The Siuslaw news., February 13, 2021, SATURDAY EDITION, Page 6, Image 6

6A | SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2021 | SIUSLAW NEWS
RETIRE from page 1A
spring break last March and
jumped feet first into com-
prehensive distance learning
(CDL). By May, she felt she
had a handle on it.
“The online part was dif-
ficult. … I could barely send
a stinking email, let alone
teach online. So I spent a lot
of summertime watching
YouTube videos and practic-
ing — and I was up for the
challenge,” she said.
Rankin joined the elemen-
tary school’s planning com-
mittee for the 2020-21 school
year and helped develop a
process for CDL, limited
in-person instruction (LIPI)
and the hybrid plan that will
go into effect Feb. 22.
“If I could look at my crys-
tal ball, I just can’t believe we
are where we are. It’s been a
challenge. But I’m kind of
proud of myself — I’ve ac-
tually become a pretty good
online teacher,” she said.
So much so that her col-
leagues presented her with
an award for her work in
technology.
“I would have laughed at
that, because I consider my-
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self a techno idiot, but that’s had to learn not to be their
She also had to adapt the of kids that are struggling,”
what they gave me. And I ac- friend, but their instructor way she planned lessons. she said. “This has been hard
tually have overcome some and disciplinarian.
Things wouldn’t always go for parents and families, and
obstacles, which I’m proud
“It took until Christmas to the direction she wanted, their dynamics. We are mov-
of,” Rankin said. “I have get my class back into order. but those impromptu days ing into a hybrid model, but
made a rapport with my kids So I vowed there and then sometimes were the most ef- it’s still not kids here at school
online, which I did not think that I will lay down the law. fective.
all the time. So I’m going to
was possible.”
help a small group of
The fourth grade
kids get through the
“I love teaching. ... I love watching them grow. I enjoy rest of the year.”
has been lucky, she
said, since she is able to planning and then watching that lesson that I planned
Her initial plans had
teach the students via come about, and how the kids really love it. … Just watch- been for leisure, she
livestream. The district ing kids ‘get’ it. That’s probably one of my favorites is added, and travel. But
sends out materials, when they look at me and go, ‘I get it!’ They love that, and the COVID-19 pan-
and the students are it makes the teacher happy, too.”
demic will keep her
able to follow along
— Vicki Rankin, teacher at Siuslaw Elementary School local. This also means
while she teaches.
some more time with
“The kids are on
her 17-year-old son, a
with me,” she said. “When Now, even online,” Rankin
“I love teaching. I mean, Siuslaw junior.
we’re doing a math lesson, said.
I do. One thing I could say
Rankin had considered
they have that math lesson
This method has helped is, kids are still kids. Even retiring earlier, but the
in front of them. I’ve enjoyed hundreds of students find though things are differ- promise to get to see kids
that. It’s been a little more success both within and out- ent right now and there back on campus saw her
interacting, a little more en- side of the classroom.
are things that are different through.
gaging.”
“I really think kids want about learning, I just love
“I came in over (winter)
She’s had to learn to en- (discipline), even though watching them learn. I love break and got my room
gage virtually with students they act like they don’t think watching them grow. I enjoy ready, because at that point,
and connect them to the they do,” she said. “It just planning and then watching we saw kids! We did LIPI
learning materials in whole makes for a better teaching that lesson that I planned and we invited kids in, in
new ways.
environment. Not chaotic. come about, and how the very small groups. They
“I teach, whether my kids You know, it was chaotic in kids like really love it. … Just were here and I did see them
are getting anything out of my room that first year.”
watching kids ‘get’ it. That’s and it was really fun to see
it or not. I know I put a lot
One thing that has probably one of my favorites them in person,” she said.
into it. This is the hardest I’ve changed about teaching is is when they look at me and “But I’ll tell you what —
ever worked in the 30 years the expansion of the internet go, ‘I get it!’ They love that, teaching with a mask is not
that I’ve been a teacher.”
and accessing information.
and it makes the teacher hap- an easy task whatsoever.
Rankin has had to learn a
“Now kids can find an- py, too.”
Teaching throughout the
lot of lessons over the years. swers to things at their fin-
In fact, Rankin loves pandemic has not been easy.
While she said teaching gertips,” Rankin said. “But I teaching so much that she The “ever constant chang-
hasn’t changed much, she also think it’s been a little bit will tutor a pod of students ing” has been a challenge,
has had to adapt.
of a demise. People want in- as they navigate the next se- she said, especially with the
Her very first class con- stant gratification, and they mester of school.
flexibility required by teach-
sisted of 37 fifth graders. She don’t want to work for it.”
“I’m going to help a group ers and families.
CITY from page 1A
biennium, then quickly pro-
duce a biennium budget,”
said Reynolds. “Currently,
there are five goals in place.
They’ve evolved a little bit
over time, and I feel like they
are really great goals and do
encompass a great body of
work.”
The goals include the de-
livery of city services; sus-
taining and improving the
quality of life for Florence
residents and visitors; creat-
ing a strategy and actions to
sustain and improve Flor-
ence’s economy; working to
sustain and improve com-
munication and citizen trust;
and to work to improve the
city’s financial position.
These goals are selected by
the city council annually,
with similar goals in place
since 2016.
