivering cookies to otherwise neglected teachers, or in referencing our building assets, suffer- ing from the board’s own failure to fix deferred maintenance, in terms of, “…lipstick on a pig.” Starting in the early 70s, in reflection of my approximate 25 years spent most- ly as the chairman of the school budget committee, we had board members such as Ole Paulson, Bob Humphries, Bob Roth, Betty Kuenzi, Dennis Taylor and others who were dedicated to the excel- lence of our students and economic sur- vival of our district. But unlike today, they did not allow buildings to leak or education-minded, fiscally responsible individuals in a community. They do not focus on delivering cookies to otherwise neglected teachers, or in referencing our building assets, suffering from the board’s own failure to fix deferred maintenance, in terms of, “…lipstick on a pig.” completely turn off the heat. We recall Ole Paulsen flicking off light switches in the gym to remind and give example to a few after school students that they did not need all the lights on to play “horse”. Let’s refresh our memory about other actions resultant from most of the cur- rent Board in recent times. Does this re- flect the historically friendly town of Sil- verton, which is now vested with the re- sponsible title of “The Garden City of Oregon” or the same example and train- ing we or our children have benefited from over the years? Mild mannered ex-board member, Dave Beeson, had been publicly labeled as “arrogant” numerous times in board meetings when sincerely expounding on the concerns of teachers and the lack of thorough investigation into local fiscal solutions. The superintendent has repeatedly hired big time consultants, spending funds that depleted general fund re- sources. Without a consensus of the public, money for “modules”, not long-term im- provements, over $2 million was bor- rowed without proven resources for re- payment. The district property on Steel Hammer was sold prematurely, a year before the housing market improved, for a cash shortage of about $500,000. Eu- gene Field, with a district functional val- ue of about $10 million a year ago, was listed for sale for $1.5 million and has now been reduced to $1.1 million Rather than evaluating a functional 8 classroom remodel design provided them in advance, and which had rest- rooms to code, a principal’s office, li- brary, and conference rooms, the Board went along with the superintendent’s wish to continue the crony relationship with the same architect who designed both phases of the expensive new high school. More money has been spent on just used “modules” than the permanent repurposing of the shop building would have cost. Students now using the “modules” must be escorted outside to use the rest- rooms. The new elementary covered play shed, incorrectly designed relative to drainage and wind, has muddy children returning to the classroom. Property in control by the district by means of “first right of refusal” was re- cently purchased on the end of Grant Street for about $250,000,00 for “addi- tional parking” when not necessary; and in conflict with other major cash flow priorities. Without venting the issue for citizens’ opinion, the superintendent, in an action that was negligent to the public an ex- tremely bad example to our impression- able students regarding “true sustaina- bility” and “responsibility,” cut down the two giant Sequoia trees on the Schlador Campus at James Street. These trees were not only integral to the school prop- erty but of the whole extended communi- ty. They were not only significant but symbolic of Silverton, historically a log- ging community and now a center of our farming community and the Oregon Gar- dens. One of these magnificent trees was 170 feet tall with an accurate circumfer- ence of 25.5 feet. Forty years ago the Board had specifi- cally saved the trees as being an impor- tant example of us. Alternate methods, for example, a curve in the street, would have sustained them into perpetuity. The cost of removal exceeded a proven meth- od of saving them by about $100,000.00 when it was not urgent, and when known cash problems existed. The current board has been fixated on new buildings rather than sustaining general fund needs. The conclusions for the district vot- ers to consider is if the majority of the Board are out of touch with the teaching community and the voting constituents. Inclusively, there is a lack of appropriate communication and excessive control of teacher performance by the top two paid management of SFSD. Additionally, there is a lack of good conscience rela- tive to fiscal responsibility and neglect of district assets. Are our elected, re- sponsible for the utmost methods of teaching our youth and preserving our cash and physical assets, doing the same in neglecting their personal responsibil- ities and assets at home? In football or other sports, when play- ers continue to fumble the ball or neglect the play, they are recalled to the bench. The incumbents have had their chance, and need to be retired. Finally, we have many great intelli- gent people in our community that will serve us well. According to the Silverton Appeal, 3/29/2017, a “political action committee” is encouraging a vote by gender. Never should anyone be labeled or discriminated against as a man or a woman, political party or faith. Never in my experience with the Silverton School boards has this been an issue in compe- tence. The voter owners of Silver Falls School District need to make their vote count by selecting board members capa- ble of making decisions based on vision, not on knee-jerk reaction. Who will be ac- countable to sustain our long-term edu- cational needs and goals? Republicans seek transparency in Legislature TRACY LOEW STATESMAN JOURNAL Republican lawmakers got a hearing May 1 on three measures they say would make the Legislature’s work more trans- parent to the public. The proposals would require bills to carry the name of at least one senator or representative; would require amend- ments to state the name of the lawmaker or committee behind them; and would limit the use of “emergency clauses.” Nearly half of the bills introduced since 2003 have been at the request of an agency or committee, or otherwise lacked a legislator’s name, Sen. Kim Thatcher, R-Keizer, told the Senate Rules Committee. “That allows legislators to duck and hide, potentially, from legislation they’ve introduced,” she said. And no amendments before 2016 named their authors, said Sen. Alan Ol- sen, R-Canby. During the 2016 session, legislators were given the option of adding their names to amendments. In the House, 70 percent of amendments had a name, and in the Senate 73 percent did. That’s not good enough, Olsen said. “If you’re proud enough to write an amendment, you should be proud enough to put your name on it,” he said. “Stand up and say ‘I did it.’” SJR 42 would amend the Oregon Con- stitution to require that every legislative measure be introduced at the request of a senator or representative. It would be subject to voters’ approval at the next general election. SB 665 would require proposed amendments to measures to identify the name of the member or committee pro- posing them. Conservative lawmakers also have been attacking the Democratic major- ity’s increasing use of “emergency clauses,” which allow legislation to take effect immediately, preventing oppo- nents from mounting a voter referen- dum. “From the perspective of the public, it could be an attempt to avoid the people having an opportunity to opine on an is- sue before it takes effect,” said Sen. Jeff Kruse, R-Roseburg. SJR 38 would amend the Oregon Con- stitution to require a two-thirds majority vote in favor in each chamber to pass bills declaring an emergency, subject to voters’ approval at the next general elec- tion. CLASSIFIEDS Find a new job or career Discover Discover Disc Di scov sc over ov er your y your ourr new ou new ne w ho home home me silvertonappeal.com Place an ad online 24/7 at StatesmanJournal.com or call 503-399-6789 • 1-800-556-3975 Turn here for your next vehicle HOMES & RENTALS JOBS Currently, measures which include an emergency declaration need only a ma- jority vote in each chamber. “This is just a way from our perspec- tive to make sure the use of emergency clauses is for appropriate reasons,” Kruse said. However, the committee’s chairwom- an, Sen. Ginny Burdick, D-Portland, not- ed the bill also would give minority party legislators more power over legislation supported by the majority of Orego- nians. Only the measures’ Republican spon- sors testified in their favor, and no one spoke in opposition. 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