2010
News
3
Major budget cutbacks leave programs intact
E mily R eed _________________
It doesn't take a lot of
observation to notice that
there have been many
changes at WLHS since June.
The State revenue fell by $3.3
million for this school year
and the effects are being seen
throughout the school.
"We lost 12 people from
our building last year. Eleven
either found another job
in the district, retired or
resigned. Only one was out of
a job," Lou Bailey, principal,
said.
Class sizes are another
aspect that changed from last
year.
"We went from classes
ranging from 24 to 30
students last year to classes
ranging from 29-37 this year,"
Bailey said.
Select Spanish classes now
range from 35-38 students, a
rather substantial jump from
where they were last year. In
addition to this, social studies
and math classes now average
about 35 students.
When faced with the
problem of which classes
with their department on
how to divide up the kids
and the forecasting numbers
and where to have higher
class sizes. In some cases,
due to the budget,
there weren’t many
choices to be made.
We would prefer
to have lower class
sizes in freshman
and sophomore
courses," Bailey said.
Although the
budget was tight, the
district didn't have
to make too many
sacrifices, according
to Bailey. "We didn't
have to cut any
programs this year,"
Bailey said.
The district did
not have to cut was
the supply budget
this year.
"We have kept the
Photo by Hannah Zaayer supply budget pretty
Adam Betzelberger, social studies teacher,
flat over the last
is one of the 12 staff members who is no
five years, it hasn't
longer working in the building due to
budget cuts. In addition to staff reductions, changed much,"
the school faces program reductions in the Roger Woehl, district
superintendent, said.
next few years.
would have more students
and which would remain the
same, administrators had a
system.
"Department chairs work
According to Woehl,
the budget picture will not
improve much in the next
few years. "We will have to
make the same cut next year,"
Woehl said.
Back in September, there
was speculation about the
School Board's proposal to cut
15 days off of the school year.
According to Woehl, it was
unrealistic to have all of the
15 days be student days.
"We will cut a mixture of
holidays, teacher work days
and then a few student days,"
Woehl said.
The final decision cut nine
student days throughout
the year, approximately one
per month, and six staff
development or work days.
Staff members are working 15
unpaid days throughout the
remainder of the year.
Figuring out when to take
these days off was perplexing.
"We can't take them all
from the end of the year,
because then teachers could
apply for unemployment and
the benefits come out of the
district's money," Woehl said.
During the summer,
the school underwent
refurbishing in the main gym
and old commons area. This
was funded by a capital grant.
"What people don't
understand is that we have
two sources of money, the
Capital Construction money
and the Operation money.
We can't use one to fund
another," Woehl said.
Both Bailey and Woehl
agree it will require the
reorganization and redesign
of classes. In the near future,
there could be more online
classes like the culinary arts
class started last year.
There has also been talk of
giving students the option of
increasing and changing their
school day.
"Some students prefer to
have a different schedule
either coming in later and
staying later, and in the
future we could give students
options," Bailey said.
District moves closer to offering
Recurring rumors falsify regulations heathy lunch options for students
E mily A rt _________________
Some rumors never die.
Year after year, the same
buzz about lengthening the
six month probation period
"Ten years ago, they
made the six months rule for
people under the age of 18,
but no other laws extending
the six months has been
possible Congress will not
collect enough votes and
will have to re-vote on it
in the future. If Congress
chooses to pass it, Oregon
b efo re teen s c a n d riv e o th e rs
h a s w o rrie d teen d riv e rs . It
d isc u s se d o r is in p r o c e s s ,”
H o u s e sa id . "N o la w s, s u c h
w ill h a v e a m in im u m o f th re e
y e a rs to d e cid e to a c c e p t th e
as the extended one year
wait, will take effect this year
or the next. The DMV would
not be able to establish those
kinds of laws anyway. They
take many years to develop
and pass."
The only restriction on
driving with others is already
in effect in Oregon. But
there is a proposed law in
Congress that could possibly
change driving laws for all
states.
In
Congress,
there is a
legislation
called the
STANDUP
Act (Safe
Teen and
Novice
Driver
Uniform
Protection)
which
would alter
Photo by Rachael Woolley driving
Kevin H olm es, sophom ore, concentrates w hile for teens
behind the wheel during his Driver's Ed lesson. If drastically,
students continue to drive safely and responsibly, The
the possibility of putting the STANDUP Act into STANDUP
action is decreased.
Act is a
proposed
"I haven't even heard
federal law, which means
about this new one year
all states would have to
wait plan, but it is not a
individually accept the law.
law," David House, DMV
For states that do not adopt
spokesman, said.
the modifications, they
House was unsure how
would receive substantial
this rumor began and why
cuts to their highway
it continues to resurface
funding.
every year, even though no
Congress is currently
new regulations have been
voting on the law. It is very
implemented in Oregon.
has become an urban myth
among younger generations
This additional six month
chatter affects all people born
in 1995 and thereafter. They
would be required to wait
one year after earning their
license before driving with
others in their car. Countless
people are unsure if and
when this law will apply,
while others are concerned
that the one-year-wait law is
already in effect.
STANDUP Act. Oregon may
settle on not accepting the
law, but certain consequences
will come along with that
decision.
The STANDUP Act will
change driving for young
drivers more than what most
teens expect. The Act would
allow drivers to earn their
learners permit at age 16 and
license at age 18. If driving
at night, there must be
supervision by an adult and
a maximum of one person
would be allowed to ride in
the car.
There are those who
believe the extended six
month concept is a well
thought out idea and could
prevent reckless teen drivers
from possible accidents.
"Teens driving with
other teens tend to drive
with no purpose, with no
destination in mind. It is this
kind of driving that tends to
create risky creativity and
activities that seem fun, but
the result can be disastrous,"
Damon Millican, driver's ed
instructor, said.
Young drivers can sit
back and relax because the
one year extension plan
is currently not a law in
Oregon, but could possibly
become one in a few years.
There are several directions
this law may go. All young
drivers should keep their
mind focused on the road.
No one wants to come to a
dead end.
A lex S isca
The school district has set
goals for school food such as
the food should have 30% or
less of total calories from fat.
"All food items served are
very healthy in general and
follow these goals, especially
when served with milk, fruits
and vegetables," Cynthia
Abel, District Nutrition Ser
The meals served average
about 210 calories per serving,
but can vary with food made
to order. The school does serve
fruit and vegetables.
Currently the school charg
es students $3.25 for a combo
meal which might include an
entree, drink and side such as
salad or curly fries.
With the juice bar elimi
nated, students are now
Photo by Eta Santoro
Cheeseburger and curly fries are a typical meal served at lunch in
the cafeteria, with a side choice of fries, small drink and sauce for
$3.25. The district has made many attempts to better the school meals,
however, some students believe the portions should be bigger.
vice Manager, said.
Beverages should be 100%
real fruit juice and portion
controlled.. The district is
also serving lower sugar
beverages, which would not
include any kind of carbon
ated drinks.
The district is willing to
consider offering more entrees
that the students would want,
as long as it fits in the district’s
budget.
"We are very challenged
financially. We are trying to
use more fresh, local and
organic food items and these
cost much more than the
conventional food materials,"
Abel said.
handed small juice cartons to
ensure fruit serving, which is
the recommended amount of
fruit sugar for a high school
student. The school is no
longer allowed to give open
topped cups to students that
they can fill themselves due
to new federal government
regulations.
Some students, though,
believe that school lunches
are a disappointment.
Out of ten students ques
tioned, only one thought that
the meals were adequate.
"It’s good, I don’t think that
they need to improve on any
thing" Monique Gheorghe,
sophomore, said.