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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (May 15, 2014)
schools may15 2014 Vernonia School Board Report At the May 8, 2014 School Board Meeting: Budget Committee Meets- The School District Budget Committee held their first meeting. Brett Costley was elected Chair and Don Shulte was elected Vice Chair. The Committee discussed the budget goals and Superintendent Dr. Ken Cox presented the budget message. The budget includes revenue of $6.22 million and provides for a 2.5% cost of living wage increase for employees. The General Fund includes a 2% contingency of $126,486; this should be 5%. Accord- ing to Cox’s Budget Message, the bud- get does not address some critical needs. Class sizes will be large. The budget does not meet the needs of the students or staff but does fulfill the District’s fis- cal responsibility to their patrons. Board Approves Spencer Park Pro- posal- Dr. Cox informed the Board that the District has received bids to com- plete Spencer Park construction. Cox informed the Board that the District has spent almost $300,000 of the $495,000 they had left to build the park. The low- est bid to finish the construction, from Green Thumb Landscaping, was for $307,329. Cox worked with the City to find ways to create cost savings and removed several features from the plan, including two pathways, additional soil in non-play areas and 2 inches of top- soil on the baseball/softball infield. City Council approved this plan. Cox said that with Board approval, the District can negotiate with the low bidder to try to find additional cost savings. The Board approved the low bid. Washington D.C. The students told the Board they visited numerous monu- ments, along with the Smithsonian In- stitute and Arlington National Cemetery. Both students said it took a lot of work to fund raise for the trip but it was defi- nitely worth it. Miller Reports on Wetlands- Princi- pal Aaron Miller reported that a recent monitoring visit determined the wetland mitigation project is on track and going well. Miller said the work of the For- estry Class and school-wide Sustainabil- ity Days are having an impact. Miller reported the plants that have been in- troduced are growing, invasive species OSBA Executive Director Visits Ver- are being removed, and signs will be nonia- Betsy Miller-Jones, the Execu- installed soon. Dr. Cox added that the tive Director of the Oregon School Board work of the Forestry Class and students Association (OSBA) visited the Verno- is saving the District $40,000 per year. nia Schools and addressed the School Board at their meeting. Jones said she Special Education Report- Special received a tour of the School by School Programs Director Gienah Cheney gave Board and OSBA Representative Greg a report on the 2012-13 Special Educa- Kintz. She told the Board that OSBA is tion Report Card from the State of Ore- working on their behalf at the State Leg- gon. According to Cheney the District is islature to generate more spending for meeting state targets in many areas, in- education and will continue to do so. cluding students being including in reg- ular classroom activities. The District is Students Report on D.C. Trip- Eighth not meeting targets in several areas in- graders Ashley Jackson and Lily Bu- cluding graduation rates and enrollment chanan reported to the Board on the in higher education or employed follow- Close-Up trip to Shop Construction Proposal- The Dis- trict received three bids for completion of the shop. The low bid was from Titus and Sons. The project will be built us- ing funds from the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Grant. The Board ap- proved the low bid. Plans Unveiled for Investment in Clatskanie Open House for Cox continued from front page The Vernonia School district will hold a Farewell Open House for District Superintendent Dr. Ken Cox on Wednesday, June 4th from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. The public is invited to stop by the District Office at 1201 Texas Avenue during this time to say farewell to Dr. Cox prior to his departure to Idaho. Park, and H&Q Asia Pacific. CECC (Shanghai Bi Ke Clean Energy Technology Co., Ltd.) is a Joint Venture between the Chinese Academy of Science (CAS) and British Petroleum. The presentation included a slide show explaining the proposed industrial plant by Murray V. (Vee) Godley, President of Northwest Innovation Works and numerous other executives from NW Innovation Works, including Simon Zhang, CEO of NW Innovation Works and, Li Huimin, Deputy Director of Dalian Xizhong Petrochemical Park. Fall 2014 soccer sign-ups Brian Little, former City Online registration now open! Administrator for the City of St. oysa-vernoniaysc.sportsaffinity.com Helens has been hired as the Oregon Development Consultant. On-site registration at Vernonia School: State Senator Betsy Johnson After school on was in attendance along with Columbia County Commissioners Tuesday, May 20th & Tony Hyde, Henry Heimuller and Earl Thursday, May 22nd Fisher. Follow us on Facebook for updates: Vernonia Youth Soccer Club 13 ing graduation. Assessment Reports- Principal Nate Underwood provided the Board with data about Assessment Testing results. Underwood told the Board that the Dis- trict has seen some improvement and some drops. Improvements have come at the High School and 5 th grade; de- creases have occurred at the 8 th and 3 rd grades. Underwood noted that it has been difficult to get students to complete the testing. When asked, Underwood told the audience that students who do not meet the standards will not graduate. Board Declares Surplus Equipment- The following equipment was declared as surplus: Jet Metal Lathe, Jet Turret Mill, 2 three phase table saws, 1 three phase planer. Board Grants Leave of Absence- The Board approved a Leave of Absence for the 2014-15 school year for Elementary School Teacher Robyn Richmond who recently gave birth to a healthy baby boy. School District Starts Facebook Page- Dr. Cox informed the Board that the Dis- trict has started a Facebook page which can be used to better inform the commu- nity. Vernonia’s Voice is published twice each month on the 1st and 3rd Thursday. Our next issue will be out June 5th. Vernonia Veterinary Clinic Small and Large Animals Vernonia Youth Soccer Club Now Open Mon, Wed & Saturday 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Call for Appointments (503) 429-1612 Or 24 hr. Emergency Number (503) 397-6470 700 Weed Ave. Vernonia, OR TOO BUSY? START RIGHT. START HERE. 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