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About Columbia Gorge news. (The Dalles, OR) 2020-current | View Entire Issue (April 28, 2021)
12 Wednesday, April 28, 2021 Columbia Gorge News www.columbiagorgenews.com NORTH WASCO COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT #21 — ZONE 5 NORTH WASCO COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT #21 — ZONE 5 Brian Stevens Holly Gove 1) Why did you decide to run for a position on the North Wasco County School District #21 board? I’m running for the Zone 5 position on the District 21 School Board because as a parent, I feel like we have little input in the direction of the education that our tax dol- lars pay for. I’m concerned about the harmful progressive mandates coming from the state level and I have observed a lack of transparency regarding this that’s alarming. I want an education environment for our kids that’s free from activism politics. Common sense and balance seem to be in short supply. I’m done complaining and have decided to put myself in a position to effect change. 2) What is your background/profession, and where do you live? I have lived and worked in this community most of my life. I love it here, always have. I’m a mom of 3 and grandma to 1. Professionally, I spent 17 years working in local Radio until 2011, when I transitioned to Real Estate, I’m a Principal Broker with exp Realty, a cloud-based brokerage. Real Estate has allowed me to see this town through the fresh eyes of a newcomer on a regular basis. Potential home buyers look for many things when looking to buy a home, a healthy school system usually tops the list. 3) What will your top priorities be if voters select you to serve on the board? If elected, parents can be confident that they will have a voice of reason on the board. My top priorities will be pushing back against the indoctrination of our students and future leaders by a harmful and misguided political ideology. I will be a strong advocate for trade specific education opportu- nities so students who don’t desire college will be able to graduate with skills that will make them immediately employ- able. I will collaborate with parents and community leaders when setting policies for our district so that all who want to be involved will have a voice. 4) What changes do you think the district needs to make? Some changes I’d like to see in District 21 is better fiscal responsibility. Expending resources to change the name of an elementary school is wasteful. I’d like to see funds used in a way that directly benefits students. I’d also like to see our kids back in school FULL TIME immediately, without masks. Children are not the drivers of infection in this pandemic. The masks are for show and may be loaded with bacteria and doing more harm than good. Oxygen is required for proper brain function, let them breathe! Our leaders have made many mistakes, this may be one of the biggest. 1) Why did you decide to run for a po- sition on the North Wasco County School District #21 board? I have been volunteering, mentoring, & coaching kids in The Dalles for 19 years. I’m know the impact that I’ve had in the building. I now want to help with policy, hold people accountable, help the new superintendent implement her plan. John Nelson Brian Stevens 2) What is your background/profession, and where do you live? I live in The Dalles across the street from the high school. I worked in the surgical department taking care of patient and family needs at MCMC for 15 years. I’ve coached youth sports for 19 years, high school for 6 years. I am now a pro- fessional basketball coach in the TBL & trainer. 3) What will your top priorities be if voters select you to serve on the board? Getting a high school bond to ballot that will be fiscally responsible and not “tax people out of their homes”. I will ensure teachers have the support they need to be successful in the classroom. I will make certain our children acquire the skills needed to meet the demands of higher education and job training/ trades 4) What changes do you think the district needs to make? Assuming kids are back in person beginning in the fall then the new bond needs to be the next priority. Our com- munity & kids must have a new building. There’s asbestos, decaying plumbing, & the building doesn’t meet fire code or safety...just to name a few of its issues. NORTH WASCO COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT #21 — ZONE 7 Judy Richardson is the only candidate filed for Zone 7. She did not respond to the questionnaire. In her filing with the Wasco County Clerk, Richardson lists her relevant experience is that of a physician. Her educational background includes a BS degree from University of Puget Sound (biology), a MD degree (medi- cine) from Dartmouth Medical School and a MBA degree from OHSU (Business management.) NORTH WASCO COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT #21 — ZONE 1 Rebecca Thistlethwaite Mary Morehouse 1) Why did you decide to run for a position on the North Wasco County School District #21 board? I was first appointed to the Zone 1 seat after the previous director resigned. I had just