8
schools
july
2009
Pass the Bond, Not the Buck: Questions for Superintendent Ken Cox
Why do you think it is important to build
a new school campus that uses new energy
efficient technologies – so called “green
buildings”?
When the school district started looking
for architects we learned that ‘green
construction’ and ‘sustainable buildings’
are pretty much the way building
construction is now done in Oregon. So
when I met for the first time with the
different architectural firms who wanted to
bid on our schools, I told them we wanted
“the greenest school we could possibly
afford.” I felt this was important, not only
because we wanted to stand out to attract
philanthropists to help pay for Vernonia’s
schools, but also because, in the long
run, it would save the most money in
operational costs.
Since that first meeting I have found that
there are two aspects to green buildings:
green construction and sustainability.
Green construction uses recycled materials
as much as possible in the actual school
construction and makes sure any left over
building materials are recycled rather than
discarded. However, it is in designing a
sustainable building that the district would
realize the greatest long-term savings. It is
possible for us to build a school that uses
50% less heat than a regular building. This
would save us thousands of dollars every
year, which could be used to help pay
down the bond and/or pay for educational
improvements for our children. This is
particularly important when the architects
are designing a building to last for at least
100 years.
Vernonia School District enrollment has
decreased since the flood of 2007. How has
that lower enrollment impacted the district,
the school budget and current school
programs?
694 students were enrolled in October
2007. That number dropped to 604 the
following year and currently is at 625.
Since Vernonia schools are funded by the
state at approximately $6,000 per student,
the loss of 70 or more students translates
into a loss of more than $400,000 and
really impacts the kind of education the
district can provide. This loss of state
funding has already impacted the current
budget, resulting in some staffing changes
and layoffs. These cuts include: elementary
music, the middle school counselor and
principal, one teacher, and reverting back
to half-day kindergarten for next year.
Do you think building new schools can
reverse this downturn in enrollment?
I believe that once we get new schools built
enrollment will increase. For one thing, the
new schools would include the technology
infrastructure required to ensure the
teachers have the ability to use whatever
technology is needed in the classroom. We
also are looking into ways to incorporate
the energy efficiencies of the building’s
technology into the curriculum so students
can learn about solar, geothermal and
other alternative energy sources. It is a
known fact that businesses often check on
the quality of education in a community
before moving into that community.
Having quality schools could positively
impact Vernonia’s economy, which would
in turn impact student enrollment.
Keeping up with long-term enrollment
growth could become a concern the
district would have to watch. With this in
mind, the district’s plan calls for building
new schools that would be large enough
to accommodate at least 750 students. The
architects also are designing the building
to allow for inexpensive expansion options
that would accommodate 1,000 students
and more, if necessary.
The proposed School Bond, if approved,
would raise about 25% of the funding
needed to build a new campus. Do you really
believe Vernonia can raise the rest of the
money? What are the potential sources for
that funding?
We have to and we will raise the money.
The Oregon Solutions Team is still working
on our behalf to secure stimulus funds and
other funding resources to help construct
new schools in Vernonia. The Team has
made arrangements with the Ford Family
Foundation to meet with a number of
different philanthropic organizations to
show them our new school concept when
it is ready later this summer.
On the grant front, we recently were
notified of our eligibility for a $100,000
energy grant which would help pay for
some of the green aspects of our new
schools. We also applied for a $750,000
energy grant to provide more effective
lighting options in the school. These are
the types of grant and stimulus funds the
district is seeking and will continue to
seek. We also are working closely with
our legislators in Washington, D.C. on a
bill that could provide even larger sums of
money for schools that have been hit by
natural disasters.
To summarize, we are leaving no stone
unturned in obtaining the funding needed
beyond the $13 million bond Vernonia
voters will be asked to consider November
3.
What happens if Vernonia doesn’t raise
enough money to build a new school campus?
Nothing. We are living that scenario in our
schools now.
For the past two years no teachers have
left the district. Normally anywhere from
five to ten teachers leave each year. The
current economy may have some impact
on their decision to stay, but there is no
doubt in my mind that the greater reason is
their commitment to our students and their
hopes for the future. They have hope in the
future of this community and a desire to be
a part of our new school, a school they are
helping to design. They want to see their
dreams and ideas come to life.
If we don’t raise enough money to build
new schools, and I’m talking all of the
money, not just passing the bond, then we,
and the governor, and our D.C. delegation,
are in effect pronouncing a death sentence
on Vernonia.
Besides a safer location for our students,
what other benefits does a new school campus
offer the residents of this community?
As I mentioned earlier, I believe a new
campus would have a positive impact on
Vernonia’s economy. As a community, we
have been in the national spotlight as a
positive example of what can be done when
community members pull together after a
disaster. We can do the same for designing
the kind of rural school buildings that will
take Vernonia into the future, buildings
that could be used in various ways as a
very real part of the community’s life and
livability.
We are working with different local
agencies in the community to develop
ways to use the schools year round for the
benefit of the community. One example
is the concept of a shared community
garden. The architects are looking at ways
to incorporate a greenhouse into the plans
and have even mentioned the idea of an
orchard. These kinds of ideas would not
only help provide for the community, but
would also be viable, real life learning
experiences for our students.
Changes to Athletics Policies
By Gordon Jarman
toward graduation.
There have been two major changes in athletic policy handed down by
the Oregon Schools Activities Association that will go into effect for the
upcoming season of 2009-2010.
The second major change was the establishment of a dead week for
athletes to take one more family vacation before the athletic season gets
into full swing. This year that dead week is August first through August
eighth. That means:
The first major change deals with academic eligibility. An athlete still
has to be passing at least five classes the previous semester to be eligible
but they must also be making satisfactory progress toward graduation.
The minimum satisfactory progress toward graduation at Vernonia
High School is as follows:
Earn 25.5 credits by graduation day
Prior to the athletes 10 th grade year they must have earned 6.5 credits
Prior to their 11 th grade year they must have earned 10.5 credits.
Prior to their 12 th grade year they must have earned 18 credits
If a student has missed getting the credits they need they can enroll in
summer school to make up lost work and credits. This has to be done
before the athlete participates in the upcoming sports season.
All incoming freshmen are excused from this requirement for the first
semester, after that however they must be making satisfactory progress
No coach, volunteer coach, administrator or any other high school
personnel may work with any student athlete during dead week and no
school facilities may be used during that time for training, open gym or
any other athletic activity.
Physicals are being offered once again by the local Providence health
clinic for those student athletes that are planning on turning out for
sports for next year. Any student that has not had a physical in the past
two years needs to get one before they may participate. Any incoming
freshman and any junior need to get their physicals before the season
begins. These are available to any student athlete that does not have
insurance to cover athletic physicals or their insurance does not cover
well child care. They can pick up the OSAA physical forms at VHS and
they need to sign up for the appointments with Barb Carr at the school
district offices. These will take on August 11 th. Please do not wait until
the last minute and sign up well ahead of time.