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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (July 21, 2016)
schools Schools Update By Aaron Miller Once again the Vernonia School District is sponsoring its Summer Meals Program held at the Grace Family Fellowship Church located at 957 State Avenue. Lunch is free for children up to 18 years of age. There is no income requirement, no paperwork and anyone can participate whether they live in Vernonia, or not. Adults are encouraged to eat lunch as well, with a price of $3.00 for anyone over the age of 18. Lunch is 2016 served from 11:30 am – 1 pm, Monday through Friday. Volunteers are always welcome. There is always a choice of entrees and a very nice salad bar that is supplied with many local fruits and vegetables. The service is great and the company is always friendly. In addition to providing meals for children who drop in for lunch, this program has also been able to serve meals to a variety of youth during summer camps and other events. Summer soccer, basketball School Board Report At the July 14 School Board Meeting: Bond Advanced Refund Finalized – Superintendent Aaron Miller told the Board that the refinancing and advanced refund on the $13 million bond approved by voters in 2009 has been finalized and that taxpayers will receive approximately $691,000 in savings from the refinancing over the life of the bond. Board Approves Bond Resolution – The Board approved Resolution 1617-01 to place a General Obligation Bond for $6.8 million on the November 8, 2016 election ballot. (See full story on front page.) Board Accepts Teacher Resignations – The Board accepted resignations from three teachers: grade school teacher Theresa Dee, high school science teacher Jean Riley, and high school science teacher and head girls basketball coach Steve Whiteman. Board Elects Chair and Vice Chair – The Board elected Brett Costley to serve as the Chair of the Board and elected Greg Kintz as the Vice Chair for the 2016- 17 school year. Board Approves Employee Contracts – The Board approved contracts with the Oregon School Employees Association, representing classified employees within the District, and with the Vernonia Education Association, representing licensed personnel. Both contracts once again include no Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA), with the salary schedule remaining the same as the previous year. Both contracts do include step increases as scheduled. Sports Fields Update – Superintendent Aaron Miller told the Board that the contract for construction of the new baseball field at the school campus has been awarded to Dan Titus. Board Approves Schedules, Rates and Fees – The Board approved the School Board Meeting Schedule for 2016-17 with meetings on August 11, September 8, October 13, November 10, December 8, January 12, February 9, March 9, April 13, May 11, June 8, and July 13. The October and April meetings are scheduled Vernonia Veterinary Clinic Small and Large Animals july21 and church camps have all come to eat for free, and the Echoing Evergreens Summer Day Camp also takes advantage of this service during their August camp at Airport Park. Vernonia Elementary School’s newly formed Kindercamp, a program to help incoming kindergarten students transition into their new school environment, will have their daily snack and lunch provided by Summer Meals, free of charge and delivered to the school. Please stop by and visit us at to be held at Mist Grade School. A Board Workshop is scheduled for October 29. All meetings begin at 6:00 pm. The Board approved a rate of $180 per day for substitute teachers for the 2016-17 school year. The Board approved the Student Fee Schedule for 2016-17. The Fee Schedule remains the same as last year except for an increase of $0.10 for student lunches and a decrease in adult entree costs. 13 the Summer Meals Program. Bring your children, or just come for lunch yourself and see what a great service Cathy Meyer, Nic Welch, Traci Kish and our student volunteers provide for our children and community. If you have any questions regarding the Summer Meals Program, or any other business regarding the school district, please call Superintendent Miller at the District Office, (503) 429- 5891. the Facilities (Long Range Planning) Committee. Levenseller and Kintz will serve on the Vernonia Education Foundation Committee. Superintendent Report – Superintendent Aaron Miller told the Board that the District has eight students working in internship positions this summer: one at Stub Stewart State Park, two with the Upper Nehalem Watershed Council, and five working with the school custodial and maintenance crew. Board Approves Out of State Travel for Training – Miller told the Board the District has opened The Board approved a request from high school prin- up two positions to replace teachers who have resigned cipal Nate Underwood for six staff members to travel and is now accepting applications for a first/second to San Diego, California on August 1-3 for Advance- grade teacher and a high school science teacher. ment Via Individual Determination (AVID) training. All expenses will be paid through the College and Ca- reer Readiness Grant the District re- ceived from the Oregon Department of Education. Staff members that will attend are Underwood, teachers Juliet Safier, Teri Willard, and Doran Lower, counselor Pete Weisel, and special education teacher Susanne Myer. Board Selects Committee Liaisons and Assignments – Board members selected District and Board Committees they will serve on for the upcoming school year. Cari Levenseller will serve as liaison to the Curriculum, Technology, and Safety Committees. Susan Wagner will serve as liaison to the Talented and Gifted, and the Positive Behavior and Intervention Support (PBIS) Committees. Brett Costley will serve as liaison to the School Based Health Center Committee. Ernie Smith, Costley, and Greg Kintz will serve on the Board’s Negotiation Committee. Levenseller, Katie Cook and Brittanie Roberts will serve on the Policy Revue Committee. Smith and Wagner will serve on 291 A Street call Kim Open Mon, Wed & Saturday 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Call for Appointments (503) 429-1612 Or 24 hr. Emergency Number (503) 397-6470 700 Weed Ave. Vernonia, OR Lovable service at a reasonable price • Bathing • Haircuts • Nail Clipping • Nail Polishing • Specialty Shampoos
