schools
december21
2017
School Board Report
At the December 14, 2017 School
Board Meeting:
62.3% of freshman students on track
in 2016-17, much lower than the Or-
egon average of 83.4% and comparison
schools of 82.3%. Underwood later pro-
vided the Board with samples of student
report cards for the ON-Track for Stu-
dent Success program which allows 9 th
grade students and their parents to see
whether a student is On Track, Nearly
On Track, At Risk, or Not On Track to
graduate.
Underwood told the Board Se-
nior Speeches are scheduled for Wednes-
day, January 10.
Public Comment – Jennifer Rau and
Darrold Mushatt told the Board they
were disappointed in the way staff han-
dled a situation at school, when both of
their daughters were touched inappropri-
ately by another student. Both parents
said they were not notified of the inci-
dent by the school. Rau suggested the
district needed to better educate students
about inappropriate touching and Mush-
att said the District needed to be better
on communication with parents about all
issues.
Annual Audit Report – Nick Miller of
Pauly, Rogers, and Co., P.C., provided
Student Reports – Kaylee Bartolo-
the Board with the annual audit report
mucci, an 8 th grade leadership student
for fiscal year 2016-17. Miller reported
provided the Board with a detailed up-
that the audit found no issues with the
date on Middle School activities. She
District’s financial reporting
told the Board about fall sports, a Bless-
ing Bags project to provide supplies to Fall Sports Report – Athletic Director
homeless people, and discussed current Gordon Jarman provided the Board with
curriculum being studied in classes.
a report on Fall Sports activities at both
the Middle School and High School.
Building Reports – Elementary School
Jarman reported that the Middle
Principal Aaron Miller provided the
School had seven students participate in
Board with a written report. Miller
club cross country, led by Sadie Gump,
reviewed work in the first year of the
Delaney Draeger, Peter Hahn, and Max
Response To Intervention and instruc-
Anderson; the football team, led by Levi
tion (RTIi) program, covered by a four
Richards on offense and Jeremiah Ar-
year grant to improve Core reading; in-
royo on defense, was 5-1 on the season;
formed the Board that classroom awards
and the volleyball team, led by Emma
are being well received by students in
Rylands, Kortnie Adams, and MVP
classrooms that respond to and meet
Brooklyn Walters, only lost one match at
expectations for clean classrooms and
the end-of-season Seaside Tournament.
bathrooms, and hallway and cafeteria
Jarman reported that High
behavior, as part of the Positive Behav-
School volleyball finished 2 nd in the
ior and Intervention Supports (PBIS)
Northwest League and once again quali-
program; and introduced 20% and 100%
fied for the State Playoffs, but lost in
Meetings – 20% Meetings focus on low-
the first round. The cross country team
est performing students to help de-
velop intervention plans and 100%
Meetings focus on all students in
a particular grade level to look
at trends to determine effective
teaching methods.
High
School/Middle
School Principal Nate Underwood
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provided the Board with a written
report. Underwood reported that
the Vernonia High School 2016-
17 graduation rate was 84.8%,
up from 69.8% the previous year
and significantly above Oregon’s
average of 74.8% and comparison
schools of 80.7%.
Underwood told the Board
research shows that data for Fresh-
man On-Track-To-Graduate is
the most telling indicator of high
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Board Approves OSBA Nomination
and Bylaws – The Board nominated
member Greg Kintz as Regional Oregon
School Board Association (OSBA) Rep-
resentative; Kintz has represented the re-
gion for numerous years and is up for re-
election. The Board also approved new
bylaws, as the OSBA is reorganizing as
a Non-Profit Corporation.
Board Accepts Retirement of Sher-
man-Heath – The Board accepted the
retirement of Instructional Assistant
Roxanna Sherman- Heath, effective Jan-
uary 31, 2018.
Board Considers Agenda Re-order
– Board Chair Brett Costley presented
the Board with a proposed re-order of
the meeting agenda for consideration.
Changes included moving Public Com-
ment towards the end of the meeting,
and adding Monitoring Board Perfor-
mance as a way to self-check their work.
Costley asked the Board to review his
proposed changes; the Board took no ac-
tion.
Superintendent’s Report – Superinten-
dent Aaron Miller told the Board that the
PCC Dual Credit program has been very
beneficial for students and the District.
Miller updated the Board on the
Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) program
that all five Columbia County School
Districts are working on. Miller in-
formed the Board the the County has
received a $68,000 grant from CareO-
regon to implement the program during
the 2018-19 school year, and said Dis-
trict representatives have been traveling
around the state to see how other schools
are implementing the program.
Miller provided an update on
Bond projects. He said trophy cases
have been purchased and the Mist School
roof replacement project is going out to
bid. He said the welding shop construc-
tion is being planned for the summer of
2018, and new classrooms and the foot-
ball field/track construction is planned
for the summer of 2019. He said he is
reviewing new sound and video equip-
ment for the gyms and Commons.
Miller provided new Procedur-
al Handbook pages for Administrative
Chain of Command and Student Behav-
ior. This new project is ongoing and will
provide staff with consistent expecta-
tions on how to handle interactions with
students.
Miller said he is researching op-
tions to fence the grandstands at Green-
man Field in order to protect the District
against liability until the City decides
whether to repair the roof or remove it.
Vernonia Students of the Month
November 2017
Elementary School
Jessika Marine
Front row (left to right):
Aubrie Morrison (1st), Aiden
Achondo (K), Bella Leach
(2nd), and Weston Dennis (K)
Back row: Malaki Erb (3rd),
Silas Hunter (3rd), Momi
Leininger (5th), Robyn Naron
(4th), and Andre De Field (5th)
Grade 7
Jessika is known as a motivated, dependable and
trustworthy student who is also very friendly.
She plays volleyball and is also on the cheer
squad. She volunteers at the Fire Department
and also participates in her church’s youth
group. In her spare time she likes to study,
spend time with her family, help take care of
her six younger siblings, read, and do art.
MacKenzie Fassold
We go the
extra mile
for you
493 Bridge Street
VERNONIA • 503-429-0248
welcomed new coaches John Roady and
George Spaulding and placed several
runners on the All League First Team.
The football team finished third in the
Northwest League with a 4-5 record
and placed numerous players on the All
League Teams.
Jarman noted in his report that
the lack of usable covered bleachers at
the football stadium was detrimental and
would like to see the District resolve this
issue.
17
Grade 12
MacKenzie is the co-chair of the Project Based
Learning class and also helps with art projects
throughout the school. She is a member of the
National Honor Society. She is involved with the
youth group and helps with Vacation Bible School
at Vernonia Christian Church. She competes on
the track and field team. In her spare time she likes
to read, draw, and do art, and also loves spending
time in the outdoors. She has been accepted to
both Portland State and University of Portland for
next year to study Criminal Justice and plans to
attend Law School.
Sponsored by State Representative Brad Witt
