schools
march15
2018
13
School Board Report
At the March 8, 2018 School Board
Meeting:
Board Extends Licensed Employees
and Administrative Employee Con-
tracts – After meeting in Executive
Session under ORS 192.660 (2) (I) “To
review and evaluate the performance of
the chief executive officer or any other
public officer, employee or staff mem-
ber...,” the Board returned to Open Ses-
sion and approved Resolutions 1718-01
and 1718-03 and extended contracts for
licensed employees and administrative
employees as recommended by the Su-
perintendent.
Board Approves Donated Sick Leave
– The Board approved a Memorandum
of Understanding that allows classi-
fied employees to create a “sick-leave
bank” so members can donate unused
sick leave to other members in case of
an emergency.
Board Appraised of Calendar Adjust-
ment for Snow Days – The previously
approved District Calendar included
snow make-up days which will now
be added into the schedule on Friday,
March 16 and May 18 to make-up for
missed days on February 21-22.
Board Appoints Whiteman to Bud-
get Committee – The Board approved
the appointment of former teacher and
coach Steve Whiteman to the District
Budget Committee.
Board Approves Budget Calendar –
The Board approved the Budget Calen-
dar presented by Finance Director Marie
Knight. The calendar calls for the Bud-
get Committee to meet on May 3 and
May 10, and for the Board to adopt the
Budget at their June 14 meeting.
Board Approves Out-of-State Travel
for Close Up – The Board approved
a request for out-of-state travel for 8 th
graders to take part in the Close Up trip
to Washington D.C. from April 14-19.
Board Receives Info About Clay Tar-
get Team – The Board received infor-
mation about a proposed Clay Target
team that would compete against other
schools in Oregon. Sam Clapshaw
would be the coach and was at the meet-
ing to answer questions. Clapshaw said
Clay Target shooting is a growing sport
in Oregon, and said two years ago there
were just two schools competing, now
there are 30. Student/athletes would
compete in Hillsboro and enter scores
virtually to compete in the league. The
school would need to adjust current poli-
cies which do not allow anyone to carry
a firearm at any school sanctioned func-
tion. The team would not begin compet-
ing until next year.
Student Reports – Brook Naron, Public
Relations representative for the Student
Council, updated the School Board on
the conclusion of the winter sports sea-
son and the start of the spring season. She
told the Board about student Valentine’s
Day activities. Naron told the Board
about Student Body President Kaillia
Jackson’s Presidential Challenge, “Pen-
ny’s for Power” which is raising funds
for the Matt Barbee family. She updated
the Board on the Robotics Team com-
petitions. She also told the Board that
the National Honor Society is working
to present the SKID program this spring,
which enacts a fatal drunk driving acci-
dent involving students as a way to pro-
mote safety during prom season.
Principal Reports – High School/
Middle School Principal Nate Under-
wood provided the Board with a report
on the winter sports season. He told the
Board that instructors Ashley Ward and
Matt Blair will take 16 students on the
Close Up Trip to Washington D.C. April
14-19. Underwood provided updates on
College and Career Readiness programs,
including 9 th Grade On-track, AVID, and
Smarter Balanced Testing. He also pro-
vided statistics for the 2016-17 Gradua-
tion Rate, which was the highest in four
years at 84.8% - above Oregon’s state-
wide average of 74.8% and compara-
tively sized schools of 80.7%.
Elementary Principal Aaron
Miller told the Board that March 5-9
was Classified Employees Appreciation
Week. They were recognized with flow-
ers, breakfasts, and other goodies. Mill-
er expressed his thanks to all the Classi-
fied Employees. Miller said a new mural
in the Hall of Champions was the work
of Artist in Residence Sarah Ferguson
and K-5 students. Miller said K-5 teach-
ers visited the Gaston School to observe
teachers implementing Enhanced Core
Reading Instruction (ECRI) techniques.
Miller told the Board that Vice Princi-
pals Mrs. Eagleson and Mrs. Wilcoxen
attended New Principal’s Academy for a
day of training.
