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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 27, 2016)
Polk County Education Polk County Itemizer-Observer • January 27, 2016 13A JOLENE GUZMAN/Itemizer-Observer Children listen to musicians perform at Kings Crossing. Crossing: Students run cafe, art stand Continued from 14A The class teaches business skills, such as counting back change, accounting skills, serving customers, and working with craft vendors. Kings Crossing opened on the Saturday after Thanksgiving and, although Diana Barnhart and Crowe are on site, stu- dents have taken the idea and run with it. “It’s a sense of responsibility, which is fun,” said Nick Hazelton, a home-schooled student. “We get to have a lot of say in what goes on.” That may have been the key lesson Diana Barnhart had in mind with Kings Crossing — taking an idea and making it a reality — and not something that could be taught from a book or lecture. “That is a life skill that kids get to see,” she said. “This is a living classroom.” JOLENE GUZMAN/Itemizer-Observer People at Dallas School District’s Jan. 19 meeting write questions for the district’s lawyers to answer on Jan. 19 DSD works to accommodate all Attorneys, parents meet to discuss privacy options for all students By Jolene Guzman The Itemizer-Observer DALLAS — People at- tending Dallas School Dis- trict’s meeting about its pol- icy allowing a transgender boy to use the boys’ locker room at Dallas High School were in search of respect for all students. With groups in the com- munity having differing in- terpretations of what that means — and what the law says — achieving that goal may prove challenging for the district. “Our district has done what it believes has been appropriate while adhering to federal and state law via the guidance of our attor- neys,” said Dallas School District Board Chairwoman Lu Ann Meyer at the meet- ing, which drew more than 200 people to the Dallas Civic Center on Jan. 19. Meyer said within the next two months the Ore- gon Department of Educa- EMILY MENTZER/Itemizer-Observer Continued from 1A Dental, medical, child care and mental health needs are offered at the Central Health and Well- ness Center across the street, and now the re- source center will offer help with employment, paying bills, getting diapers and receiving benefits, Ainsworth said. Soon, a mental health clinic will open at the old bank on the s-curves in Monmouth, he noted. “If it’s available, they’re going to come,” he said. Brazeau said Dallas is only six to eight miles away, but it may as well be hundreds of miles away for some. “It’s a very short trip for some,” he said. “For others, it’s a trip they will never make.” LUCKIAMUTE DOMESTIC WATER COOPERATIVE PCL Partnerships in Community Living 503-838-2403 480 E. Main St. Monmouth DownTown Trends 142 Highway 99 West 503- 838-1445 Monmouth Monmouth Senior Center 180 S. Warren St. Monmouth 355 N Pacific Ave., Ste A Monmouth 503-838-4268 405 Hogan Rd Monmouth 503-837-0700 www.minetfiber.com Your Local Service Provider 503-838-2075 Location: Business Office 8585 Suver Rd. • Monmouth February 6 — FREE Concert with "Harmonious" at Faith Lutheran Church 4 pm to 6 pm Join us for a FREE concert and food with local singing group HARMONIOUS. Enjoy an hour of lively vocals and musical instruments! This quartet of sisters will harmonize and entertain you with music of all types. Bring your whole family! And stay for the AFTER-PARTY where we will serve FREE plates of cheeses, nuts, dried fruits, sweet snacks and beverages. 200 Monmouth-Independence Hwy Monmouth (on the S-curve). For more info contact René Grier (503) 508-7094 February 7 — Polk Flea Market, 9 am to 3 pm. Polk County Fairgrounds, 520 S Pacific Hwy W. Rickreall. Polk County's oldest and largest market with 183 tables selling antiques, collectibles, tools, etc. Admission $1. For more info contact Deb Thomas 503-428-8224 February 14 — Happy Valentine’s Day! From The Monmouth Business Association February 15 — President’s Day! No School, grades K-12 February 18 — Monmouth-Independence Chamber After Hours Mixer. 5:30 pm - 7 pm. Main Street Pub & Eatery 169 Main Street W., Monmouth. Visit www.micc-or.org for updated info. Feb. 27 & 28 The Mid-Valley Winter Ag Fest is coming to the Polk County Fairgrounds & Event Center and the Polk County Museum. This family friendly event will feature a number of Artisan and Farmer’s Market vendors bringing a wide variety of products. Local 4-H is hosting a Petting Zoo and a Favorite Foods Contest. There will be Free Face Paint- ing. Antique Powerland is bringing antique farm equipment. The latest in Ag Tech will be demonstrated. Additionally, many Agriculture related organ- izations will have seminars and interactive displays. Organizations attend- ing the event include Farmers Ending Hunger, Chemeketa Department of Viticulture, Polk Women for Agriculture, and the Oregon Hops and Brewing Archive. The weekend will be filled with relevant information for farms of all sizes. Among the speakers, Dr. Shari Noxel will present on Farm Succession issues, Dr. Robert Faust of Bio-Ag will discuss Restoring Soil Health, Amy Garrett with OSU small farm extension will