schools
september15
2016
Schools Update - School Building as a Model
By Aaron Miller
Since its completion the Vernonia Schools
building has been a destination for school and
architectural visits, and this year is no exception.
Last week Rainforth/Grau Architects and
building administrators from the Folsom-Cordova
Unified School District near Sacramento, California
were here for a tour of the new building. This group,
like others in the past, were looking at the overall
design of the building, how its common spaces work
together to meet the needs of K-12 students, and how
its energy efficient features are utilized and operating.
These visits are very important to school
districts who are considering building new facilities.
School Board Report
At the September 8, 2016 School
Board Meeting:
Public Comment – Jim Krahn ad-
dressed the Board and updated them
on the School Bond Committee’s
work. Krahn told the Board that
members of the Committee have be-
gun meeting with organizations in
the community to answer questions
about the bond proposal. He said the
Committee, in an attempt to make
the cause more visible, is printing
and distributing flyers and distribut-
ing yard signs. Also in the works are
large banners, the continuation of the
direct mail campaign and an adver-
tising campaign in Vernonia’s Voice.
Building Reports – Vernonia El-
ementary School (VES) Principal
Aaron Miller told the Board that the
Kindercamp program was a “huge
success” with 21 of 31 incoming kin-
dergarten students participating.
Miller reported that seven
teachers and both principals attended
two days of initial Focus School Pro-
fessional Development training and
then shared an overview of the train-
ing with other teachers. Module top-
ics include: Formative Assessment
as a Process, How to set Learning
Goals and Success Criteria, How to
Gather and Interpret Evidence, How
to Respond to Evidence and Provide
Feedback, and How to Involve Stu-
dents through Peer Feedback and
Self-Assessment.
Miller told the Board that the
Mist Grade School Open House will
be Wednesday, September 28 from
6:30-7:30 pm and the VES Open
House will be held on Thursday, Oc-
tober 6 from 6:00-7:30 pm.
Miller reminded the Board
that their Board Meeting on October
Looking at how other schools were designed and built
helped shape the final version of the Vernonia Schools
facility and the Vernonia School District (VSD) is
happy to be able to return the favor to other schools
looking to build for effective instructional space and
efficient, energy-saving features.
In addition to visits looking at the building
design, we have also had several classrooms come
to visit our facilities, and work with our students on
natural resource projects here in Vernonia.
For the second consecutive year 8 th graders
from Lakeside School in Seattle, Washington will
spend a week here in Vernonia, learning about the
history, flora and fauna of the area, as well as learning
how our community is moving forward after two major
13 will be held at Mist School.
High School Principal Nate
Underwood told the Board that sev-
eral teachers will be participating in
the Willamette Promise this year, as
well as the NW Promise program of-
fered by the Northwest Regional Ed-
ucation Service District. (NWRESD)
Both programs allow students to earn
college credit for work they do at the
high school.
Underwood reported that the
high school is beginning to imple-
ment the AVIS Program, a college
and career readiness program that
will be taught to freshmen by Teri
Willard.
Underwood told the Board
that Rachel Wilcoxen will continue
as Dean of Students, David Suhrbur
has been hired to teach high school
science with David Spackman teach-
ing high school physics, Michelle
Eagleson will continue her Instruc-
tional Coach responsibilities and will
take over the Title I Program, Reed
Watson has been hired as the high
school football coach, and the high
school has 11 exchange students reg-
istered this year.
Underwood reported that the
high school will focus this year on
student attendance, limiting inappro-
priate use of cell phones, and the use
of After School Detention instead of
In School Suspension.
New Staff – Superintendent Aaron
Miller announced the hiring of new
first/second grade teacher Andrea
Anderson who has a Bachelors and
Masters Degree from George Fox
University, and experience teaching
at Banks Christian Academy. He
also announced the new high school
science teacher David Suhrbur, who
Vernonia
Veterinary Clinic
Small and Large Animals
13
floods within 11 years. These students will work at
helping Vernonia Elementary School students in the
classroom, will hook up with Vernonia Middle School
8 th graders for a class project, will help the Upper
Nehalem Watershed Council in the field, and visit Stub
Stewart State Park for a hike and nature tour.
Three years ago 8 th graders from the Jane
Goodall Environmental Middle School from Salem,
Oregon came to participate in Salmon Watch activities
with our 4 th graders and kindergarten students.
Our new building was built for our students,
but also to be a model for other rural schools. With each
visitation and cooperative project that is completed we
further realize these goals and aspirations.
has a Bachelor of Science from the
University of Illinois Chicago and a
Masters Degree from Eastern Illinois
University; the Board later approved
this hire. Miller noted there are two
Instructional Assistant positions cur-
rently open. He also introduced new
first/second grade teacher Debbie
Taylor.
Revised Fee Schedule – The Board
approved a Revised Fee Sched-
ule which included the addition of
$20.00 fee for the middle school
shop/construction class.
Superintendent Report - Superin-
tendent Aaron Miller provided the
Board with a copy of a letter he sent
to the ASSE International Student
Exchange Program concerning their
decision to not allow any students
to be placed in the Vernonia School
District this year who listed basket-
ball as an interest on their applica-
tion. (See full story on front page.)
Miller told the Board that
neither OSAA or VSD Athletic Di-
rector Gordon Jarman have a prob-
lem waiving pay-to-play fees for the
students of volunteer coaches.
Miller told the Board he ex-
pects enrollment to be down this year
because the District had a large grad-
uating class of seniors and a small
incoming kindergarten class, but
would wait until the October meet-
ing to provide actual numbers.
Miller said that the District
hosted the NWRESD in-service,
which was very successful, with the
only issue being parking for all the
attendees.
Miller told the Board con-
struction is progressing on the new
baseball field and the completion of
the softball field.
School District Re-
sponds to Exchange
Student Sanctions
continued from front page
hooking up families and kids together that have
similar interests,” Miller told the Board. “If you
have kids that play basketball it’s much easier if
your foreign exchange student does as well.”
“...we are an exemplary program by your
own declaration,” said Miller in his letter. “Given
our track record your discrimination against our
program is even more unfathomable.”
Miller noted in his letter that the VSD
has welcomed and hosted many students over the
years with interests other than basketball. “We as
a school district are accepting of ALL students,
whether they play sports, are outstanding stu-
dents, are talented musicians, or are just an aver-
age student who is here for an experience abroad,”
states Miller. “By singling out basketball, you are
discriminating against your students who have
their placement choices limited by their interest,
and you are discriminating against your students
and our parents who have determined they are a
good match for each other. We are playing by the
rules, have officially demonstrated we are play-
ing by the rules yet you have still levied sanctions
against our program.”
In his letter Miller tells McNallan the
VSD is considering whether to continue its asso-
ciation with ASSE.
“We have played by the rules and will
continue to do so,” said Miller in his letter. “We
ask that you reconsider your decision and allow
students and host families in Vernonia to have the
same opportunities as everyone else participating
in your program.”
Vernonia’s Voice is published
twice each month on the
1st and 3rd Thursday.
Look for our next issue October 6.
291
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