8 — THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2015
Local
5J Board focuses on ‘The
Promise of Oregon’
BY SUNNY WERNER
Sunny@TheBakerCountyPress.com
Last Thursday’s School
Board meeting was called
to order and the Pledge of
Allegiance recited. Imme-
diately following, a brief
video on “The Promise of
Oregon” was presented to
the attending public.
The “Promise of Oregon”
is a project of the Oregon
School Board Association
(OSBA), and the video
briefly explains the goals
of the “Promise:”
1. To create “a ground-
swell of public support for
K-14 education, in hopes
of meeting our 40-40-20
goals and lifting student
achievement and gradua-
tion rates.”
2. To “advocate for
funding levels necessary
for all of Oregon’s students
to compete in the 21st cen-
tury world economy.”
Members of the Board
have recently returned
from an OSBA conference.
They related their experi-
ences and described their
reactions later in the meet-
ing.
Students of the Month
were presented. Maken-
zie Flanagan from South
Baker Intermediate School
was selected as “Promise
of Baker Student of the
Month.”
Jazmine LaBonte was
Baker Middle School
“Promise of Baker Student
of the Month.”
The Meeting Agenda
was approved, as were the
Minutes of the Regular
Board Meeting of October
20.
A revision was made to
Board meeting dates with
the Board agreeing to meet
henceforth on the third
Thursday of each month.
Bryson Smith, BHS
liaison, gave his report to
the Board.
Smith reported on the
sports scores, Christmas
drives by each grade, and
the fundraising by groups
such as the FBLA. He
informed the Board that
the drives and fundraisers
were very successful.
Reports on the OSBA
Convention were then
given by Board members
and administrative staff.
Jerry Peacock reported
that he “presented the
Baker Technical Insti-
tute to OSBA members
attending the conference,
to standing room only
crowds.” Peacock de-
scribed to the conference
attendees “the evolution of
BTI, how programme has
been developed, the goals
and design ideas.” He told
the 5J Board and attendees
that he had received “great
questions” and that the in-
formation on BTI was met
with “a very enthusiastic
reception.”
Kevin Cassidy, Board
Chair, reported that he had
also made a presentation at
the Conference. He taught
a workshop on “How to
integrate ‘The Promise of
Oregon’ into educational
efforts.”
Cassidy also mentioned
that he had been struck by
the fact that “it is the arts
that we honor most, but
they take the biggest hit
when it comes to funding.”
Melissa Irvine said, “I
came home energized, but
humbled.”
Andrew Bryan told
the group, “Baker is very
involved in leadership, and
we are a good example to
eastern Oregon.”
Autumn Harrell said, “It
was a great experience.”
Assistant Superintendent
Betty Palmer talked about
how much she had appreci-
ated the presentations by
performance groups from
around the state. “There
were native dancers and
drummers from Umatilla,
the Silverton Woodwinds,
and the Sherwood Aca-
pella,” she explained.
5J Superintendant Mark
Witty said the confer-
ence provided “a balance
between knowledge and
inspiration.”
The Board then dis-
cussed policies and how
best to implement them.
Following that discussion
was the Superintendent’s
Report.
Witty told the Board
about Senate Bill 447 and
the possibility of more
funding with matching
grants.
He also discussed the
Technology Survey, in
which data is being gath-
ered on how infrastructures
work for each school.
There is also a Medic-
aid survey underway.
The Parent/Community
“Input Nights” are gather-
ing data to gain a better
picture of services needed.
In January, said Witty,
there will be a Promise of
Oregon “legislature op-
portunity day,” to which all
elected representatives will
be invited to a round table
with community members
and school administrators
to discuss “educational is-
sues from the cradle to the
grave.”
Palmer then presented
her Report.
She informed the Board
that she had sent three
teachers to a training in
Clackamas for math cur-
riculum.
She has held four parent
Math Nights so far.
Math teachers in K-6,
7 & 8, and 9-12 have met
with all teachers to discuss
applied math in non-
content math classes. The
goal is to strengthen those
instructors.
Palmer explained to
the Board that she and
the Math teachers have
attended meetings in
Ontario where publishers
and sales representatives
have presented their math
curriculae.
Palmer and the teach-
ers are in work groups to
deliberate the benefits of
each curriculum, so they
can present their findings
to the District.
The Federal government
has issued recommenda-
tions that all states adopt
the Open Education Net-
work, which is all online.
Palmer told the Board that
the District has 17 new
certified teachers this year,
all of whom are receiving
training.
The Parent Advisory
Committee will have its
first meeting on Tuesday,
December 8th.
Doug Dalton presented
the Financial/Transporta-
tion/Maintenance Report.
Dalton presented the Board
with copies of the budget.
He commented that, with
property taxes coming
in, there were no current
issues.
Dalton is overseeing
the new bus and facility
evaluations. He has an en-
gineering report on seismic
issues.
Moving forward on the
High School gym and that
at Brooklyn, the cost will
be $1.5 million to bring
both facilities up to seismic
grade.
Dalton reported that the
boiler at the High School is
currently the biggest facil-
ity issue, because it will
have to run all winter.
Bryan suggested that
SB447 might be available
for capital improvements,
which could be sought
after bonding.
Dalton then covered
the latest PERS changes,
explaining that the market
had not performed as
expected and therefore has
negatively impacted PERS
budget planning.
