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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 18, 2016)
schools School Board Report At the February 11, 2016 School Board meeting: final Budget Hearing and adoption of the budget scheduled for June 9. Ac- cording to District staff there are several Strategic Planning Process Ready to openings for citizen members on the Begin – Superintendent Aaron Miller Budget Committee. told the Board that the Strategic Plan- ning Process is ready to be implemented Board Approves Title I Policy – (See full story on page 12) Following a brief review with Title I reading teacher Deb Stahlnecker, the Board Approves School Calendar Ad- Board approved the annual Title I Parent justment – At the request of Superinten- Involvement Policy that states how dent Aaron Miller the Board approved the program will be implemented in a change in the instructional calendar, consultation with parents. trading a snow make-up day originally scheduled for March 4 for May 15. Board Receives Report on VES Read- Miller noted that March 3 is the start ing, Math Progress – The Board re- of the high school basketball state tour- ceived a detailed report from Instruction- nament. With both the girls and boys al Coach Michelle Eagleson, who shared teams performing so well this year there mid-year reading and math assessment is the possibility that both teams will results for K-5 students. Eagleson told be traveling to Pendleton that weekend the Board she is focused on increasing to compete and numerous players, stu- improvement progress in reading flu- dents, staff and families could miss that ency and comprehension. day. Board Sets Student Transfer Limits – Board Approves Teacher Contract As a requirement of state HB 3681, the Extensions – Following an Executive Board set a limit of 15 for students that Session held under ORS 192.660 (2)(i) can transfer into the district under certain and 192.660 (2)(b), the Board adopt- guidelines for the 2016-17 school year. ed Resolution #1516-03 and extended teacher contracts as amended. Board Hears Policy Updates – The Board heard the first reading of numer- Board Accepts Teacher Retirement – ous policy updates recommended by the The Board accepted the retirement of OSBA and reviewed by the Vernonia VES teacher Rebecca Louder, effective School Board Policy Committee. July 1, 2016. Superintendent Report – Superinten- Board Approves Budget Calendar - dent Aaron Miller told the Board that the The Board approved the 2016-17 Bud- Columbia County CTE Hub has applied get Calendar as presented. The Budget for a summer grant to build greenhouses Calendar calls for Budget Committee to be sold, using high school students meetings on May 5 and May 12 with the who would also mentor middle school VHS Band Fundraiser Music & Movies! Feb 25th, 7pm on the VHS stage february18 2016 students; the project would provide em- ployment and job training for students. Miller told the Board he is ex- ploring Oregon Virtual Education (OR- VED) as an online option through the NWRESD. Currently costs per class are free to Vernonia students and Miller said he is developing a plan to offer more courses for students. He said he hopes this option might attract students back to the District. Miller told the Board he is work- ing with both employee unions to revise insurance coverage; the change could increase benefits for employees and pro- vide cost savings for the District. Enrollment on the Rise – Dawn Plewes told the Board during her financial re- port, and Superintendent Aaron Miller confirmed, that enrollment has continued to rise and is now up by over 21 students since last month. Miller told the Board enrollment was at 554 as of February 10 after reaching a low of 530 in November. Family Math Night – Superintendent Aaron Miller told the Board that almost 25 parents participated in the VES Fam- ily Math Night on January 19. Teachers spent the evening helping parents under- stand the Engage NY math curriculum so they can more effectively help stu- dents work on math skills at home. Student Reports: Quentin Skanes of the leadership class told the Board about the recent Blood Drive, updated the Board about the success of the high school basketball teams and robotics programs, and said there would be an upcoming assembly for students with good grades. Jessika Goodman, also of the leadership class, told the Board that the Winter Formal was a big success, updat- ed the Board on the wrestling team, and told the Board that senior speeches had been completed. WOEC Offers Scholarships The Sam Hearing scholarships and the VOLTA scholarship are both part of the scholarship program provided by West Oregon Electric Cooperative, Inc. (WOEC). There will be two Sam Hearing scholarships of $1,000 and one VOLTA scholarship of $1,500 awarded to deserving graduating seniors who reside in a home served by WOEC. WOEC seeks to invest in the lives of our local youth by awarding these scholarships to students wishing to attend a college, university, or vocational/trade school. Applications and instruction forms are now available online on WOEC website or by visiting our office or your school’s Scholarships Coordinator. All applications must be received by April 15, 2016. Please contact Angela Hadley, WOEC’s Executive Assistant at 503-429-3021 or email angelah@westoregon.org if you have any questions. Vernonia Students of the Month January 2016 Koa Leininger $5 at the door Come listen to your favorite show tunes and attend a red carpet event provided by the VHS band. Specially made desserts will be available for table side purchase, and the paparazzi will be on hand to take your photo. Put on your best Fred Astaire or Ginger Rogers attire and join us for this annual event. You won’t want to miss it! 13 Grade 1 Koa is a great example of a good student citizen. He says he has received the most reward tickets in the VES; he had 124 at one time and currently has 70. He says his favorite subject is reading where he likes to do the workbooks and color. He plays soccer and is going to play baseball this year. Koa says he will sing in the school talent show and perform his favorite song, “Run Away Baby” by Bruno Mars. Gabby McAdams Grade 7 Gabby is a student who takes pride in doing high quality work and has a real thirst for learning and wants to understand the concepts being presented. Gabby says her favorite subject is math. She plays club soccer and says she likes to draw and create video recordings in her spare time. Nichole Gardner Grade 12 Nichole is an active member of the Cheer Squad that just took 2nd place at the State Championship; she also performed an individual routine. As a member of the Cheer Squad she has volunteered at Vernonia Cares and also helped locally orga- nized runs. She is a part of the VHS leadership class and also volunteers at the Vernonia Library. Nichole says her favorite subjects are literature and science and she plans to attend the Interna- tional Air Hospitality Academy. Sponsored by Vernonia’s Voice
