schools
june19
2014
Vernonia School Board Report
13
At the June 12, 2014 School Board Meeting:
funds from the Capital Reserve Fund and in the Food
Service Revenue of $12,000 and transferred those Board Grants Leaves of Absence- The Board
Board Approves 2014-15 Budget- The School funds from the General Fund.
approved a request for a Leave of Absence by Shop
Board voted to approve the 2014-15 budget. The
Instructor Cecil Fellas. Superintendent Cox also
budget projects $6,224,094 in resources and calls for Construction Project Delayed- Superintendent Ken informed the Board that he had approved a Leave of
158 school days for students and 173 contract days Cox told the School Board that construction on the Absence for Jan Marcouillier-Dyer, an Instructional
for staff. Among the changes, the budgets takes into new shop building has been delayed. Cox said that Assistant and District Positive Behavioral Intervention
account a reduction in expenses to the Career and construction project manager Rod McDowell informed and Supports (PBIS) Coordinator. Superintendent
Technology Education program due to a one year leave him that the school needs to have a conditional use Cox also noted the retirement after thirty years of
of absence for shop teacher Cecil Fellas. The budget permit and go through a planning review before Marsha Mclaughlin and of Catherine (Cici) Bell after
includes increases in expenses for special education beginning construction. According to McDowell this seventeen years.
transportation and for district technology. Linda Allen, will keep the shop from being completed in time for
the district art teacher, has been increased to full time; the start of the new school year. Cox told the Board District Approves Transportation Contract
Andy Morrow, the band teacher, has been increased to that the District will need to extend their contract with Amendment- The Board authorized the Superintendent
full time.
McDowell to complete the project. Board member to negotiate a contract amendment with Curl’s Bus
Ernie Smith expressed displeasure with extending Service for transportation services. Curl’s recently
Kindergarten Attendance Improves- Elementary McDowell’s contract.
received an unanticipated $25,000 insurance rate
Principal Aaron Miller presented a report by David
increase and is asking the District to pay half of that
Spackman that tracked kindergarten student attendance. Spencer Park Construction Contract Awarded- The increase. The School District is reimbursed by the
Spackman’s report showed significant progress with contract for final improvements for Spencer Park has state for 80% of their transportation costs. Curl’s also
average daily attendance rising from 84.2% in 2012- been awarded to Green Thumb Landscape. Work on requested the extension of their contract for one year to
13 to 92% in 2013-14. Chronically absent students the park is anticipated to mobilize on July 28 with 2020, so they could amortize the cost of a new bus they
dropped from 24 in 2012-13 to 14 in 2013-14.
seeding targeted for September 11.
purchased.
Grade Configurations- Principal Miller reported
an increase in enrollment in kindergarten through 2 nd
grade, forcing a need for an additional teacher. The
recommendation is to have five K-2 blended classes
with approximately 23-24 students in each class.
Miller says he is looking at the budget to determine
how funding could be made available.
Board Approves Transfer of Funds- The Board
approved Resolution 1314-03 which takes unanticipated
revenues of $302,198 and appropriated those funds
to General Funds line items. The Resolution also
anticipates a shortfall in the General Fund from
Donation Revenue of $215,000 and transferred those
Dirt Declared Surplus- The Board declared as surplus
the large mound of dirt at the school campus. The dirt
is free to anyone who would like to haul it. You must
contact the district office first.
Board Approves MOA With Employees- The Board
approved a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)
with the Confidential/Supervisory Employees Group
for salaries. The group includes the Maintenance
Supervisor, Administrative Assistant, Fiscal Assistant
Board Approves School Calendar- The Board and Food Services. The Board was also asked to review
approved an instructional calendar with 158 days a MOA with the Administrative Employees Group but
for students and 173 days for staff. The first day of took no action.
school will be September 8 with an orientation day on
September 5 for 6 th and 9 th graders, new students and Hands-On Art Donates Funds to Arts Programs-
foreign exchange students. The last day of classes is School Board Chair Bill Langmaid told the Board that
scheduled for June 4 th . Graduation is scheduled for Hands-On Art hosted the Jr. Salmon Auction and has
Saturday, May 30 th . There are five snow make-up days donated $1,375 from the proceeds to arts programs at
built into the schedule.
the school.
