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
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Vinyl • Tile
Carpet • Linoleum
615 Main Street • Cottage Grove • 541-942-8711
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