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