Dalton told the Board
that he has been appointed
to a state group with edu-
cators and employers, in
which he will be repre-
senting Baker Technical
Institute.
Action items for the
Board were then presented.
These included:
Extra duty new hires:
approved.
Second and Final Read-
ing of Policies: decision
made to reevaluate at a
later date.
2015 OSBA Election for
Board Position 1 and Leg-
islative Policy Committee
Position 1: approved.
Resolution 16-05: Bus
Lease: approved.
Future Agenda Items
were agreed upon, and the
Board’s Regular Session
was adjourned to Ex-
ecutive Session to conduct
deliberation with persons
designated by the govern-
ing body to carry on labour
negotiations.
Christmas
tree
CONTINUED FROM
PAGE 1
Wrote Nelson in an
email, “Chuck Carey was
our certified tree-cutter.”
Beverly Andrews from
840 Lund Lane was the
owner and generous donor
of the tree.
Baker City Public Works
will be decorating the tree
this year. New lights and
ornaments were purchased
by HBC last year and seen
for the first time on that
tree.
The lighting will take
place on the corner of
Court and Main, Saturday,
December 5, just following
the City’s annual Twilight
Parade.
The parade begins just
after dusk at 5 p.m. this
year.
Fire barrels will be
located on corners as tem-
peratures are expected to
be below freezing.
Lawsuit
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Addison believes, as stated
in court filings, “Since, and
as the result of, the publica-
tion of his editorial, plaintiff
has been the subject of a
series of harassing, de-
famatory and economically
damaging actions by Baker
City police officers.”
The plaintiff’s case was
outlined in the November
6, 2015 issue of The Baker
Submitted Photo.
County Press.
The defense’s points,
which were included in the Reporter Brian Addison.
November 21 response,
include:
• At all material times,
defendants had the right
pursuant to the First
Amendment of the United
States Constitution to
express their opinions and
views; therefore, the defen-
dants can not now be held
liable for such expressions,
since any comments made
Kerry McQuisten / The Baker County Press
by the defendants about the
plaintiff were protected by
the First Amendment of the Baker City Police Chief
United States Constitution. Wyn Lohner.
• Defendants would have
made the same decisions
regardless of any of the alleged acts set forth in the plain-
tiff’s complaint.
• Plaintiff’s claims, or a portion thereof, are barred by
the statute of limitations, or other statutes, rules, or laws,
which limit the time in which the plaintiff had to initiate
his claims.
• Plaintiff’s claims, as alleged, resulted from an act or
omission of an officer, employee or agent of Baker City,
when such officer, employee or agent was immune from
liability; therefore, defendant Baker City is immune from
liability.
• Plaintiff’s claims are based upon the defendants’
performance of or the failure to exercise or perform a
discretionary function or duty; therefore, defendants are
immune from liability.
In total, sixteen defenses are listed.
Addison is represented by Clifford S. Davidson of
Sussman Shank, LLP out of Portland.
Since the initial filing, Addison has also requested a
special hearing to outline terms of police interaction
with him while the suit is ongoing, as well as a motion to
expedite discovery in the case.
Addison is seeking an unspecified amount for dam-
ages. He is also seeking “reasonable attorneys fees” and
“punitive damages” to be determined at trial, should the
case continue that far.
The City of Baker City and Lohner ask that if the
Plaintiff’s complaint is dismissed, that Addison provide
reimbursement for their costs and disbursements incurred
during the suit, together with “reasonable attorney fees to
be fixed by the Court pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983.”
Interim 9-1-1
call center director
named—twice
BY KERRY McQUISTEN
News@TheBakerCountyPress.com
An interim 9-1-1 Call Center / Dispatch director has
been appointed, but the appointee has changed twice in
one week and is slated to change again in January. The
interim director replaces Jason Yencopal who filled the
role for a time, and continues on in his other capacity
with Baker County Emergency Management.
On November 20, the County/City 9-1-1 Advisory
Board met and decided to conduct a renewed search
for a permanent 9-1-1 director, opening up the search
continuously across multiple states until a fully qualified
candidate can be located and hired.
Baker City Manager Mike Kee also mentioned during
this Tuesday’s City Council meeting that the recruitment
process will be opened up again for the position, as a
qualified applicant pool had not been garnered during
prior efforts.
In the interim, Baker County Commissioner Bill
Harvey appointed Margaret Sackos, a current 9-1-1 call
center employee, to manage that center and maintain the
current records system. Sackos was to report directly to
Harvey beginning December 1, as announced by Coun-
cillor Mike Downing, also during Tuesday’s Baker City
Council meeting.
However, on November 25, Harvey stated in a memo
that Sackos would be unable to act as interim call center
director after all, citing family health reasons.
Effective December 1, Jerry Boyd, who serves as
Reserve Commander, will oversee the 9-1-1 Dispatch
center, with the exception of supervising his daughter
and employee Ruthie Boyd, in order to avoid a conflict of
interest. Ruthie Boyd will report directly to Harvey.
The arrangement is expected to be temporary, with
Boyd staying on only until January, “when Mr. Boyd’s
replacement can take over until a permanent director is
placed,” wrote Harvey in a memo.
Thus far there has been no announcement of who the
new interim director may be come January 2016.