Schools
April 15
2021
13
Schools Update: Getting Back to “Normal”
By Superintendent Aaron Miller
As has been the case for the past 12 months,
changes are occurring regularly in the Vernonia School
District. As of April 8 ALL students in grades K-12
have the opportunity to attend school on-site, with
their teachers and classmates for four days per week;
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.
Students in middle school and high school
have been attending school on-site for only two days
per week, but this change will bring them back for a
four day per week schedule.
This is extremely exciting news as March 13
of 2020 was the last time that all students were able to
be in Vernonia Schools, on-site, and together. Main-
taining precautions with mask wearing and social dis-
tancing will be essential to keeping students on cam-
pus, as we work to finish this school year, and plan for
a fully inclusive schedule and educational program for
the upcoming 2021-22 school year.
While the brick and mortar classroom is still
the preferred delivery model for most students, others
found distance learning to be a more effective avenue
for learning. Because of this, the District will continue
providing several options for students to best meet
their needs and access their education, for the remain-
der of the school year, and into the future.
In addition to providing these regular options
for instruction, all schools in the District will be put-
ting together options for Summer School to help stu-
dents make up for any learning losses incurred during
Distance Learning. Summer School will likely begin
in early July, and will be targeted to help students
who are behind on their coursework for any reason.
Funding to support summer learning is made possible
through special grants from the Oregon Department of
Education.
For any questions regarding schedules and op-
tions in Vernonia Schools, questions regarding Sum-
mer School, or anything else related to education in
Vernonia, please call Superintendent Aaron Miller at
(503) 429-5891.
School Board Report
At the April 8, 2021 School Board
Meeting:
who is leaving to take a position at the
Jewell School.
Board Approves 2021-22 Instruc-
tional Calendar – The Board voted to
approve the recommended instructional
school calendar for the 2021-22 school
year. The calendar shows the first day
of school scheduled for September 7
and the last day on June 13, with 164
student contact days.
Board Approves Superintendent
Evaluation Process – The Board ap-
proved a newly recommended process
for evaluating the performance of the
Superintendent, along with a timeline to
accomplish the evaluation by June.
Board Approves MOU for Pay Provi-
sions – The Board approved an MOU
between the District and Oregon School
Employees Association - Vernonia
Chapter to make provisions during CO-
VID. The MOU provides for any em-
ployee who tests positive for COVID to
be granted up to ten (10) days of addi-
tional paid leave to be used prior to the
employee’s regular sick leave.
Board Appoints Cochran to Bud-
get Committee – The Board voted to
appoint Carol Cochran to the Budget
Committee.
Board Accepts Staff Resignation –
The Board voted to accept the resigna-
tion of Mist teacher Andrea Anderson,
Budget Committee – The Budget Com-
mittee will hold their first meeting on
Thursday, April 22. The Budget Com-
mittee will take public comment on the
budget at their May 13 meeting, which
will be part of the regular School Board
meeting.
Superintendent Report – Superinten-
dent Aaron Miller told the Board the
negotiation team has been working on
a new contract for teachers, administra-
tion, and confidential employees.
Miller told the Board the deal
for the Mist School to be a test site for
Star Link satellite internet coverage has
fallen through, and he is now working
with Ziply to get internet service to the
school for the start of the next school
year.
Miller reported that the District
will be looking to hire two elementary
teachers, a HS math teacher, a HS social
studies teacher, and a Licensed Gradua-
tion Coach for next school year.
keep the position. Board members later
asked Superintendent Miller about the
position and were told it was a person-
nel issue which the District is unable to
discuss publicly.
Principal Reports – Elementary Prin-
cipal Michelle Eagelson told the Board
the Elementary School will begin hold-
ing assemblies once again.
Eagleson told the Board staff
has begun discussions about what sys-
tems have been put in place this year
during COVID, that staff may want to
continue to utilize going forward into
next year.
Debbie Taylor provided a re-
port on the Vernonia Family Academy,
which is in its second year serving a
total of 169 students who receive assis-
tance with homeschool education pro-
graming.
Student Reports – Jenna Romaine, the
Leadership Representative, provided an
update on activities at the high school
and middle school, including the start
of spring sports, a version of outdoor
school for 6 th graders organized by in-
structors Mr. and Mrs. Ward, upcoming
Spirit Week activities, and Prom next
month - VHS was selected by Abby’s
Closet to receive 100 donated dresses
for students to choose from.
Public Comment – Eric Larke raised
concerns about eliminating the Student
Resource Officer program. The expense
of the position is shared by the School
District and the City of Vernonia. Larke
asked the Board and Administration to
Vernonia School Board
Meetings are held on the second
Thursday of each month.
