welcome
from the editor
I attended the Grand Opening
Celebration for the Vernonia Schools
on August 21 and also stopped by for
the first day of classes for students and
teachers last week. What a great new
facility! It was hard not to want to shout
out at the top of my lungs, “Look what
we did!”
It is hard to comprehend that in
less than five years this school district
and this community came together, and
out of the muck and mud , built this
shining new beacon on the hill.
Sure we got a lot of help along
the way—and a lot of help is really an
understatement. But what we witnessed
over the last five years was a communi-
ty coming together through hard work,
dedication and an unwillingness to quit
or take no for an answer, not just by key
members, but by a town in its entirety.
Without that commitment and
willingness to see this project all the
way through, our students, teachers
and staff would not have been walking
through those doors last week. Yes the
Grand Opening in August, with all the
excitement, dignitaries and speeches
was wonderful and very moving. The
district did a fantastic job of organizing
a day that was appropriately filled with
wonder and celebration. But that first
day of classes was really the proud mo-
ment for this community. The day our
children walked through those doors
and headed for class for the first time.
When school districts need to
construct new buildings they plan ahead
for many, many years before they even
begin. Replacing an entire district usu-
ally takes even longer. What this com-
munity has accomplished in such a short
time is nothing short of miraculous.
There are so many people who
played a role in making this dream a re-
ality, some larger than others. Certainly
State Senator Betsy Johnson has been a
true champion for this project— her te-
nacious spirit and determination drove
us forward on so many fronts. Certainly
Tony Hyde and Tom Kelly, who co-con-
vened the Oregon Solutions process and
played a huge role in putting this project
in front of the many funders who came
together to support it. Certainly former
Governor Ted Kulongoski, who arrived
the day after the flood by helicopter and
in a manner of speaking never left. His
support opened doors that would have
been locked tight in any other situation.
Certainly Superintendent Ken Cox, who
took on this project and was there at ev-
ery twist, turn, and hill that had to be ne-
gotiated.
The list goes on and on. This
project has had many, many heroes who
chose to step forward, and give of their
time, energy, and talents. As a commu-
nity, we have a lot to be thankful for and
a lot of people to thank.
But of course, it all comes back
to all of you. We chose to pass that
School Bond in November of 2009. We
voted to tax ourselves and put our chil-
dren first. We believed in ourselves and
the future of this community. And be-
cause we believed , so did others. We
have heard it over and over—that when
Vernonia stood up and said yes to this
new school it was the most important
step.
I remember December 3, 2007.
Early in the day I was at the Middle
School, wading through waist deep,
freezing flood waters, helping Dr. Cox
save food from the cafeteria so it could
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be used later to feed those who were be-
ing displaced. It was a sad, desperate
and helpless act, on a sad and desperate
day, as the water just kept rising.
And now, here we are, less than
five years later, with new schools safely
on top of a hill.
Sure, there have been missteps
along the way. Sure there were many
obstacles to overcome. Sure the proj-
ect is not yet complete and there is still
more money to raise. But the doors are
now open, and our children and teachers
are in their new classrooms.
I hope everyone has already tak-
en the time to walk or drive by the new
building or stopped by to visit. If you
haven’t, you should do so soon. Walk
by and say to yourself, “Look what we
did!” And say it proudly. Because we
all should be proud of this new school.
Proud of the help that was so graciously
offered and accepted. Proud that we
chose to work together. Proud of what
we accomplished.
Feel free to shout it, at the top of
your lungs.
“Look what we did!”
Scott Laird
Editor and Publisher
september11
2012
3
Publisher and Managing Editor
Scott Laird
503-367-0098
scott@vernoniasvoice.com
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