schools
march16
2017
11
Schools Update: Graduation Rate Increase
the Vernonia School District increased
by the greatest percentage, reporting an
In February, the South County 84.8 percent graduation rate in 2015-16,
Spotlight featured an article on gradu- up from 69.8 percent in 2014-15, and
ation rates using data recently released 64 percent in 2013-14,” stated the Spot-
by the Oregon Department of Education light.
(ODE). The statewide graduation rate Cohort Graduation Rate
for four-year graduates came in at 73.82 A cohort graduation rate follows the stu-
percent. Four of the fi ve high schools dents who are fi rst-time high school stu-
in Columbia County saw improvement, dents in a particular year and determines
with Vernonia increasing by the great- the percentage that graduate within a
est percentage! “Graduation rates in given time frame, such as four years. An
By Nate Underwood
extended rate, allowing one additional
year for completions, is also tracked and
reported as the 5-year Cohort Gradua-
tion Rates.
Dropout Rates in Oregon High Schools
Dropout data is collected in the Annual
Cumulative Average Daily Membership
(ADM) Data Collection each year at the
end of the school year, which identifi es
students’ enrollment dates and status as
of the last day of enrollment for the year.
Congratulations to all students,
staff, and community. This increase
can be attributed to supportive parents,
dedicated and hardworking staff, and
conscientious students. We still have a
long way to go and are always looking
for ways to improve. Continued focus
on Advancement Via Individual Deter-
mination (AVID), college and career
readiness, CTE programs, and dropout
prevention will no doubt help more stu-
dents graduate prepared to reach their
goals!
School Board Report
Board Approved Employee Donation of Personal
Leave – The Board approved a request from the Verno-
Board Approves Snow Make-up Day – The Board
nia Education Association (VEA) that would allow the
approved a request from Superintendent Aaron Miller
transfer of up to three personal days from one employ-
to extend the school year by one additional day to make
ee to another. These transfers are on a voluntary basis
up for the cancelation due to snow on Monday, March
and would be done to assist an employee that may need
6. The last day of school will now be Wednesday, June
to take a temporary medical leave and does not have
14.
enough sick time accumulated to cover the total leave.
Board Approves Administrative Contract – The Employees receive three personal days each year and
Board recessed into Executive Session under ORS any unused days are paid to the employee at the end of
192.660 (2) (I) “to review and evaluate the perfor- the year, so there is no change in fi nancial impact to the
mance of...any public offi cer, employee or staff mem- District with this approval.
ber...” and also under ORS 192.660 (2) (b) “to hear
Superintendent Report – Superintendent Aaron
complaints or charges brought against a public offi cer,
Miller told the Board that Columbia County Superin-
employee, staff member or agent...”
tendents were successful in accessing a grant through
After returning to Open Session the Board ap-
CareOregon to implement Trauma-Informed Care and
proved Resolution 1617-06, extending the administra-
Averse Childhood Experiences programing and teach-
tive contract for Nate Underwood. The Board took no
ing methods.
further action.
Miller told the Board the District has accepted
Board Approves Budget Calendar – The Board ap- a grant for $11,748 from the Nike School Innovation
proved the Budget Calendar as presented for the 2017- fund that will allow the school to continue imple-
18 FY. Budget Committee meetings are scheduled for menting Advancement Via Individual Determination
May 2 and May 11 with a public hearing and adop- (AVID).
tion of the budget scheduled for June 8. There are still
Miller told the Board he is working on a Youth
several opening on the Budget Committee for anyone Transitions Program (YTP) grant application. The
interested in serving.
grant would pay some of the salary for the program
supervisor and provide training and transportation for
Two Appointed to Budget Committee – The Board
students in the program.
approved the appointment of Christina Loope and
Miller told the Board a proposal has been sub-
James Loope to the Budget Committee.
mitted for year two of the Oregon Formative Assess-
Board Accepts Employee Resignation – The Board ment for Students and Teachers (OFAST) grant to give
accepted the resignation of David Suhrbur, who has teachers and administrators more training to embed
been teaching middle and high school science, effec- these learning strategies into everyday lessons.
tive June 30, 2017.
Miller told the Board the District has applied
for,
and
expects to receive, a grant through the North-
Board Approves Instructional Calendar for 2017-18
School Year – The Board approved the proposed in- west Regional Education Service District (NWRESD)
structional calendar for the upcoming school year. Ac- to fund a 10 day Kindercamp in August for all incom-
cording to Principal Nate Underwood, who presented ing kindergarten students. Miller said the program was
it, the calendar is very similar to the past year. There a pilot last year and was a huge success.
Miller told the Board that the District’s Bond
are a total of 157 Student Contact Days. The fi rst day
Measure
has a title, Measure 5-265. He told the Board
of school is Wednesday, September 6 and the last day
that
the
funds
to pay for the construction debt are in the
of school is scheduled for June 8. High School Gradu-
ation would be held on June 2 and 8 th grade promotion budget for the next fi scal year, but if the Bond passes it
on June 5. There are four snow make-up days built into would make available approximately $238,000 in the
the calendar. Christmas Break will run from Friday, District’s General Fund that could be spent to hire ad-
December 22 to Monday January 8. Spring Break is ditional staff or add student contact days next year. He
said if the Bond does not pass there would need to be
March 26 through March 30.
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major cuts to the operations budget the following year.
Miller told the Board that Marci Murry has
been added to the staff and will take on duties in the
Opportunity Room and provide point of service sup-
port for the Mealtime tracking service. Murry has been
a longtime sub in the District.
Public Comment – Sue Whitton, who is organizing
graduation night activities for the senior class, asked
if the high school was planning to hold the SKID pro-
gram this year. SKID (Stop Kids from Impaired Driv-
ing) is a traffi c safety and underage drinking preven-
tion program. Whitton was told by Principal Nate Un-
derwood, that staff is concerned about the amount of
school missed this year due to weather and the need to
complete mandatory testing, but will be meeting with
members of the Vernonia Fire Department to discuss
logistics and the possibility of hosting the event.
Building Reports – Vernonia Elementary School Prin-
cipal Aaron Miller told the Board that teachers at VES,
Mist and VMS have been working on the Oregon For-
mative Assessment Grant for Students and Teachers
(OFAST) and that a grant application has been submit-
ted to continue the work next year.
Miller told the Board the K-2 team has success-
fully implemented Golden Award assemblies which
recognize individual students of the month as well as
classrooms that follow rules.
VMS and VHS Principal Nate Underwood
provided the Board with a detailed written report on
activities in the schools. Underwood noted that March
5-10 is “Classifi ed Employees Week” and recognized
these many valuable employees for their dedication
and commitment to students.
Underwood discussed the increase in gradua-
tion rates at VHS, which saw the largest increase in the
county. (See article on this page.)
Student Reports – Brook Naron from the leadership
class updated the Board on activities around the high
school and discussed the end of winter sports and the
start of spring sports, robotics competitions, and the
AVID program.
MacKenzie Fassold, Noah Rylans, and Bran-
don Johnson told the Board about a Career Day they
attended and discussed the value to students. They all
encouraged the Board to continue funding these types
of programs.
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