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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (June 18, 2015)
schools june18 2015 Vernonia School Board Report At the June 11, 2015 School Board Meeting: years of experience as an instructional aid. Miller also announced that Board Approves Budget – Following Jeana Gump has resigned as instruc- a Public Hearing, the School Board ap- tional aide to pursue a master’s degree proved Resolution 1415-07, adopting the and that Coni Hodgson is retiring as an 2015-16 budget, making appropriations, instructional aide at the Mist School. and imposing and categorizing taxes. The total adopted budget is $13,220,984. Board Approves Financial Resolu- tions – The Board approved a revision to Board Approves Teacher Agreement Resolution 1314-04, making an adjust- – The Board approved a one-year ment to which line item approximately agreement with the Vernonia Education $10,000 was placed in the 2014-15 bud- Association, setting expectations get. The Board also approved Resolu- pertaining to teacher wages, hours, and tion 1415-06, appropriating unantici- conditions of employment. pated revenue in the 2014-15 fiscal year. Superintendent’s Report – Superinten- dent Aaron Miller told the Board that, because of changes at other School Dis- tricts, the State Legislature will make changes to funding and the Vernonia ap- plication to become a Charter School is unlikely to be accepted. Miller told the Board that the dust collection system needed for the completion of the shop facility has ar- rived and will be installed. Robert Watts will begin con- struction on the new softball field, which is expected to cost $35,000 and is being funded through the Vernonia Education Foundation. The field is expected to be ready for use next spring. The PTA will be installing the second phase of the play equipment after receiving a grant from the manufacturer. service on the School Board and his ded- ication to the school and the community. Kelly Hawker, a service coor- dinator with Columbia County Devel- opmental Facilities Program, asked for information about changes in the spe- cial education department at the school. Hawker was told the District is replacing a staff member who is resigning and will continue to provide above average ser- vices for special education students. Camyrin Eyrrick told the Board that she and Nicole Larke will head up the FIRST Robotics FRC program for the Loggerbots team in the upcoming school year. Chair Langmaid comment- ed that the program has been a success- ful in encouraging students to pursue studies in the engineering field. Gail Law asked if it was pos- sible for the Special Education program to hire an additional teacher and retain Eric Urban as the Life Skills instructor. Urban submitted his resignation at the end of the school year. Law was told that the District already has four teach- ers employed in Special Education, plus 13 a Behavioral Specialist, and have hired a teacher to replace Urban. Law expressed “heartbreak” at the loss of Urban and concern about the difficulty in the transi- tion for the students. Principal Reports – With the end of the school year just complete, the Principal Reports were fairly brief. Elementary School Principal Aaron Miller updated the Board on state testing, Focus School work, spelling bee winners and the re- turn of David Spackman from medical leave. Miller also provided a Discipline Report that showed most grades achiev- ing the goal of over 90% of students with either 0 or 1 major referrals. Middle and High School Prin- cipal Nate Underwood reported on the Class of 2015 graduation ceremo- ny. The class had five Valedictorians: Makayla Adams, Dylan Taylor, Summer Snow, Emilee Easlon, and Jeffrey Good- man. Summer Snow won the Senior Cup, Makayla Adams was the recipient of the Wallace McCrea Award, Winter Snow received the PEO Community Board Discusses Smarter Balance Testing – For the second meeting in a row Board members expressed frustra- tion with the new Smarter Balance As- sessment Testing. Board member Jim Krahn questioned the amount of time students spend in the classroom prepar- ing for the testing. Chair Bill Langmaid noted that the Federal Department of Ed- ucation has threatened to remove fund- ing from the State if they make it easier continued on page 14 for students to opt out of the testing. Instructor Juliet Safi- er said she spends about four PUBLIC NOTICE days of class time specifically BEFORE THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS FOR COLUMBIA COUNTY, OREGON preparing students for taking the test and that students took ) an average of 13 class periods In the Matter of the Rate Adjustments for Solid Waste Curbside Collection Services ) NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING to complete the testing. Su- in Unincorporated Columbia County ) (PUBLICATION) perintendent Miller said he be- lieves Common Core teaching 1. The Board of County Commissioners will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, June 24, 2015, at or after 10:00 a.m. in the Commissioners’ Meeting Room, Room 308, at makes sense but disagrees on the Columbia County Courthouse, 230 Strand Street, St. Helens, Oregon. how much time is spent on as- sessment testing. Krahn sug- 2. The purpose of this hearing is to consider proposed rate adjustments for curbside gested that the District begin garbage and recycling services for residents and businesses in rural Columbia County making their feelings about (i.e., outside city limits), effective July 1, 2015. The Columbia County Solid Waste the testing process heard to Advisory Committee is recommending that the Board adopt a rate increase for rural Rainier (6%). This area is serviced by Waste Connections, dba Hudson Garbage Service. State and Federal legislators. Board Members Recognized – Board Chair Bill Langmaid and Board Member Tim Bamburg were thanked by Superin- tendent Aaron Miller for their service on the Board. This was their last meeting; both chose not to run in the most recent election. Bamburg has served on the School Board for eight years; Langmaid has served for five years. Hands On Art Donations – Board Chair Bill Langmaid Miller Announces New Hires, Res- announced that Hands On Art ignations – Superintendent Miller an- has donated $1,650 to school nounced two new hires. activities. The funds were Thor Ware has been hired as a raised as part of the annual Jr. High School math instructor and will Salmon Auction. Hands On also become the head football coach. Art donated $50 to the VHS Ware comes to the Vernonia School Dis- softball program for their help trict from Rainier High School and has with set up, $100 to the band seventeen years of experience as a math program for providing enter- teacher. He led Rainier to a state title in tainment, and $1,500 to the 3A football in 2010. art program for supplies and Casandra Hilton has been hired scholarships. as the new K-12 Special Education Life Skills instructor. Hilton comes from the Public Comment – Cici Bell St. Helens School District and has ten thanked Bill Langmaid for his Residents and businesses in all collection franchise service areas within the County will be subject to a Transfer State disposal rate CPI pass-thru adjustment calculated as provided in Section 5.04B of the Columbia County Solid Waste Ordinance. The proposed rate adjustments also affect drop box services in the aforementioned areas. 3. This is a public hearing. Interested parties may appear and be heard. Columbia County does not discriminate on the basis of disability and will provide reasonable accommodations in accordance with the County’s ADA Policy. To request accommodations or to review the County’s ADA Policy, please contact the Board of Commissioners’ Office at 503-397-4322. 4. The hearing will be held according to the procedures established in the Columbia County Solid Waste Ordinance. 5. For additional information regarding the proposed rate adjustments, please contact Todd Dugdale, LDS Director, at 503-397-7207 or by visiting the County’s website at www.co.columbia.or.us/lds/. Dated this 5 th day of June, 2015. BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS FOR COLUMBIA COUNTY, OREGON START RIGHT. START HERE. SM Summer is here! Water Toys • Lawn Chairs Camping Supplies • BBQs Batteries • Fishing Supplies Sporting Goods • Coolers Family owned & operated for over 45 years 834 Bridge St., Vernonia (503) 429-6364 • Kitchen & Bathroom Remodels • Finish Carpentry • Ceramic Tile Work • Custom Home Construction • Additions • Commercial Tenant Improvements Jim Morrison, Jr. General Contractor CCB# 112057 Ph: (503) 429-0154 MorrisonRemodeling@hughes.net Vernonia, OR 97064 • Licensed • Bonded • Insured
