8 — THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS
FRIDAY, MAY 27, 2016
Local
5J: meal prices rise, host families
needed for Chinese students
League of Oregon
Cities meets
BY TODD ARRIOLA
Todd@TheBakerCountyPress.com
The Baker District
5J School Board held
its regular meeting on
Thursday, May 19, 2016, 6
p.m., in the North Confer-
ence Room, of the District
Offi ce, at 2090 4th Street.
Between 20 and 30 at-
tended, and the meeting in-
cluded presentations, hand
shakes, hugs, laughter, and
standing ovations, for ASB
(Associated Student Body)
President Bryson Smith,
Promise of Baker Student
of the Month Jayden Free-
man, and retiring teach-
ers Kathi Shaw, Joel and
Gere Richardson, and Pat
Brougham.
Present from the Board
were Chair Kevin Cassidy,
Vice Chair Melissa Irvine,
and members Andrew
Bryan, Autumn Harell, and
Chris Hawkins. Present
District staff included Su-
perintendent Mark Witty,
Assistant Superinten-
dent Betty Palmer, Chief
Financial Offi cer (CFO)/
Business Manager Doug
Dalton, and Executive Sec-
retary Norma Nemec.
Cassidy called the meet-
ing to order, and led recita-
tion of the Pledge of Alle-
giance. He announced that
a presentation for Business
Partner of the Quarter, the
Baker City Police Depart-
ment, would be moved to
the meeting in June.
Cassidy stood with
Smith, and read a cer-
tifi cate, in recognition of
Smith’s effort in the role
of ASB President (this
was his last year in that
position). Cassidy thanked
Smith for his attendance
at Board meetings, and for
his detailed BHS (Baker
High School) reports,
and he presented Smith
with the certifi cate, and a
gift. Cassidy asked Smith
to speak about his future
plans, and Smith said, “I
will be attending (liberal
arts institution) Linfi eld
College in the fall, in Mc-
Minnville, to play baseball,
and to work towards a de-
gree in physical therapy.”
Baker Technical In-
stitute (BTI) Director
Jerry Peacock stood with
Freeman, and said, “He’s
really a remarkable young
man...He’s a very good
student, extremely polite,
extremely respectful...
Several comments that he
(Freeman’s BTI welding
instructor, Griffi n Judy)
made about Jayden, that I
think really stand out, that
makes a real tribute to his
dad, Jake, and his mom,
Tracy, and that’s the fact
that he has a tremendous
work ethic...He comes in,
and goes to work...He puts
his head down, and that’s
all he does...He spends
more time in our welding
lab than anyone, with the
exception of Mr. Judy...”
Peacock presented Free-
man with a certifi cate, in
recognition as Student of
the Month.
Cassidy read a list of
retirees who were not pres-
ent at the meeting, in order
to recognize them also:
Diagnostician/Speech/
Language Specialist Sigrid
Johnson, BHS Counselor
Gail Lemberger, Printshop
Assistant Betty Peacock,
Brooklyn Primary Librar-
ian Lynda Pearson, and
BHS Custodian II Dan
Vanderpool.
Former Haines/Keating
Elementary Schools Prin-
cipal Beth Bigelow stood
Eileen Driver/ The Baker County Press
Members from around northeast Oregon gathered in
John Day for the most recent LOC meeting.
Todd Arriola / The Baker County Press
BY EILEEN DRIVER
Eileen@TheBakerCountyPress.com
Bryson Smith, student body president.
with retiring K-6 Teacher
Shaw, and provided a
comprehensive presenta-
tion, including Shaw’s
background, and experi-
ences with Shaw (Haines/
Keating Principal Skye
Flanagan had asked Big-
elow to present). Bigelow
said, “I’ve had the pleasure
of working with Kathi
Shaw, and the Keating
staff, on and off, for almost
15 years (she explained,
this is why current Haines/
Keating Principal Skye
Flanagan had asked her to
make the presentation)...
She makes it (teaching sev-
eral grades) look easy...She
always attends (various
meetings) with a positive
outlook, and a smile on her
face...She approached each
challenge with a can-do at-
titude...Despite all of these
challenges (she cited some
numerous ones), Keating
School has thrived, be-
cause of her... Kathi Shaw
has been an outstanding
teacher, and a tribute to our
profession...”
Baker Middle School
(BMS) Principal Chris
Carmiencke stood with
Joel Richardson, and said,
“I’ve got a poem for you
guys; it’s called ‘Coach R.