finished my term on the Mosier Community School board and was encouraged to apply for this position to not only represent Mosier but also the needs of the MCS charter school. Once I was seated on the D21 board, I recog- nized the need to strengthen relationships with the Mosier community and build bridg- Rebecca es and understanding. I also witnessed the Thistlethwaite enormous progress that the district had made in the last 5 or so years and I wanted to contribute towards that positive momentum. We have a really great team of thoughtful, respectful people on the school board and I want to continue to be a part of that. There is more work to be done. Mary Morehouse did not respond to the questionnaire. In her filing with the Wasco County Clerk, said she is a self employed bookkeeper and LTC. In describing her relevant occupational experience she wrote, "Running of my own business since 2012. Students in district since 2009. Many hours volunteer work with cre- ation of programs within the district and schools, including Mosier Community School. Treasurer of the Booster Club with The Dalles High School." Her educational background includes a BS degree from Eastern Oregon University in business administration. 2) What is your background/profession, and where do you live? My career has largely centered around agriculture, fund- raising, and leadership positions. I have worked for Oregon State University for almost 5 years as an Extension Specialist helping small-scale meat producers and meat processors solve problems. I also am a health coach on the side and do farm business consulting too. I have two children (one at TDHS and one who will attend MCS this fall) and have called Mosier home since 2012. I love the Gorge and in my off time you will find me trail running, hiking, mtn. biking, skiing, gardening, and playing with my kids. 3) What will your top priorities be if voters select you to serve on the board? -Onboarding the new superintendent and making her feel welcome so she can excel at her job and provide excellent leadership -Participating in long-range facility planning and determin- ing course of action for school renovation and replacement -Creating sustainable support for our charter schools -Improving equity planning and implementation for our district so that all students feel included, have opportunities, and we continue to shrink the achievement gap while boost- ing student achievement overall -Listen to community voices and seek out those that are generally not heard from or feel excluded -Be an informed and respectful member of the school board, abide by board policy with fidelity 4) What changes do you think the district needs to make? In my estimation, the top priorities for the district are: -Closing the student achievement gaps (which includes improving attendance and graduation rates, especially for disadvantaged communities) -Addressing the woeful conditions of our facilities through a successful bond campaign -Attracting, training, and retaining the very best staff -Improving communication and outreach to parents and the wider community Dr. Cullen’s Student of the week Diego Keegan Juan Ku Ku for Contreras Global Studies: Student of the week Keegan comes to class every day Juan has great participation in class. Not only with a positive attitude and works does he complete his work on time, Juan often hard, not only improving himself, gets his work completed early! but fellow classmates as well. Congratulations Juan Diego Ku Contreras, TDHS Keegan Ku, TDHS 1) Why did you decide to run for a po- sition on the North Wasco County School District #21 board? Experience Counts! In the eight years that I have served on the School Board I have gained the advantage of being trained as a School Board Member in the State of Oregon. I have given my full participation as a Board member to the Oregon School John Nelson Board Association. The training I have received to become a top quality Board member has been invaluable to me and the District I serve. That has served me well and I, in turn, have served the school district and this community with distinction. I would like to continue serving on the Board. 2) What is your background/profession, and where do you live? I was born and raised in Los Angeles. I earned a bache- lor’s degree in Landscape Architecture at the University of California at Berkeley and returned as a graduate student in Education earning a teaching license. I moved to Oregon with my wife and children, and worked as an educator for about 30 years. In the last 21 years of my career I taught at Warm Springs Elementary School on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation. I became a full time resident of The Dalles in 2008 after my retirement. Since then I’ve served as a volunteer in service to this community. 3) What will your top priorities be if voters select you to serve on the board? My top priorities won’t mean a thing unless I can coop- erate with the other board members to make decisions that are based on serving the children safely in their education first and foremost. Only the Board as a whole body can act to implement a priority that could be mine. Given that I would work to improve our ability to communicate our need to the community to pass a bond to build a new high school, to continue the board’s work on equity diversity and inclusion, and to build trust between the district and the communities we serve. 