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About Spilyay tymoo. (Warm Springs, Or.) 1976-current | View Entire Issue (March 24, 1978)
MARCH M, IWI PACK • Three Running For School Board Slot Three candidates have filed for a position on the Jefferson County School District 509-J Board. The election for the position currently held by Myrtis Lewis will be on Tuesday, April 4. I The three who are running for the four-year position are Uren Leonard, Jr. of Warm Springs, and Evadna Bartlett and Vic Gregg of Madras. I Since this is a County elec tion, those who are 18 and over are eligible to vote. For those who are not already registered, forms are available at Macy’s in the Post Office. Registration may be taken care of up to the day of the election. ■ The polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Teen Center on[Tuesday, April 4. ■ The following is a brief profile of each of the candidates as [well as some of their views ana concerns. Indian students enrolled in 509-J school is about one-third, and that at least one-third of the School Board should ideally be made up of people from here. He feels that stronger local representation would help focus board attention to the issues of absenteeism and the drop-out rate among Indian students. Further benefits which might be realized would be a better understanding of Indian students’ values and how those values relate to school policies and standards, according to Leonard. More input in respect to policies concerning the alochol and drug problem among the student population could be an other positive result of having two Wärm Springs representa tives on the School Board, he adds. Leonard also stresses the importance of getting more In dian parents involved in the process of setting school poli cies. But most importantly, he sites the history of a general lack of understanding on the part of Jefferson County people regarding federal funding and how much money in the overall budget is generated through Indian funds. Many do not understand that the funds re ceived by the school (because of the Tribes) benefit1 non-Indian students as well as Indian stu dents. ■ UREN LEONARD, JR. /With the goal of attaining more local representation on the 509-J School Board, Uren Leon ard urges Warm Springs voters to get out and cast their ballots in the upcoming School board election Tuesday, April 4. The School Board is made up of five, two of which Leonard feels should be from Warm Springs. For the past 12 years Lloyd Smith, Sr. has been the only Warm Springs representa tive. If Leonard is elected, the Tribes will have two on the fiv&member Board. ’Leonard hopes voters here realize that more representation is needed from the reservation. He point out that the number of EVADNA BARTLETT Also a 1978 candidate for the Jefferson County School District 509-J Board is Evadnia Bartlett who resides in the Madras area. She was the chairman of the 509-J Citizens Advisory Commit tee from May 1976 to November 1977 when the committee dis- banded. District administrators are now considering the report submitted by that committee. She is presently a member of the Madras High School Study Committee and has been a news correspondent in Jefferson Coun ty since 1971. She has written numerous articles on 509-J school activities, programs, and has covered board meetings. If elected, however, she has indi cated that she will not write about board meetings in order to avoid any possible conflict of interest. She submitted the following comments to Spilyay Tymoo for voter consideration: “School district 509-J has many fine teachers, programs and facilities. In talking with staff, board members and com munity residents, I have felt a sense of pride in the district schools. “There is, of course, always room for improvement. Areas which it appears board mem bers may need to address in clude improved communica tions, curriculum, and profes sional assistance for staff. “As board members are elected to represent district resi dents, I believe each member must make the effort to listen to residents and explain board de cisions. “However, communication is two-way. Not. only must board members be ready to listen, but citizens, including teachers, need to be willing to rationally discuss their opinions and ex pectations with the board and the district staff, realizing that compromise is often necessary. “Board members should also visit the various schools of the district for increased under standing of school operations. I have been fortunate already to be in all seven district schools a number of times during the past few years as a reporter or committee member as well as in connection with my children’s activities. “A district curriculum coun cil is currently reviewing 509-J curriculum, a review suggested by several study committees. I believe the board of. directors should direct the district staff to continually review and strength en curriculum in terms of dis trict goals and to improve co ordination of subjects taught in the grade schools, junior high and senior high. “Although many factors contribute to a good school sys tem, many of us believe the most important is the teaching staff. In various meetings and conversations teachers have asked for increased support from parents. Parents and some teachers have indicated they feel there should be more con structive evaluation and assis tance in improving teaching ef fectiveness. I recommend year- around