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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 7, 2016)
schools january7 2016 Schools Update: Emergency Shelter By Aaron Miller Another flood. We knew it was a matter of when, rather than if. While still traumatic and damaging for many in the community, it was much, much nicer for the school district to be part of the emergency response rather than part of the emergency. In the schools’ old location we would have been faced once again with water in at least some portion of our buildings. On higher ground the new Vernonia Schools building was able to act as a Red Cross Emergency Shelter. Moving the schools to higher ground kept our students and their schools safe, and provided our community with a place of shelter in a time of need. The schools will be here to do the same whenever the community requires a safe haven. All in all the plan to have the new Vernonia Schools building act as a place of refuge during a time of trouble worked out splendidly. Eleven community members, including six children, were housed in the small gym on December 9 and 10. They received food, shelter, a warm place to sleep, restrooms, a shower and the comfort of knowing that the waters would not be reaching them in the night. Emergency services were just down the road at the high and dry fire station, and the Vernonia Cares Food Bank brought their freezers and refrigerators up to the campus, keeping them safe from the water that once again entered their low-lying facility. Another 10-15 people found safety in their trailers and campers in the School Board Report Meeting Canceled, Special Meeting Held – The regular School Board meeting scheduled for December 10, 2015 was canceled following heavy rains and regional flooding. Instead the Board held a special meeting on December 17 to deal with just two agenda items. litigation likely to be filed,” and under O.R.S. 192.660(2)(b) “To consider the dismissal or disciplining or, to hear complaints or charges against, a public officer, employee, staff member or agent.” school parking lot, with several of them accessing food and a shower inside the school as well. Others used the parking lot as a place to ensure that their travel trailers and motor homes would not be damaged by the flood. About a dozen community members donated their pet carriers in case people utilizing the shelter also needed a place for their pets. While no pets spent the night, there is a plan and the capability to house pets when needed. Another positive aspect of our new building/emergency site is its size and ability to be broken into smaller sections. Even when school is in session we can close off classrooms from the athletic areas where emergency services are housed, to remain a shelter for those 11 in need. Our measures to mitigate future flood events, as a school district and community, are working. Fewer people impacted; a quick, well-planned and coordinated emergency response; places for people to stay safe, dry and warm. The schools were here for our community during this time of need, and will be in the future as well. Thank you all once again for moving our schools! Other than some very minor damage in the snack shack at Greenman Field we are safe and unaffected by our most recent flood event. It is truly a blessing to live in a community that takes care of its children, and its citizens, especially in times of trouble. New Year 2016 StPierreGraphics@aol.com Board Approves Personal Services Contract – Upon returning to Open Board Meets in Executive Session - At Session the Board approved entering the special meeting on December 17, into a personal services contract with the Board immediately recessed and James Buck. entered into Executive Session under O.R.S. 192.660(2)(h) “To consult with Board Accepts Resignation – The legal counsel concerning the legal Board voted to accept the resignation of rights and duties of a public body Kathleen Jackson, effective December with regard to current litigation or 17, 2015. IT’S TAX TIME Call your LOCAL tax preparer R Y O A LL PL P US LLC Edi Sheldon 503-429-1819 edisheldon@gmail.com Licensed tax consultant • Full service payroll Personal & small business bookkeeping • QuickBooks assistance CORPS, S-CORPS, LLC, Partnerships • Personal one-on-one service LTC #29629 - Oregon licensed tax consultant RTRP #P00448199 - designated as a registered tax return preparer by the Internal Revenue Service The IRS does not endorse any particular individual tax return preparer. For more information on tax return preparers, go to www.IRS.gov. DM D Vernonia Dental e rm an Insurance sending you in the wrong direction? Let us send you in the right direction. D Meyer’s Auto Body • 493 Bridge St • 503-429-0248 h . r C r h p o is t M er . h S c eu 622 Bridge Street Vernonia, OR 97064 phone (503) 429-0880 -- fax (503) 429-0881
