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.