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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (July 15, 2015)
Polk County Itemizer-Observer • July 15, 2015 13A Polk County Education Dallas: New superintendent Athletic fees to increase by jumps in eagerly, feet first $25 at Dallas High School Continued from 1A “You hear about poverty, you hear about kids who are living in gang situations and I really wanted to know what kids were having to deal with,” she said. Johnstone added she learned something else, too: “Kids can come to school and learn in spite of it.” One moment stands out. It happened during her sec- ond year of teaching. She taught fifth grade in a classroom that included Spanish and English speak- ing students. One of her stu- dents had moved from Mex- ico the year before, living with her grandparents be- cause her mother had just died in a bus crash. The girl didn’t speak all the way through fourth grade, but one day the next year, she broke her silence. “I was standing on play- ground duty and (she) comes running up to me and said … “‘I just need you to know, this is the worst day of my life,’” Johnstone said. She remembers being shocked that the girl was speaking, but kept the con- versation going, asking her why. The girl said it was the anniversary of her mother’s death. “It was this huge opening and she started talking about it,” Johnstone said. Later that year, a classmate lost his mother in a house fire. The girl asked Johnstone to translate for her. “I just need him to know that I know how he feels,’” she recalls the girl saying. Talking about it still brings Johnstone to the verge of tears. “This is an amazing pro- fession,” Johnstone said. “I’m just blown away every day, you know, that you get to be part of it.” Later, as the superinten- dent in Brush School Dis- trict, she would have anoth- er one of those experiences. Johnstone said she had a number of conversations with high school students facing expulsion who told her it was a better option t h a n g ra d u a t i n g . T h e y weren’t planning on college and just wanted to start working. High school classes wouldn’t help them with that goal, they said. In response, Johnstone and Brush created a program, In- novative Connection, that of- fered students options to stay in school and get internships or other experience in their field of choice. “It’s about making a dif- ference for them and equip- ping them with everything we possibly can so that they are successful in society on the path that they choose, not the one we choose for them,” Johnstone said. — That’s a philosophy she’s brought to Dallas and has found it’s a great fit. “I really appreciated hear- ing about the collaboration that we have,” she said, not- ing that extends to all staff. “Everybody works as a team.” She is excited for the con- tinued success of Dallas High School’s Extended Campus program and new career and technical educa- tion classes. Describing herself as a “nerd” when it comes to ana- lyzing data, she’s begun to take a look at results from as- sessments, searching for areas that need improve- ment. Johnstone said she’s en- couraged by the involvement of community members in the schools in Dallas. She be- lieves that will be key in moving the district forward. “That, in my mind’s eye, is the way that it should be working,” she said. “The schools belong to the com- munity and the community needs to be present and ac- tive in what’s going on.” — When she’s not working, Johnstone said she loves “hanging out with my great husband (Bruce) and four dogs.” They’ve spent time ex- ploring the Oregon coast since moving here in June. “Holy Hannah, the coast is amazing here,” Johnstone said. “It’s beautiful.” She wants to explore the rest of Oregon and don’t be surprised to find her doing some of that adventuring on horseback. She has horses — and an unusual hobby: bar- rel racing. “It’s crazy fun,” she said. “For 18 seconds you have quite the adrenaline rush trying to get through that pattern as fast as you can.” Of course, all of that ex- ploring will include getting to know her new home of Dallas. “I’m excited to get going,” Johnstone said. “I’ll jump in there and become very visi- ble within the community as much as I possibly can.” By Jolene Guzman The Itemizer-Observer DALLAS — Athletic fees at Dallas High School will increase for the 2015-16 school year. The Dallas School Board voted to raise the fees by $25 to $150 per sport at its meet- ing Monday. Caps for individual students and families were set at $300 and $450, re- spectively. The increase could raise about $7,500 per year, according to a recommendation from Tim Larson, DHS athletic director. The revenue would be used to offset the cost of paying more assistant coaches and an athletic trainer, an addition to the budg- et the board approved last month. “I think, especially if we are adding some amenities — paying our (assistant) coach- es — we should go ahead and bump it (up) a little bit,” said board member Jon Woods. In comparison with other schools in the Mid-Willamette Conference, Dallas will now charge the same amount as Corvallis, Crescent Valley, and South Albany, but more than Silverton and Lebanon ($100), Central ($50) and Woodburn, which has no athletic fees. Fees to play have not increased since 2003- 04 with they were raised to $125 from $75. In other business, the district was hon- ored for being among a small group of local businesses and organizations that have been 10-year sponsors of Relay for Life Polk County. More meals, storage for TMS school lunch program By Emily Mentzer The Itemizer-Observer INDEPENDENCE — Tal- madge Middle School will get a larger freezer next year. Cec