COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL | APRIL 29, 2021 | 7A
Q&A
way our small town supports
each other in times of trou-
ble. We can shift that energy
to support the kids in our
community when we are not
in crisis and help create good
citizens that we want to grow
up and move in next door.
The school board mem-
bers also play a role in run-
ning the business of the dis-
trict. I value the employees
in our district and want to
make sure that the district is
a good employer by support-
ing a culture of excellence.
Doing the right thing by
kids and staff is not an “ei-
ther/or” and both are a pri-
orities of mine.
from A6
Colleen Valley:
My priorities would be to
focus on recovering learning
that has been lost to the year
plus of COVID changes. The
challenges of distance learn-
ing and online learning have
been huge, but it has given
people options to deal with
their unique situations.
Taking a closer look at
the positive things we have
learned in the last year and
finding ways to fold those
things into what the district
has traditionally done in the
past would help move us for-
ward and support the unique
ways that children learn.
I would like the district to
support families more as we
work on bringing kids into a
more rigorous curriculum;
building stronger communi-
cations with families to sup-
port them as they support
their children’s learning and
get them involved in what
happens at school. Commu-
nicating with the communi-
ty gives us a sense of unity
around developing strong
resilient young people in our
community.
Investing in the develop-
ment of young people gives
them a stronger sense of
self-worth and connection
with their neighbors.Cot-
tage Grove takes pride in the
Erik Benson:
My priorities would be to
support teachers and em-
ployees with additional op-
portunities for training and
compensation to attract the
best for the available po-
sition. South Lane School
District has attracted out-
standing teachers and this
needs to continue, with the
students realizing the suc-
cess from this continued ini-
tiative.
The students are the fu-
ture employees and inno-
vators of the rapidly chang-
ing workplace and overall
economy. This needs to be
balanced with the financial
limitations of the existing
budget and projections go-
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ing forward.
2. What do you think the
financial priorities of the dis-
trict ought to be?
Taylor Wilhour:
SLSD has gained signif-
icant additional funding,
first from the SSA and then
from the federal COVID re-
lief bills and we need to use
those dollars to maximum
effect. Our new superinten-
dent and the classified staff
(EAs, food service, bus driv-
ers, etc.) struck a deal to fix
the outdated pay schedule
and we will uphold our end
of that bargain, hopefully
sooner than we originally
agreed. Lastly, our financial
reserves are at the bottom
end of what is recommended
so we need to increase that
to be better prepared for the
unexpected.
Pam Duffy:
Much of a district’s bud-
get is dictated by the state.
Total funds budget for 2021-
2023 being proposed by the
Governor is $9,100,000,000.
How much of these funds
will be directed to the South
Lane School District? Fund-
ing for Career and Technical
Education is essential today
as not every student’s career
path demands a four-year
college degree. As a new
member of the school board,
I will have much to learn in
relation to the district’s bud-
get, but my hope is to have
funds directed towards this
avenue and to have local
business participation.
Melanie Stuhlmiller:
Financially, I feel, our dis-
trict priorities should aim
towards establishing safe
and equitable schools, main-
taining assets and increasing
academic supports.
Sherry Duerst-Higgins:
To help our students nav-
igate back to the classroom
and their new environment
and to help them with the
impact the pandemic has
had on student learning, the
need to invest in our schools
has never been greater. The
Student Success Act funds
will have a huge impact to
Worship
Directory
COTTAGE GROVE:
6th & Gibbs Church of Christ
195 N. 6th St. • 541-942-3822
10:00am
Christian Education: Pre-K through 5th
Tim Baker, Senior Minister
www.6thandgibbs.com
First Presbyterian Church
3rd and Adams St
541-942-4479
Rev.: Karen Hill
Worship: 10:00am
Sunday School: 10:00am
fpcgrove.com
Calvary Baptist Church
77873 S 6th St • 541-942-4290
Pastor: Riley Hendricks
Sunday School: 9:45am
Worship: 11:00am
The Journey: Sunday 5:00pm
Praying Thru Life: Wednesday 6:00pm
Hope Fellowship
United Pentecostal Church
100 S. Gateway Blvd.
541-942-2061
Pastor: Dave Bragg
Worship: 11:00am Sunday
Bible Study: 7:00pm Wednesday
www.hopefellowshipupc.com
“FINDING HOPE IN YOUR LIFE”
