OCTOBER 21, 2016, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE A7
School board taking the long
view on growing enrollment
By HERB SWETT
Of the Keizertimes
The Salem-Keizer School District is thinking
decades ahead.
Specifi c proposals are down the road, but Mi-
chael Wolfe, chief operating offi cer for the dis-
trict, gave the School Board various projections
Oct. 11, all involving population growth that is
expected to be signifi cant.
“The district is on a steady growth trajec-
tory,” he said, noting that the total enrollment of
41,464 in 2015, the most recent year in the charts
he distributed, is projected to become 42,518 in
2020 43,521 in 2025, and 46,666 in 2035.
Of the six mainstream high schools in the
district and the elementary and middle schools
in each one’s attendance area, McKay heads the
enrollment list both for 2015 (9,559) and 2035
(10,370). McNary is second for 2015 at 7,031
but third in the 2035 projection at 7,655, two
students behind the projection for South Salem.
Sprague is in fi fth place for 2015 at 5,034 and
West Salem last for 2035 at 6,124.
Wolfe said the long-range facilities plan in-
volves the key assumptions of class sizes, gym-
nasiums, cafeterias, libraries, and auditoriums;
ongoing building needs; and capacity and core
facilities. Capacity is one of the biggest issues, he
said.
He noted that by 2025, assuming all portable
classrooms still will be used, 105 or about 6 per-
cent will be between 20 and 36 years old. He
added that cafeterias, gyms, and libraries are too
few and too small, and that nine of the elemen-
tary schools do not have cafeterias.
Under the heading of educational adequacy
are educational specifi cations, career and techni-
cal education, science laboratories, and technol-
ogy.
For safety and security, he said, development
of enhanced systems is underway.
The plan includes support facilities, spe-
cifi cally services involving students, instruction,
technology and information, transportation, and
reproduction of graphics.
The next steps, Wolfe said, involve a citizens’
facilities task force and a 10-year capital improve-
ment plan, the latter required by state law.
Director Chuck Lee praised the administra-
tion’s planning efforts but said the district in any
case should seek a second opinion and possibly a
third opinion.
In other business, the board re-elected Ra-
chel Dewey-Thorsett and Levi Herrera-Lopez to
three-year terms on the district budget commit-
tee. Dewey-Thorsett is vice chairperson of the
committee. Herrera-Lopez, also an incumbent,
is a McNary graduate who as a student was se-
nior class representative for the student body and
founding president of the Multicultural Club.
Also seeking the two open positions were
Charles Randy Kern and Gregg B. DeVine, both
of Salem.
The board approved the annual Hands and
Words Are Not for Hurting proclamation, de-
claring that there is no room for abuse in schools.
Six grants approved by the board totaled
$284,847, including $3,500 from Early Learning
Hub for a parenting class at Keizer Elementary
School.
Personnel actions approved included four in
the McNary attendance area: a less than half-time
teaching contract for Irina Bakun at McNary, a
temporary part-time teaching contract for Kath-
leen Jensen at Whiteaker Middle School, resig-
nation of Sarah Collins as a teacher at Claggett
Creek Middle School, and a requested change
of status from contract full-time to contract
part-time for Holly Smucker, effective learning
and instructional coach at Kennedy Elementary
School.
The Spotlight on Success portion of the meet-
ing included honoring Jeanne Bridges, a retired
Cummings Elementary School teacher, as Volun-
teer of the Month.
Orchestras perform Oct. 25
McNary High School Orchestra, under the
direction of Sean Williams, will hold its fall
concert Tuesday, Oct. 25 at 7 p.m. in the Ken
Collins Theater.
All three string orchestras—advanced cham-
ber ensemble, symphony strings and con-
cert—will perform the music of JS Bach, Josef
Hayden and Henry Purcell.
Advanced and intermediate orchestras at
Whiteaker Middle School will also take the
stage.
The concert will last a little more than one
hour. Admission is free.
GRASSROOTS
GOVERNMENT
Helmet program could use a boost
The Keizer Traffi c Safety,
Bikeways and Pedestrian Com-
mittee met Thursday, Oct. 13.
Here’s what members discussed:
• The committee’s helmet
safety program is looking for
donations.
At Lakepoint Community
Church’s Servefest event in
September, representatives of
the committee outfi tted 30 lo-
cal residents with helmets – so
many that they ran out in the
fi rst two hours of the event. At
the Keizer Fire District open
House in early October, visitors
scooped up another 20.
The program is probably
the only one in area still going
strong, but it needs community
support, said Committee Chair
Hersch Sangster.
The committee purchases
helmets for about $12 includ-
ing shipping and asks those in
need for a $5 donation, which
goes back into the program.
Donations can be made to
the Traffi c Safety Committee
helmet program through the
City of Keizer.
• Verda Lane Northeast
residents Jim Gray and Pritam
Rohila spoke to the commit-
tee about a possible speed re-
duction on Verda south of the
Dearborn Avenue Northeast
intersection. Gray said the most
frequent problem times were
during the morning commute.
Gray and Rohila hoped to see
the speed dropped from 35
mph to 25 mph.
Sgt. Trevor Wenning of the
Keizer Police Department said
traffi c and speed counters were
set out in the area earlier in the
week and the committee hopes
to review the data at a later
meeting to determine if there
is a problem.
Any change to the speed
limit would require approval by
state offi cials.
