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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 21, 2016)
schools january21 2016 School Board Report 13 Schools Update: Snow Make Up Days At the January 14, 2016 School Board Meeting: Greg Kintz, meet with Miller and bring any suggested changes back to the Board. Costley said any negotiation Board Approves Names for New Sports Fields – The suggestions were welcome from the rest of the Board. Board voted to approve names for the new softball and baseball fields at the school campus. The softball field Enrollment Climbing – Superintendent Aaron Miller will be named Alumni Field and the baseball field will be reported that after reaching a low of 530 students in By Aaron Miller December, enrollment has been slowly increasing and has named Holce Field. (See full story on this page.) now reached 547. Council Discusses Weapons Policies – The Board After our most recent flooding event, discussed current District policies concerning weapons on Student Reports – 1 st and 2 nd grade students, Olivia and a bout of snow followed by more cold campus and at school sanctioned events. The discussion Bunkey, Sylar Navarro, and Connor Johnston from Mrs. and icy road conditions students in Vernonia was prompted by an incident at a football game this past Schlegel’s class made a presentation on what they learned have already missed three days of school about Computer Sciences in fall. The Board took no action. due to inclement weather. Following such a a recent section that taught (See full story on front page.) hot, dry summer Mother Nature is certainly computer code writing. working hard to get us back to average with Financial Audit Receives OK – such a wet, cold start to our winter. Superintendent Report – The annual independent financial When our school calendar was Superintendent Aaron Miller audit found the Vernonia School developed last spring three Fridays were shared correspondence from the District in compliance. Larry designated as days off of school, with the Oregon Crusaders, a marching Grant from Gove, Mueller & intent that they would be used as weather band organization that has used Swank presented the financial make-up days if needed. Well, they are the Vernonia Schools facility for statement to the Board and needed. weekend practices and workshop reported that there were no Students will now be attending events three times in the past and significant findings in the audit school this Spring on the following Fridays have another event scheduled. New Custodians Hired – to make up for the instructional time lost The group pays $750 to use the Following the retirement of during these weather events: facility for two days. The group both Julie Ramsey and Carol • Friday, February 26 thanked the District for being Senn from the custodial staff • Friday, March 4 flexible and for the use of their facilities. on January 4, 2016, Superintendent Aaron Miller told the • Friday, April 29 Miller shared a letter with the Board that is being sent Board that two permanent replacements have been hired, While only three “snow make-up home to all parents offering the opportunity for studnts Randy Phipps and Debbie Johnston. days” were placed in the calendar, further to opt out of the Smarter Balanced testing. The opt out inclement weather will likely result in District in Compliance with OARs – Superintendent form is available at the Vernonia Schools office or online extending the school year into the summer Aaron Miller reported that the District has received a at www.vernonia.k12.or.us. to make up for any more lost class time. If Miller reported that a grant proposal involving completely compliant Division 22 report. The Division further school days are lost to weather the 22 report is used to determine a District’s compliance several school districts to create a Columbia County Career with Oregon Administrative Rules (OARs) for public and Technical Education (CTE) Hub for careers in nursing Vernonia School District (VSD) Board will and other medical careers was not funded. elementary and secondary schools. make the final determination as to when that Miller told the Board his plans to begin a Strategic time will be recouped. Board Approves Local Service Plan – The Board Planning process is being delayed for a month due to As the VSD calendar was developed approved the Local Service Plan from the North West receiving support from the NWRESD to work with a to meet standards for instructional hours, Regional Education Service District (NWRESD). The private consultant to lead it. extending make-up days into the summer NWRESD combines resources from the state and provides Miller told the Board the District is applying, in would be likely to maintain state compliance. services to regional school districts that the districts might patnership with the Upper Nehalem Watershed Council, not be able to afford on their own. The NWRESD includes for a grant for $35,000 18 school districts, including Astoria, Clatskanie, Forest from BLM to support Grove, Jewell, Knappa, Sherwood, St. Helens, Tigard- operations at the Tualatin, Tillamook, and Vernonia. NWRESD head Rob greenhouse, including Saxton says he is currently working to bring the Beaverton paying for student and Hillsboro School Districts back into the NWRESD. summer interns. The 2016-17 budget is projected to be $15.3 million with Miller reported the service credit allocation projected at $11.5 million. that the District received Service credit allocations are divided among districts Medicaid Administrative based on enrollment. Vernonia’s service credit allocation Grade 2 Claims of over $29,000 is projected to be $187,889. Addie is known as a good all around student who is this year, an increase of Superintendent Evaluation Process to Begin – Board $20,000. Miller said polite, looks out for others, and does especially Chair Brett Costley notified the Board that it is time for the staff are being especially good school work in reading and math” Addie says annual evaluation of Superintendent Aaron Miller. Costley diligent in documenting her favorite subject is reading and that she likes to asked Miller and the Board to fill out an evaluation form, time spent on any work read in her spare time” She also helps take care of which he would compile and present for discussion at a that can be related to the family dog, Sadie” later meeting. He also notified the Board that Miller has Medicaid after learning asked for his contract to be opened for negotiation. Costley of other schools that Grade 8 received conscensus to have a negotiation committee, were receiving large Sophia is known as a hard worker who tries her made up of himself and board members Ernie Smith and reimbursements. best, turns in high quality work, and is willing to go the extra mile” “She has this great desire to actually learn and put forth the effort,” says one of her teachers” Sophia says her favorite subjects are language arts and social studies” She plays volleyball and is part of a tournament basketball The Vernonia School Board alumni through the Vernonia Education team, and says she enjoys hanging out with friends voted at their January 14, 2016 meeting Foundation’s (VEF) Sports Initiative. to approve names for the new softball Miller thanked the VEF, and especially and baseball fields at the school campus. Jim and Kathy Eckland, for their work Grade 11 Based on a recommendation spearheading the campaign. Kaitlyn is a very good and active student” She from Superintendent Aaron Miller and The District recently received a plays first clarinet in the school band and was just a naming committee, the softball field donation of $120,000 from alumni and selected for both the Honor and the All State Band” will be named Alumni Field and the long-time district supporters Evelyn She is part of the FRC Robotics program and also baseball field will be named Holce and Randy Holce to install the new works on the school yearbook” She has already Field. baseball field. started her senior project, making digital copies of The softball field is currently The naming committee was the old class photographs from VHS” She is also under construction and is expected to be comprised of community member helping the Vernonia Pioneer Museum revise their completed and ready for use this spring. Mike Fetch, School Board member Historical Walking Tour and is a volunteer at the Construction on the baseball field is Ernie Smith; district administrators Vernonia Library” In her spare time Kaitlyn raises expected to begin this spring. Gordon Jarman and Aaron Miller, award winning show rabbits for 4-H” The softball field was teacher Randy Shockey, classified completely paid for with donations of staff member Kathy Fetch and student Sponsored by State Representative Brad Witt approximately $80,000 that came from Cassidy Whitton. Vernonia Students of the Month December 2015 Addie Coburn Sophia Wolf Board Approves Names for New Sports Fields Kaitlyn Eyrrick
