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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 20, 2020)
schools february20 2020 13 School Board Report At the February 13, 2020 School Board Meeting: Board Approves School Bus Service Contract – The Board approved the ex- tension of the contract with Curl School Bus Service to provide student trans- port for the District. The new contract extends the current contract until June 2024. Board Approves Budget Committee Calendar – Business Manager Marie Knight presented the Board with the 2020-21 Budget Calendar, which was approved. Budget Committee meetings will be held April 30 and May 14, with the budget scheduled to be approved at the June 11 School Board meeting. There are currently several open spots on the Budget Committee – contact the District Office if interested in serving. Northwest Regional ESD Annual Re- port – Superintendent Aaron Miller pre- sented the Northwest Regional Educa- tion Service District (NWRESD) Annual Report, which explains the services the NWRESD provides to the VSD, which include: early intervention; special ed- ucation and special student services; instructional and educational option services; technology, business, and ad- ministrative services. The Board voted to approve the 2020-21 NWRESD Local Service Plan, which allocates $207,595 in service credits which the District can use to access services during the next school year. Surplus Equipment – The Board approved the following items as surplus equipment: two CookTek MC 1800 Countertop Commercial Burners, a Hoyer Lift. School Board Recognized – Super- intendent Aaron Miller recognized the School Board and thanked them for their continued work on behalf of the District and the community. Superintendent Report – Superinten- dent Aaron Miller told the Board the installation of LED lights in District buildings has produced a decrease in electricity usage. While the Mist School building has not seen a decrease due to the doubling of the number of students attending class there, the Vernonia build- ing has seen decreased usage of between 10% and 20% during several months. Miller told the Board that Fri- day, March 13 will be a Snow Make Up Day, making up for a missed day on Jan- uary 14. Miller reported that enrollment is holding steady at 570. Bond Update – Superintendent Aaron Miller reported that students are attend- ing classes in the new Metal Shop build- ing. He reported new security cameras are being installed. Miller said five con- struction companies took part in a walk through for bids for the new art class- room; bids were due February 17. Student Success Act, Student Invest- ment Account Update – Superintendent Aaron Miller told the Board the Com- munity Engagement Committee will be working with staff from the NWRESD to review input and draft the applica- tion to access Student Success Act funds through the Student Investment Account. Principal Reports – Elementary Prin- Vernonia School Board Meetings are held on the second Thursday of each month. The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 12 at 6:00 pm in the Schools Library. Western States Widely Support Refugee Resettlement The president’s executive order meant to limit resettlement, but the West is opting for more By Jessica Kutz High Country News Last September, President Don- ald Trump undercut the country’s refu- gee resettlement program in two ways: He announced that the 2020 resettlement numbers would be capped to 18,000 ref- ugees, a huge cut from 110,000 in fiscal year 2017. More surprising, though, was his executive order requiring states and localities to agree to refugee resettle- ment in their municipalities. The move was unprecedented, and many advocates saw it as proof of an increasingly nativist administration. Local governments had 90 days — or until January 21 — to agree to resettlement in writing. In a hasty re- sponse, many governors and local offi- cials rushed to write approvals in their jurisdictions through a flurry of county declarations. Texas was the only state to formally decline refugee resettlement; several others simply did not issue let- ters of consent. By mid-January, a fed- eral judge ruled the order had been un- lawful to begin with. But as of this writ- ing, the ordeal would not be over yet: On February 11 the government appealed the judge’s ruling in federal court. Mean- while, counties in non-Western states like Maine and Minnesota continued to make symbolic “no” votes, stirring anxi- ety among refugee populations. Yet in the Western United States, the executive order led to an al- most unanimous consensus that refugee resettlement was, in fact, welcome. Gov- ernors — Republicans and Democrats alike — came out in enthusiastic bipar- tisan support. Wyoming was the excep- tion: the state is the only in the country that does not participate in resettlement. (In 2013 former Governor Matt Mead, a Republican, received local backlash af- ter he attempted to start a program in the state, effectively halting the effort.) Trump’s executive order seemed to backfire across much of the West. Giv- en the opportunity, most officials said the program wasn’t a burden, but rather, a boon — a sign of the resilience of both the cities and rural towns that shape the region. Refugee resettlement has a long history in the United States. The first legislation was passed in 1948, after more than 250,000 people came to the U.S. in the aftermath of World War II. continued on page 16 cipal Michelle Eagleson reported atten- dance for the month of January for VES was 94%. On January 31 the VES K-2 students attended the play “Dragons Love Tacos” at the Newmark Theater and had a great time! Eagleson reported that VES in- structors are working on reading inter- ventions to determine student progress; analyzed winter benchmark data, set stu- dent growth goals in reading and math and agreed to utilize specific instruc- tional and behavioral strategies for con- sistence; worked with a professional de- velopment coach on CORE reading and small group instruction; worked with a Rural Network Coach to strengthen reading instruction. High School/Middle School Principal Nate Underwood told the Board that 90% of 9 th grade students are on track to graduate and said success can be attributed to a new Academic Success class, graduation coaches, phone calls to home to discuss issues, and other staff efforts. Social-Emotional Learning Program – Superintendent Aaron Miller intro- duced Jamie Hamsa who is working in the Vernonia, Clatskanie, and Rainier Districts. Hamsa explained her role in the Vernonia District two days a week and talked about her background in men- tal and behavior health. Opportunity Room II Report – Jus- tin Ward is in a new role supervising the Opportunity Room for middle and high school students. Ward explained the process for students who are strug- gling in the classroom, noting that the room is used not just for students with behavior issues, but also for students to get extra help when needed. Ward tracks students’ attendance, looks for behavior patterns, works with students on making good decisions – both in the classroom and outside of it, and contacts parents when needed. Ward said the strategies seem to be having a positive impact. School Resource Officer Report – Of- ficer Abbie Hanson updated the Board on her activities, including attending school functions and events, her work to promote attendance and address tru- ancy, her follow-ups on DHS reports the school receives, her work investigating criminal reports, several requests for ride-alongs from students, and her work on mental health issues and run-aways. She also announced that a SKID event (Stop Kids Impaired Driving) will be held April 14. Front Door Lock System – Superin- tendent Aaron Miller asked for input on the idea of having a front door security lock system installed. The Board had an in-depth discussion about the merits or drawbacks to the idea, and made no decision. Student Reports – Kale Sullivan and Lyness Ota, representing the Leader- ship Class, thanked the Board for their service to the District and their support for students, and updated them on the recent activities around the middle and high schools. The Next School Board Meeting – March 12 at 6:00 pm in the School Li- brary. Vernonia Students of the Month January 2020 Elementary School Jordynn Ellis (5 th ), Hunter Shirley (1 st ), Sarah Pelster (2 nd ), Naomi Pike (5 th ), Bella Granucci (3 rd ), Naomi Pelster (4 th ), Lucas McWhirter (1 st ), Maddie Vance (K), Rowan Wegener (K) Middle School These students were selected for showing EMPATHY this month. Celia DeField - 6 th grade Jesse White - 8 th grade Zayden Rose - 7 th grade Whitley Tolonen Grade 12 Whitley is involved in AVID, National Honor Society, and keeps stats for the school basketball and baseball programs. Her favorite subject is English and she says she is unsure about her plans after graduation. Sponsored by Senator Betsy Johnson