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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (April 19, 2018)
schools april19 2018 13 Schools Update: The End of Another School Year By Superintendent Aaron Miller It is hard to believe that the end of another school year is upon us, but the last day of school will be here before we know it. This time of year is a busy one at school, so here is a list of upcoming school events that staff and students would be overjoyed to see you attend. Unless otherwise listed, all events will take place in the Vernonia Schools building. • MS Academic Awards Assembly – Tuesday, April 24 • Superintendent/Community Chat – Wednesday, April 25 at Noon at La Cabana Restaurant • VHS Blood Drive – May 1: 9 am - 4 pm • Budget Committee Meetings – Thursdays: May 3, May 10, and June 14 at 6 pm • Teacher Appreciation Week – May 6-12 • School Board Meetings – May 10 and June 14 at 6 pm • Kindergarten Registration – Call for an appointment on Thursday, May 10, 3:45-4:45 pm or 6-7 pm • Spring Band and Choir Concert – Tuesday, May 15 • VES Family STEAM Night (Science-Technology- Engineering-Art-Math) – Thursday, May 17, 6 pm • Snow Make-Up Day – School in Session – May 18 • Junior Salmon Auction – Thursday, May 24 • No School – May 25 and 28 Memorial Day Holiday • VHS Graduation – June 2 • 8 th Grade Promotion – June 4 • VES Field Day – Wednesday, June 6, 12:30-3 pm, Volunteers Needed • Last Day for Students – Friday, June 8 If you have any questions about these or other events in the Vernonia School District, please call (503) 429-1333 for answers. 1; the Board later voted to accept those resignations. Miller said the District has openings for a Kindergarten teacher, MS/HS Language Arts teacher, a Wood/Metal Shop teacher and a MS/HS Art teacher. Loggers who received All League recognition were Clay Sullivan, Jakob Handegard, Kale Sullivan, and Gaven Everett; Clay Sullivan was also named to the All State Tournament Team and led the tournament in scoring. In Middle School sports, girls basketball play- ers of note were Brooklyn Walters, Nita Cook, Megan Zavales, and Kortni Adams. In wrestling outstanding athletes included Roman Martin, Trevor Wolf, Jeremi- ah Arroyo, and Cody West. School Board Report At the April 12, 2018, Vernonia School Board Meet- ing: Board Meets at Mist School – The Vernonia School Board held their regular meeting at the Mist School. The Board has met at Mist twice this school year. District Considers School Resource Officer – Super- intendent Aaron Miller told the Board he is exploring the possibility of combining financial resources with the City of Vernonia to hire and share a Student Re- source Officer (SRO). The officer would spend more than half time at the school and provide security and safety for the building, and assist with attendance and truancy. Miller said agreements between the City and District and the role of the position are still being for- mulated, but said the position is included in the pro- posed budget for next year. Board Approves Calendar for Next Year – The Board approved the proposed District Calendar for school year 2018-19. The first day of school will be Septem- ber 5 (Kindergarten starts September 6) and the last day of school will be June 7, with graduation scheduled for June 1. The calendar includes 159 student days, the same as last year. Board Approves OSEA Contract – The Board ap- proved a new collective bargaining agreement with the District’s Classified Employees. The agreement includes a 3% Cost Of Living Adjustment for 2018-19 and 2019-20. Behavior Data Update – Vice Principal Rachel Wil- coxen provided the Board with a report on data collect- ed on discipline referrals. The data included referrals per month, by type of problem behavior, by location, by time of day, by individual students (names were re- dacted), by day of the week, and by grade. Wilcoxen said she will continue to collect data so the District can identify whether behavior modification techniques are being effective. Superintendent Report – Superintendent Aaron Mill- er told the Board he has scheduled upcoming Commu- nity Chats on April 25, 12:00-1:00 pm at La Cabana, on May 23, 6:30-7:30 pm at Black Iron Grill, and on June 27, 12:00-1:00 pm at Blue House Café. Miller told the Board the plans for the At- Home School Program to assist home-school families will be put on hold for one year because the Oregon Department of Education is considering changing the rules that govern these types of programs. Miller told the Board that enrollment has stayed stable through this school year and was at 537 students after starting the year with 534; Miller added that the District had inquiries about seven more stu- dents enrolling that week. Miller said he is working with the Mist Ele- mentary School to add more students to that program next year. Miller said there are currently 14 students attending Mist and would like to have 18 next year. Miller said an announcement for the Summer Intern Program would go out soon. The program em- ploys six students, two at the schools in maintenance and groundskeeping, two with the Upper Nehalem Watershed Council doing field work, and two at Stub Stewart State Park. Miller updated the Board on Bond projects and said the gym roof at Mist School had been replaced, work on the Mist School building roof would start soon, and other repairs and installation of play equip- ment would take place this summer. Miller told the Board he had received letters of resignation from high school teachers Randy Shockey, effective August 16, and Linda Allen, effective July Principal Reports – High School/Middle School Prin- cipal Nate Underwood provided a written report for the Board that noted that all Foreign Exchange Students were visiting the state capital in Salem on April 12 and would also visit a PowWow at the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs on April 18-19; 8 th grade students were leaving for the Washington D.C. Close Up trip April 15-20; 8 th graders completed their 8 th Grade Proj- ect on First Ladies; high school science students will host a science fair on May 4; National Honor Society students are working to bring the SKID presentation the week prior to prom on May 5; Project Based Learn- ing students are exploring the purchase of a community digital reader board; senior Haley Lindsay has received a $20,000 scholarship to Linfield Col- lege. Underwood also told the Board he is exploring reducing the required credits needed to graduate from Ver- nonia High School to align with state requirements – currently Vernonia re- quires 25.5 credits and the state only requires 24. Elementary Principal Aaron Miller also provided a written report noting that May 7-11 will be Teacher Appreciation Week; the annual Run for the Arts was held on April 10 to fund cultural programing at the school; and Kindergarten registration will be May 10. Board Meets in Executive Session – The Board met in Executive Session under ORS 192.660 (2) (b) “to hear complaints or charges brought against a public officer, employee, staff member or agent...” and under ORS 192.660 (2) (i) “to review and evaluate the perfor- mance of the chief executive officer or any other public officer, employee or staff member...” Upon returning to Open Session, the Board took no further action. Public Comment – Janice McGuire updated the Board on progress by the community group working to save the Greenman Field Grandstands and asked if the District would consider utilizing the facility for all future Homecoming events as a way to gen- erate revenue to maintain the grand- stands. Winter Sports Report – Athletic Director Gordon Jarman updated the Board on the recently completed win- ter sports season, noting that both the boys and girls basketball teams quali- fied for state playoffs and wrestling won the District Title for the second year in a row. Wrestling sent six athletes to the state tournament with Wyatt Jones placing 4 th and Josh Rice placing 3 rd . The Girls basketball team finished 3 rd in the Northwest League but were eliminated from the state playoffs in the first round. Lady Loggers recognized for All League honors were Jordan Wal- ters, Joyce Everett, and Courtney Barklow. The boys basketball team also finished 3 rd in the North- west League, beat Monroe in the state playoffs and then beat Knappa and Oak- 493 Bridge land to take 3 rd in the state VERNONIA tournament as the #11 seed. Meyer’s Auto Body We go the extra mile for you Street • 503-429-0248
