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About Spilyay tymoo. (Warm Springs, Or.) 1976-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 23, 2013)
Spilygy Tym oo, Wgrm Springs, Oregon January 23, 2013 Page 3 K -8 sch ool progress noted at district, com m unity m eetings The design plans for the Warm Springs k-8 school are being finalized, as the tribes prepare a loan request to USDA. T he tribes are re questing a $10.73 m illion USDA facilities loan to coyer the tribal portion o f the k78 construction cost. T he school district is is suing bonds for its portion, repaid through property tax. W h en th e fu n d in g is in place, the project will be put out to bid. A general con tracto r will then com e on board, and construction will start during the first p art o f this year. A t th e sc h o o l d istric t meeting last week, the board voted to advertise the posi tion o f planning principal for the Warm Springs k-8 school. ‘W e want to make sure we’re ready to roll when the doors open in 2014,” said district superintendent Rick Molitor. The board also voted to extend for one year the em ployment contract o f Warm Springs Elem entary School Principal Dawn Smith. The board action was to “retire/ rehire” principal Smith. A t th e sc h o o l d istric t meeting, W arm Springs el ementary school teachers and parents spoke on behalf o f principal Smith. R enee R odin, W arm Springs kindergarten teacher, said, “When making decisions regarding Warm Springs El ementary, I ask that you con tact the school and comm u nity m em bers to hear their com m ented, “T he decision on the principal is a very im portant one, and is causing some controversy.” The plan ning principal hiring decision, she said, is not about princi pal Smith, and “we are not trying to take away any suc cesses she has had” at the el ementary school. M olitor also announced th a t the school d istric t is b rin g in g in R ich a rd D e- Lorenzo, an expert in educa tion organization restructur ing, to look at the way 509-J is operating, and to offer any su g g estio n s fo r im p ro v e ment. DeLorenzo will assess and review the district transition p la n fo r th e new W arm Springs school. D eLorenzo has had suc cess a t im p ro v in g the Chugach School D istrict in Alaska, and his reform ap proach was adopted in many other schools in Alaska. He is the co-author o f “Deliver ing on the Promise: The E du cation Revolution.’’ His w ork for the school d is tric t is b e in g fu n d e d through a grant. DeLorenzo should have some good in sights especially regarding the W arm Springs k-8 project, said Molitor. In other news from the school board meet ing: p o i n t s o f v iew . W e a r e a b e r, a n d m a d e s o m e c b a n g e s unique school w ith unique needs.” S c h o o l d is tric t b o a rd chairwoman Laurie Danzuka to strengthen school.security. The review was prom pted by the school shooting in Newtown, Connecictut. .“At School safety Molitor briefed the district board on school safety poli cies. District officials reviewed school safety plans in Decem Above and at right are the latest schematic architectural renderings of the Warm Springs k-8 school. n o p o in t did we feel o u r schools were in jeopardy,” M olitor said. “We feel stu dents are safest when they are in our schools.” Molitor also addressed the idea o f having teachers carry w e ap o n s in sc h o o l. T h is would be possible, M olitor said. O ne consequence o f this would be an increase in district insurance rates, he said. The, school district em ploys a Madras police officer, D an Farrester, whose main office is at the high school. H e visits the other schools regularly. Warm Springs Elementary works with the Warm Springs P o lice, as n o n - tribal officers would n o t have jurisdiction on the reservation. — Dave McMechan READ to SUCCEED! More literacy. More choices. Gemelas Goes Above and Beyond with Academic achievements Madras High School’s Jordan Gemelas has earned the proud honor of High Desert Hero. His active leadership throughout the community and ambitious academic achievements have also made him a National Merit Semi-finalist. Particularly impressive was the National Honor Society induction ceremony he organized as Chapter President. Gemelas is a top notch student and inspirational young man. Performing Arts, Athletic Facility Design Complete A design guidance team including teachers, adminstrators and community members has reached an important milestone in completing the initial design phase for the performing arts center and athletic facility at Madras High School. Designs for the Warm Springs K-8 building will be completed this month. Stay tuned for an update! This has been one o f the best experiences in m y career. We’ve ■ ™ ™ been working with a really collaborative, productive group. * Calendar January is School Board Appreciation Month! Need assistance with filling out the FAFSA? Please come to the Madras High School Parent Center 4:30-5:30 p.m. on Wednesday January 23 to receive assistance from a financial aid expert. Coffee and snacks w ill be provided. See you there! 445 SE Buff Street, madras, OR 97741 The JCSD team has been reviewing and updating security plans for each of our school buildings. One new safety improvement features a card lock system to replace keys. The system will be installed in all of the buildings over the summer. This will allow only certain people access to the buildings; parents and visitors will only have access through main entrances, and will be required to check in at the office of each school prior to entering. T — Dave Fishel, project manager Jefferson County School District Many students at Madras High School are looking for ways to lend their thoughts and sympathy to the families who suffered losses at Sandy Hook Elementary. In an effort to reach out, Tatiana Reynoso and Gianna Pineda have created a series of posters signed by local students for the Newtown community. Improved security measures increase safety Teachers Help Students Get Ready for Careers As the final rotation for the semester comes to an end, Success 111 teachers send their students off with a head-start in preparation for the future. Leo Tsou, Juanita Payton, Sue Young, Colleen Fletcher, Nichole Scholz, and Pat Mulcahy have created a curriculum that highlights career readiness and introduces freshmen to Career and Technical Education areas. Students Reach Out to Newtown Community After Sandy Hook Shooting (541)475-6192 1/21 Martin Luther King Day N O SCHOOL www.jcsd.kl2.or.us
