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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 20, 2016)
NORTHWEST East Oregonian Page 2A Saturday, August 20, 2016 Schools seek delay in Oregon’s P.E. requirement Lack of facilities, teachers hamper districts’ progress way to continue to move forward.” Courtney said he is unwilling to compromise on the required number of minutes but could consider a phased-in approach to meeting the standard. He and his staff met with lobby- ists representing schools and health groups Aug. 11 to discuss concerns about the law. Schools’ concerns about the requirement center on three issues: The cost of hiring additional P.E. teachers and building new space and the limited amount of instructional time, Green said. Schools faced funding rollbacks during the Great Recession and subsequent funding increases have not been enough to keep up with expenses, Green said. The Pendleton School District recently built two elementary schools that replaced schools that used the same space for the cafeteria and gymnasium. School administrators had to use creative scheduling, including lunch periods staggered by grade level, to accommodate lunch and biweekly physical education classes. The new schools, Washington and Sherwood elementary schools, have separate gymnasiums and cafeterias, which will make it easier to schedule addi- tional P.E. classes, said Ronda Smith, a Pendleton principal who used to work at Washington Elementary School. But school administrators said they also struggle to ind time for the requirement in Oregon’s limited school year, one of the shortest in the nation. If schools have to provide more physical education instruction, other By PARIS ACHEN Capital Bureau SALEM — With less than 10 percent of Oregon’s K-8 schools providing the minimum number of weekly physical education minutes mandated by the Legislature nine years ago, districts want lawmakers to extend the fall 2017 compliance deadline. Rather than inching towards meeting the requirement, the number of compliant schools has actually declined, according to public records reviewed by the Pamplin Media Group/EO Media Group Capital Bureau. House Bill 3141, approved by state lawmakers in 2007, made Oregon the irst state in the nation to require minimum physical education instructional minutes for elementary and middle school pupils, according to the American Heart Association. The law calls for a minimum of 150 minutes of physical education instruction per week for grades K-5 and 225 minutes for grades 6-8. Schools are required to meet that standard by fall 2017. Most schools are so far from fulilling the requirement that their advocacy groups are now asking lawmakers to either push back the deadline or allow for a phase-in. They also want other tweaks to the law, such as prorating the standard E.J. Harris/EO Media Group A pristine gym in the newly inished Washington Elementary School in Pendleton. The new building provides the district with a facility making it easier to comply with the state’s physical education mandate. to account for professional develop- ment days and inclement weather, and to add more lexibility in how physical education may be deined. “Everybody recognizes the pinch we ind ourselves in,” said Jim Green, deputy executive director of the Oregon School Boards Association. “There are not enough P.E. teachers. Some of the facilities are inadequate in order to be able to provide that level of instruction, and it is going to take a lot to ramp up to that.” Out of 1,080 public schools with some or all grades in K-8, only 97 schools in 2014-15 provided the minimum number of weekly minutes outlined in HB 3141, according to the Oregon Department of Education’s most recent count. That’s a decline from the 102 schools in 2013-14 that met the minimum. Senate President Peter Courtney, D-Salem, championed the law in 2007 as a way to address childhood obesity and boost pupils’ academic skills. Along with the minimum instructional time, the bill offered schools special grants, known as