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About Siletz news letter. (Siletz, Oregon) 1989-1997 | View Entire Issue (March 1, 1990)
SILETZ, OREGON THE COMMUNITY FIGHTS BACK BY: Teresa Miller Much to the delight of the Siletz Local School Committee, at their February 20 meeting it became apparant that there is a lot of fight left in the Community of Siletz. Representatives of the Tribal Council, City Council, Parent Volunteer Group, C om m unity Leaders, People A gainst Consolidation, Siletz School Staff and the Local School Committee all came together in an open forum meeting to formulate strategy to prevent the closure of the Siletz Middle School and to receive public input. Dr. Peter Cookson, Lincoln County School District Board Member and Dr. Michael Kenney, Director of Curriculum and Instruction for the School District also attended. Approximately 100 people were present at the Tuesday night meeting held in the large Siletz School gymnasium. At this meeting, a number of people voiced their concerns, including students who are now in Toledo High School as a result of the closure of the Siletz High School in 1983. When members of the community voiced their belief that the number of students dropping out from the Siletz area had increased, D istrict Representatives stated that over the past few years the drop out rate for the overall county has declined dramatically. However, when asked what the percentage of drop outs was for the Siletz Area High School age students, it was stated that no study had been done targeting the Siletz children specifically. The overwhelming response from all represented was that our children must not be moved out of the Siletz area and the feeling that we have justification in increased population growth to request the return of the high school. It was also the concensus of opinion that the children of the Siletz area and the community itself have lost a sense of identity through the closure of the High School. Presently Siletz Students attend various schools throughout Lincoln County. Several have chosen not to go to Toledo High School. Since the high school building itself is still in use by the remaining grades and also the fact that the Lincoln County School District is considering requesting expansion in the Toledo Area to accomodate the students in that area, many of which are Siletz Students, requesting additional funding for expansion for the Siletz School is not unfeasable. It is estimated that if the Siletz High School were in operation today, there would be an enrollment of 150. Because of the increased expansion of housing proposed by the Confederated Tribes of Siletz in the future, the enrollment could well be close to 200 students. At another related meeting, of the Five Year Building Facilities Committee ( a Committee appointed by the Lincoln County School Board) held on February 22, 35 to 40 members of the Siletz Community, The Tribe, and Siletz School Staff were in attendance. The meeting was held to review the proposed Five Year Facilities Improvement Plan (see related story). Although the Committee itself had not had time to review this plan which had been given to them by District Staff, and had in fact only had the time to tour the various existing facilites, Michelle Granger, Director of Fiscal Services for the Lincoln County School District informed the Committee that a recommendation needed to be taken to the Board of Directors by March 8, 1990 to make it possible for a Bond Levy Election to be taken to the voters in May. Despite the arguments of School District Personnel that they needed to accomplish this task involving an estimated 25 Million Dollar Levy (if the plan was approved in entirety) by March 8 (a two-week time frame) the Committee refused to be rushed in coming up with a recommendation and asked for an extended time frame. However, the Lincoln County School District Budget Committee has already approved the amount and the concept of this proposal for the preliminary budget. It was suggested by members of the Building Facilities Improvement Committee that the Various entities in the Siletz March 1990 - PAGE 13 Community co-ordinate with the Siletz Local School Committee and develop a proposal to be taken to the Lincoln County School Board of Directors concerning the future of the Siletz Schools. The Next Meeting of the Local School Committee will be held the week of March 5th- 9th. The specific date has not been set. If you are interested in Volunteering or participating in any way, you can contact: Mona Fisher P.O. Box 557 S ile tz , OR 97380 444-2304 T rib al Council Members Dolly Fisher or L ill ie B utler Confederated Tribes of S ile tz P.O. Box 549 S ile tz , OR 97380 Siletz School Tina Retasket addressing the crowd at Local School Meeting February 20. Sharon Roeser representing the Parent Volunteer Group, and John Miller Local School Committee Chair man address the Tribal Council ............. ... Member at Local Meeting
