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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (March 17, 2022)
Schools March 17 2022 11 “Rabbit” Taylor Tripp, 14 “Raccoon” Riley Gulleckson, 18 “Seagull” Allison Cheadle, 16 School Board Report At the March 10, 2022 School Board meeting: District Makes Masks Optional – Super- intendent Aaron Miller announced changes to COVID protocols, including that masks will be optional for students and staff, be- ginning March 12. (See full story on front page.) Principal Reports – Elementary Princi- pal Michelle Eagleson told the Board Mist School has been awarded a $3,000 grant from the Vernonia Education Foundation to support the K-5 STEM program. Superintendent Report – Superintendent Aaron Miller reported that enrollment is 561. Miller told the Board he and Mr. Be- nassi worked together to successfully sub- mit a CTE grant which will construct a new building to support the Forestry Program. Miller reported the District was rec- ognizing Classified Employee Appreciation Week “We are honoring our employees who are such an integral part of how we support students in our schools,” said Miller. – The Board voted unanimously to accept the retirement of Elementary Councilor Da- vid Spackman, along with therapy dog Top- per, at the end of the school year, effective July 1. Spackman has served in the District for 15 years. Budget Committee Members Needed – Fi- nance Director Marie Knight told the Board there is a need for citizen members on the Budget Committee. The Budget Committee is made up of the seven School Board mem- bers and seven citizen members. A New Budget Committee Member Orientation has been scheduled for April 19. If interested in serving on the Budget Committee please contact the District office. Public Comment – Jenn Rau thanked ev- eryone on the Board for their hard work and said she just wants to get the community en- gaged in school board business. She asked that discipline referrals that students have received around masks be removed from the Board Approves Teacher and Adminis- trator Contract Extensions – The Board voted unanimously to adopt Resolution 2022-01, extending the employment con- tracts of all teachers for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 school years, based on the rec- ommendation of the Superintendent. The Board also voted unanimously to adopt Resolution 2022-02, extending the adminis- tration contracts of all three principals in the District for three years – Elementary Princi- pal Michelle Eagleson, High School/Middle School Principal Nate Underwood, and Vice Principal Rachel Wilcoxen. student’s records. Juliette Safier, President of the Teach- ers Union, informed the Board that she is now a state level Teacher Union Represen- tative. Camrin Eyrick, President of the Clas- sified Employees, complained about the Board conducting official business off the record after the official meeting was closed last month. Later in the meeting the Board revised the minutes from the February 8 meeting to reflect that, while the Board did adjourn the meeting after returning from Executive Session, they did reconvene the meeting before holding further discussion and then adjourning following the discus- sion. Allison McLeod requested that stu- dents be allowed to remove masks immedi- ately, based on their outstanding behavior. She also requested the Board not extend the end of the school year the additional two FOR TOWING EMERGENCIES IN AND AROUND THE VERNONIA AREA R Y OLL A P PLUS LLC Police and County personnel are required to use a rotation of available providers, UNLESS YOU SPECIFICALLY ASK for a service by name. Call your LOCAL tax preparer REQUEST TOWING SERVICE FROM Edi Sheldon 503-429-1819 edisheldon@gmail.com Licensed tax consultant • Full service payroll Personal & small business bookkeeping • QuickBooks assistance CORPS, S-CORPS, LLC, Partnerships • Personal one-on-one service LTC #29629 - Oregon licensed tax consultant RTRP #P00448199 - designated as a registered tax return preparer by the Internal Revenue Service Board Accepts Retirement of Spackman The IRS does not endorse any particular individual tax return preparer. For more information on tax return preparers, go to www.IRS.gov. an , D MD Vernonia Dental D Vernonia School Board Meetings are held on the second Thursday of each month. The next meeting is scheduled for April 14, 6:00 pm at the Mist School. Please check the District’s website for updates/ changes: www.vernonia.k12.or.us . IT’S TAX TIME Board Approves Student Transfer Limits – Based on the recommendation of the Su- perintendent, the Board voted unanimously to set a limit on Student Transfers into the District at 39 for the 2022-23 school year. hr C r. weeks that were added when the District de- layed the start of school because of COVID concerns. She also asked that the volunteer policy be changed immediately in order to encourage volunteers to get back into the schools, especially for non-vaccinated adults. Mac MaCallum thanked the Board for dropping the mask requirement. Jim Krahn thanked the administration, staff, and students for enforcing and follow- ing the rules during COVID restrictions. is M . Sc erm u he 622 Bridge Street Vernonia, OR 97064 phone (503) 429-0880 -- fax (503) 429-0881 We Buy Cars & Trucks Annoying the Upper Nehalem Valley since 1982 Donʻt wait for the sun! Get your MOWERS tuned up now! Oil Change • Sharpen Blades Filters • Cables • Pull Ropes We pick up & deliver! 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