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About Keizertimes. (Salem, Or.) 1979-current | View Entire Issue (April 3, 2020)
APRIL 3, 2020, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE A3 WINDOWS, CABINETS, APPL I ANCES, LUMBER, PLYWOOD, YES WE DELIVER! DOORS, FENCING, SIDING, FLOORING, INSULATION, & MUCH, MUCH MORE! B M B C BUILDING MATERIALS BARGAIN CENTER, INC. 775 FRONT STREET NE - SALEM - CALL US AT 503-363-9070 100 years young KEIZERTIMES/Eric A. Howald TOP: Mariella Dibble greets visitors from her window at The Village at Keizer Ridge. ABOVE: Penny Ricketts shouts birthday well wishes from the caravan. RIGHT: McKenna and Sha Eppley brought along some uncoopera- tive balloons. Mariella Dibble turned 100 years on Thurs- day, March 26 at The Village at Keizer Ridge. While her birthday plans were sidelined by COVID-19 precautions, undeterred family, friends, and staff members arranged a surprise visit. They arrived in a caravan and piled out to sing Happy Birthday to the young lady. Remaining school year will lean on virtual learning By MATT RAWLINGS Of the Keizertimes It’s becoming more like- ly that Salem-Keizer Public Schools won’t be re-opening before the end of the school year. On Monday, March 30, the Oregon Department of Ed- ucation shared that students might not be returning to classroom this school year due to the spread of COVID-19. Because of this realization, the department released guidance on virtual learning that same evening. “We also foresee the strong possibility that our students may not come back through our schoolhouse doors this academic year. This calls for a shift from providing supple- mentary education to a formi- dable effort to provide distance learning for all,” said Colt Gill, the director of the Oregon Education Department. “We now have a moral imperative to meet the changing nature of the pandemic and evolve our approach to serving our chil- dren.” Just over two weeks ago, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown ex- tended the state’s school clo- sure from two weeks to six weeks, scheduling schools to re-open on Monday, April 29. There has been no modifi ca- tion to that date. Last week, the Salem-Keiz- er School District released sup- plemental learning tools for all K-12 students. But the district made it clear that these tools weren’t replacements for class- room instruction. Now, ODE will be asking school districts to teach new materials that coincide with state curriculum standards for each grade. ODE asks that each district will have their plan for distant learning in place by Monday, April 13. “To the extent possible, our intent is to maintain instruc- tional time for students that is aligned to what virtual schools provide,” ODE spokesperson Marc Siegel said. “The typical learning day for Oregon’s stu- dents will include a teacher-led learning time, while also in- cluding time for supplemental activities, mealtime and play.” Under the new strategy, teachers can use online tools to conduct class, though it might be easier for some instructors than others. “The vast majority of Ore- gon educators have not taught online and some districts have varying levels of experience, capacity and technology tools,” Gill said. Not all learning, however, Salem-Keizer taps new assistant superintendent Iton Udosenata has been ing schools. “We’re extremely excited named Salem-Keizer Pub- lic Schools’ newest assistant for the new and innovative superintendent. Udosenata, ideas Iton will be bringing into our district,” said Su- currently serving as perintendent Chris- North Eugene High ty Perry. “I have no School’s principal, doubt that his work will be taking over ethic and passion for the responsibilities student success will currently held by As- align with our mis- sistant Superinten- sion that all students dent Linda Myers. graduate prepared Myers announced for a successful life.” her resignation from Udosenata has the district earlier Iton Udosenata demonstrated his this month, prompt- dedication to stu- ing a search for her replacement. She will work dents, working to promote alongside Udosenata and the equity, social justice and col- district’s other assistant su- lege-and-career readiness. He perintendent, Kraig Sproles, earned a bachelor of arts in during this transition. Sa- ethnic studies and a master of lem-Keizer’s assistant super- education in education lead- intendents oversee all aspects ership at the University of of teaching and learning with Oregon. In 2018, Udosenata specifi c attention to support- earned a doctoral degree in Body, Mind & Soul Our residents enjoy an active, engaging lifestyle that promotes wellness and independence. It is our goal to keep our residents linked to resources and opportunities that will fulfi ll their needs and interests in the Keizer area. Residents have many opportunities to participate in a variety of life enriching activities and events designed to stimulate the mind, body and soul. From cocktail-hour gatherings where you can learn about the nuances of a good Pinot Noir, to a discussion of the latest best seller in our Life-Long Learning series, to exploring new ways to stay healthy in a fi tness class. Come See the Finest in Senior Living CALL (503) 390 -1300 1165 McGee Ct NE • Keizer, OR • VillageAtKeizerRidge.com has to be online. Gill noted that school packets could be distributed to students via in- dividual and group calls. Gill also acknowledged that parents and guardians will need to help provide daily structure and serve as tutors and that this process will require a consid- erable effort by everyone in- volved. “The success of distance education overwhelmingly re- lies on parents and adult family members to be active partners with teachers,” Gill said. SKSD superintendent Christy Perry sent an email out to inform all parents of Salem-Keizer students of what they could expect for the month of April. Perry stated that the district has a “team of educators work- ing to develop our plan for dis- tance learning for all” and that 450 classifi ed educators had picked up Chromebooks to support supplemental learning. “We won’t have our plan ready to move forward today, which is hard for us to share, because we know there are so many questions that need an- swers,” Perry said in the email. Perry stated that the district doesn’t have guidance from the state on high school gradua- tion yet. educational methods poli- cy and leadership, also at the University of Oregon. He also serves as president-elect for the Confederation of Oregon School Administrators. Although Udosenata is a native Oregonian, he began his career in education in south central Los Angeles in 2004. He returned to Oregon in 2006, leading a high school alternative education program before serving as a social stud- ies teacher at Thurston High School for fi ve years. Since then, he has held numerous positions including assistant principal at Willamette High School, principal at Cottage Grove High School and most recently serving at principal at North Eugene High School, which has experienced signif- icant gains in graduation rates under his leadership. Iton is a self-proclaimed hip-hop historian and die- hard Oregon Duck fan. He currently lives in Cottage Grove with his wife Miriam, and two children, Kellen and Alora.
