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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (March 5, 2016)
REGION Saturday, March 5, 2016 East Oregonian Smith named Walla Walla Superintendent By JENNIFER COLTON East Oregonian “When you’re looking for leadership and growth, there are only a few school districts in the region, so you Hermiston Deputy can’t pass up opportunities,” Superintendent Wade Smith he said. “This was a big has accepted the position of family discussion before I superintendent for the Walla even put my name in the hat, Walla School District. but my family is incredibly “It’s bittersweet,” Smith supportive. They understand said Friday. “It was kind of this is part of working in surreal this morning. It’s education. The next adven- been a great experience in ture in our life started last Hermiston, but this was too night.” good an opportunity to pass In addition to the Walla up.” Walla position, Smith was The Walla Walla Public DOVR D ¿QDOLVW IRU WKH VXSHU- Schools Board of Directors intendent position in the unanimously named Smith Smith that district’s new superin- From April 2011 until Pendleton School District. tendent during a meeting October 2012, Smith led the 7KH UHPDLQLQJ WZR ¿QDOLVWV Thursday night. Smith’s Hermiston School District for that position are Ontario last day with the Hermiston and was named deputy High School Principal Andy School District is June 30, superintendent upon Maioc- Kovach and Pendleton School District Assistant and he will begin the Walla co’s return. Tricia Walla job on July 1. “What a great ride,” Superintendent $ ¿UVW JHQHUDWLRQ FROOHJH Smith said of his nine years Mooney. Michelle Monkman, the student, Smith’s career in Hermiston. “All the began as a chemistry teacher things that we’ve done for Pendleton School Board in the Long Creek School kids — not just the capital chair, said the board hopes District before becoming a construction improvement, to make a decision Tuesday principal at Heppner High but when it comes to closing whether to offer the position School. After two years as the achievement gap with to one of the candidates. Smith said either posi- assistant superintendent for our Latino students and our the Morrow County School students in poverty. There tion would have been an District, he came to Herm- have been a lot of great “excellent” opportunity but iston nine years ago as an things that have happened the Walla Walla position is assistant superintendent. since I’ve been here. This uniquely aligned with his In 2011, Smith, then is a community that rallies skills and experience. “I am going to miss the assistant superintendent for around their youth, and I’m support services, was named sure they’ll have no problem Hermiston community, the Hermiston School District’s ¿QGLQJ RXWVWDQGLQJ IRONV WR administration, but on equal footing is the excitement Administrator of the Year. take over.” That same year, he became Smith said the Walla to assist Walla Walla doing the interim superintendent Walla position is a way to some extraordinary things. I when Fred Maiocco was take the next step in his think the stars have aligned deployed to Kuwait for 18 career but remain in a rural in that community with a months with the U.S. Army region he and his family board and a community ready to take the next step reserves. love. and do something amazing,” he said. Smith will submit a resignation to the Hermiston School Board of Education, and Maiocco said the district will begin advertising for a replacement next week. The position will be for assistant superintendent; however, the GLVWULFWLVVWLOO¿QDOL]LQJZKDW specialization that position will be for. Smith was hired as assistant superintendent for human resources, and Maiocco said the position morphed with Smith’s VSHFL¿FFDSDELOLWLHV ³1RRQHZLOO¿OOKLVVKRHV exactly — they are huge VKRHV WR ¿OO ² EXW ZH DUH excited about this opportu- nity,” he said. “Obviously, replacing Wade is going to be a very big chore for us, but I think Walla Walla will thrive under his leadership.” Smith said his family will move to Walla Walla, including his two children and his wife, Marianne, an art teacher at Hermiston High School. Maiocco said the entire family has been an asset to Hermiston. “They (Walla Walla) could QRWKDYHPDGHD¿QHUFKRLFH