schools
2015
Vernonia School Board Report
At the February 12, 2015 Vernonia School Board
Meeting:
Teacher Riley Goes Back to Work - After deliberating
in Executive Session the Board removed the termination
of teacher Jean Riley from their agenda. Riley had been
placed on Unpaid Leave while she attempted to renew
her expired teaching license. The Board had Riley’s
termination to consider if she was unable to renew her
license. Riley did renew her license and following the
Board’s decision, was scheduled to return to work on
Monday, February 16.
Board Approves Teacher Extensions - The Board
approved Resolution 1415-03 extending all regular
and probationary teacher contracts for two years.
Contracts for two temporary, one-year positions were
not renewed.
Board Sets Cap for Transfers - Per state regulations,
the Board had to set a limit on Interdistrict Transfers.
The Board voted to set the limit at fifteen students.
Interagency Agreement With Jewell District -
Superintendent Aaron Miller presented the Board with
a signed Interagency Agreement between the Vernonia
School District and the Jewell School District that
sets terms and conditions for resident students in the
Vernonia School District who attend the Jewell School.
The agreement calls for Vernonia to pay Jewell 50% of
their state General Purpose Fund for each student and
for each special education student.
Board Approves Budget Calendar - The Board
approved the Budget Calendar for fiscal year 2015-
16. Budget Committee meetings are scheduled for
Thursdays on April 30 and May 14. A public hearing
and adoption of the budget is scheduled for June 11.
Board Approves 1 st and 2 nd Readings of Policy
Updates - The Board approved the second reading of
some policy updates and the first reading of several
others. These policy updates are recommended by
Oregon School Board Association and are integrated
into the Vernonia policies following their second
reading.
NWRESD Local Service Plan - The Board received
the budget for the North West Regional Education
Service District (NWRSED) Local Service Plan for the
2015-16 school year. The plan calls for the Vernonia
School District to receive $3,249 in services.
Audit Presentation - Janice Essenberg from the
NWRESD presented the audit for the Vernonia School
District fiscal year 2013-14. The audit was prepared
by Grove, Mueller & Swank, PC and according to
Essenberg and the report, the financial position of the
District was presented fairly. The audit showed the
District has Capital Assets valued at just under $39
million and approximately $5 million in long term debt.
ShaW Clinic Report - The Board received a report on
the Spencer Health and Wellness (ShaW) Clinic from
Nicole Lawrence from The Public Health Foundation
of Columbia County. Lawrence told the Board that the
clinic is currently staffed by Front Office Clerk Krista
Rosales, Physician’s Assistant Melissa Walsh and
Mental Health Therapist Lindsay Howson. Lawrence
told the Board the clinic has been closed due to the
water damage that occurred in January, but should re-
open in the next week.
Superintendent Report - Superintendent Aaron Miller
presented the Board with a written report. Miller told
the Board the District is on a “non-grant funded”
spending freeze. Miller told the Board that a Steering
Committee with over twenty interested community
members is being formed to investigate developing a
Charter School application. Miller told the Board that
enrollment has declined from a high of 583 this year to
565. Miller told the Board he is developing a budget
based on the assumption of overall state funding of
$7.2 billion for education for the next biennium. Miller
told the Board that the construction of the shop facility
will be complete and ready for students shortly.
VHS Winter Sports Update
in their first meet of the season during
the weekend of February 12-15.
Coaches Dawn Carr and
Dale Pedersen were pleased with the
The team had numerous top ten
placings including:
Keyhole-1st - M. McCord
Barrels-5th - K. Fetch
Birangle-5th - K. Fetch and P. Cook
Figure 8-3rd - K. Fetch
Freestyle Fours-4th - J. McCord, K.
Fetch, M. McCord, P. Cook
Working Rancher-1st - S. Pedersen
Breakaway Roping-1st - S. Pedersen
Steer Daubing-2nd - M. McCord; 5th -S.
Pedersen
Team Penning-4th - Vernonia Gold – J.