In her review, Reynolds
mentioned not only the need
for councilors to act as ex-of-
ficio members on city com-
mittees, but also to consider
representation on other gov-
ernmental boards and com-
mittees.
“One of the things I am
most proud of since I became
city manager is getting the
permission and the authori-
ty to be a part of these more
regional groups, whether it
is here in Florence, here in
our backyard, or across the
county and state,” Reynolds
said. “And we really have
seen some benefits come
from that partnership and us
being at the table.”
The city manager also
spoke about some of the fu-
ture items she and city staff
will be working on this year,
including an update to the
policies related to use of pub-
lic spaces.
“We recognize it is time to
develop some space reserva-
tion use policies and proce-
dures so the community can
access those assets as easily
as possible and so that we
can remain good stewards
of those facilities,” Reynolds
said.
Next, Weese covered her
responsibilities in her dual
role as city recorder and eco-
nomic development coordi-
nator.
Her presentation consist-
ed of a recap of city policies
regarding ongoing issues she
has been overseeing, includ-
ing updates to COVID pub-
lic policies, working on de-
velopment projects and the
need to consider a local plan
for post-COVID integration
of Florence City Hall into
public meetings.
Weese also mentioned the
need to develop a long-term
staffing plan for Florence’s
economic development ef-
forts and announced the
completion of the City’s
contracting and purchasing
rules, along with a complete
restructuring of the City’s
Administrative services De-
partment.
Following this, Turner re-
capped Florence Police De-
partment’s completed work
plan goals, which included
the acquisition of body-worn
camera equipment and the
implementation of policies
regarding their use.
The police chief spoke of
his appreciation and sup-
port of the Mobile Crisis
Response Team, mentioning
the need to attain funding,
most likely from the county,
to continue the program.
Turner also included his
thoughts on the use of new
technologies by the FPD, es-
pecially in the areas of com-
munication by utilizing a
new group-sharing app, and
in the field of information
gathering.
“One of the things that
COVID has brought to the
police department is a lot of
opportunity to participate
with technologies that we
normally wouldn’t have been
able to participate with,”
Turner stated. “Smart Board
technology is just simply a
system that allows one ad-
ministrator to communicate
with all employees, at their
workstations, at their com-
puters, to provide training,
information or any kind of
updates — all while keeping
them socially distanced and
safe.”
New technology and a re-
duction in cost of some ba-
sic equipment was another
point Turner emphasized to
councilors.
“We are looking into the
feasibility and implementa-
tion of a drone program, as
a patrol resource,” he said.
“You’ve probably heard
about this in the media. One
of the things that is very ex-
citing is that it has become so
inexpensive and much more
affordable.”
Turner went on to explain
a drone would be a force
multiplier and that it allows
officers to see what is hap-
pening in difficult-to-navi-
gate terrain or even inside of
buildings. He added he was
pleased with the enthusiasm
his officers have expressed
in adding to their knowledge
and new tools available.
Public Works gave the last
presentation of the meeting,
with Miller recapping the
completed items on his de-
partment’s work plan goals,
including the completion of
work at the Florence Munic-
ipal Airport, which has had
significant upgrades to its
lighting array and runway.
Additionally, Miller talk-
ed about the relocation of
the Florence First Harvest
Community Gardens to
Rolling Dunes Park and the
improvement of ball fields at
Miller Park, including com-
pletion of a storage mainte-
nance building during the
past year.
Finally, the council dis-
cussed committee appoint-
ments.
The number of openings
on committees and com-
missions which councilors
should fill is extensive, a
point that was made often
during the meeting. That
point comes into sharper
focus when considering the
various county, state and
regional groups which deal
with municipal issues.
Henry, who has served in
many committee capacities
and continues to do so, sug-
gested one way that might
lessen the load on busy
councilors.
“We did have some kind
of informal discussions —
“But I’ll miss teaching.
I’m sure I’ll miss it. Maybe
not right away,” Rankin said.
“You know, when you’ve
been doing something for
30 years, it does become
part of your life. Your school
people become your family.
You look forward to it. It’s
all those things. You make a
rapport with them. So yes,
I’m going to miss them all.”
The Siuslaw School Dis-
trict Board of Directors
learned of Rankin’s retire-
ment during its January
meeting.
Director Paul Burns has
worked with Rankin and her
classrooms at the Knowles
Creek Smolt Trap through
his job as a fisheries biologist
at the U.S. Forest Service.
“Vicki Rankin has put in
so much time and energy
over the years. She’s put in
a lot to this district,” Burns
said. “I hope she knows that
we respect and appreciate
her time.”
The school board ex-
pressed sadness that they
couldn’t shake her hand or
see her in person as they
thanked her for her service
to the district.
As for Rankin, she didn’t
want a ton of attention as she
wrapped up her time at Siu-
slaw.
“I think it’s time for me to
ride off into the sunset,” she
said.
and people volunteered and
we assigned people — but I
want to make that official at
our next meeting,” he sug-
gested. “Perhaps some of our
committee chairs could take
on assignments of things that
are related to their particular
committees.”
The proposal will be re-
visited once the final assign-
ment of committee positions
have been confirmed during
the Feb. 18 Florence City
Council Special Work Ses-
sion.
For more information, vis-
it ci.florence.or.us.
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