speak on Growing without Irrigation, and Archivist Tiah Edmundson-Morton from OSU Beer and Hops History Archive will speak and provide a Beer and Hops History display. The Polk County Museum is hosting a forum of local authors. Eola Hills Winery is hosting an Ag themed Sunday Brunch. The Mid-Valley Winter Ag Fest will run concurrently with the 9th Annual Home and Garden Show. Noted Idaho author Gretchen Andersen will speak on the Backyard Chicken movement. Adult admission $5.00. Children 18 and under Free. Proceeds to benefit local 4-H and FFA. For more information contact Deb Thomas at (503) 428-8224 or view at mvwagfest.com. Deb Thomas, Event Organizer mvwagfest@gmail.com, (503) 428-8224 www.windermere.com 503-838-1141 297 N Pacific Monmouth 800-732-0173 464 S Pacific Hwy Monmouth osufederal.com Saving Carpets Daily Carpet Hero 503-838-0869 Monmouth LOOKING FOR RENTALS? 297½ N. Pacific Hwy 503-838-1278 Western View Properties Property Management, LLC 503-838-2951 165 E. Main St. Monmouth Attention All Central Panther Students! Thursdays at the Gate! From 3 to 5:00 at the Church across the street. BOARD MEETING Monday 7:00 p.m. February 8th in San Francisco. He said the Ninth Circuit has inter- preted Title IX differently than the other court. He said adopting a policy preventing transgender stu- dents from using the locker rooms and restrooms of their gender identity wouldn’t end well for the district. “You could expect a law- suit, and in my opinion, you would be on the losing end of a lawsuit,” Dakopolos said. Dallas Parents for Privacy for All, a group opposing the policy, say there’s an alter- native to a lawsuit. The group wants to work with district administrators to find a solution that respects all students. The group says it has already happened Portland and Eugene, which used creative scheduling and parent involvement to address the situation. The group hopes the meeting will be just the be- ginning of the discussion. Monmouth Area Community Events Calendar How can we help? What: Central Community Resource Center. Where: 1610 Monmouth St., Independence, across the street from Central High School. When: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursdays. Family and Com- munity Outreach Manager Brent DeMoe said the center will open more often if the need is there. Agencies include: Salvation Army, Fostering Hope, HALO programs, Mano a Mano, Goodwill Jobs program, Community Action Agency, resource center programs, Department of Human Services. Services available: Help with rent and utilities; birth certiicates and ID cards; prescriptions, transportation, hy- giene, diapers, limited clothing; early childhood educa- tion and care; monthly household budget support and referrals to inance classes; parenting information and re- ferrals to classes that support parenting; resume and cover letter support; job searching support and employer recruitment support; mentoring services for Spanish speaking middle school and high school youth; access to applying for TANF (cash assistance); access to applying for SNAP (food assistance). For more information: 503-606-2310. transgender student re- quests using the locker room and restroom of their gender identity, the district has to accommodate. That conclusion is partly based on a federal Office of Civil Rights resolution of a complaint filed on behalf of a transgender boy attending a school district in Illinois. OCR concluded the district com- pelling the student to use an alternative changing area was a violation of Title IX. Kelly Noor, another attor- ney representing the dis- trict, said the situation — changing in an area re- moved from the student’s classes — often made her late for classes and affected attendance. Dakopolos also ex- plained why a federal court decision throwing out Title IX as a defense for a similar policy in a Virginia school district may not apply in Oregon, which is under the jurisdiction of the federal court’s Ninth Circuit, based February 2016 David Clyne and Ramil Meza visit at the open house. Center: Resources come to Central tion will issue guidelines for school districts. DHS Principal Steve Spencer said the school is working to meet the needs of both for the transgender boy who asked to use the boys’ locker room and for boys sharing that space who feel uncomfortable. “We work individually with each student to pro- vide the accommodations that would allow them to feel most comfortable,” Spencer said. According to the district’s lawyers, the district must continue doing that or risk being sued or enduring a federal investigation. “The district can’t dis- criminate against any stu- dent,” said Paul Dakopolos, an attorney with Salem’s Garrett Hemann Roberson, who represents the district. “On these kinds of issues … we are going to have to do what is right for all.” The district’s attorneys interpret that to mean if a Serving Polk Co. Since 1875 503-623-2373 503-838-3467 Food • Friends • Cooking • Crafts • Indoor Games: Video games, Board games, Card games, and more... • Outdoor Games: Octoball (Gagaball), Football, Kickball, Basketball, Ultimate Frisbee, and more... Price? Absolutely Free! Come on down to the Gate! 503-838-1773 410 E. Main St. Monmouth