Church of Christ
420 Monroe St • 541-942-8565
Sunday Service: 10:30am
Cottage Grove Bible Church
1200 East Quincy Avenue
541-942-4771
Pastor:Bob Singer
Worship 11am
Sunday School:9:45am
AWANA age 3-8th Grade,
Wednesdays Sept-May, 6:30pm
www.cgbible.org
Cottage Grove Faith Center
33761 Row River Rd.
541-942-4851
Lead Pastor: Kevin Pruett
www.cg4.tv
Full Childrenʼs Ministry available
Services: 9:00am & 10:45am
Delight Valley
Church of Christ
33087 Saginaw Rd. East
541-942-7711 • Pastor: Bob Friend
Two Services:
9am - Classic in the Chapel
10:30am - Contemporary in the
Auditorium
First Baptist Church
301 S. 6th st • 541-942-8242
Pastor: David Chhangte
Sunday School 9:30am
Worship Service 10:30am
Youth Wednesday 6:30pm
cgfi rstbaptist.com
St. Andrews Episcopal Church
1301 W. Main • 541-767-9050
Rev. Lawrence Crumb
“Scripture, Tradition, Reason”
Worship: Sunday 10:30am
All Welcome
Seventh-day Adventist Church
820 South 10th Street
541-942-5213
Pastor: James D. Boram
Bible Study: Saturday, 9:15 am
Worship Service: Saturday, 10:40
Mid-week Service: Wednesday, 1:00
Trinity Lutheran Church
6th & Quincy • 541-942-2373
Pastor: James L. Markus
Sunday School & Adult Education
Living Faith Assembly
9:15am
467 S. 10th St. • 541-942-2612
Worship Services Sundays: 9a & 11a Sunday Worship 10:30 am
Comm. Kitchen Free Meal Tue & Thur
Youth Worship Sundays: 11a (all
5:00pm TLC Groups
ages welcome)
Mondays: 5:30p (6th-12th grades) tlccg.com
United Methodist Church
Non-Denominational
334 Washington 541-942-3033
Church of Christ
Worship 10am
1041 Pennoyer Ave
umcgrove.org
541-942-8928
Preacher: Tony Martin
“VICTORY” Country Church
Sunday Bible Study:10:00am
Sunday Worship:10:50am & 5:30pm 913 S. 6th Street • 541-942-5913
Pastor: Barbara Dockery
www.pennoyeravecoc.com
Worship Service: 10:00am
Our Lady of Perpetual Help and Message: “WE BELIEVE IN
MIRACLES”
St. Philip Benizi
Catholic Churches
CRESWELL:
1025. N. 19th St.
Creswell Presbyterian Church
541-942-3420
75 S 4th S • 541-895-3419
Father John J. Boyle
Rev. Seth Wheeler
Holy Mass:
Adult Sunday School 9:15am
Saturday Vigil – 5:30 pm
Sunday Worship Service 10:30 am
Sunday – 10:30 am
website www.creswellpres.org
For weekday and Holy Day of
Obligation schedule see website
OLPHCG.net
Confession: 4 PM to 5 PM
Saturdays or by appointment
St. Philip Benizi, Creswell
552 Holbrook Lane
Sunday 8 am
close the K-12 education
gaps. We also will be given
COVID funds to help in the
transition back to school.
We also will be using Mea-
sure 98 funds to provide stu-
dents with the skills, knowl-
edge and training necessary
to succeed in future careers
to be lifelong learners. The
legislature’s current budget
proposals for the state school
fund falls $500 million short
of what it will cost Oregon
schools to maintain opera-
tions at the same levels as the
last budget. If the proposed
level of funding does not
increase, it will impact our
staffing and programs, and
it will hurt the education of
our students.
Colleen Valley:
I believe the district must
set a realistic budget. Making
sure we are on solid financial
ground, using funds to sup-
port our mission, serving
kids and supporting employ-
ees with a living wage.
Erik Benson:
Financial priorities should
begin with competitive
teacher and employee sala-
ries to attract the best staff.
Expand family resource
services to support students
and families this could bene-
fit. Look for additional reve-
nue from viable sources that
were allocated for education
to include the intent of the
Elliott State Forest as a long-
time resource for education.
3. What opportunities/
obligations do you think the
district has in providing CTE
(Career and Technical Educa-
tion) to students?
Taylor Wilhour:
CTE has always been a
priority for South Lane but
some of the programs we
had when I first toured the
district in 2013 have faced
cuts or been shuttered com-
pletely due to years of state
and federal underfunding.
The SSA gives us the oppor-
tunity to revive and revamp
those programs, like wood
shop at Lincoln Middle
School, and to create new
ones. Everyone I know in
education was excited about
the work we were doing and
then COVID hit, forcing us
to change direction and re-
ducing the SSA funding to a
fraction what was expected.
We are all looking forward to
getting back to this work as
soon as we can.
Pam Duffy:
Career and Technical Ed-
ucation is essential these
days. The opportunities are
there. I feel the district could
tap into local businesses to
partner in providing such
training.
Melanie Stuhlmiller:
I believe that the most
important thing graduates
should leave high school
with is job skills. I would like
to see local trades be more
integrated into the CTE pro-
gram.
Sherry Duerst-Higgins:
Career and Technical Ed-
ucation are vital to our stu-
dents. South Lane will have
CTE programs that focus on
career courses that empha-
size technical, academic and
career knowledge and skills
acquired in applied career
context. These skills will in-
sure better high school grad-
uation rates and improve
high school graduates’ read-
iness for college and career,
to have our graduates ready
for the next steps.