The next meeting is scheduled
for Thursday, May 13, at 6:00
pm. Please check the District’s
website for updates/changes:
www.vernonia.k12.or.us
Vernonia School Board Candidates continued from page 6
I was appointed to the Board last
July and I am seeking a 4-year seat. Our
Board is working to set high expectations
for student learning with clear communica-
tion and goals to support our teachers and
administrators. I want to continue this pro-
cess to give back to the communities and
the school district I serve. The Board needs
to financially provide the necessary tools,
school days, and professional development
needed to help all students successfully
meet graduation requirements while growing
into confident, independent individuals. I be-
lieve our Board can provide and support an
environment that is inviting, engaging, safe,
and nurtures the individual interests of our
students through diverse opportunities.
Position #6
Javoss McGuire – I am a devoted father
who, along with my family, has contributed
countless hours serving our community. I
spent many weekends building the picnic
shelter at Spencer Park, helped build new
softball dugouts at the school, committed
my time and equipment for excavating the
new youth skate park, and T-ball coaching
(to name a few). As active Freewheelers
members we have made many community
contributions from road cleanup to the train
decorations at Shay Park.
As a father of 2 VHS graduates,
one currently attending college plus 2 cur-
rent students of Vernonia schools, I have
great respect for formal education. My par-
ents served for decades as teachers and I
attended University of Alaska SE pursuing
teaching before discovering my passion for
the trades.
Throughout my 21 years as a
tradesman in local 290 Plumbers and Pip-
efitters and advancing to superintendent,
I’ve become proficient at planning, budget-
ing, scheduling and successfully completing
multimillion dollar projects under cost. I’ve
mentored many fine apprentices and under-
stand the value of good leadership.
I bring a wide skill set relevant to
this position and believe my unique perspec-
tive contributes a valuable diversity on the
school board. Through our varying views we
can become better equipped to overcome
the many obstacles we face in educating our
children in this ever changing world. I would
also love to explore options to better equip
our students with varying skill sets for their
occupational endeavors should they not
continue in a formal educational system.
Position #7
Jeanna Gump – I am a volunteer at Verno-
nia School District, The Chamber of Com-
merce and Intercultural Society, Hands on
Art, and The Senior Trip committee. I have
volunteered wherever I can while attending
school full-time, working full-time, and caring
for my family. My family has been involved
with international exchange programs for the
last nine years. In August of 2019, I was ap-
pointed to position 7 on the Vernonia School
Board and have served since then. Prior to
being appointed I attended board meetings
on a regular basis beginning in 2014. I have
four children, all of which graduated from or
currently attend VSD.
I have always been invested in ed-
ucation and believe wholeheartedly in public
education.
I want to retain my position on the
Board because I am deeply connected to
this community and how its students prog-
ress. I believe that I have a unique view as
a parent, an educator, a volunteer, former
employee, and mentor to a number of stu-
dents in high school and college. In continu-
ing my service on the School Board, I hope
to improve the outcomes for all students.
My hope is to be a voice for students and
parents to ensure that they receive the best
possible education that can be provided in
our community. My goal is to see all stu-
dents receive what they need to succeed to
the best of their ability and that they reach
their full potential whether it be a high school
diploma, trade, college degree, or beyond.
Scott Rickard – I would be honored to re-
ceive your vote in the upcoming election for
the Vernonia School District Board of Direc-
tions, Position #7.
I am new to the Vernonia commu-
nity and live here with my wife of 22+ years
and our beautiful and talented daughter who
recently turned 9. We bought land south of
town back in 2016 and finished building our
eventual “retirement house” on it in 2019. I
was born and raised in Chicago and moved
to Oregon in 2001. Prior to moving here, we
lived in unincorporated Washington County
for almost 15 years.
I am a corporate lawyer by trade,
with a focus on representing electric utili-
ties, financial institutions and infrastructure
developers in the financing, purchase, sale
and development of power plants and elec-
tric transmission facilities across the country.
My prior governmental experience
includes serving as a planning commis-
sioner on the Washington County Planning
Commission for 6 ½ years.
I am running for a School Board
position because I want to contribute to my
new community in a meaningful way. I be-
lieve that the expertise and judgment I’ve
developed as a lawyer, my prior governmen-
tal experience as a planning commissioner,
a proven ability to collaborate with others
to achieve a shared vision and common
goals, and a genuine interest in improving
public education and student achievement
in Vernonia, while preserving the values and
character of our unique rural community, will
help me to serve you as an effective School
Board member.