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