Measure 98 funds will pro-
vide students the technical
skills, knowledge and train-
ing necessary to be success-
ful after they graduate. CTE
introduces the student to the
workforce, providing hands-
on opportunities to work
with our business partners,
in the classroom, with ex-
perience in technical skills,
and with the opportunity to
job shadow and have an in-
ternship, with the exposure
of what careers are available
to them. These skills will in-
crease graduation rates and
improve graduate’s readiness
for college and career.
Colleen Valley:
CTE is a fantastic oppor-
tunity for kids to get hands-
on learning opportunities.
I support bringing schools
and business together. It
makes for a stronger com-
munity bond and better out-
comes for kids.
Erik Benson:
The opportunities contin-
ue to offer Career and Tech-
nical Education to students
and will likely expand as new
technologies come into exis-
tence and current occupa-
tions diminish in percentage
of workforce participation
or become obsolete. This ef-
fort needs to be coordinated
with the community colleges
in particular. Cottage Grove
has had a consistent flow of
students into the military
and this has resulted in suc-
cess for those that choose
this option, resulting in
students receiving excellent
skills and vocational training
opportunities. This option
also provides the opportu-
nity for most individuals at
the end of their service obli-
gation, the funding and sup-
port to complete a four-year
degree program.
4. The South Lane School
District has a stated goal to
create “equitable schools.”
What does this mean to you
and how should the board ap-
proach it?
Taylor Wilhour:
Equity is about leveling
the playing field for people
who face additional obsta-
cles to success, whether it
be poverty, discrimination,
cultural and/or language
barriers, etc., and fostering
a culture that welcomes all
students regardless of race,
gender, sexual orientation
or socioeconomic status.
The extraordinary efforts
of SLSD admin and staff
to provide technology and
meals to students over the
last year are a great example
of equity work making a dif-
ference right here in CG.
SLSD was already putting
together a panel to study
equity issues in our schools
and look for improvements
before the 2020 protests
began. While their work is
still in its early stages, the
decision to start by reaching
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S entinel
C ottage G rove
541-942-3325
1498 E. Main St
Suite 104
Cottage Grove, OR
Monday-Friday 9:00-5:30
Saturday 9:00-4:00
119 S. 6th Street
541-942-0505
out to students to be a ma-
jor part of that effort was a
great one. It’s a great decision
because students see and
experience prejudice and
discrimination in ways that
are hidden from staff and
administrators and, after all,
Kids Come First.
Pam Duffy:
Equitable schools or eq-
uity in education means
all students receive the re-
sources needed to graduate
prepared for success after
high school. The students
should have the knowledge
and skills to succeed as con-
tributing members of society
regardless of race, gender,
English proficiency, sexual
orientation, socioeconom-
ic status or disability. The
board can approach equal-
ity in education by working
with district staff to provide
a high-level curriculum, en-
suring the qualification of
teachers, reviewing overall
discipline rates and moni-
toring the district’s progress.
Melanie Stuhlmiller:
Equitable schools offer
an education that allows
every student the same op-
portunity to learn. Breaking
away from “one-way fits all”
traditions, equitable schools
invite culture, diversity, and
equality into the classroom.
Skills and concept knowl-
edge is measured through
performance-based assess-
ments and applied learn-
ing. To establish equitable
schools, the board should
form a team to identify what
funding is needed, establish
trainings and collaborations,
and create appropriate prac-
tices/policies.
Sherry Duerst-Higgins:
A school culture of equi-
ty is achieved when student
excellence and success is the
norm for every student and
staff. The school climate
provides equitable resources
and instruction for each stu-
dent to ensure successful ac-
ademic outcome for all and
to perform at the highest
level. The district is putting
systems in place to ensure
that all our students have
been given an equal chance
for success, accommodating
learning styles and disability.
We must be mindful and
deliberate in creating an
equitable culture, having a
shared vision and language,
hiring a diverse staff to re-
flect the students we are
working with and as a board
setting policy and goals for
equity throughout South
Lane and proving the district
with our support.
Colleen Valley:
To me, equitable schools
look like places where all
kids get a fair chance. Some
kids come from back-
grounds that don’t give them
the support they need to be
successful in schools. That
looks different for every
child. Meeting kids where
they are and implementing
support to bring them to a
place where they can learn
and benefit from their time
in schools is key.
Erik Benson:
At this point, the South
Lane School District has
done excellent work in try-
ing to provide opportunity
for all students to progress
towards graduation and
overall success. This comes
with the understanding that
there are obstacles to suc-
cess, with parents econom-
ically challenged due to the
virus, single-parent house-
holds with little outside
support, homelessness and
other challenges that hinder
student progress.
More can be done and
needs to be done with the
resources available and ex-
ploring other programs that
may be available or in devel-
opment.
Note: Ballots for the May
18 Special Election are ex-
pected to begin arriving as
early as today. Those who
plan to vote by mail should
plan to return their ballot no
later than May 10 to assure
their ballot arrives in time.