I think it’s an opportunity for Wade and his family. Marianne is an extraordinary teacher, and she will be just as hard to replace as Wade. They will be missed, but we wish them the best.” ——— Contact Jennifer Colton at jcolton@eastoregonian. com or 541-564-4534 Educators ‘play’ to learn skills during workshops By JENNIFER COLTON East Oregonian ages and levels. The presenters also talked about what makes a “great” recess, such as having at Ninety-three percent of least 20 minutes of time and 3DFL¿F 1RUWKZHVW VFKRROV not taking recess away as a with Playworks reported a punishment or for academic decrease in disciplinary inci- reasons. dents; 93 percent reported an Four school districts — improvement in academic 8PDWLOOD 6WDQ¿HOG (FKR success, and 98 percent and Morrow County — reported and improvement have already expressed an in school climate — all interest in bringing training because of play. Friday, and Playworks coaches educators worked together into the local schools. Play- to bring those skills to local works will host a three-day schools. EO ile photo training and demonstration “We have a vision that Playworks 101, was one of four workshops presented Umatilla’s McNary one day, every child in Friday by the InterMountain Education Service District. at America will have the The four workshops focused on innovative concepts in Heights Elementary next week. Blasher indicated that opportunity to play every education. to fund a hub for Eastern day with safe and healthy play,” workshop presenter social competence in chil- between recess and class. Oregon would take about Jon Blasher said Friday. dren with autism spectrum On Friday, the educators eight schools involved in and “Growth both discussed the science Playworks coaching. “We really believe that the disorder Mindset,” which focuses behind play and took an “Cost-wide, it’s very power of play can bring the on non-cognitive skills such active approach in hands-on reasonable,” said Brandon best out in every kid.” Blasher is the executive as resiliency, perseverance game training. The educa- Hammond, principal at GLUHFWRU IRU WKH 3DFL¿F and self-management as key tors played “band-aid tag,” Boardman’s Windy River Northwest chapter of Play- ingredients for engagement, IRU H[DPSOH D PRGL¿FDWLRQ Elementary. “Culturally, if ZRUNV D QDWLRQDO QRQSUR¿W motivation, social and on the traditional tag game we’re going to start this, I designed to bring safe and emotional wellness and meant to keep all students think we need to start off on engaged and involved the right foot. We want to inclusive, structured play academic achievement. At Playworks 101, partic- instead of making one child create a culture.” to students in low-income ipants covered the length of “it.” ——— schools. His workshop, “Tag can have the same Contact Jennifer Colton Playworks 101, was one of the InterMountain district, four workshops presented from Heppner to Helix to amount of cardio as running at jcolton@eastoregonian. Friday by the InterMountain La Grande. They discussed a mile, but it’s fun,” Blasher com or 541-564-4534 Education Service District. EHQH¿WV UHZDUGV DQG FKDO- said. “It’s all about getting every child to play every The four workshops lenges with recess. “The big thing that I’m day.” focused on innovative Participants in the work- concepts in education. The ORRNLQJ IRU LV FRQÀLFW UHVR- lution, so the incidents from shop ranged from paraedu- largest, ACEs and Trauma Informed Care, brought the playground don’t spill cators to superintendents and together 450 educators from over to the classroom,” said from preschool through high across Eastern Oregon to Carter Wells, superintendent school. Those ranges opened discussed adverse childhood at the Union School District. the door for discussions in The comment prompted PRGL¿FDWLRQ DQG VWUDWHJLHV experiences, services and supports. The other work- discussion and strategies to make play accessible and shops included promoting for smoothing the transition interesting to students at all Processor, Sierra Webb a valued member of our team! We have what you are looking for: • Friendly neighbors • Award-winning staff • Wellness-centered philosophy • Flexible stay options In Partnership with Adventist Health Services Cool! A Division of: NMLS #471758-1850 505 E. Main