14
schools
may18
2017
School Board Report
At the May 11, 2017 School Board
Meeting:
Budget Committee Approves Budget
– The Budget Committee met at the start
of the School Board Meeting, with Chair
Katie Cook presiding. The budget will
now go to the School Board for adoption
on June 8 and Chair Cook invited the
public to attend that meeting and provide
public input.
Project Based Learning Class Pres-
ents Grant Awards – The Project
Based Learning Class, taught by Jim
Krahn, presented grant awards to sev-
eral community groups. The presenting
students, Makenzie Fassold, Ben Shulte,
Cassidy Whitton, Kaitlyn Eyrrick and
Megan Ely, explained that the class re-
ceived a $5,000 grant from Community
101 which the class then had local non-
profits apply for. The class interviewed
each non-profit and then awarded five
grants. Recipients included the Verno-
nia School District for a student paint-
ed mural, Hands On Art, the Vernonia
Cares Food Bank, the Friends of the Ver-
nonia Library, and the Vernonia Educa-
tion Foundation to pay for guest speaker
Phil Boyte who provided the workshop
“Breaking Down the Barriers” during
Unity Week. The students announced
that Project Based Learning has received
funding for two classes next year.
Board Approves Increases to Fee
Schedule – The Board approved rec-
ommended changes to the District Fee
Schedule, which follows State sugges-
tions. The changes were all in the Food
Services categories and include a 10 cent
increase for all meals for all schools and
adults. There were no changes to Build-
ing, Sports, Non-Enrolled Student Tu-
ition or Facility Fees.
Board Accepts Resignation – The
Board accepted the resignation of ele-
mentary school secretary Ronda Lennen,
who has served for 12 years. In her letter
Lennen thanked Principal Aaron Miller,
stating, “Your genuine concern for each
of the students and employees has made
this time a real joy. I am very grateful
for all of your assistance along the way.”
Superintendent Report – Superinten-
dent Aaron Miller updated the Board on
the School Bond Committee’s work.
Miller informed the Board that
interviews had been held with eight in-
dividuals to fill two open elementary
school teaching positions, as well as for
the open high school science teacher
position. Miller said there were good
candidates for all positions and hopes to
have them filled shortly.
Miller said work continues by
volunteers on the softball and baseball
fields.
Miller reported District enroll-
ment has dropped to 525.
County Responds to Students’ Let-
ter – Superintendent Aaron Miller dis-
tributed a copy of a letter that was a
response from the Columbia County
Road Department to a letter sent by the
Vernonia High School leadership class
concerning an accident on Pebble Creek
Road that involved three teens, two from
Vernonia High School, and included the
death of the other teen. The leadership
class letter was drafted by Kendra Stef-
fan and signed by the entire class. The
letter asked the county to address safety
concerns on the road in the area of the
accident.
Columbia County Public Works
Director David Hill responded to the
class with a detailed letter that expressed
grief at the loss of life and stated that he
will consider the issue with “absolute
highest attention and sincerity.” Hill
stated that while the County could cer-
tainly place reflectors and signs along
the road, anything more substantial, like
a guardrail, would need more review and
funding would need to be found. Hill
noted that a similar project involving
a guardrail on Canaan Road cost over
$600,000. Hill said the State of Oregon
is considering additional funding for
road improvements and suggested VHS
students might consider testifying at the
Oregon Legislature in support of that
funding.
Building Reports – High School Prin-
cipal Nate Underwood provided a writ-
ten report that noted that Blake Clark
and Lauren Glass were named King and
Queen of the Prom and also congratulat-
ed school Spelling Bee winners Kaitlyn
Eyrrick and Isabelle Admire who fin-
ished first and second for the high school
and Gabriella McAdams and Larissa
Vandehey who finished first and second
for the middle school. Superintendent
Aaron Miller added that Eyrrick won the
County Spelling Bee for the second year
in a row, but will be unable to compete
at the State event as she will be starting
school at New York University; her spot
at State will be filled by Admire, who
finished second at the County competi-
tion.
Underwood’s written report also
provided an update on the 8 th grade Fi-
nal Project, and noted that the 9 th Annual
Junior Salmon Auction will be held May
25.
Elementary school Principal
Aaron Miller reported that 4 th grad-
er Bowen Cottini and 5 th grader Zeb
Burklund represented the school at the
County Spelling Bee.
Miller told the Board about the
upcoming Family STEAM night, which
focuses on Science, Technology, Engi-
neering, Arts, and Math, on Wednesday
May 17.
Miller updated the Board on the
Field Trip to Stub Stewart State Park,
which he said was a success.
Miller told the Board Field Day
for VES would be on June 13.
Student Reports – Odessa Roberts
from the high school leadership class
updated the Board on high school ac-
tivities, including spring sports, Unity
Week, and a recent blood drive.
Freshman students participating
in Advancement Via Individual Deter-
mination, (AVID) training reported on
their progress. AVID is a college readi-
ness program designed to help students
develop the skills they need to be suc-
cessful in college. Cloe Rylands, Dakota
Willard, Abigail Coleman, and Sophia
Wolf informed the Board about what
the program involves, including study
sessions, guest speakers who share their
college expereiences, Cornell Notes note
taking skills, personal organization and
the use planners, student tutors who as-
sist with understanding, and a class field
trip to the University of Oregon. The
training for the program has come from
a grant, which AVID District Coordina-
tor Nate Underwood told the Board had
been renewed. Later in the meeting
Underwood requested, and the Board
approved, travel to Denver, Colorado
for five staff members for an additional
three days of staff training, which AVID
Site Coordinator Juliet Safier enthusi-
astically endorsed; the travel is paid for
with grant funds. Teri Willard was the
initial teacher and will continue with the
class as sophomores next year, while
Matt Blair will be added as a teacher for
the new freshman class.
Board Recesses to Executive Session,
Takes No Action – The Board Re-
cessed to Executive Session under ORS
192.660(2)(i) “To review and evaluate
the performance of the chief executive
officer or any public officer, employee or
staff member...” and under ORS 192.660
(2) (b) “To consider the dismissal or
disciplining of, or to hear complaints or
charges brought against a public offi-
cer, employee, staff member or agent...”
After returning to Regular Session the
Board took no further action.
Vernonia School Board
Meetings are held on the
second Thursday of each
month. The next School Board
Meeting is scheduled for
June 8 at 6:00 pm in the
Schools Library.
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