4) What changes do you think the district needs to make? Having served on the School Board for 8 years I think D21 has been making tremendous changes over that time to improve the functioning of the Board so that there is no divisiveness, allowing the board to spend all its time on their priorities to improve and create great educational outcomes for our community. We need to continue our work to better communicate with our partners in this region and to build trust in order to support one another working together and eliminating the barriers that separate us and do not serve any of us well. Carla McQuade Carla McQuade did not respond to the questionnaire. In her filing with the Wasco County Clerk, McQuade lists her relevant experience as self employed; team interaction; problem — solutions — accommodating decision making. "I do feel my position would be an asset with background of working with people and issues and situations." She describes her occupational experience as that of sales rep, talking with people and organizing events. Her educational background includes PCC Sylvannia College studying business. SOUTH WASCO COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT #1 — ZONE 1 Paul Koerschgen procedures as well. 4) What changes do you think the district needs to make? 1) Why did you decide to run for a po- I was involved with the initial push for a full time music sition on the South Wasco County School teacher and an opportunity for students to participate in the District 1 school board? FFA program. When the pandemic came it curtailed those I have been attending board meetings efforts. Another program I would push for is agriculture and for the past couple years as a concerned par- horticulture since we have a large local farming community. ent. Being an active member on the board I would like to see the district implement those programs would give me an opportunity to provide and other programs that teach the students valuable skills. representation on behalf of my children’s Paul A subject that really needs addressed is meals. I have visited education, well-being, and health. It would Koerschgen for lunch a couple times and was not happy with the qual- also allow me to bring up the ideas and con- cerns of other parents and community members. I am excited ity of food served. We can do a much better job providing quality nutrition which is essential to a healthy learning to potentially be involved with the rebuilding of the school environment. due to the Bond measure passing. 2) What is your background/profession, and where do you live? I was born and raised in Central Oregon. I started working as a paperboy when I was 13 and continued to be employed each summer doing different jobs from catering to woodworking. I learned at a young age the importance of work ethic and prided myself at doing my jobs well. I went to college for business management. Currently I help run a local wastewater treatment facility. In 2017, I moved to Wamic, Ore., with my wife Sarah, to raise our four children in the same rural community where she grew up. 3) What will your top priorities be if voters select you to serve on the board? Education and a safe, healthy environment are my top priorities. We have a unique opportunity to rebuild the cur- rent infrastructure since the bond measure passed last year. The current facilities are a mess including the bathrooms, cafeteria/kitchen, and roofs leaking. We need a complete overhaul so the students can feel proud of their school. Better facilities and updated equipment will encourage an improved learning atmosphere. I would like to address current safety Howard Fetz 1) Why did you decide to run for a po- sition on the South Wasco County School District 1 school board? I am an experienced educator and board member with considerable understanding of the district, its students, and its parents/ patrons. 2) What is your background/profession, Howard Fetz and where do you live? I am a caring leader in the following educational settings — K-8, 9-12, college professor. I live in Maupin. 3) What will your top priorities be if voters select you to serve on the board? My top priorities are best summarized by the slogan “Kids First.” 4) What changes do you think the district needs to make? SWCSD needs to enhance educational opportunities for all of its students — “Not one way for all but the right way for each!” TRASH TALK QA Q. Where do I need to take my old fridge, and is it free? Christine, Hood River A. Christine, Old fridges and freezers (air conditioners too) need to be “de-commissioned”, which means to remove the harmful Freon gas. Transfer stations do this. (Hood River Garbage and The Dalles Disposal). Cost is around $35. questions to: Columbia View Dental 1915 E. 19th Street | The Dalles Victor Cullen, DDS 541-296-5677 | Se habla español (541)-506-2636 www.tricountyrecycle.com