And His Shoes.’” This was
followed by laughter (com-
mon with all of the presen-
tations), and Carmiencke
explained that the poem
had been written by BMS
staff, and Carmiencke ar-
ranged the words. He said
that he told each teacher,
“You’ve got one minute. I
need fi ve words, no more,
no less, to describe Joel
Richardson.” Excerpts
from the poem include:
“Outstanding, old school,
in the best sense of the
word...aged, like a fi ne win
e... eclectic, and ornery...
bright, and mischievous...
strong values...strong work
ethic...strong, with great
shoes (a recurring theme
in the poem)...the Rodney
Dangerfi eld of P.E...inspir-
ing, and motivating...an in-
dividual anchor...so clearly
generous (Carmiencke said
that was the word more
teachers used to describe
him)... Coach R. Loved his
profession.”
South Baker Intermedi-
ate School Teacher Dan
VanWinkle stood with
Brougham, and said,
“Some things that our staff
says about Pat: she’s a very
caring person; anyone who
works with her knows that.
Kids always come fi rst...
She’s always more than
willing to go the extra mil
e...She never fails to help
the kids ...” VanWinkle
made several jokes about
Brogham, including stating
that she’s had more experi-
ence in the educational
system, “...literally, longer
than I’ve been alive...”
Peacock stood with Gere
Richardson, and said, “I
got to thinking, she was
my very fi rst hire in 1992
(during which time, Pea-
cock served as BHS Princi-
pal, until 2014)...” Peacock
recapped the experience
with Richardson, and the
wide variety of subjects
she had taught. “What
that tells you about her,
is that she was extremely
adaptable...a true trait
that she had, is her ability
to relate to at-risk kids...
She’s ultra organized...
She’s been an extremely
important part of Baker
School District...” Peacock
explained the contribution
Richardson’s made to the
region, with her culinary
arts instruction. As with
the other presentations,
there was no shortage of
laughter, including follow-
ing Cassidy’s comment
that it was a good point
at which to adjourn the
meeting.
The meeting agenda was
approved, along with the
minutes from the Tuesday,
April 19, 2016 retreat, the
April 21, 2016 regular
Board meeting, and the
May 6, 2016 special Board
meeting.
During the Information
segment of the meeting,
Cassidy mentioned a Clas-
sifi ed Transfer, Christie
Randall, from Brooklyn
Secretary, to Brooklyn
Library Technician.
No participation was
noted during the Public
Comment segment of the
meeting.
Cassidy listed Certifi ed
New Hires: Lisa Davis,
South Baker Special
Education; Ellen Jacobs,
District Diagnostician/
Speech/Language; Lacey
Hirst, Haines 5th Grade
Teacher; Kate Johnson,
Brooklyn 3rd Grade
Teacher; and David Laws,
BHS English Language
Arts. Certifi ed Transfers
included: Amanda Wilde,
from Brooklyn 3rd Grade,
to Keating Head Teacher
K-6; Silas Turner, from
BMS Counselor, to BHS
Counselor; Jason Ramos,
from BMS Math, to BHS
Math; and Maggie Leath-
erbury, from South Baker
6th Grade, to South Baker
Special Education. Certi-
fi ed Job Share included:
Nicole Sullivan, and
Samantha Sullivan, BMS.
Certifi ed Resignations in-
cluded: Heidi Stocks, BHS
Match Teacher. Certifi ed
Retirement included: Joel
Richardson, BMS Physi-
cal Education Teacher.
Extra-Duty Resignations
included: Joel Richardson,
BHS Assistant Football
Coach; Hope Perkins, BHS
Cheer Coach; and Chelsea
Hurliman, BHS Assistant
Volleyball Coach. The
complete list was ap-
proved.
Among other items, the
second, and third readings
of the following policies
were approved: IGAEB,
Drug, Alcohol and Tobacco
Prevention, Health Educa-
tion; IGBAF-AR, Special
Education Individualized
Education Program (IEP);
IKF, Graduation Require-
ments; and JEBA, Early
Entrance.
The Board discussed
a proposed increase in
District meal prices, which
hasn’t been implemented
in the last several years,
because the difference
between the paid meal
revenues, and free meal
revenues was paid out of
general funds. The need to
eventually close that gap
is required by the Healthy,
Hunger-Free Kids Act,
section 205. The proposed
meal prices for 2016-2017
are: K-6 breakfast, $1.35;
K-6 lunch, $2.35; BMS
breakfast, $1.35; BMS
lunch, $2.45; BHS break-
fast, $1.60; BHS lunch,
$2.60; Adult breakfast,
$1.70; and Adult lunch,
$3.10. These meal prices
refl ect an increase of $.10,
above current prices. The
increase was approved.