Superintendent Report – Superinten-
dent Aaron Miller answered a question
he had received from the Board about
what is needed for the District to meet
the needs of students that have not been
provided because of budget constraints
in past years. Miller provided an exten-
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sive list of priorities and said he does not
believe the State is funding schools ad-
equately, and funds small rural Districts
even less than larger Districts. Miller’s
list included the need for additional ad-
ministrative personnel, additional teach-
ers at all levels, and additional positions
or resources for custodial, counseling,
Resource Officers, field trips, supplies,
text book upgrades, summer school, sal-
ary increases, staff professional devel-
opment, elementary music, and college
preparation.
Miller updated the Board on
progress to create a At Home Public
School Charter Program that would al-
low home school students to enroll in
the Vernonia School District (VSD) and
then access resources, including curricu-
lum and a teacher. VSD would receive
full funding from the State for each stu-
dent that enrolls, which would fund the
program. Currently many homeschool
families are enrolled in the Yahill-Carl-
ton School District for these services.
Miller said he has been meeting with
parents of homeschool students and pre-
sented the Board with basic assumptions
that would allow the program to be suc-
cessful. Miller said he is already receiv-
ing commitments from families that say
they will enroll if the program is imple-
mented.
Miller told the Board the Dis-
trict has received a grant to fund the
AVID program for the next three years.
Miller provided an update on
Bond projects and said the Mist roof
contract has been awarded to Dan Titus,
a contract is in place with Three Rivers
Audio Visual to install a high powered
digital projector in the Commons, and
said a contract has been signed for archi-
tectural work and that community meet-
ings will be set up in March and April.
Miller informed the Board that
kindergarten teacher Lisa Edwardsen
has tendered her resignation, effective
June 30, 2018; the Board later voted to
accept that resignation.
Miller said work continues on
the new softball and baseball fields and
said he hopes the first games will be
played there on April 13.
Public Comment – Dale Webb ex-
pressed concerns about the safety of the
school building and students in the wake
of recent school shootings and suggest-
ed the Board consider forming a com-
munity committee to discuss potential
ways to protect students. He said there
are many different models that are being
used and that the Vernonia School Dis-
trict is currently a Gun Free Zone. He
said St. Helens School District allows
teachers to carry guns.
Amy Ceiloha express dissatis-
faction with the Superintendent’s deci-
sion to not allow students from other
schools to participate on sports teams
in the Vernonia School District if their
school doesn’t offer that sport. Ceiloha
said her daughter attends Faith Bible
Christian School, which does not offer
girls softball. Miller later told the Board
during his Superintendent’s Report that
he made an exception for one student
this season who is a senior at Faith Bi-
ble, but would not allow any other stu-
dents to play at Vernonia in the future,
stating that students enrolled in other
schools could take away opportunities
for students from the Vernonia School
District to fully participate. The Board
later discussed the issue briefly, as it had
been added to the agenda, and expressed
agreement with Miller’s decision.
Vernonia School Board Meetings are held on
the second Thursday of each month. The next
School Board Meeting is scheduled for
April 12 at 6:00 pm at the Mist School.
Columbia Humane Society
Featured Pet
Shep is a young German shep-
herd mix who is looking for his
forever home. He tolerates other
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inappropriate with them. He will
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from other dogs. He is friendly
and fun loving, however he does
need to have some training. He
will make a great companion to a family that understands his breed and
understands what he is going to need to make him a great dog. We think
he is about 4 years old, and he weighs around 75 lbs.
CHS is committed to the highest level of care for all the pets that we
house in the shelter. Out of respect for our dogs and this being their
home, our kennels are not open for public walk through. If you are inter-
ested in meeting one of our kids we would be more than happy to talk to
you about our adoption process. Please call 503-397-4353 or email
animalwelfare@columbiahumane.org. We want to be sure that we are
making the best matches possible, not only for you the adopter but also
for our pets.
Phone: 503-397-4353
2084 Oregon Street, St. Helens, OR 97051
E-mail: info@columbiahumane.org
Web: www.columbiahumane.org