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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 22, 2020)
SIUSLAW NEWS | SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2020 | 9A staff and build our communi- ty,” O’Mara said. “It was really heartwarming. Everyone had such great and diverse ideas.” A wide variety of topics were discussed, from intro- ducing new programs in the school to strengthening exist- ing ones, such as the “Beyond Me” program. “Career Technical Educa- tion (CTE) was a big conversa- tion, bringing back woodshop, bringing in people from the community that have those skills that they can teach the kids,” the superintendent said. Creating a sustained CTE program is something the dis- trict is working on. Right now, only one class is offered, intro- duction to business, though the district has had difficulties finding other instructors. “When we lost our wood- shop teacher four years ago, we have not been able to find someone to replace them,” O’Mara said. One of the difficulties is finding individuals who can be certified to teach CTE, which can be a complicated process. “In order to get a teacher certified in CTE, they have to either already have a teaching license, or be a tradesperson who has a certain number of years of experience in that field,” O’Mara said. “And then Lane ESD works with us to get them certified and to follow the program of study to get certified.” For nearby Siuslaw School District and the majority of schools in Oregon, getting someone to go through that process is challenging. For a rural district like Mapleton, it can be impossible. Instead, the district is look- ing at alternative ways to build a CTE program. “We’re actually working with Lane Community Col- lege and Lane ESD on a CTE revitalization that is in the works to have programs of study that are about two or three weeks long,” O’Mara said. “They actually come to your site and teach a program of study, like becoming a me- chanic.” The students could travel to the places of business to take part in a truncated apprentice- ship program, or they could take classes at districts like Siuslaw which already have an established CTE program. For most schools, finding the time to travel for such programs would be an issue, but for the four-day a week Mapleton district, this could be a perfect opportunity for students to take part in the programs. In both the student and community discussions, one of the biggest points of interest come to Friday school, it could issue that the administration was the institution of Friday help bring in a limited num- is aware of and working on, school. ber of teachers on a rotation O’Mara said. Last year, Mapleton teach- throughout the month. For “That’s actually one of our er Lou Burruss, along with times when teachers would goals in our plan. It’s some- High School Principal Bren- not attend, homework as- thing we’ve been working on da Moyer, began opening up signments could be set aside for two years now — improv- the school on Fridays. Initial- for students who may have ing the quality of the food,” ly, they began showing up on missed classes. she said. Friday mornings to work on Regarding transportation, Issues with meals arose just prep, but the day soon grew the district could run limited after the remodel. Before, all to be an opportunity to help bus pickup. Instead of door meals were served out of the students. to door, they could run snow elementary cafeteria, which However, the unofficial day route locations, picking up forced middle and high school has had some drawbacks. Re- students from a few select students to cross the campus sources are limited, with no points such as the Swisshome during lunch time. Many old- bus service to the district on Post Office and the Deadwood er students didn’t make the Friday and an inconsisten- Country Market. journey, so it was decided the cy as to when remodel would bring staff decide to food services to the “It’s all about being able to provide the high school as well. come in. While the limited best education for the students. And that After the remod- staff is able to can create hard decisions.” el, more high school We specialize in helping people get along with people tutor certain — Mapleton Superintendent Jodi O’Mara and middle school CAFA, a mental health agency, now has a branch open in Florence subjects, they students were taking Counseling for individuals, couples & don’t have the meals, but the budget children; neurofeedback; & group knowledge base to help stu- It could also help with the for food services remained classes including parenting & dents with every class the high CTE component. the same. The school had to emotional intelligence development school offers. “On Tuesday, I talked to do more with already limited Location: 491 Laurel Street The district applied for a the Oakridge superintendent,” funding. Florence, Oregon 97439 grant to bolster the program, O’Mara said. “What they’re “Our step now is reevaluat- but were denied. However, looking at doing, because ing what our menu is, what it Contact: 541-686-6000 ex. 561 Lori is a LoriM@Cafaweb.com long time SSA funds could be used for they’re also a four-day-a- looks like,” O’Mara said, stat- Florence www.cafaweb.com Friday school. week school, is two Fridays a ing that the district was open resident Now accepting clients on Thursdays “I think it’s a good opportu- month, calling them CTE ex- to suggestions from the com- nity for