St. Suite A, Hermiston, OR 97838 541-564-5900 Page 3A BRIEFLY Kiwanis playground closed until further notice PENDLETON — Pendleton Parks and Recreation has closed the Kiwanis Playground on Southeast Byers Avenue until further notice after staff discovered some cracks and missing bolts in the equipment. Parks Director Donnie Cook said they fenced off the playground on Friday and contacted the manufacturer to replace any missing parts. There is no estimate of when they will be able to reopen. “The main thing is we just don’t want anybody to get hurt,” Cook said. The playground was ¿UVWEXLOW\HDUVDJR Cook said the work will help to make the area safer. Snowpack holds steady after warm February Despite a warm February, mountain snowpack remains normal for this time of year across northeast Oregon. The Natural Resource Conservation Service released its March water supply outlook report on Friday, which shows the Umatilla, Walla Walla and Willow basins are at 101 percent of average snow-water equivalent — which measures the amount of water contained within snow. The Grande Ronde, Powder, Burnt and Imnaha basins are 104 percent of average, and the John Day Basin is 108 percent of average. Most basins expe- rienced some mid- to low-elevation snowmelt during warmer periods in the middle of the month, according to the NRCS. Higher elevations continue to retain snow for the time being. With spring on the way, the NRCS predicts higher temperatures and rain on snow could result LQVLJQL¿FDQWO\PRUH snowmelt. “Temperature will be the key indicator for March snowpack devel- opment and retention,” said Scott Oviatt, Oregon snow survey supervisor. “Eastern Oregon continues to see the best conditions in the state, due to cooler mountain temperatures.” For now, the NRCS SUHGLFWVWKHPHGLDQÀRZ in the Umatilla River from April through September will be 161,000 acre-feet, or 105 percent of normal. Overall, water supplies in the basin are likely to be below normal to near normal this summer. For more information, visit www.nrcs.usda.gov. Public invited to discuss north Highway 395 HERMISTON — Members of the public interested in improving Highway 395 north of Hermiston are invited to a meeting of the Highway 395 N Committee. The meeting will be Tuesday, March 8 from 4-5:30 p.m. at the Stafford Hansell Government Center, 915 S.E. Columbia Drive, Hermiston. The advisory committee is a collabo- ration between property owners and Umatilla County that has been meeting for more than a year to discuss ways to implement an economic development study prepared by E.D. Hovee and Company in 2015. Ideas the committee has discussed for fostering economic development along North Highway 395 include road improvements, formation of a Local Improvement District, landscaping guidelines, infrastructure improvements and zoning changes. Steve Watkinds, committee chair and owner of Columbia Court Club on the highway, said members of the business community north of Hermiston have worked ZHOOZLWKFRXQW\RI¿FLDOV during the process. “This public-private effort has been very positive,” he said. ——— Briefs are compiled from staff and wire reports, and press releases. Email press releases to news@ eastoregonian.com Tim & Annette Terraberry’s Dinner & Auction Sunday, March 13th 4:00pm Hermiston High School Commons Tim is battling Cancer, so please help support this wonderful couple. Doors open 4pm • Tri Tip dinner buffet 5pm Silent Auction • Tickets $35 Tickets may be purchased at the Hermiston Chamber, American West Properties and Oasis Vineyard Church. A table for 8 can be purchased for $280. If you have any questions or would like to volunteer, please call or text Nancy Walchli at 541-571-1723. hermistonhomeloans.com Blue Mountain Diabetes Champions Topic: Your Guide to Sweeteners Have you heard? One bedroom apartments at $1499 What? 509.527.9600 www.wheatlandvillage.com Exciting! 1500 Catherine Street Walla Walla, WA 99362 Where? Diabetes History Newly Diagnosed Know someone who has diabetes? Wednesday, March 16 th Conference Rooms 3 & 4 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Christine 541-278-3235 Melissa 541-278-3249 2801 St. Anthony Way Pendleton, OR 1500 Catherine Street | Walla Walla, WA 99362 | 509.527.9600 | www.wheatlandvillage.com www.sahpendleton.com License #1640
