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About Cottage Grove sentinel. (Cottage Grove, Or.) 1909-current | View Entire Issue (May 10, 2017)
COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL MAY 10, 2017 9A Kennedy school preps for 'Delight-ful' move Fifty percent of stu- dents at Kennedy Al- cmay@cgsentinel.com ternative High School are homeless under the McKinney-Vento Act. They couch surf, stay with friends, live in shelters but the common thread is the same: they have nowhere to call home. Until now. Kennedy has taken up residence in several plac- es including modular buildings but this summer it will be making a more permanent stand and giv- ing students a sense of stability. “This move gives us the opportunity for a per- manent home and allows us to expand our pro- grams,” said Kennedy Principal Tom Horn. “But for so long Kennedy had a non-permanent feeling the kids didn’t deserve.” The move to Delight Valley will come over the By Caitlyn May summer and for the fi rst year, Kennedy will share the space with Head Start. “When the whole bond process was going on I think the conversation for staff and students turned to ‘how do we get a new school too?’” Horn said. In November of last year, voters approved a $ 36 million bond with the majority of the mon- ey slated for a new elementary school. Harrison has already begun going through the city’s plan- ning department and a groundbreaking ceremony marked the start of the project in April. It’s ex- pected to be open for students by Fall, 2018. “And so, Delight Valley seemed like the perfect opportunity,” Horn said. “It’s a total win-win for us and Head Start.” While the building will provide Kennedy stu- dents with more opportunities that range from a new greenhouse to a new gym fl oor for students who have nev- er had their own gym, the move NRA Rifle Safety Class raises some concerns. “The community might be concerned with transportation,” Horn said. Delight Valley is just outside of Cottage Grove. However, Horn said the handful of miles is worth it for the new facility. “We will work with transportation,” he said. “We’ll have multiple bus runs and locations. If they miss the fi rst bus, there will still be an opportunity for them to get to school.” Additionally, the district will fund a cook at Kennedy for the fi rst time, rather than having food transported from one of the other South Lane schools. An important step for a school that serves 100 percent free lunch, a service that will not be effected by the current budget crunch fac- ing South Lane School District. According to su- perintendent Krista Parent, that program utilizes federal funds and is not subject to the diminished budget coming from the Oregon Legislature. “They’re going to grow their own food,” Horn said. “We’re known for growing stuff.” They may already have the reputation but this summer, Kennedy will also have the tools to grow its own food. The Talbot Foundation and the Healing Matrix have donated money and grants in the amount of $40,000 to purchase a kit green house. “It’s state of the art,” Horn said. “The top opens up, it’s beautiful and the students are going to build that this summer.” That’s not to say there isn’t still use for the old greenhouse. Several pieces of that structure have been utilized in the new construction at Delight Valley that will soon house the 90 students attend- ing Kennedy. “We’re experiential learning,” Horn said. “And now it’s nice the kids will have a permanent place. It gets a guy verklempt.” for Youth (ages 10 & above)* and Adults *Younger than 10 may be allowed to take part aft er an interview with a parent present. Certifi ed NRA Instructor, Kenneth Hunt, who is a U.S. Army Veteran and former Post Commander of VFW Saturday, May 13th 9am-3pm Saturday, May 20th 9am-3pm This is a 2-day class + a day at the range COST FOR NON-VFW MEMBERS: Individual: $25 Family: $40 COSTS FOR VFW MEMBERS: Individual: $10 Family: $25 E!!! Lunch Included WIN M $360 Value Completion of classes will provide Certifi cate of Training that may result in discount of insurance Proceeds from raffl e will be used for continuing education and training provided by the VFW and the NRA Win this Henry Lever Action .22 Caliber Rifle et ts s: : ke Raffl e Tick $5 per ticket 5 tickets fo r $20 12 ticke ts for $40 the VFW Post Raffl e tickets available at ber or through any VFW Mem Winner will be announced May 27th at VFW Post VFW Post #3473 3160 