East Oregonian
Page 3A
REGION
Two Pendleton teachers receive awards Pendleton school employee union
Wednesday, October 11, 2017
East Oregonian
Two Pendleton School
District teachers recently
received
professional
awards,
the
district
announced Monday.
Sherwood
Heights
Elementary
School
teacher Celia Hampton
won the Outstanding Hampton
Johnson
Earth Science Teacher
Award from the National
tion Zone, the Cascade Range
Association of Geoscience volcanoes and much more.”
Teachers. According to a press
State Sen. Bill Hansell,
release, the award is given to R-Athena, selected Pendleton
teachers who “put forth excep- High School social studies
tional effort and achieved teacher Brian Johnson as one
exemplary success teaching of two civic scholars in his
Earth sciences in elementary district.
or secondary schools.”
As a part of the recogni-
“Her classroom is full of tion, Johnson will receive free
rocks, minerals, crystals and registration to the Oregon
fossils,” the press release State Capitol in Salem for
states. “Hampton teaches the the Civics Conference for
geology of the Pacific North- Teachers in December.
west, the Cascadia Subduc-
“The conference features
presentations
from
each branch of Oregon
government as well as
strategies from master
teachers,” a press release
states. “The scholars also
receive special recogni-
tion at the conference,
substitute pay while
they are away from their
classroom and follow-up
classroom assistance.”
In a statement, Super-
intendent Chris Fritsch sang
Johnson’s praises.
“Mr. Johnson is highly
regarded by his students and
peers alike. He embodies
everything that is good about
public educators — holding
high expectations for all
students and providing them
the appropriate support to
reach those expectations,”
Fritsch said. “Mr. Johnson
is very deserving of this
award.”
BRIEFLY
Hermiston 76
rebranding as
Sinclair
Rivoli Theater
subject of NARFE
meeting
PENDLETON — The
restoration progress at
Pendleton’s Rivoli Theater
is the subject of the October
meeting of National
Active and Retired Federal
Employees (NARFE).
The meeting will be held
Thursday at 11:30 a.m. at
Shari’s Restaurant, 319 S.E.
Nye Ave. Andrew Picket will
be the guest speaker.
For more information,
contact Janet Lambert at
541-980-3268.
Relay for Life
volunteers meet
Thursday
Staff photo by Jade McDowell
The Pendleton School
District’s union for educa-
tional assistants, secretaries
and custodians wants to
reinstate the top-end of
the pay scale for classified
employees.
At a Pendleton School
Board meeting Monday,
Teri McCoy, the president
of the classified employee
union and an assistant at
Hawthorne
Alternative
High School, read a letter
detailing their request.
During contract negoti-
ations last summer, McCoy
said the union agreed to
a salary step freeze for
the current school year in
exchange for a new, ninth
step on the pay scale.
That meant no classified
employee would receive a
pay bump during the 2017-
2018 school year, regardless
of accumulated experience
or performance.
But when she learned
that an administrator had
received a 2 percent cost-
of-living salary increase,
McCoy said she would have
felt “remiss” if she didn’t
lobby the board to have
classified employee’s pay
raises restored.
“A step increase for the
classified employees who
lost a step would not be a
huge cost due to so few of
them actually still moving
steps, and it is the right
thing to do,” she said.
With an uncertain state
education budget and
declining enrollment, the
district initially made signif-
icant cuts to the budget. At
one point, the district laid
off 10 employees, before an
improved budget projection
from the state allowed them
to hire many of them back.
In addition to conces-
sions from the classified
employees union, district
administrators agreed to
a one-year cost-of-living
freeze to help aid the
budget. But after approving
the freeze in June, the board
reinstated the 2 percent
salary increase to Director
of
Business
Services
Michelle Jones in July.
“As the president of
the classified union, and
a hard-working employee
of this school district, we
are asking for real answers
from the school board as to
why the classified always
have to sacrifice financial
gain, and administrators are
handily rewarded first, and
often without hesitation,”
she said.
Although all the classified
employees who were laid
off were eventually offered
the jobs back, McCoy said
one employee was rehired
in the “Secretary 1” position
after previously working as
one training session. Training
sessions are available at 1075
S. Highway 395, Hermiston,
on the following days:
•Friday, Oct. 13 from 7-9
p.m.
•Saturday, Oct. 14 from
9-11 a.m.
•Sunday, Oct. 15 from 2-4
p.m.
•Sunday, Oct. 22 from 2-4
p.m.
•Monday, Oct. 23 from
7-9 p.m.
