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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (May 6, 2017)
6 A SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ SATURDAY, MAY 6, 2017 Forum from 1A supplemented by more students. My perception of the board is they shouldn’t be affecting (stu- dents) other than providing opportunities for (them).” Muenzer said, “The board plays a key role in ensuring the institution is holding up its end of the bargain to the community by making sure we are using the resources we have wisely, taking into consideration the impacts budget decisions have, and knowing full well we have a $10 million gap that has to be addressed.” S IUSLAW P UBLIC L IBRARY Next, Sneddon called up the four candidates for three Siuslaw Public Library Board of Directors positions. Current board members Susy Lacer and Mark Tilton, along with first- time candidate Brad Miller, dis- cussed the changing roles of libraries, the general excellence of the Siuslaw Library District and their backgrounds. Current board member Michael Falter could not attend the forum. Miller is a former librarian and library services manager who said he is running “because I have background and experi- ences that I thought might be of use.” This includes more than 20 years in various positions in library services, as well as a mas- ters degree in public administra- tion. Tilton has a background in sci- ence and a history of working with various government agen- cies. He was appointed to fill a board vacancy in February, though he has been a longtime member of the Friends of the Siuslaw Public Library. “I’m a strong library support- er. … I see libraries as a very important and valuable commu- nity asset. In fact, when my wife and I moved here 12 years ago, one of the primary reasons was the quality of the library here,” he said. Lacer has served on the board since 2014. She is a self- employed grant writer and vol- unteers with several other com- munity and nonprofit groups. “Libraries provide an essential role these days as far as informa- tion for all across the demo- graphics, across the socioeco- nomic scale,” she said. “It’s open information and access to info for everyone. Our library serves 16,000 each month. We are an amazing resource for our com- munity.” Sneddon asked all three what the library district faces as it moves forward. Lacer said, “One of the biggest challenges is for libraries to continually grow and be rele- vant in our changing world. ... Maintaining that relevance and educating people on all the things they can do is one of our biggest challenges.” Miller said, “Libraries have become clearinghouses for a variety of information and media. The book is no longer ‘king.’ It’s now, at best, first among equals in the library world. Helping patrons and users find their way through a much more complicated information environment jungle is more of a role now.” Tilton said, “The focus of our library system is on lifelong learning and community enrich- ment. One of the things we need to be aware of is how our patrons’ tastes are changing and how are they going to get the materials they want.” S IUSLAW S CHOOL B OARD The third board Sneddon brought forward was the Siuslaw School District. Both John Barnett, Director Position 2, and Bill McDougle, Director Position 7, are running unop- posed for their current positions. McDougle is a retired teacher and Barnett works in property appraisal. McDougle asked for the microphone to give a quick announcement. “In the last election, there were 1,200 votes that were not counted because people did not sign the back of their envelopes. Please be sure to sign them before you mail them in,” he said. Both Director Positions 4 and 6 have two candidates each. Twelve-year board member Paul Burns, who works as a biologist, is running against Elizabeth Miller, who has a background in public relations and who did not attend the event. Current board member Suzanne Mann-Heintz is running against Jesse Chapman. Burns said, “As a board, our main task is setting policy for the district and setting overarching goals and objectives. Hiring the superintendent is one of those main jobs that we have to lead the district.” Chapman said he was running since Siuslaw is his alma mater, and many of his family members have graduated from the school. He has also been involved in stu- dent athletics as a coach. “When I graduated from Siuslaw, I went into the U.S. Army,” he said. “I found out I had an awesome education from SHS, and I want to maintain that.” He brought up Siuslaw’s low ranking among Oregon schools and its 68 percent graduation rate, as well as the importance of the district’s sports programs. Mann-Heintz said she is on the board because she wants to be a voice for the 1,500 youth under 18 years old in the com- munity. “They need people like Jesse, me, Paul, Bill and others, those seven board members, to repre- sent them and their true right to a free, appropriate public educa- tion,” she said. Her background in teaching and involvement with communi- ty organizations gives her “a han- dle on what our community and its kids need,” she said. Sneddon guided the discus- sion about budgets, the role of the board, the possibility for a charter system and the future of sports before getting to one key issue. “I had at least three people ask me a specific thing,” Sneddon said. “Is the Siuslaw School District obligated, and what would your feelings be, to pro- vide an education for students who don’t have legal status in this country?” “I believe that we need to honor federal regulations and state regulations,” Chapman said. “We can’t pick and choose what level of government law we want to serve. We are one nation under God; we are not a half nation.” Sneddon asked him again what his personal thoughts were on the issue. “No, I do not,” Chapman answered. Mann-Heintz said, “Oregon law says that we have an obliga- tion to educate children that are enrolled in the schools. … That’s what law says, that students get See FORUM 7A Saturday May 6 Present 8th Annual FLORENCE GREEN FAIR 2017 Explore the exciting possibilities of going green on the Oregon Coast Over Speakers & Demonstrations 30 Exhibitors Eco Activiti es F or s id K Health & Wellness Center Special Screening @ 1pm 10am-4pm Florence Events Center 715 Quince St., Florence Admission is $3 OR FREE with canned donation to Mapleton Food Share or by bringing in your plastic planter pots to be recycled Give Take or Give Take unwanted items things you can use Nothing broken or dirty please just things someone else can use! 10:30am to 4:00pm Anything you need and can use! 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