The Board discussed a
proposed LKV (Leatham,
Krohn, Van Ocker)
Architects assessment of
District facilities, some of
which Cassidy said are in
an “appalling” state. This
assessment would include
general building informa-
tion, assessment of each
building element (sub-
structure, shell, interiors,
services, equipment and
furnishings, and special
construction and demoli-
tion), current replacement
value, capacity analysis,
safety and security analy-
sis, technology infrastruc-
ture assessment, indoor air
quality and water quality
assessment, and harmful
substance (such as lead, or
asbestos) assessment.
Among announcements
made, Witty said that BHS
will once again host Chi-
nese students from Shaanxi
Shiquan High School, in
Xian, China. There will
be eight students, and two
adults in Baker City for
13 days, from July 14th,
through July 27th. Host
families are needed (a
total of four, to host two
students each), and anyone
interested is asked to con-
tact Ben Merrill, at 541-
519-3458. Host families
receive $100 per student
hosted.
The City of John Day was the host of this quarter’s
League of Oregon Cities (LOC) Regional Meeting. It was
held in the River Room of the Outpost Pizza, Pub & Grill
at 201 W. Main Street at 11:00 a.m. A delicious buffet of
sandwiches and salads was laid out for attendees to dine
on.
The meeting was chaired by LOC President and Salem
City Councillor Brad Nanke who opened the meeting
welcoming everyone and thanking them for the higher
than expected turnout. He introduced LOC Member Ser-
vices Director Susan Muir who explained the new
LOCData system, which allows members to access city
data, on any member city, all in one convenient loca-
tion at data.orcities.org. She also spoke about the new
Property Tax look-up, which should be up and running in
about 30 days.
Dave Nelson, Public Service Director for CIS ( City/
County Insurance Service), gave a talk: “What’s new
at CIS” explaining the new discount schedule for call-
ing and working with the pre-loss division whenever a
discipline or termination situation comes up and letting us
know that answers to many of your questions can also be
found at cisoregon.org.
Craig Honeyman the Intergovernmental Relations
Director for LOC let the members know that in 2016
they have been carefully watching and working on the
following bills: Property Tax Reform SJR 201, HB 4146
Transient Lodging Tax, SB 1533 Inclusionary Zoning &
Construction, SB 1573 Preempting of voting & annexa-
tion, SB 1547 Renewable energy & public utility defi ni-
tion, SB 1511 patient access, HB 4014 marijuana tax
collection, HB 1532 minimum wage, HB 4067 Whistle
Blower, SB 1529 prohibit HOA’s of lawn watering
regulations, HB 1563 septic loan program and SB 1584
municipal water right extension. Summaries of these bills
are available at the LOC web site.
He also wanted everyone to look for the priority
survey, coming out soon, that needs to be fi lled out and
returned that will let them know where their priorities
should be in 2017.
Mike McCauley, LOC Executive Director, went over
what constitutes a public meeting and how important it is
to consult a city attorney before calling an executive ses-
sion to make sure it qualifi es. A handy guide can be found
at openoregon.org. McCauley wanted everyone to
know, “Oregon has the strongest home rule laws in the
country and the league will continue to defend and up-
hold home rule.”
Nanke closed out the meeting by reminding all pres-
ent of City Hall Week on September 12. He encouraged
everyone to take advantage of it and get to know their
representatives and let them know what is important.
Also members should please plan to attend the LOC
Conference being held in Salem this year on September
29 through October 1 at the Salem Convention Center.
On the agenda for the 91st annual conference is special
workshops for mayors, councillors and managers, trades
shows, keynote speakers and several different city tours.
Attending the LOC Regional Meeting was Eileen Driv-
er Huntington; City Councillor, Shellie Nash Huntington;
Deputy City Recorder, Leanne Woolf Sumpter; Planning
Commission, Marsie Watson Long Creek; City Recorder,
Tawni Bean IFA; Regional Director, Andy Perez Ander-
son Perry Engineering, Bob Yukawa Monument
Finance Manager, Jim Hamsher Prairie City; Mayor,
Louis Provencher John Day; City Councillor, Josh Walker
Seneca; City Manager, Bob Armbruster Sumpter
City Councillor; Annie Oakly Sumpter; President of the
Council, Steve Schuette John Day; City Councillor, Paul
Smith John Day; City Councillor, Ruth Moore Dayville;
City Recorder, Pat McCorry Monument; City Councillor,
Dorothy Jordan Monument; City Recorder; Patty Johnson
Monument; City Councillor,; Susan Christiansen Interim
Director GEODC in Pendleton; Peggy Gray John
Day City Manager, Roberta Vanderwell Nyssa
City Manager; and Amy Harlan Nyssa Finance Manager.
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