SIUSLAW NEWS | SATURDAY, MAY 16, 2020 | 5A
REP from page 1A
contagious passengers in the
middle of a global pandemic?”
DeFazio wrote in his letter. “I
appreciate that even in the ab-
sence of leadership from the
executive branch, many air-
lines have voluntarily taken on
measures to help prevent the
spread of COVID-19 to pro-
tect crewmembers and those
who still need to travel during
this health crisis. I urge you
to continue to put health and
well-being first.”
The pandemic has been a
major focus of the represen-
tative for the past few months.
His contributions to the latest
version of the Coronavirus
Aid, Relief, and Economic Se-
curity (CARES) Act legislative
support package were tailored
to address concerns regarding
medical workers, small busi-
nesses, Native Peoples and
lower-wage earners.
DeFazio has given particu-
lar focus to assuring workers
in small businesses are receiv-
ing the support envisioned
when the CARES package was
passed.
SCHOOLS from page 1A
“I never met Hyak before. I
went to Hyak to ask them for
help for this issue,” he said. “I
went to them because they
were the only company in
town with the ability to fulfill
the need I see, which would
be students that are going to
face a huge financial burden
next year.”
Rosinbaum stated that
Hyak will be putting fiber op-
tic candles throughout the re-
gion with or without the help
of the district.
“One of the things we
asked for initially was, ‘How
fast could you get it done?’
— thinking we might need
connectivity come Septem-
ber,” he said. “The answer
was, ‘Probably not much fast-
“The Paycheck Protection
Program (PPP) has provid-
ed Oregon’s small businesses
a critical lifeline as they deal
with the economic impacts
of the coronavirus pandem-
ic. But it was clear that more
assistance to small business-
es was needed,” DeFazio
said. “With passage of this
legislation, we’ll add more
than $300 billion to the PPP,
and I’m proud that we were
able to secure $60 billion for
small and mid-sized banks,
credit unions and communi-
ty-based lending institutions
to ensure that unbanked and
underserved businesses that
have been pushed to the back
of the line can access this vital
program.”
The safety of medical work-
ers has also been a subject of
heated discussion across the
nation and there was some
additional assistance added to
this week’s third CARES in-
stallment that included what
DeFazio considered to be crit-
ical.
“While I believe even more
funding is needed, I’m also
pleased the bill includes $75
billion in relief to hospitals
and healthcare providers to
cover expenses or lost revenue
attributable to COVID-19,
and $25 billion to expand our
nation’s COVID-19 testing
capacity, $11 billion of which
will go directly to states and
localities to help them bol-
ster testing shortfalls in their
communities,” he said. “Wide-
spread testing is the key to
fighting this virus, reopening
the economy and, above all
else, protecting the health and
wellbeing of Americans so
that we can safely begin to re-
sume our normal lives.”
The latest relief package
also secures $37 million for
direct support to Oregonians
working in the construction
and fabrication sectors of the
economy.
DeFazio has also pushed
back strongly against com-
plaints from the Trump ad-
ministration regarding the
work done by the U.S. Postal
Service.
“Throughout the corona-
virus pandemic, Americans
and businesses around the
country have depended on
a reliable Postal Service, es-
pecially customers in rural
areas and seniors who count
on six-day and door-to-door
service for their mail and pre-
scription medications,” said
DeFazio. “Unfortunately, the
COVID-19 crisis has threat-
ened the survival of the USPS
and placed its vital services
for the millions who rely on it
at risk. In any subsequent re-
lief legislation, Congress must
ensure that this vital agency
has the financial security to
continue its essential opera-
tions.”
DeFazio also recently
received an important en-
dorsement from Sara Nelson,
president of the Association
of Flight Attendants, in his
primary bid.
Nelson believes that many
jobs were saved due to his
work in this area.
“I want voters in this dis-
trict to know that the historic
workers-first relief package
that saved 2.1 million jobs is
thanks to Congressman De-
Fazio,” she said. “He was our
first, loudest and most dedi-
cated advocate in Congress.”
DeFazio told Siuslaw News
he is also concerned that mu-
nicipalities facing reduced
revenue from taxes garnered
through room taxes and re-
duced spending in their com-
munities may be unable to
provide basic services for their
communities.
“Today, our county gov-
ernments are not only deal-
ing with an unprecedented
uptick in the demand for es-
sential services but are doing
so during an unprecedented
economic downturn that has
caused considerable hard-
ship and growing shortfalls
in tax revenue,” DeFazio said.
“These realities place a strain
on the budgets of our counties
at a time when citizens need
their support the most. Mov-
ing forward, we must empow-
er our local governments with
greater flexibility to spend
federal relief dollars as they
see fit, including to help make
up for the loss of expected tax
revenues or other unexpected
budget shortfalls.”
For more information
about DeFazio, visit defazio.
house.gov.
er than what we can do now,
but we’ll see what we can do
with a second crew.’ No mat-
ter what we do here, Hyak is
going to be building out their
network. It just might not be
more conducive to our stu-
dents.”
Ultimately,
Rosinbaum
said the goal was to educate
students.