•Thursday, Oct. 26 from
7-9 p.m.
Organizers are hoping to
have all volunteers trained
by Wednesday, Nov. 1. To
meet staffing goals, 200
volunteers are needed. The
plan is to have the warming
station open each night from
Nov. 20 through Feb. 28.
The cost for a background
check is $10. For more
information, to register or
if assistance is needed to
pay for the background
check, call Amber or Trish at
541-289-2150.
HERMISTON — The
Stanfield High School band
is selling Krispy Kreme
donuts to help fund their
April 2018 tour to Lake
Chelan and Leavenworth,
Wash.
Band students will be
selling original Krispy
Kremes by the dozen for
$11 at Walmart, 1350 N.
First St., Hermiston, on
Friday from 10 a.m. to 2
p.m., or until they are sold
out.
For more information,
contact band director
Deborah Wryn at 541-240-
1513.
Oregon Rural
Action announces
annual meeting
LA GRANDE — The
Oregon Rural Action annual
meeting will feature an
old-fashioned social and
an informative program
featuring a guest speaker
from Food First.
Ahna Kruzic will
discuss topics central to
the theme “The Future of
Rural America: Equity,
Sustainability and Justice.”
The event is Saturday, Oct.
14 beginning at 1 p.m. in
the 4-H Building at the
Union County Fairgrounds,
3604 N. Second St., La
Grande. People are asked to
bring a dish to share for the
community potluck meal.
The event, which also serves
as a fundraiser, features
an auction, raffles and a
drawing for a quilt.
The event is free for
Oregon Rural Action
members and $10 for
non-members.
For more information,
contact Anna Maria Dill at
541-786-5471, amdill707@
gmail.com or visit www.
oregonrural.org.
East Oregonian
Gas line work by
Cascade Natural Gas will
affect the area in front of
Washington
Elementary
School in Pendleton next
week.
According to a Pend-
leton School District press
release, the work between
Southeast Fifth Street and
Southeast 15th Street on
Byers Avenue could begin
as soon as Friday on a
non-school day due to state-
wide in-service. The work
with the biggest impact on
AS LOW AS
MORE WINNERS. MORE OFTEN.
$
40,000
40,000
Bingo
Bingo
$
Paper Only Event
Doors Open at 9am
/per mo.
for 12 mos
when bundled*
chase your
-pur
®
ors
h
99
sionals (flaggers) will be
present during construction
to minimize traffic conges-
tion as well as assist school
crossing guards.”
The district is advising
parents to remind their
children to stay away from
marked construction areas
and use sidewalks and
crosswalks.
Superintendent
Chris
Fritsch doesn’t anticipate
any health or safety issues
during construction, but
is reviewing school emer-
gency procedures in case
there’s an event.
the school is set to start next
Monday with the hope that
it will be completed within
the following three to five
days.
“During this time,
heavy equipment will be
trenching, and work crews
will be removing and
replacing existing natural
gas lines,” the press release
states. “Normal traffic flows
should not be impacted
other than potential slower
than usual traffic speeds as
vehicles and buses travel
through the construction
area. Traffic control profes-
wild
SPECTFUM INTEFNET™
29
Gas line work will affect Washington Elementary
Early Bird Session at Noon
Main Session at 12:30pm
• Speeds up to 60Mbps
• Unlimited data – no data caps
$
PENDLETON
at
seat
MOFE HD CHANNELS,
FASTEF INTEFNET AND
UNLIMITED VOICE.
er e s or t.com
Blazing fast Internet is available and can be yours with Spectrum Internet™ With speeds starting at 60 Mbps
125+ CHANNELS
SPECTRUM TRIPLE PLAY TM
TV, INTERNET AND VOICE
UP TO 60MBPS
UNLIMITED CALLING
Warming station
sets volunteer
training
89
$
from
97
/mo each
for 12 mos
when bundled*
CONTACT YOUR LOCAL AUTHORIZED RETAILER
855-613-2321
*Bundle price for TV Select, Internet and Voice is $89.97/mo. for year 1; standard rates apply after year 1. Available Internet speeds may vary by
address. WiFi: Equipment, activation and installation fees apply. Services subject to all applicable service terms and conditions, subject to change.
Services not available in all areas. Restrictions apply. All Rights Reserved. ©2017 Charter Communications.
HERMISTON — With
fall in the air and the
mercury edging closer to
freezing, organizers of the
Hermiston Warming Station
are gearing up for the winter
months.