Schools Update: Summer Activities
By Aaron Miller
Another school year has passed,
and although teachers and students
are on break, there are many summer
activities taking place within the
Vernonia School District (VSD). We
are very excited about the progress we
continue to make in developing our new
campus, and thank you, our community,
for your continuing support and efforts
in providing our students with the best
education and facilities possible.
Here is a list of some of the
activities and changes happening in the
district this summer:
• The Summer Meals Program will again
be offering free lunches to kids ages
1-18. There is no income requirement,
no paperwork and anyone can participate
whether they live in Vernonia, or not.
Adults are encouraged to eat lunch as
well, with a price of $2.50 for anyone
over the age of 18. Lunch is served from
11:30AM-1:00PM, Monday through
Friday at Grace Family Fellowship,
located at 957 State Avenue. Volunteers
are needed and welcome. Please call
503-748-9193 with any questions.
• Dr. Kenneth Cox will be moving on to
be the Superintendent of the Minidoka
School District in Rupert, Idaho. His
efforts to build a new school on higher
ground were amazing, fruitful and so
very much appreciated. The “Kenneth
W. Cox Computer Lab” was dedicated
in his honor, as Dr. Cox will truly
be missed, and now, will always be
remembered.
• I, Aaron Miller, will be taking over
Superintendent responsibilities in
Vernonia. My door is open, and my
phone is on if you have any questions,
concerns or suggestions you would
like to discuss in our on-going journey
to meet the needs of our students and
community.
• Our native plant nursery and
greenhouse is currently up and running,
producing plants for district projects as
well as projects sponsored by the Upper
Nehalem Watershed Council (UNWC).
Final completion is slated for the end of
the summer.
• Receipt of an Oregon Department of
Education (ODE) Career and Technical
Education (CTE) grant, along with
a generous donation from the Lloyd
Johnston family, will provide the
district with a new shop facility for our
Construction, and Robotics programs.
• Six Vernonia High School students will
be employed through a CTE Internship
program, with 2 students each working
with Stub Stewart State Park, the UNWC
and the VSD.
• The Vernonia Education Foundation
Sports Initiative has worked diligently to
The
raise funds for our sports facilities, and
their plan is to begin work this summer
on the softball field at the new site. If all
goes as planned, the softball field will be
completed in time for next year’s season.
• A $10,000 Oregon State Athletics
Association (OSAA) grant, as well
as a matching donation from a local
community member, will enable a
practice football field to be installed
complete with goal posts on the new site.
• The Vernonia Community Parent
Teacher Association (PTA) has been
raising funds and is almost ready to
purchase the next play structure to be
installed on the school playground.
Preliminary plans are for installation
to take place in August, with a “grand-
opening” ceremony slated for Open
House night on October 9, 2014.
• 85 new-to-us computers were donated
to the VSD by Portland Community
College. They will be reimaged and
Birk
the old house of music
“it’s not that far”
www.thebirk.com
ready for student and staff use by the
start of school in September.
• New video surveillance cameras and
classroom speakers have been purchased
through a security and safety grant.
These devices will be installed over the
summer, providing our campus with
much needed extra security.
• The dirt pile on the east side of campus
has been declared surplus, and will be
available for distribution within the next
couple of weeks. A process for how this
dirt will be made available to the public
will be developed, and shared soon.
As I walk through the building
each day, I am still in awe that it is
ours. It is an amazing facility, and we
are so fortunate to be able to learn and
work here. I thank each and every one
of you in the community for making it
possible, and look forward to continuing
our partnership in making the Vernonia
School District the best that it can be.
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