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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (March 20, 2014)
schools Vernonia School Board Report At the March 13, 2014 Vernonia and possibly local classes, along with School Board Meeting: college credit for current students as well as students who have already graduated. Miller Named Interim Superintendent- Cox said LCC currently has eighty-seven Vernonia Grade School Principal Aaron classes available on-line. When asked Miller was named the Interim Half- why the District is looking at partnering Time Superintendent, replacing current with LCC and not Portland Community Superintendent Dr. Ken Cox, whose College, Cox responded that LCC is contract expires June 30. Miller will be actively working to expand their student given a one year contract. (See full story base by making these classes available on front page.) to high schools in Oregon. Snow Days-Superintendent Dr. Ken Cox informed the Board that the District will make up two snow days on April 18 and May 9. Administrators Contracts Extended- After recessing to Executive Session under ORS 192.660(2)(i) “To review and evaluate the performance of the chief executive officer or any other public officer, employee or staff member...,” the Board returned to open session and voted unanimously to approve Resolution 1314-03, extending the contract of high school principal Nate Underwood and grade school principal Aaron Miller for three more years. Lower Columbia College Partnership- Dr. Cox informed the Board that the District is close to reaching an agreement with Lower Columbia College (LCC), located in Longview, WA, to provide dual credit and college credit courses for high school students. Cox reported that several schools are already using LCC for this purpose; LCC will graduate sixty high school seniors with Associates Degrees this year. Rainier High School already has a contract with LCC. The program could offer distance learning Green Globes Certification-Dr. Cox asked the Board to approve an application for the new school building to become Green Globes Certified. Dr. Cox told the Board it could cost the District a total of about $25,000 to submit the paperwork for the needed evaluation and become certified. Cox told the board that a Green Globes certification would allow the District to approach members of the timber industry and ask for fundraising donations. When asked, Cox told the Board he believes there is $37,000 in donations currently pending from the timber industry. After a discussion in which Board member Ernie Smith expressed reservations, the Board voted unanimously to approve spending up to $25,000 for Green Globes certification. march20 2014 25 was a success with over sixty people in attendance. Topics of discussion included: The CTE Revitalization Grant, plans for the new shop building, progress on new sports fields; establishing a four- day school week. Cox told the Board the greenhouse is now fully enclosed thanks to the help of Dan Titus, a parent and local contractor. Titus will also be working on the trenching for new electrical lines to the shop building. Cox also thanked Earl Davis for helping the District by felling some dangerous trees at the District office. The Forestry class will do clean up and sell the firewood as a fundraiser. Dr. Cox told the Board the RFP for completing Spencer Park is available for review. He told the Board he hopes to have the RFP approved by the City of Vernonia and Columbia County this week. Principal Reports-In addition to a written report which gave details of Family to School Week and a Focus School update, Elementary School Principal Aaron Miller also provided the Board with an Attendance Report. Miller noted that of 207 students at VES, 63 had missed 4 days of school and Board Authorizes Project received a call from a teacher; 57 had Management Contract-The Board missed 8 days and received a call from voted to authorize the Superintendent to negotiate a contract for construction project management services, not to exceed $16,000, for the remainder of 2014. Board member Ernie Smith voted against the motion. 9 the Councilor and a letter was sent; 15 had missed 12 days and received a call from the principal and a second letter- an initial truancy report had been filed concerning those 15 students and 2 had a mandatory meeting with the principal and the truancy officer. At Mist Grade School, Miller reported of 24 students, 9 had missed 8 days. The Board received a written report from High School Principal Nate Underwood which explained the Synergy Parent VUE and Blackboard Connect systems which allow parents and students to access midterm grades from a computer; gave updates on the VHS Red Cross Blood Drive and the VMS plant sale March 7-April 10; and announced All League recognition for winter athletes. The Report also noted that the next Sustainability Day will be May 13; that the first round of state testing has been completed; and both VMS and VHS held their mid-year dances. Underwood also presented the Board with a proposal to reduce the elective graduation requirement by 1.0. Underwood explained that VHS requires 26.5 credits to graduate, with 7.0 credits considered electives. The state requires 24 credits to graduate. 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