PEEK-8, or Physical Education Expansion K-8, to help hire P.E. teachers or give existing teachers professional development in physical education. The grants provided about $4 million to schools in the last four years. “I started this some 10 years ago because physical education had disap- peared from our schools,” Courtney said. “I understand resources are an issue, and every school is different. I just hope that together we can ind a subjects lose time, they said. None of those other subjects have a manda- tory minimum of instructional time. “The larger issue is we have so many hours in the school year that we can use, and we keep having different sets of expectations put on us,” said Pendleton schools Superin- tendent Andy Kovach. “You add up the hours they’re expecting of us, and where do you cut it out?” Christina Bodamer, an Oregon- based lobbyist with the American Heart Association, which pushed for the law in 2007, said she understands the schools’ dilemma but thinks the mandate needs to be a priority. “Knowing there has been 10 years to implement this, I think an important part of a phase-in is accountability, so we don’t go another three to ive years and have nothing else happen,” Bodamer said. Several bodies of research suggest that physical activity can hone academic skills such as concen- tration, and even enhance overall academic performance, according to a review of research in 2010 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That research has given momentum to the idea of requiring minimum instructional time in physical education, she said. Wash- ington, D.C., has a policy similar to Oregon’s, and Washington and California are considering following suit, Bodamer said. Apart from state grants, several health organizations also have been dedicating grant money to help schools come up with creative solutions to meet the requirement, she said. Pot plants at state fair a irst for the U.S. were no complaints — a key factor in allowing them to go one step further and offer live plants for viewing this year, said Dan Cox, spokesman for the Oregon State Fair. The specimens were selected by judges at a compe- tition last weekend who chose three winners each in the sativa, indica and hybrid categories. The entire exhibit will be housed in a translucent tent and extra security will be on hand to check identiication so only people 21 and over can enter, Cox said. None of the plants are allowed have buds, which are more potent than the leaves. That’s because the Oregon SALEM (AP) — Nine living marijuana plants will be displayed at the Oregon State Fair in a irst of its kind event for the United States starting next Friday. The exhibit of the non-low- ering, immature plants brings pot cultivation more into the agricultural mainstream less than two years after Oregon voters legalized recreational marijuana. The Oregon Cannabis Business Council, which organized the exhibit, says it’s the irst time live cannabis will be shown at a state fair anywhere in the U.S. The group last year had an informational booth about marijuana at the fair and there Liquor Control Commission, which will regulate the recre- ational marijuana business, is still inalizing regulations for the nascent industry and it’s currently illegal to transport a lowering plant, said Donald Morse, director of the Oregon Cannabis Business Council. Those regulations and a licensing process for recre- ational producers are expected by 2017. The industry hopes to have plants with buds at the fair next summer, Morse said. The event has raised some eyebrows, but Cox said the Oregon State Fair has always played a role in displaying the latest and sometimes contro- versial fads in agriculture and state culture. Nearly 20 years ago, he said, the fair had an exhibit on tattoo body art that caused a similar sensation. “It is a showcase for traditional things. And yet it’s always been a show place for the new, the different and the innovative,” he said. Corrections The East Oregonian works hard to be accurate and sincerely regrets any errors. If you notice a mistake in the paper, please call 541-966-0818. Didn’t receive your paper? Call 1-800-522-0255 before noon Tuesday through Friday or before 10 a.m. Saturday for same-day redelivery 211 S.E. Byers Ave., Pendleton 541-276-2211 333 E. 