Brickley, L. Glass, M. McCord
The team’s next meet is March
12-15 in McMinnville.
FOR TOWING EMERGENCIES
IN AND AROUND THE
VERNONIA AREA
team’s effort. “Both the kids’ and the
horses’ performances were strong and
competitive,” said Carr. “The kids rode
hard and showed good sportsmanship.”
Team
members
include
freshmen Lily Buchanan and Jordon
McCord; sophomores Pearl Cook and
Lauren Glass: juniors Jordan Brickley,
Kassidy Fetch and Sheyanne Pedersen
and Senior Makayla McCord.
Polife and County personnel are required
to use a rotation of available providers,
UNLESS YOU SPECIFICALLY ASK
for a servife by name.
REQUEST TOWING SERVICE FROM
Shop Hours: Mon - Fri 9:00 - 6:00
13
Building Reports - Elementary Principal Aaron Miller
presented the Board with a written report that updated
the Focus School work being done. Miller informed the
Board that musician Ed Drury worked with students on
January 28, made possible through the Run for the Arts
fundraising. Drury will return as an artist in residence
this spring with a program entitled “Making Music and
Musical Instruments from Around the World.” Miller
also shared student assessment data obtained through
a system called EasyCBM, which shows competency
in basic skill development in reading and math. This
data is then used to drive instruction in the classroom.
Miller reported that the data shows that students have
been making progress in math, which has been a focus
during the last several years, and not as much progress
in reading. Miller also noted that, according to the data
there are still too many students rated in the Intensive
Needs level.
High School/Middle School Principal Nate
Underwood presented a written report to the Board in
which he noted Robotics competitions, Senior Projects,
and a community survey for parents to give feedback
to help instructional practices - go to: http://www.
advanc-ed.org/survey/public/4205849. Underwood
also presented attendance statistics which indicated the
schools still have an issue with chronic absenteeism.
Board Hears Student Report - Quentin Skanes,
representing the High School Leadership Class told
the Board that numerous students received Honor Roll
awards at a recent Renaissance Assembly; a Leadership
Dance will be held on March 7; the Leadership Class
will hold Blood Drives on March 2 and April 28; juniors
and freshmen will host a talent show on March 19; a
Health Fair will be held on April 21; the Leadership
Class is planning a Doernbecher Week April 13-17;
OSSUM will host a SKID presentation on May 6; the
Engineering Class is making and selling fire starter
bricks from recycled paper.
continued from page 12
Cheerleading - The Vernonia Cheer
Squad competed on Saturday, February
14 at the OSAA State Championships
and finished ninth out of fifteen teams
competing in the 3A/2A/1A division.
Sheyanne Pedersen competing in Birangle.
february19
On Sunday, February 15 the squad Gardner took first place and Megan
competed at the Oregon Cheerleading Schirmeister finished second.
Coaches Association Championships
and did very well, taking second place.
Two girls from the Vernonia Squad
performed individual routines; Nicole
Vernonia School District
Volunteer of the Month
January 2015
Jim Krahn
January’s Volunteer of the Month is
local, long time Vernonia resident and
active community member, Jim Krahn.
If you know Jim, you know that he has
many passions including high school
athletics. Twenty years ago, Jim was the
VHS girls varsity basketball coach. He
also coached VHS boys baseball during
that time period. For the last two years,
Jim has been volunteering his time with
the VHS girls basketball teams and last
year he helped with boys baseball. This
year Jim reached out to the middle
school girls and started up a tournament
basketball team. He’s hoping this will help
to benefit the high school team in the
future. Jim’s volunteering doesn’t end with athletics. This last Spring Jim
worked for months on a landscaping project at the new Vernonia School.
He spent countless hours and days giving his time and energy on this
project. Jim has also served as a Vernonia School District Board Member
for many years. Words can not describe the generosity of heart and soul
that comes from people like Jim who volunteer on a regular basis. To give
one’s time and talent for a good cause is priceless! Jim, we may not have
told you lately, but hope you know it's true, that every day we're grateful for
a volunteer like you!
