16A Polk County Itemizer-Observer • June 24, 2015
Polk County Education
SCHOOL NOTES
Hanes Distinguished Educator
DALLAS — Carmel Hanes, a school psychologist for the Dal-
las School District, was named May Distinguished Educator in a
presentation earlier this month.
Yvette Allen and Diana Christensen,
Hanes’ colleagues at Whitworth Elementary
School, nominated her for the honor.
“She has probably helped improve the
lives of students in this district more than
anyone with her wise advice, useful train-
ings, and compassionate, empathetic view
of our students,” Allen and Christensen said
about Hanes.
Hanes
Another colleague added: “She made me
a better teacher.”
The Distinguished Educator Program recognizes “excellence
in teaching and learning” in Dallas School District schools.
IHS Class of 1950 award funds
INDEPENDENCE — The Class of 1950, the final graduating
class from Independence High School, contributed money to
the Monmouth-Independence Community Foundation, which
awarded its first scholarship on June 3. The $1,000 gift was pre-
sented to Central High graduate Daisy Chavez during the sen-
ior awards ceremony.
She was selected from 14 applicants who responded to the
essay topic: “How does Central High School, its student body,
faculty and its programs serve to bring the communities of
Monmouth and Independence together? What more could be
done?”
Chavez will attend either Western Oregon University or
Chemeketa Community College. The Class of 1950 will cele-
brate its 65th anniversary on Aug. 21 with a luncheon at Farrol’s
Restaurant in Rickreall.
JOLENE GUZMAN/Itemizer-Observer
Western Oregon President Mark Weiss congratulates Sen. Peter Courtney at a naming ceremony on June 13. Weiss
retires Tuesday from the university’s presidency, when Rex Fuller, from Eastern Washington University, will step
into the job. Weiss worked at WOU for 10 years and helped set the university up for independent governance.
Weiss bids WOU adieu
By Emily Mentzer
The Itemizer-Observer
MONMOUTH — Mark
Weiss failed at retirement
the first time, but is hopeful
that this time around, he’s
ready.
“To quote a Bob Dylan
song, ‘We were so much
older then; I’m younger
than that now,’” he said. “I
think I’m ready. Our kids are
grown, and I’m ready to
enjoy some of the fruits of
retirement.”
Weiss will retire at the
end of June as Western Ore-
gon University’s president.
July 1, Rex Fuller will take
over the helm with a new
board of trustees as WOU
moves to self-governance
and the Oregon University
System dissolves.
“I feel happy that I leave
Western Oregon University
in what I consider an excel-
lent situation with a brand
new board of directors
that’s focused on Western
and her students, all aligned
with the mission of Western
and who we serve in terms
of Oregonians,” he said.
“I’m delighted at that.”
Weiss doesn’t leave with-
out mixed emotions.
“I was going to retire a
year or so ago,” he said.
“This job has been fantastic
— it hasn’t been a job, it’s
been a fantastic experience
for me both in meeting fac-
ulty and staff, and particu-
larly in seeing how our stu-
dents develop over their
time here at Western.”
Although he and his wife,
Meg, have no plans to move
from Independence, they
do have some vacations
planned, including an an-
nual trip to the Rogue River
on Gold Beach.
“We go there routinely
and I fish in the bay or in
the ocean, pretty much as
much as I can,” Weiss, an
avid fisherman, said. “I real-
ly enjoy the outdoors and
the water.”
Weiss has worked at
Western for 10 years, having
started as the vice president
of finance and administra-
tion.
“I always call it the road
least followed to be a uni-
versity president,” Weiss
said. “Most (presidents)
come from academia. I did
not. I spent my career in the
business world working for
a multinational electronics
firm in the energy busi-
ness.”
He was appointed inter-
im president of Western
when John Minahan retired
in 2011, and asked to stay
on as the president full time
in 2012.
See WEISS 15A
Class of 2015 earns scholarships
DALLAS — Dallas High School’s senior class was awarded a
total of $199,536 in scholarships during the 2014-15 school
year.
Scholarships from local organizations totaled $38,236 and
were announced at senior awards night on May 27.
Seniors earned a total of $161,300 in other scholarships, in-
cluding college, university, athletic, and merit-based scholar-
ships.
Dallas approves staff contracts
DALLAS — Dallas School District’s board approved contract
updates with both its employee unions at its meeting on June
15.
The Dallas Education Association (teachers) contract update
mostly consisted of minor changes in language to provisions
regarding extra duty pay; grievance procedures; layoff and re-
call procedures; and teaching hours and prep time for kinder-
garten teachers, who will be teaching full days starting in the
fall.
Updates to the Dallas Chapter No. 34 Oregon School Em-
ployees Association (classified employees) contract included
changes to “vacancies and openings” and “discipline and dis-
missal” provisions.
Call us.
The Itemizer-Observer can help you expand your market
share, and make your business more profitable.
Call Heidi, Rachel or Karen at 503-623-2373.
ADVERTISING THAT WORKS.