orientation, evaluations and support for new teachers. “With increasing taxes, many voters are questioning the size and cost of extra-curricular programs, particularly inter scholastic sports. Perhaps it is time for a board to call for a review, reassessment, and.es- tablishment of guidelines for these activities. “Obviously, these are just a few of the challenges before the district and the board. Space for increasing enrollments in light of decreasing taxpayer enthusi asm for funding and means of addressing the demands of addi tional federal and state man dates are other challenges.” VIC GREGG Vic Gregg, a Madras area farmer, is seeking a position on the Jefferson County 509-J School Board because of his continuing interest in formal education. A 1963 graduate of Madras High School, Gregg has five years experience as Associate Dean of Students at Seattle Pacific (where he received his B.A. in Marine Biology) and at George Fox College in Newberg, Oregon. He has also had three years of faculty teaching experience at the International Study Center in Switzerland. Gregg is concerned that the local school district maintain a high standard and fears that we are not getting the most out of our program. He cites the cost per pupil figure as being the highest in the Central Oregon area, yet points to the fact that scores are only at the national average. Basically, in order for the district to accomplish its goal of educating, Gregg feels that the school environment must be identified and associated with a learning experience. “A student should come to school for the purpose of developing his skills.” In order to develop the necessary skills in preparation for life, Gregg insists that mutual trust and respect among students and teachers is a basis. “A person receives an education not so much through taking spe cific courses, but rather through the spirit in which he is taught,” notes Gregg. As far as where the School Board fits in, he feels that “Ad ministration is the servant of purpose.” He expresses the opinion that a strong board will secure a strong school environ ment. The board is where the buck stops — “the board is the final backstop,” says Gregg. He asserts that the morale of the building is the responsibil ity of the principal and that the principal should work to de velop the teachers in the same manner that he expects the teachers to aid the'students. And the superintendent must do the same for the principals, accord ing to Gregg. Regarding internal prob lems and weaknesses, Gregg feels that solutions can be found within the system and that it is not’necessary to go outside for specialists. “If a team effort exists, workloads can be shifted so that weaknesses are cor rected. Then normal function can be restored.” On the-subject of the_school budget, Gregg is concerned with the manner in which it is developed. He has a question as to how accurate the public’s picture is of the way the money is spent. And he feels that the money we have could be spent more responsibly. Be A Student This Spring to sign up for classes ahead of Spring promises to be a beginning Thursday March 30. nine non-credit classes will be cents per hour. time but may register at the lively time of year at the Adult The class is scheduled for 4-6:40 gin meeting. Instructors from See the accompanying first class meeting. Call (553- Learning Center in Warm but may be later if students feel Warm Springs and Madras will schedule for course offerings 1428) or stop by the Adult Springs. With two credit courses it is inconvenient. offer their skills in arts, lang- and related information. Pros- Learning Center, which is locat anguine non-credit courses be- During the week of April 3-7 uage, and science for a mere 65 • pective students are encouraged ed in the Community Center. ing offered by Central Oregon ■■ Community College, there; C.O.C.C. CLASSES --SPRING TERM should be something to satisfy I every interest. | CREDIT CLASSES INSTRUCTOR STARTING LOCATION TIME COST Tribal management should I THFqnAY Elements of Supervision John Truj ilio March 28 A.L.C. 7-9:45 $36 (credit) take note of the three-credit | class entitled Elements of Super- ■ THURSDAY Introduction to Sociology Pat Mazzeo March 30 A.L.C. 4-6:40 $27 (audit) vision to be taught by John ! Trujillo. In eleven weeks, Tru-1 NON-CREDIT CLASSES jillo will cover management and I ? Beadwork Caroline Tohet April 3 7-9:00 organization theory, the impo r-|M0NDAY A.L.C. $10/40 tanceiof effective communica-1 Watercolor Nancy Chinn April 3 C/C 7-10:00 $14.95 tion and other topics of iriterest ■ to supervisors. The first class ¡TUESDAY Auto tune-up Leon Maxwell April 4 Tribal 7-10:00 $17.55 will be held at the Adult Learn- ■ Garage ing Center on the evening of |WEDNESDAY Baskets and Bags Isabel Keo 5 A.L.C. 7-9:00 $11.70 Tuesday March 28. Geology of the Warm Springs Area Mel Ashwill April 5 C/C 7-10:00 $15.60 Another three credit course that is often a degree require | THURSDAY. S ahap t in Languag e April 6 Ada Sooksoit C/C 7-9:00 $11,70 ment [as well as good back ground in human relations is -Wasco Language Alice Fiorendo April 6 C/C 7-9:00 $11.70 Introduction to Sociology. Pat Mazzeo will be coming to the FRIDAY Refresher Shorthand April 7 A.L.C. 1-2:30 $ 6.50 Adult [Learning Center from ■The Adult Learning'Center is open five days a week, 10-4 p.m. and two nights 7-10. Materials and instructioi to teach the class are available free of charge. I I II