Koontz, Central School District business manager, said at Monday’s school board meeting that the food service budget had money to increase the stor- age capacity at the middle school. “We’re going to double the freezer capacity at Tal- madge, which will be a huge benefit to them,” she said. “They serve a lot of kids there. It’s great to be in a position to make those huge investments.” The high-end freezer will have a copper condenser rather than plastic, so it will last much longer, about 20 years rather than eight or nine, Koontz added. The food service depart- ment is doing well overall, with higher revenues in spite of steady enrollment, she said. Last year, Central High School added a second lunch, which has con- tributed to increased sales, Koontz said. Another success for the food services department has been the cooperation with Dallas School District. Last year, Dallas signed a contract to share nutrition services director Mike Vet- ter to help run its program. The partnership has been good for both Dallas and Central, Koontz said. “One of my goals was to ‘leader up’ a few other peo- ple,” she said. “Mike has a tremendous amount of knowledge in his head.” While he has been work- ing in both districts, Vetter has trained people in Cen- tral School District to take the reins in the kitchen and in the administrative of- fices, Koontz said. In other business, the school board: • Renewed its excise taxes for 2015-16 and 2016-17. • Heard about a new elec- tronic system that Central will shift to next year. The district will move from Eschools to Power School beginning in August. Good sportsmanship critical during drought Hunters: Follow hunting blind regulations, give wildlife access to water this fall LAKEVIEW, Ore.—Oregon’s drought has wildlife biolo- gists and public land managers especially concerned for upcoming pronghorn and other hunting seasons. They are asking hunters to be especially mindful when placing hunting blinds and camping near water holes this year. Craig Foster, ODFW district biologist in Lake County, notes that some hunters set up several blinds, which can lead to conflict. “It’s a restricted water year this year and hunters need to be more considerate,” says Foster. “Don’t put up blinds too early, be mindful of where you place them and leave the critters a way to get a drink.” Fewer water holes is leading to greater competition for placement of big game hunting blinds. Habituating ani- mals to blinds by placing them in an area a few days in advance of hunting season is an accepted practice and within the rules. However, placement of blinds well in ad- vance of the season to stake claim to an area is unfair to other hunters and against land management regulations. Unattended blinds left on public lands longer than 10 days can be considered abandoned property and are subject to removal, following a 72-hour notice. “BLM in- tends to enforce these regulations. After 10 days, we will tag blinds with a warning that they will be removed after 72 hours,” says Patrick Apley, BLM Lakeview District Law Enforcement Ranger. “Ideally hunters will voluntarily take them down. However if necessary, we will remove the blinds.” Hunters should also be mindful of where they camp and follow BLM and U.S. Forest Service regulations. Camping within 300 feet of water sources is prohibited on lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management Lakeview District. “Hunters are encouraged to camp out of sight and sound of important watering sources for animals, so that they are not deprived of access to water,” said Lisa Bryant, BLM spokesperson. “The drought has eliminated many water holes and those that remain are farther apart. This can cause additional hardship for wildlife when they are already stressed by drought.” E. Lynn Burkett, BLM Lakeview District Manager, added “The Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service welcome hunting on public lands. Good sports- manship is a proud tradition of Oregon hunters and this year we are asking everyone to take extra care during our continued drought.” Finally, as always, hunters and others in the outdoors should tread lightly and leave no trace. The first pronghorn hunting seasons open in early Au- gust in Oregon. Most deer and elk archery seasons open Aug. 29. TROPHY CORNER Come catch, clean, cook crab at ODFW class NEWPORT, Ore.—Dungeness crab is one of Oregon’s most prized culinary creatures. Learn how to catch your own at two crabbing workshops spon- sored by ODFW on Aug. 8 and 9. These one-day family-friendly work- shops will take place in Newport, Ore. and will cover everything you need to know to get your catch from the ocean to the dinner plate. The $52 registra- tion fee includes the use of all equip- ment, instruction/materials and lunch. Registration for children under age 14 is $12. Workshops both days begin at 8 a.m. and go until 4:30 p.m. For more information, contact Dar- lene Sprecher at (503) 947-6025 or Dar- lene.M.Sprecher@state.or.us. Register online for the class at the license sales page or at a license sales agent. All participants 14 years and older must have a current Oregon shellfish license to participate in the crabbing portion of this class. The cost is $7.00 for an annual resident shellfish license; $20.50 for an annual nonresident shell- fish license, or $11.50 for a nonresident 3-day shellfish license. Licenses can be purchased online at www.odfw.com or at any license sales agent. 503 623-7056 Tues - Fri 9 am - 6 pm Saturday 9 am - 4 pm 468 NE Bovard, Dallas Donna Zeigler of Rickreall caught this 108 lb. halibut on June 17, 2015 out of Homer, Alaska with Falcon Charters (Big red building behind Wal-Mart)