• Resident Rhonda Rich
spoke to the committee about
the possibility of televising its
meetings. With some of the is-
sues that committee is hoping
to tackle, she said it would be
benefi cial to residents to have a
glimpse of the discussions.
Sangster and Kim Freeman,
the committee’s city council li-
aison said they would look into
the possibility. The idea was
met with enthusiasm.
• Sangster reported that
there were currently no plans
for a safety study on River
Road North by either the Or-
egon Department of Transpor-
tation or City of Keizer, which
means that a new study would
need to be planned for in the
upcoming budget cycle.
Wenning is currently col-
lecting data about crashes and
other incidents along Keizer’s
main thoroughfare.
“The south end of River
Road is far more dangerous
for motorists, pedestrians and
cyclists,” Sangster said. “There’s
no bike lane, the right travel
lane has utility hazards and
sidewalks are hit-and-miss as
far as quality.”
Some committee members
reserved judgement on the is-
sue until Wenning presents his
report, but committee mem-
ber Pat Fisher said current
conditions might also make
it intimidating for cyclists and
pedestrians, and should also be
considered.
• Committee member
Kathy Lincoln reported that a
new bike repair station would
cost about $1,200 to $1,500
depending on the specifi c ame-
nities. The committee hopes
to raise funds to purchase a
new repair station and locate it
within the city for public use.
Sangster said the need for
such devices became evident
when he attended a school
event where his daughter
teaches. Sangster helped out
by fi lling bicycle tires for the
school’s attendees.
“Nearby gas stations charged
for air pump time and we were
giving it out for free. We had
175 bicycles show up,” he said.
Committee members re-
ceived approval from the Keizer
City Council Monday, Oct. 14,
to apply for a Cycle Oregon
grant to cover the cost of the
repair station.
Business&Services
EVENT HOSTING
FUNERAL HOME
HEATING & COOLING
HOST YOUR EVENT AT
We are Everything
Except Overpriced
YOUR COMFORT IS OUR BUSINESS
Gas Furnaces
Heat Pumps
WEDDINGS • RECEPTIONS
SOCIAL EVENTS
Indoor Air Quality
Inexpensive Burial and Funeral Options
Visit the all new
KeizerHeritage.org
Ductless Heat Pumps
CCB #193 064
Pre-Planning Available
4365 RIVER ROAD N, KEIZER
On-Site Crematory
NC
Air Conditioners
Simple Cremation $795
CALL 503.304.1320
503.393.7037 Se habla español
CR
CR
JANITORIAL
LAWN SERVICES
IS’S
U
G
A
M
RIAL
JANITO
COMPLETE LAWN & GARDEN CARE
Yard cleanups, mowing, pruning,
bark dusting, and more!
NURSING & REHAB
SAND & GRAVEL
FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED FOR OVER 39 YEARS
Windsor Rock
PRODUCTS
Topsoil, Crushed Rock
Round Rock
Pea Gravel
E
SERVIC
Homes
Apartments
Offices
Banks
*
*
*
Our family serving your family
*
1216
You haul or we deliver
24-H OUR S KILLED N URSING • T HERAPY • W OUND M ANAGEMENT
L ONG T ERM C ARE • D EMENTIA C ARE • A WARD W INNING A CTIVITIES
D ELICIOUS H OMEMADE F OOD • L OVELY S URROUNDINGS • C ARING S TAFF
503-931-2483
- 3816 River Rd N
Phone quotes
393-8920
4062 A RLETA A VE NE • K EIZER , OR • 503-390-2271
WWW .S HERWOOD P ARK . COM
CALL TODAY - 503.304.8849
CR
Prompt Service - Saturday until noon
824 Windsor Island Rd. N. • KEIZER
CR
CR
PLUMBING
WHAT’S YOUR HOME WORTH IN TODAY’S MARKET?
YARD & GARDEN
BOB SHACKELFORD
Broker
McKinley Landscape
Maintenance, LLC
Real Estate Professionals
503-393-0285
503-935-1893
LCB #9309
Call Bob Shackelford 503-983-4086
1220 20th St SE, Salem - bobshack 1 @gmail.com
McKinleyLandscapeLLC.com
Bob Shackelford is a licensed real estate agent in Oregon.
CR
CR
CR
VETERINARIAN
VETERINARIAN
REAL ESTATE
Ken Ream 503-881-5335
Carolyn Ream 503-551-3656
NOW OFFERING
ACUPUNCTURE
AND
CHIROPRACTIC
SERVICES
Creating Change Starts With Us!
You have options — we are different. We go above
and beyond what most Realtors will do. If selling,
we help you paint, pressure wash, move you,
and help you with staging your home. If buying,
there are two of us always available to meet
your needs and help you through the process.
Owner
4975 River Road North
D R .S HERI M ORRIS
Keizer, OR 97303
503.390.5222
wvah.net
Mon & Fri: 8am - 6pm,
Tue -Wed-Thu: 8am-9pm,
Sat: 8am-4pm, Sun: 11am- 4pm
CreeksideVetKeizer.com
113 McNary Estates Dr N, Suite B – Next to Don Suklis State Farm Insurance
FIND OUT MORE AT www.KenReam.JohnLScott.com
CR
503-393-7462
1118
No Appt. Necessary
CR
B.Sc., DVM,
Diplomate, ABVP