“We’re more than likely
going to see some form of
continued distance learning
going forward,” he said. “If
we don’t have a way to com-
municate with our students, I
don’t see how we can educate.
I don’t think this idea of send-
ing work home and getting
it back two days later is real-
ly conducive to meeting the
educational needs of our stu-
dents going forward for the
next year or two. … And if
we’re not educating students,
I’m not really sure what our
purpose is.”
The public comment on
the possible deal was split,
though all who that spoke
at Wednesday’s meeting
brought up concerns about
the financial difficulties the
district would face.
One public commentator
stated that it was important
and honorable for the district
to be considering connectiv-
ity, but there were issues of
equality.
“If we’re going to give it
free to some kids, and oth-
ers are going to be paying,
equality should be across the
board,” they said. “It isn’t fair
that some people have to be
paying for their education
while others are getting it for
free. I think you need to be
thinking about providing it
across the board for the staff,
because staff is paying for it.
And there are staff members
that are really tight budgeted
as well.”
Teacher Tamara Carpeni-
to was concerned that if the
budget shortfalls were too
extreme, educators could lose
their jobs.
School bus driver James
Neider, who is also the union
president of classified staff at
the district, said that teachers
were seeing an overall drop
off of kids working with their
Chromebook laptop comput-
ers.
Members of the school
board decided they needed
more information before they
made a decision.
“I think it’s something
we need to explore and talk
about,” said Bob Sneddon. “I
don’t see us jumping into this
right this second. We’re in the
information gathering stage.
… I think distance learning is
going to be with us for a long,
long time. I think it is part of
our role to explore that; how-
ever, it’s an awful lot of money
for the district to lay out over
the five years. I don’t know if
it is the school district’s re-
sponsibility to foot that entire
bill.”
Fellow board member Su-
zanne Mann-Heintz suggest-
ed the district look for part-
nerships on the project.
“To me, it seems like if we
want to have fiber optic cable,
which is the way of the future
as it’s more reliable than other
sources, it’s got the speed and
there are lots of advantages,”
she said. “But I kind of feel
like if we want to bring that
into Florence areas where
students live, there should be
some partnerships involved.
There are other municipal
agencies that could benefit
from having this available. …
Maybe the City of Florence
wants to jump in, maybe the
hospital wants to jump in.”
Regarding
partnerships,
Florence Councilor Joshua
Greene, speaking on his own
behalf and not for the city,
stated that he loves the idea of
fiber in the community, but
agreed that the district should
look for partnerships.
“I think some of the things
that have been said tonight,
about possibly partnering
with other entities, or find-
ing other people to help less-
en the financial burden is a
worthwhile pursuit,” he said.
“I would certainly not recom-
mend throwing in the towel. I
encourage you to work local-
ly. Maybe the way you pres-
ent this package, there might
be a way to make it more
attractive to other parties. I
can’t speak on behalf of the
city, but I would be happy to
take it to them and champion
the cause. But at the end of
the day, that’s a decision that
needs to be made by the city
council, and there has to be a
work session.”
Rosinbaum stated that
if there is a solution to the
problem, it should be coming
from state or federal govern-
ments.
“But we don’t sit on any of
those boards. We sit on this
board, and it’s a problem we’re
going to have to deal with if
nobody else does,” he said.
Siuslaw School Board de-
cided to hold a work session
on the issue next Wednesday,
and tasked the administra-
tion with gathering as much
information as possible. This
could include getting feed-
back from other entities that
could provide internet.
“The intermediate steps is,
in essence, a request for in-
formation,” Rosinbaum said.
“The board defines the prob-
lem, puts it out to companies
to get a real quick overview of
what they could and could not
provide in the area. And we’ll
see who is interested in even
tackling the problem without
going to a proposal or bid.
Really, it’s a little more of an
expanded process of what we
did with Hyak. Can you prove
the concept for us?”
Another component for
Wednesday’s work session
will be the school’s budget.
While Director of Finance
and Operations Officer Kari
Blake was able to provide a
draft budget for the next year,
there are still unknowns.
“I want to be optimis-
tic about this. I feel like the
state, at least for the next year,
will likely tap into rainy day
funds,” she said. “Looking
at their plans, they’re doing
some shifting internally with
ODE to save some money.”
But the $3 million in re-
serve funds that the school
currently will most likely be
slashed due to a number of
factors.
“People are feeling like
the property tax collection is
probably going to be down
by a little bit,” she said, which
would decrease revenue by
around 2 percent.
Both federal and state grant
funding for specific programs
will most likely be cut, and
it’s still unknown how much
state funding will be affected
by the shutdowns — A state
financial report is due out on
May 20, which will give the
district a better understand-
ing of where they stand.
“Essentially, while we have
some reserves, I basically had
to scrap $1 million out of the
budget and we do not have
those reserves any longer,”
Blake said. “It’s almost a per-
fect storm converging with-
out knowing 100 percent of
the feds and the state.”
To contact the Siuslaw
School District, visit siuslaw.
k12.or.ur.
