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