Hillside Dr Cottage Grove, OR 97424 Yoncalla asks voters for $4 million By Caitlyn May No one can say for sure when Yoncalla’s high school will see its last day. At least not according to Yoncalla School Board Chair Carl Van Loon. “It can be some unforeseen thing a few years from now or that school could last 15 more years but the truth is, it’s still deterio- rating and its days are kind of numbered un- less we do a number of repairs,” he said. Ar- chitects have estimated the cost of repairing the school completely at $9 to $10 million. Yoncalla voters will have the chance to fund some of those repairs by approving a $3.95 million bond on the ballot for the cmay@cgsentinel.com May 16 special election. Voters would pay 83 cents per $1,000 of assessed value. For a home assessed at $100,000, residents would pay $83 per year. “It comes out to $6.92 per month which we think is affordable,” Van Loon said. Aside from repairs Van Loon describes as “critical,” the school would also need to be seismically fi tted and brought into com- pliance with the Americans with Disabil- ities Act. However, Yoncalla has already received $2.8 million in grant funding to address the seismic improvements. “Voting yes on the bond is the cheapest option. What happens when the school fails and we have to bus our students to North Douglas?” Van Loon noted. North Douglas High School is 13 years older than Yon- calla’s facility. “There’s an economic impact when a community closes schools,” Van Loon said. “It’s not good. Home values drops, people gravitate to the community that has a high school and so losing this school would do damage to our community.” Residents should have received their bal- lots. If you believe you have not received your ballot and are a resident of Douglas County, please contact the Douglas County Clerk at (541) 440-4252. COMMUNITY BRIEFS 912 Project meeting We will learn about an effort to educate public offi cials on how to take back control of public lands at the next meeting of the Cottage Grove 912 Project on May 15th, 6:30 PM, at Stacy's Covered Bridge Restau- rant, 401 E Main. The meeting is open to the public. United Way volunteers Kids in Transition to School (KITS) is a free twelve-week program that provides a boost to incoming kindergartener's liter- acy, social and self-regulation skills. Turn a young life around by joining neighbors as we hang door hangers with information about KITS. This is a great “boots on the ground” opportunity to get some exercise, help the community and work directly with non-profi t impact teams. Volunteers will do routes in small teams and will cover dif- ferent neighborhoods depending on school boundaries. United Way will provide walk- ing maps, snacks, a water bottle and a brief training at the beginning of each shift. For more information, dates, and to register contact Julie at 541-741-6000 or email jdib- iase@unitedwaylane.org Human Society sale The Cottage Grove Humane Society is having a plant sale on Friday from 9 to 4 and on Saturday from 9 to 3 at the American Legion Hall at 826 W. Main St. Household hazardous round-up Properly dispose of cleaning and garden- ing supplies by bringing them to the Harri- son Ave. Fire Station on Saturday, May 13 from 8 to 2. If improperly disposed of, many household items can cause signifi cant harm to drinking water and the environment. THANK YOU WE HAVE THE PERFECT GIFTS FOR MOTHER’S DAY! The Staff and Board of Community Sharing would like to thank the following Sponsors and Cooks for their support in making the 2017 Helping Hands Souper a great success. PeaceHealth Cottage Grove Community Medical Center Banner Bank, Emerald People’s Utility District, The Healing Matrix, Elizabeth Wright, Pinocchio’s Pizza, Inc., South Lane School District, PayneWest, Faye and Lucille Stewart Foundation David & Judy Cunningham, Starfire Lumber Co., South Lane County Fire & Rescue, The UPS store, Matt Bjornn, ChFC, Lane Electric Cooperative, Sherry Duerst-Higgins, Edward Jones, Weyerhaeuser Co, Cottage Grove Sentinel, Parsons Financial Services, Sean Kelly, Ann White, Old Mill Farm Store, Pacific Yurts, Inc, Umpqua Bank Jesse Meyer, Sara Meyer, Paul Eckstine, Beth Pool, Mary McNamara, Jerry Vaverka, Judd Van Gorder, Debbie Lavios, Samantha Duncan, Gail Hoelzle Thank you for your continued support. FLOORING - SALES & INSTALLATION Laminate • Wood Vinyl • Tile Carpet • Linoleum 615 Main Street • Cottage Grove • 541-942-8711 homesteadcg.com
