free
august28 2012
V E R N O N I A’ S
reflecting the spirit of our community
volume6 issue16
Vernonia Celebrates Opening of New School
By Scott Laird
“There were a lot of people who never thought
this day would come. I was reminded this past week
of someone who said it was just a dream. Ladies and
gentleman, behold the dream!”
~ Vernonia School Superintendent, Dr. Kenneth
Cox
“It’s a great day to be a Logger and a great day to be
in Vernonia!”
~ US Senator, Ron Wyden
The day of celebration began at 9:00 AM with
a short presentation inside the building which included
a dedication of the Hall of Vernonia Champions-- the
main lobby of the buildings which will be a reminder
Foundation, Norm Smith
The
biggest
round of applause was
reserved for State Senator
Betsy Johnson, who has
championed this project
from the very beginning.
Johnson has served as part
of the Oregon Solutions
team, has continued to
assist whenever she has
been asked to help facilitate
the planning and construction processes, and went to
bat for the school and community in the final hours to
help secure an additional $4 million in funding from
the state of Oregon for the project. The crowd at the
ceremony recognized Senator Johnson’s contributions
with a rousing standing ovation, which brought the
usually tough Senator to tears.
“In 2007 when Vernonia was in ruins, some
people said, ‘Who cares! Give it up! Move to town! Send
the kids to Hillsboro or Scappoose or Forest Grove!
Rebuild someplace else!’ And you Vernonia didn’t! We
fought back, and here it is—your new schools!”
~ Oregon State Senator, Betsy Johnson
It was a day for happiness. It was a day for
smiles. It was a day for a few tears of joy. But most of
all it was a day for celebration.
On August 21, 2012 the new Vernonia School
was officially dedicated and opened. The Vernonia
School District put together a wonderful program that
took up the entire day, and stretched into the evening,
allowing time for the community to come together to
bear witness to their accomplishment. The events
included speeches and tours of the new facility and
also took time to thank all those who have had a hand
in making this dream a reality. The day was filled
with visiting dignitaries from government, business
and philanthropy, including several US and Oregon
Senators and Representatives and a former Oregon
Governor.
inside
8
bear
creek run
10
parade
results
10
community
garden
of the many people who assisted with the construction
of the facility. This was followed by the official
Grand Opening Celebration at 10:00 AM in front of
the new building, which included a reading of the
school dedication by Vernonia School Superintendent,
Dr. Kenneth Cox and speeches by former Governor
Ted Kulongoski, US Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff
Merkley, US Representative Suzanne Bonamici,
County Commissioner Tony Hyde and more.
“I cannot tell you how proud I am to be an
Oregonian because of this community. You are what
Oregon is all about.”
~
Former
Oregon
Governor,
Ted
Kulongoski
The opening of the new school facility is a
tribute to the many sectors that worked together to
accomplish this goal. The creation of the Oregon
Solutions process by Governor Kulongoski, which
created a collaborative effort of businesses, government,
and non-profit organizations to find a suitable location
for the schools and then find funding for the project,
was a catalyst. The infusion of local, state and federal
funding played a hugely significant role at key times
along the way. Fundraising efforts, both big and small,
kept the campaign to replace Vernonia’s schools
moving along, including donations from philanthropic
organizations, private business and efforts by local
students and citizens. The celebration ceremony
recognized these diverse contributions with inclusion
of both state and federal legislative representatives
like Oregon Senate President Peter Courtney and
Representative Alissa Keny-Guyer as well as Oregon
Solutions Co-convener and Portland businessman Tom
Kelly, and Norm Smith, the President and CEO of
The Ford Family Foundation. Local businesswoman
Sharon Bernal, who chaired the committee which
worked to pass a local $13 million school bond, was
mentioned and thanked several times.
Today V is for Vernonia. Today V is for vitality.
Today V is for a valediction to churning flood waters
claiming your schools, your homes and your businesses.
Today V is for victory and for Vernonia.
~ President and CEO of The Ford Family
The facility is beautiful both inside and out.
The wood siding, local materials and the upright cedar
logs that tower over the main lobby--and the wood
benches yet to come--are a testament to the history
of the community. The computer labs, natural lighting
and energy efficiency and sustainability features speak
to the modern design that has been incorporated into
the construction. The new natural resources curriculum
that will use the building as a working laboratory is a
look towards the future. The facility will house grades
K-12 in an innovative approach to cost savings and a
new educational model. It is designed with the capacity
to expand and hold up to 1000 students.
“This school is model of sustainability but the
people of Vernonia are a model of what can happen
when we work together. You should all be very proud -
you’re an inspiration.”
~ US Representative, Suzanne Bonamici
continued on page 15
“As Superintendent of the Vernonia School
District, I dedicate this building to the past,
present and future students and educators,
who have, who are and who will make a
difference in our community, our state and
our nation.
I dedicate it to the residents of the Vernonia
School District for their use in activities that
will bring us closer together as a community
and strengthen our understanding of each
other, regardless of our color, our religion
or any other differences.
I dedicate it as a place of safety and a place
of learning for all who enter. This building,
and the learning that will take place here in,
is about our future and the development
of generations of leaders. It represents the
future for all of us.”
~ Dr. Kenneth Cox
Vernonia School Superintendent
August 21, 2012