kids to come in and ei- perience days. They’re taking munity and students. ther get help on the work that a bus to drop kids off so they During the student forum, they missed in the week, and can have a day-long experi- the students acknowledged also just to make it fun,” said ence in a business.” that even if SSA funds could junior Heather Wierichs. “Do She said these opportunities be used for food services, the extra schooling stuff, but out- could include visiting LCC’s limited funds wouldn’t be sus- side of school. Like field trips, main campus in Eugene to tainable, so they began com- I think. I think Friday should tour available programs or vis- ing up with alternative ideas. be outside school where we go iting small businesses like BJ’s “Having a bigger Farm to and do something, but make it Ice Cream in Florence to learn Table class and growing fruits a learning experience, too. Not about the creamery. and veggies might help, or just to have fun, you know?” “It doesn’t take them out of buying local,” Moody said. “I A majority of the 20 stu- core classes during the week, know some things you can’t dents who attended the forum since it’s Friday,” O’Mara said. do because you have to or- were supportive of instituting “I love that idea.” der mass food quantities, but Friday school, as long as the One of the biggest issues maybe we can start making issues could be worked out. that the students felt SSA fresh food for the high school.” “It’s absolutely doable,” funds could help with was “That’s a great idea,” O’Mara O’Mara said afterward. “But if improving the quality of food said after being told about the we had Friday school with our served at the district. suggestion. “Those are the SSA dollars, it would be every “There are kids who straight things that spark changes and Since 1939 week. And I could probably up just refuse to eat the food I love that.” go out on a limb and say this here,” said freshman Kiana The other big concern for would even be during profes- Moody. “By skipping meals, the students was the block 2150 Hwy. 101 • Florence sional development Fridays. you can create an eating disor- scheduling the district em- (541) 997-3475 • 1-800-348-3475 That’s how important we’re der, which we don’t want.” ployees, two-hour classes of- hearing that it is.” SSA funding could not be fered every other day. While SSA funding could used for improving the quality Another student, AJ Moso, not pay for the entire staff to of school food, though it’s an said, “I would like to say that I think what our school district can do is to support our stu- dents in school, is to go down on our two-hour block peri- ods. With one-hour classes, it helps our brains think crit- ically faster than having two- hour classes. Our brains will be less functioning in a two- hour block period so people will not want to come. So we SUBSCRIPTIONS can cut that down to one hour Mon 2/24/2020 classes every day.” WHAT YOU RECEIVE WHEN YOU SUBSCRIBE After Moso spoke, students through FOR ONE YEAR! around him clapped and Fri 2/28/2020 1. Exclusive, hyper-local stories written cheered at the idea. and edited by trusted sources. The problem that many students had with the block 2. Delivery to your home or business. schedules was not only that 3. 24/7 unlimited digital access to website. the hours seemed to drag, but 4. VIP access to events, deals, and coupons for subscribers. it was often difficult to get fully involved with a subject twice a week, instead of every day. O’Mara said that the district Since 1939 would be willing to work on changing the schedule. News and views that define our community. “Absolutely,” she said. “The 2150 Hwy. 101 • Florence schedule changing, that’s not (541) 997-3475 • 1-800-348-3475 148 Maple Street, PO Box 10, Florence, OR • P (541) 997-3441 • www.thesiuslawnews.com a deal breaker. It’s hard when you have class Monday first period and you don’t have it again until Wednesday first period.” One of the main goals of SSA funds is to reduce class sizes, though there was de- bate among the students as to 733 Highway 101, (across from Safeway) • Ph #541-997-3434 whether or not that was nec- essary. Some students took issue with class sizes being too We specialize in small, while another student pointed out that the geome- try class seemed overcrowded with 30 students. “Part of that is due to the requirements for the state, and where our kids are at right now in math,” O’Mara explained. While the majority of Ma- pleton’s classes hover around 15-20 students, every once in Rod McCulloch a while, when a group of stu- Karla D. Holloway dents need to take a required CPA CPA class to graduation, the sizes can swell. See STUDENTS page 10A MAPLETON from page 1A That meeting was followed up by a community meeting in Swisshome last Tuesday. “There were 12 community members and three district staff that attended, which we were thrilled to have come give us input,” O’Mara said, adding that the district has been eager to gather community input on not only SSA funding, but the school in general. The meeting was held in a series of “world cafe” round- tables, where small groups of individuals would discuss var- ious questions that were given to them. “All of the conversations were around what we need to do to support our kids and our Ford Escape Test drive it today ! Johnston Motor Company Save the date for the last week of February to get Leap Day Savings! 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