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.
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622 Bridge Street Vernonia, OR 97064
phone (503) 429-0880 -- fax (503) 429-0881