Volunteers are needed
to help in keeping the
doors open to offer a warm
place for those who are
homeless. New and returning
volunteers must complete
a “Secretary 2.” The move
resulted in a $2,000 annual
pay cut, which McCoy
said would be softened to
$700 if she were allowed to
advance on the salary steps.
After McCoy finished
reading the letter, board
member Debbie McBee
expressed her appreciation
for classified employees, but
the board didn’t comment
further.
In an interview after the
meeting, Lynn Lieuallen,
the chair of the board,
declined to comment on the
letter but echoed McBee’s
thought.
“Classified employees
are valuable team members
of the Pendleton school
district,” Lieuallen said in a
statement. “We are thankful
and appreciative of the work
they do each and everyday.”
Lieuallen said she and
Superintendent
Chris
Fritsch would work on an
official response later this
week.
Fritsch also declined to
comment, saying it was out
of respect for McCoy and
the board.
“I don’t want Teri or
anyone else to read an
opinion or reaction in the
paper before I talk to them
in person,” he said.
———
Contact Antonio Sierra
at asierra@eastoregonian.
com or 541-966-0836.
Workers switch the 76 sign to a Sinclair sign as the fuel
station on Hermiston Avenue changes brands.
Band students sell
donuts to fund tour
PENDLETON — Relay
for Life Umatilla County
is getting a head start on
organizing its 2018 event.
A planning meeting is
set for committee members
and team captains. Everyone
is welcome to attend to
learn how they can become
involved in the summer
fundraiser that benefits the
American Cancer Society.
The meeting is Thursday
from 6-7 p.m. at Dr. Patricia
Winn’s office, 3001 St.
Anthony Way Suite 135,
Pendleton.
For more information,
contact Carol Preston at
relaypendleton@yahoo.com
or 541-379-6294.
By ANTONIO SIERRA
East Oregonian
Pre
HERMISTON — Fuel
dispensers and signs are
being replaced at the 76
gas station in Hermiston
to rebrand the station as a
Sinclair.
Linda Lancaster, store
manager, said the business
will still be under the
ownership of Hattenhauer
Distributing of The Dalles.
“It will still be the same
good-quality fuel we’ve had
here,” she said.
Lancaster said the store
is still open, and unless
workers run into any
problems the new fuel
dispensers should be up and
running on Thursday, or
possibly even Wednesday
afternoon.
The station is located at
710 W. Highland Ave. in
Hermiston.
asks board to unfreeze pay scale
WIN A TRIP TO
THE 2019 BIG GAME
IN ATLANTA!
DENTAL Itsuratce
Physiciats Mutual Itsuratce Compaty
A less expetsive way to help get the dettal care you deserve
If you’re over 50, you can get coverage for about
$1 a day*
Keep your own dentist! NO netlorks to lorry about
NO annual or lifetime cap o n the cash benefi ts
No wait for preventive care and no deductibles
– you could get a checkup tomorrol
Coverage for over 350 procedures including
DRAWING:
FEBRUARY 4, 2018
cleanings, exams, fi llings, crolns…even dentures
you can receive
FREE Information Kit
1-877-599-0125
www.dettal50plus.com/25
4 WAYS TO PLAY
*Individual plan. Product not available in MN, MT, NH, RI, VT, WA. Acceptance guaranteed for one insurance policy/certificate of this type. Contact us for complete details
about this insurance solicitation. This specific offer is not available in CO, NY; call 1-800-969-4781 or respond for similar offer. Certificate C250A (ID: C250E; PA: C250Q);
Insurance Policy P150(GA: P150GA; NY: P150NY; OK: P150OK; TN: P150TN) 6096C
MB16-NM001Gc
1
Swipe daily
for one entry
One per day
Now Connecting Businesses
With Customers In More Ways Than Ever!
www.statewideyp.com
2
Win a Tablegames
Hot Seat Drawing
on Mondays
& Thursdays
3
Place in
our monthly
Krazy Keno
Tournament
4
Win a select
Bingo during
regular sessions
Simpl e y Best
th
g!
Advertisin
®
CASINO • HOTEL • GOLF • CINEPLEX • RV • MUSEUM • DINING • TRAVEL PLAZA
CALL TO PLACE
YOUR AD TODAY!
5009 W Clearwater Ave Ste J, Kennewick, WA 99336 • Fax: 509-734-5362 • Email: support@statewideyp.com
800.654.9453 • PENDLETON, OR • I-84, EXIT 216, wildhorseresort.com. Owned and operated by CTUIR