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Single copy price: $1 Tuesday through Friday, $1.50 Saturday Copyright © 2016, EO Media Group REGIONAL CITIES Forecast SUNDAY TODAY MONDAY Sunny and very warm Sunshine and very hot 95° 64° 97° 60° TUESDAY Sunny and cooler but pleasant Sunny and beautiful Mostly sunny and nice PENDLETON TEMPERATURE FORECAST 83° 50° 82° 51° 88° 52° HERMISTON TEMPERATURE FORECAST 98° 60° 98° 62° PENDLETON through 3 p.m. yesterday TEMPERATURE HIGH LOW 86° 87° 109° (1897) 57° 57° 37° (1916) PRECIPITATION 24 hours ending 3 p.m. Month to date Normal month to date Year to date Last year to date Normal year to date 0.00" 0.07" 0.26" 7.39" 5.00" 8.25" HERMISTON through 3 p.m. yesterday TEMPERATURE Yesterday Normals Records HIGH LOW 90° 87° 106° (1967) 67° 57° 42° (1973) PRECIPITATION 24 hours ending 3 p.m. Month to date Normal month to date Year to date Last year to date Normal year to date 0.00" 0.05" 0.12" 4.99" 3.25" 6.07" SUN AND MOON Sunrise today Sunset tonight Moonrise today Moonset today Last New First 6:02 a.m. 7:54 p.m. 9:18 p.m. 8:42 a.m. Full Sep 1 Sep 9 Sep 16 Aug 24 88° 48° 92° 49° Seattle 94/59 ALMANAC Yesterday Normals Records 87° 48° Today WEDNESDAY Spokane Wenatchee 91/62 97/65 Tacoma Moses 95/54 Lake Pullman Aberdeen Olympia Yakima 96/57 89/50 80/54 97/51 99/59 Longview Kennewick Walla Walla 95/56 96/66 Lewiston 97/57 Astoria 96/61 73/57 Portland Enterprise Hermiston 101/62 Pendleton 90/52 The Dalles 98/60 95/64 101/62 La Grande Salem 92/46 101/56 Albany Corvallis 99/55 99/53 John Day 96/62 Ontario Eugene Bend 92/54 100/52 93/55 Caldwell Burns 92/52 93/47 Astoria Baker City Bend Brookings Burns Enterprise Eugene Heppner Hermiston John Day Klamath Falls La Grande Meacham Medford Newport North Bend Ontario Pasco Pendleton Portland Redmond Salem Spokane Ukiah Vancouver Walla Walla Yakima Hi 73 89 93 67 93 90 100 93 98 96 95 92 89 107 62 65 92 96 95 101 95 101 91 91 100 96 99 Lo 57 40 55 52 47 52 52 55 60 62 48 46 47 64 51 52 54 56 64 62 48 56 62 45 61 66 59 W s s s pc s s s s s s s s s s s pc s s s s s s s s s s s Hi 69 93 91 66 94 92 89 95 98 99 92 96 91 103 60 64 96 100 97 85 95 89 91 91 84 97 98 Today Beijing Hong Kong Jerusalem London Mexico City Moscow Paris Rome Seoul Sydney Tokyo Lo 72 82 70 58 56 59 57 67 78 47 78 W pc t s c t sh pc s c pc t Lo 56 46 47 50 48 50 49 55 62 61 48 53 50 60 49 52 59 57 60 57 45 54 58 44 55 64 55 W pc s s pc s s s s s s s s s s pc pc s s s s s s s s s s s Lo 74 80 70 61 55 60 57 66 77 49 80 W s t s c t pc pc s pc s t WINDS Medford 107/64 (in mph) Klamath Falls 95/48 Boardman Pendleton REGIONAL FORECAST Coastal Oregon: Low clouds and fog, then sunshine today; mostly sunny and cooler across the north. Eastern and Central Oregon: Hot today with plenty of sunshine. Mainly clear tonight. Very hot tomorrow. Western Washington: Plenty of sunshine today; patchy fog at the coast during the morning. Eastern Washington: Plenty of sunshine today. Clear tonight. Plenty of sunshine tomorrow. Cascades: Plenty of sunshine today; very warm. Mainly clear tonight. Sunny tomorrow. Northern California: Clouds, then sun at the coast today; hot in central parts. Mostly sunny elsewhere. Today Sunday SSW 3-6 NNW 4-8 WSW 8-16 W 8-16 UV INDEX TODAY Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows. 1 4 6 6 4 COMMERCIAL PRINTING Production Manager: Mike Jensen 541-215-0824 • mjensen@eastoregonian.com Shown are noon positions of weather systems and precipitation. Temperature bands are highs for the day. Sun. Hi 93 89 88 73 73 76 71 83 91 68 88 NEWS • To submit news tips and press releases: • call 541-966-0818 • fax 541-276-8314 • email news@eastoregonian.com • To submit community events, calendar items and Your EO News: email community@eastoregonian.com or call Tammy Malgesini at 541-564-4539 or