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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (May 21, 2015)
schools may21 2015 Vernonia School Board Report At the May 14, 2015 Vernonia School Board Meeting: Board Approves Charter School Agreement – The School Board approved the proposed Charter School Agreement, which was approved and submitted by the new Charter School Board prior to the regular School Board meeting. The Agreement legally authorizes the establishment of the Charter School and establishes its rules of governance and operation, and authorizes it to operate and conduct affairs. The members of the Charter School Board are Chair Susan Wagner, Vice Chair Sharon Bernal, Steve Riley, Katie Cole, and Maggie Peyton. The Charter School Agreement and Proposal will now be submitted to the Oregon Department of Education. Assessment Report - High School Principal Nate Underwood updated the Board on the first year of the new Smarter Balanced performance and assessment testing currently being conducted. All students in grades 3-8 and grade 11 are taking these tests, which assesses math, reading and writing skills. According to Underwood and high school teacher Juliet Safier, who has been studying the time required for testing, it is taking an extremely long time for students to complete the testing. Safier told the Board her students are losing as many as ten or eleven days of class time in order to complete the testing. The State of Oregon requires that students must pass the tests in order to graduate from high school. Parents can choose to have their student op-out of the testing and the students are then required to complete an essential skills standardized task provided by the state. Saffier said she has embedded these essential skills tasks into regular student classwork, so it will already be completed, in case the students experience the predicted high failure rate on the Smarter Balanced testing. School Board members Jim Krahn and Bill Langmaid were outspoken and critical of the testing. Krahn suggested that pressure be applied to state elected officials to dismiss Smarter Balanced testing. “I don’t see us just sitting back and continuing in this process as an effective way to use the time that our students are in school,” said Krahn. Langmaid agreed with Krahn and questioned the testing process Board Approves Instructional Calendar – The Board approved an Instructional Calendar for the 2015-16 school year which increases Student Days to 157.5, increases teacher Contact Days to 175, and increases hours to 1003. A major change in the schedule eliminates early release Fridays; school days for students will now be Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 3:10 PM. The first day of school for all students will be September 9 and the last day of school will be June 10. The schedule includes a Thanksgiving Break from November 20-27, a Winter Break from Staffing Changes – Superintendent December 18-January 1, and a Spring Aaron Miller updated the Board on Break from March 18-25. numerous staff changes for the next school year. The Board later approved School Board Speaks Out About Vandalism - Board members were all of these changes. Laura Blacker will remain on visibly upset when they received reports staff following a temporary assignment of several acts of vandalism in the boy’s teaching 4 th grade. A Vernonia resident, locker room and boy’s restrooms around she previously worked in the district as the building. Board members Ernie Smith, a student teacher, temporary teacher and is the current VHS golf coach. Blacker Jim Krahn and chair Bill Langmaid condemned what has been a series of will most likely teach 3 rd grade. Theresa Dee joins the K-2 team destructive actions. “We put a lot of effort into from the Baker School District with making sure those locker rooms were twenty-two years of experience. Kendra Schlegel also joins top quality,” said Smith. “This really the K-2 team from Hillsboro and is irritates me.” The most recent acts of a Vernonia resident and parent of an incoming kindergarten student in the vandalism included damage to fire cage covers in the boy’s locker room, the Vernonia District. Rachel Wilcoxen has served team room door vent (made of heavy as part-time Dean of Students for K-5 steel) was kicked in and will need to be this past school year. Her position will replaced, a ceiling vent was removed and damaged, holes were poked in expand to full-time with a K-12 focus. Michelle Eagleson, a former the ceiling with a vent leaver that was K-2 instructor, will become a full-time removed from a door, milk and food was Instructional Coach working with other thrown at walls and damaged lockers, and ceiling tiles and light covers were K-12 instructors. Charlotte Gilbert served as a removed in the basement hallway near temporary K-5 Behavior Specialist this the locker rooms. In addition, door stops were past year. Her position has become removed, special screws that require permanent and will expand to K-12. Eric Urban, the K-8 Life Skills a special driver were removed from the partitions in a boy’s restroom, Teacher, submitted his resignation. Melissa Zavales, a MS/HS/ vent covers were damaged in all boy’s Instructional Assistant, submitted her restrooms, graffiti was found in boy’s resignation in April and is no longer restrooms and desks have been broken. “This is ridiculous, it’s insulting working in that role. Jan Dyer, a MS Instructional and it’s malicious,” said Smith. Board member Krahn echoed Assistant on a one year leave of absence, Smith comments. “It’s extremely has resigned. Robyn Richmond, a 4 th grade disrespectful to the whole community teacher on a one year leave of absence, and to the other students in the school.” “Their parents need to take some has resigned. Natasha Ligouri, a part-time responsibility and they need to know this food service worker, has submitted her is happening,” added Langmaid. High School principal Nate resignation. Underwood was in attendance and told which removes teacher’s opportunity to judge their student’s ability. “I do not think that the Smarter Balanced test is smarter or balanced,” said Langmaid. “I feel it does leave children behind. It does not create a level playing field for all students and I don’t think the data is going to show it does. And we’re not empowering our teachers.” Underwood closed the discussion by stating that instructors are encouraging students to do their best on the testing and are using the results as feedback to affect future instruction. 13 the Board that he and Athletic Director Gordan Jarman are in the process of interviewing students and are also considering placing cameras at the locker room and restroom entrances to help identify potential vandals. “Every boy in the high school is using those facilities,” said Smith. “They all need to understand that we’ve tried to provide them with the best and it only stays the best if they take care of it.” When contacted following the School Board meeting, Superintendent Aaron Miller said that interviews had revealed the name of at least one indi- vidual responsible for the actions. Mill- er said the student would be disciplined and subject to paying restitution for the damages. Budget Committee Meeting – The School Board Budget Committee held a budget meeting and approved the pro- posed Budget. The School Board will hold a Budget Hearing and are sched- uled to adopt the Budget at their June 11 meeting. Significant changes to the pro- posed budget included: • Aaron Miller will serve as full-time Superintendent under a single contract but will continue in the role of Acting Elementary School Principal. • An increase in transportation costs of approximately $100,000 that indicate inflation costs, actual expenditures and cost of living adjustments in the contract with Curls Transportation. The District is reimbursed 70% of transportation costs from the state. • An increase of $17,000 for an upgrade of internet services. The District will be reimbursed through a program called E- Rate. • A reduction of expenses by $40,000 for fundraising services from Met Group. • An increase of the Shop teacher posi- tion from .28 to .68 FTE. Y.T.P. Report – Beth Kintz provided the Board with a report on the Youth Transition Program (Y.T.P.). The District has received a two- year grant to expand the program. The program is designed to improve post school transition outcomes for youth with disabilities and documented barriers to employment by preparing them for employment and career related education and training. Students work with a Transitional Specialist and a local Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor and receive continued on page 14 START RIGHT. START HERE. 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