Faith – Friendship - Fellowship – Fun
CHURCH DIRECTORY
To include your organization in this directory,
please call us @ 541-997-3441
THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST
OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
2705 Munsel Lake Rd, Services 10 AM Sunday
All are welcome! 541-999-1979.
Bishop Larry Farnsworth
FOURSQUARE CHURCH
1624 Highway 101 (next to A&W) –- 997-6337
Pastor George Pagel – Something for the entire family.
Sun. Services: 10:45 a.m., Wed. Bible Study 6pm-7pm
Website:florence4square.com
COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH
4590 Hwy. 101, Across from Fred Meyer –- 997-7418
Sunday School, 9:30a.m. – Worship, 10:45
Wed. Prayer - 6:00 p.m. –
Wed. Ministries 1-8 Grade 7 p.m.
NEW LIFE LUTHERAN CHURCH, E.L.C.A.
21st & Spruce Street – 997-8113
Pastor Rachel Simonson – All are welcome
Church leadership has decided to cancel
all worship services (Wednesdays included)
between now and the end of April.
Sermons are on YouTube at
https://youtu.be/jcTJVWp_6ps.
www.florencenewlife Lutheran.org
CROSS ROAD ASSEMBLY OF GOD
Corner of 10th & Maple –997-3533
We will be live streaming from
Facebook at 10am Sunday morning.
Link to our website
https://www.florencecrossroadag.org/church-online
All other platforms will be update after the service.
florencecrossroadag.org
office@florencecrossroadag.org
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH - SBC
1935 25th St. – 997-7660 • Pastor, Ron Allen
Services on Facebook live
Sunday’s at 11:00 am
Wednesday’s at 6:00 pm
All Bible studies held at the church including
Sunday morning, Thursday Ladies study, and
Children’s Programs are suspended.
Blessings on you and your family.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF THE SIUSLAW
3996 N Hwy 101 997-7136
Traditional Worship Service 10:00 a.m. ,
Reverend Greg Wood
Worship services and all group meetings
in the church have been temporarily
suspended at least until the end of March.
Our 10am Sunday worship service will be available
via Zoom using your phone, tablet or computer.
Church members and friends will be called
this week and given phone in/logon information.
You can also call the church office for this
information.
All Welcome. Come as you are.
RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS (QUAKERS)
“War is still not the answer.” FCNL
FLORENCE CHRISTIAN CHURCH
Since we meet in homes, we are taking a mindful pause.
2nd & Ivy – 997-2961 –Non-Denominational
Call 997-4237 or 902-9511 for information.
Services suspended this week. We will continue
to meet as The Church through our Community
RESURRECTION LUTHERAN CHURCH,
Groups. We are working on options for you and will
L.C.M.S.
communicate that with you soon.
Every Sun., Bible Class 9 a.m., Worship Service 10 a.m.
85294 Hwy. 101 S. – 997-8038
FLORENCE CHURCH OF CHRIST
DVD of Weekly worship service available.
Pre-Denominational (Romans 16:16)
Pastor Randy Benscoter
1833 Tamarack Street
(2 blocks east of Hwy. 101 on 18th St.)
ST. ANDREW’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH
Bible Study: Sunday 10 a.m.; Worship: Sunday 11 a.m.
2135 19th St. –- 997-6600
www.churchofchristflorence.org
8:30am, Tuesdays, Morning Prayer
Sunday Services: 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. - Wed, 11 a.m.
FLORENCE CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE
Everyone Welcome – Come walk our Labyrinth.
12th and Nopal – 997-9020
Services will be available via YouTube.
SAINT MARY, OUR LADY OF THE DUNES
Follow the link at http://florencenaz.church/
CATHOLIC CHURCH
1.5 miles south of river on Hwy 101 – 997-2312
FLORENCE EVANGELICAL CHURCH
COVID-19 Compliant Masses have been scheduled.
1318 Rhododendron Dr. • 541-997-2523
Please call our office for details.
Sunday Service 11am ( Children Sunday School)
Mid-Week Activities, all ages.
FLORENCE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST
4445 Hwy 101 (South of Fred Meyer) – 997-3951
Worship on Saturday 10:30 A.M.
Adult/Children’s Sabbath School 9:15 A.M.
FLORENCE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST FELLOWSHIP
87738 Hwy 101 at Heceta Beach Road
All are welcome to explore the answer.
In lieu of our regular service, we will be
videotaping the sermon and have it available from
YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/
UC1h3s3lhuRKRCXNxbF8H3Nw).
www.FlorenceUUF.org - (541) 997.2840
FLORENCE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
2nd & Kingwood • (541) 997-6025
Link to Sunday services at
www.florenceunitedmethodist.org
or find us on Facebook.
Give us a call
541-997-3441
to get us your updates or
email to:
mberg@thesiuslawnews.com
Siuslaw
News
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Next week in the Siuslaw
News, look for more infor-
mation on the school dis-
trict’s mobile food service,
the state of online schooling
and the length of the school
year.
TheSiuslawNews.com
www.shoppelocal.biz