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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (July 16, 2015)
schools july16 2015 Schools Update: No Charter School By Aaron Miller The Vernonia School District’s efforts to become a public charter school were rebuffed by the Oregon Legislature’s recent passage of House Bill 2150. This bill removed the initial “double funding” of new charter schools, and the district was unsuccessful in grandfathering itself into, or making Vernonia an exception to, those new rules. Because of this change, the district has withdrawn its charter application to the Oregon Department of Education, and will continue moving forward as a “regular” public school district. Although the District will not become a charter school, the work that was completed by the Charter Steering Committee was very valuable in gathering input from the community on what they would like to see from the curricular and instructional efforts of our school district. As a district, we will utilize that input as we focus on building solid academic foundations in core subjects, integrating STEAM (Science- Technology-Engineering-Art-Math) instruction and activities into those core subjects, creating more Career and Technical Education pathways for our students to transition into the real world, and utilizing our business and agency partners to provide our students the best education possible. Without dedicated funding from the Charter process these efforts will be slower, but will continue to be District priorities. This input was provided by over 30 community, staff and Board members who volunteered many, many hours to help position the District to become a Charter if the financial rewards had remained in place. Each Schools Board Report At the July 9,2015 School Board Meeting: Newly Elected Board Members Sworn In – Katie Cook, Brittanie Roberts and Greg Kintz were all sworn in as School Board members. Cook and Roberts are new members to the Board; Kintz was reelected. Kitchen, Library, Classrooms, Lobby, athletic fields, parking lot, and custodial services. Student clubs and groups will not be charged to use facilities. The Board also approved a fee for non-enrolled student tuition of up to $450 for each semester course. The fee would be assessed to students not enrolled in the District, such as home schooled students, who wish to access courses offered by the District. Board Chair and Vice Chair Elected– Brett Costley was elected as Chair of the School Board and Ernie Smith was Board Approves Surplus of Athletic elected as Vice Chair. Items – The Board approved the Board Approves Substitute Teacher declaration of numerous sports uniform Pay – The Board approved establishing items as surplus, The items will be substitute teacher pay for the 2015-16 donated to the upcoming “2 nd Biggest school year at $175 per day. Last year the Class Reunion” on August 16 to be rate was $172/day; the state minimum is used as a fundraiser. Items include: set at $173.76/day. volleyball, softball, and basketball Board Approves Meeting Schedule– jerseys and shorts; Athletic polo and golf The Board approved their meeting shirts; basketball and wrestling warm schedule for the upcoming year and will ups, and black and orange tube socks. continue to meet on the second Thursday Charter School Application of each month at 6:00 pm. They have Withdrawn – Superintendent Miller also scheduled Workshops on August told the Board that, due to the passage 27, October 29 and March 31. of HB2150 by the State Legislature, Board Approves Fee Schedule – The Board approved the Fee Schedule for the 2015-16 school year. Changes from the previous year included an increase of: 10 cents for student lunches and for juice/milk and for adult lunch entree and juice/milk; 20 cents for adult breakfast; 25 cents for student salad and adult breakfast entree, lunch and salad. A new 65 cent fee was added for water. The Board also approved the addition of a series of Facility Use Fees for use of the school campus and include charges for use by district affiliated, non affiliated and non-profits groups for use of gymnasiums, Commons area, no extra funding at the state level is available to fund Charter Schools and the District will no longer pursue becoming a Charter School. (See full story on this page.) Miller also told the Board that no other debt reduction initiatives at the state level that the District was lobbying for were successful. Board Receives Report from Metropolitan Group – The Board received a detailed report from the Metropolitan Group on their efforts to raise funds for the District during the last fiscal year. The total amount secured was $433,000, which included 13 and every parent, community member, staff member and board member that helped develop our charter application deserves the utmost in appreciation for their work to support our students. While this is not the best of news, the District will continue to move ever forward in our ongoing recovery from the flood. The District’s focus, as always, is on the well-being and success of our students, as we work to do the best job possible for our children. Thank you again to everyone who helped make the Charter application a reality, and for your ongoing efforts to support our children and our schools. Together we can truly make a difference. If you have any questions regarding the Charter, or other Vernonia School District happenings, please contact Superintendent Aaron Miller at 503-429-5891. $212,300 in FEMA mitigation funds and $110,000 of SDC funds waived by the City of Vernonia. The report also details strategies for the upcoming year. Project Updates – Superintendent Aaron Miller told the Board that work is continuing on the new Shop facility and should be complete in time for fall classes. Miller told the Board that Robert Watts has signed a contract and will begin construction of the new softball field on the school campus. Plans are to have the field finished in time for the spring season. Miller told the Board that the PTA has purchased the next phase of the play structure and plan to have it installed by the start of the school year. Board Establishes Committee Liaisons and Assignments – Board member Katie Cook will serve as liaison to the Curriculum Committee, the Safety Committee, and the Technology Committee. Brett Costley will be the liaison to the Health and Wellness Committee. Brittanie Roberts will serve as the liaison to the Talented and Gifted Committee and the Positive Behavior & Intervention Support (PBIS). Ernie Smith will be the liaison to the Sustainability Committee. Ernie Smith, Greg Kintz and Brett Costley were assigned to the Negotiations Committee, which will deal with contracts for both teachers and classified employees this fiscal year. Katie Cook and Brittanie Roberts were assigned to the Policy Review Committee. Smith and Costley were assigned to the Facilities (Long Range Planning) Committee. Cari Levenseller and Kintz were assigned to the Vernonia Education Foundation. Board Makes Designations – The Board approved numerous designations for the upcoming fiscal year, which included naming District Superintendent Aaron Miller to several positions: Chief Administrative & Budget Officer/Clerk, Custodian of Funds, and Representative of Federal/State Fund & Grant Applications. The Board also designated US Bank & Government Pool as Depository of Funds; Grove, Mueller & Swank, P.C. as District Auditors; Brown & Brown Northwest as Insurance Agent of Record; Garrett, Hemann, Robertson, Jennings, Constock & Trethwy, P.C. as Attorney of Record and Vernonia’s Voice as Newspaper of Record. The Board also set a Borrowing Limit of $150,000. 291 A Street call Kim Lovable service at a reasonable price • Bathing • Haircuts • Nail Clipping • Nail Polishing • Specialty Shampoos START RIGHT. START HERE. SM Summer is here! 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