6A | APRIL 29, 2021 |
from A1
Board
students and a local small
business owner. My educa-
tion and past experience are
administrative, but my pas-
sion is in education. Former-
ly a SLSD Educational Assis-
tant, I was recently resigned
to focus on my business and
family during the pandemic.
I’m very fortunate to have
worked with some of SLSD’s
amazing teachers, support
staff and students in the past
five years.
As a first-time school
board member, if elected, I
will encourage transparen-
cy and honest discussions
between the district and the
community. Education is at a
pivotal point and I would be
honored by the opportunity
to represent our community
as part of the school board as
we move forward from this
pandemic into the future of
education.
Sherry Duerst-Higgins (in-
cumbent)
I was born in Eugene and
grew up in the rural farming
community of Lorane, 12
miles west of Cottage Grove.
I graduated from Crow High
School with a class of 23. I
have lived in Cottage Grove
for over 40 years, raising my
family, working and enjoy-
ing our community. I have
three children, all graduat-
ing from CGHS, and seven
COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL
grandchildren, two who
graduated from CGHS, two
who are attending South
Lane, two who attend school
in Eugene, and one sweet
3-year-old.
I serve on the South
Lane School Board because
I believe our children are
our future. I got involved
in school actives when my
children were in school; be-
coming involved in parent
club, booster club, wrestling
club, the South Lane budget
committee and then elected
to the school board. I have
been active in the state ad-
vocating for students state-
wide, for stable funding for
our schools. After years of
insufficient funding for our
schools and students we
must do better. We need bet-
ter funding to lift the quality
of education in Oregon; to
make it the top priority.
As a member of the South
Lane Board, I will continue
to fight for our kids.
Candidates for Board
Position 5
Colleen Valley (incumbent;
appointed December 2020 to
fill the Position 5 vacancy for
the remainder of the term-
June 2021)
I was born in St. Louis,
Mo., and moved to Cottage
Grove with my husband
and two children in 2009. I
joined the board from South
Lane Mental Health, began
Erik Benson
I am originally from Cal-
ifornia and graduated from
Sheldon High School in
Eugene. My wife and I have
lived in Cottage Grove for
22 years and I have two sons
who are Cottage Grove HS
graduates, 2012 and 2014. I
have served for 32 years in
the Army Reserve and will
retire this fall as a Colonel.
We own an insurance
agency in Cottage Grove
and reside on a rural prop-
erty where we raise nursery
stock.
Questions and Answers
1. As a board member, what
would your priorities be and
what impact would you hope
to make during your term?
Taylor Wilhour:
Kids are always our top
priority as a board and a dis-
trict. Right now, that means
getting them back into
school as soon as we are able
to safely do so and adding
supports like after-school
programs, tutoring and sum-
mer school to make up for
the ground we have lost to
the pandemic. The passage
of the Student Success Act
(SSA) provided much-need-
ed funding aimed at the ex-
pansion of Career and Tech-
nical Education programs
and increasing equity in our
schools. I’m eager to get back
to that work.
On a personal note, I look
forward to helping in the
classroom again and hope-
fully tutoring as well.
Pam Duffy:
My priorities are to as-
sist in the following: 1) to
increase math and read-
ing proficiency ratings and
graduation rates; 2) provide
more Career and Techni-
cal Education programs to
students; 3) increase parent
participation in the board
meetings; and 4) make par-
ents aware of programs, such
as Comprehensive Sexuality
Education and Critical Race
Theory, that are likely com-
ing down the pike. Some of
this may not sound pleasant
to people, but it is reality.
My hope is that in effect-
ing these priorities, South
Lane students will have a
better path for the future and
that parents have a far better
picture of what is transpiring
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volunteering with the Parent
Club at Harrison Elemen-
tary. I also started coaching
soccer with SVA and joined
their board soon after. I am
currently part of the Lincoln
Middle School Parent Club
and was appointed to the
South Lane School District
board in December of 2020.
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Melanie Stuhlmiller:
As a first-time school
board member, I aim to
learn, actively listen, ask
questions and encourage
community discussion. I
hope that, if elected, com-
munity members feel wel-
comed and united with
SLSD during my term and
thereafter.
Sherry Duerst-Higgins:
The pandemic caused
exceptionally high levels of
stress for our students and
staff. As they return to the
classroom, we need to sup-
port their emotional and
mental health, in addition
to their academic pursuits,
with staff and students feel-
ing safe and supported in
their school environment.
This is essential for student
success.
To create more opportu-
nities for all our students to
have a quality education and
to provide equal education
for all our students, we need
adequate and stable funding
for our schools. We need
the district to stay on solid
financial footing in order to
create opportunity for strong
student success and equita-
ble outcomes for all our stu-
dents.
If elected, I will strive to
give all our children the re-
sources and support they
need to have the best quality
education available, to listen
to the needs of our students
and to set policies that will
enable the district to move
forward with the equitable
and quality education our
kids deserve.
I will also encourage more
engagement and involve-
ment from parents in the de-
velopment of our education
to our students.
See Q&A 7A
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CITY OF COTTAGE GROVE
TREE LIMB PICK-UP
MAY 3, 2021 & MAY 17, 2021
The City of Cottage Grove Public Works
Department will be conducting the annual Tree
Limb Pick-Up the weeks of May 3, 2021 and May
17, 2021. Property owners will be responsible
for removing any branches or limbs placed in
the street after May 21, 2021.
79149 N. River Road
* Limited-time off er. Restrictions apply. Call for details.
541-942-4664
All limbs must be put out BEFORE May 3, 2021
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Residents can NOT place branches
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LLC
541-726-7689 541-942-9635
Eugene/Springfi eld Cottage Grove
541-735-0089
This is strictly a tree limb pick up,
nothing other than loose tree limbs
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If you have questions regarding the Tree Limb
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https://www.cottagegrove.org/publicworks/
page/tree-branch-pickup-program-0
for
additional
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