Renee Struthers in at 541-966-0818. • To submit engagements, weddings and anniversaries: email rstruthers@eastoregonian.com or visit www.eastoregonian. com/community/announcements • To submit a Letter to the Editor: mail to Managing Editor Daniel Wattenburger, 211 S.E. Byers Ave. Pendleton, OR 97801 or email editor@eastoregonian.com. • To submit sports or outdoors information or tips: 541-966-0838 • sports@eastoregonian.com NATIONAL WEATHER TODAY Sun. WORLD CITIES Hi 89 90 88 70 73 75 76 84 94 65 84 Classiied & Legal Advertising 1-800-962-2819 or 541-278-2678 classiieds@eastoregonian.com or legals@eastoregonian.com Advertising Director: Jennine Perkinson 541-278-2669 • jperkinson@eastoregonian.com Advertising Services: Laura Jensen 541-966-0806 • ljensen@eastoregonian.com Multimedia Consultants: • Terri Briggs 541-278-2678 • tbriggs@eastoregonian.com • Amanda Jacobs 541-278-2683 • ajacobs@eastoregonian.com • Jeanne Jewett 541-564-4531 • jjewett@eastoregonian.com • Chris McClellan 541-966-0827 • cmcclellan@eastoregonian.com • Stephanie Newsom 541-278-2687 • snewsom@eastoregonian.com • Dayle Stinson 541-278-2670 • dstinson@eastoregonian.com • Audra Workman 541-564-4538 • aworkman@eastoregonian.com Subscriber services: For home delivery, vacation stops or delivery concerns: 1-800-522-0255 — Founded Oct. 16, 1875 — AP Photo/Gillian Flaccus In this Aug. 13 photo, Ed Rosenthal, nicknamed the “Ganja Guru,” judges marijuana plants at a compe- tition designed to select nine specimens for display at the Oregon State Fair. The exhibit of live marijua- na plants will run from Aug. 26 to Sept. 5 and will be the irst time real pot plants have been open for public viewing at the annual agricultural showcase. 1 8 a.m. 10 a.m. Noon 2 p.m. 4 p.m. 6 p.m. 0-2, Low 3-5, Moderate 6-7, High; 8-10, Very High; 11+, Extreme The higher the AccuWeather.com UV Index™ num- ber, the greater the need for eye and skin protection. Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2016 -10s -0s showers t-storms 0s 10s rain 20s flurries 30s 40s snow ice 50s 60s cold front 70s 80s 90s 100s warm front stationary front 110s high low National Summary: Showers and locally heavy storms will extend from the Great Lakes to the Gulf Coast today. Much cooler air will invade the Plains, while warmth and humidity build in the East and heat holds in the West. Yesterday’s National Extremes: (for the 48 contiguous states) High 108° in Imperial, Calif. Low 33° in Leadville, Colo. NATIONAL CITIES Today Albuquerque Atlanta Atlantic City Baltimore Billings Birmingham Boise Boston Charleston, SC Charleston, WV Chicago Cleveland Dallas Denver Detroit El Paso Fairbanks Fargo Honolulu Houston Indianapolis Jacksonville Kansas City Las Vegas Little Rock Los Angeles Hi 83 87 85 90 79 85 92 80 93 85 78 88 81 77 86 94 59 69 86 92 80 97 76 103 85 82 Lo 61 74 74 72 53 74 63 67 78 71 60 69 70 52 64 69 51 47 76 74 62 73 55 82 71 63 W t t pc pc s t s s t pc t pc t s t t c pc sh t t t t s t pc Sun. Hi 84 87 84 86 89 84 95 81 96 80 74 78 83 87 77 88 66 75 86 89 75 97 80 98 85 82 Lo 60 69 70 65 58 69 63 70 76 60 56 63 71 57 58 68 51 58 75 74 57 74 59 79 66 63 Today W t t pc t s t s pc t t pc pc t t pc t c pc pc t pc pc s s pc pc Hi Louisville 83 Memphis 84 Miami 92 Milwaukee 80 Minneapolis 67 Nashville 83 New Orleans 91 New York City 86 Oklahoma City 82 Omaha 75 Philadelphia 90 Phoenix 103 Portland, ME 79 Providence 82 Raleigh 88 Rapid City 70 Reno 97 Sacramento 91 St. Louis 82 Salt Lake City 90 San Diego 78 San Francisco 73 Seattle 94 Tucson 96 Washington, DC 93 Wichita 77 Lo 68 73 78 61 55 71 78 75 60 54 74 81 61 67 74 46 63 60 63 64 67 58 59 73 75 57 W t t pc t sh t t pc pc pc pc pc s s t pc s s t s pc pc s t pc pc Sun. Hi 80 85 92 75 71 83 90 84 85 79 88 102 78 81 91 81 93 90 81 95 79 71 78 95 90 84 Lo 62 68 76 58 59 61 77 68 61 62 68 81 64 69 68 54 63 60 63 70 67 57 55 74 70 60 Weather (W): s-sunny, pc-partly cloudy, c-cloudy, sh-showers, t-thunderstorms, r-rain, sf-snow flurries, sn-snow, i-ice. W pc pc t sh s pc pc pc pc s t pc pc pc t s s s s s pc pc s t t s
