Polk County
Voices
Polk County Itemizer-Observer • September 14, 2016 4A
EDITORIALS
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Test results don’t
show true progress
The results are in for the most recent round of Smarter
Balanced assessments, and it’s a mixed bag.
While some scores are higher, others are lower.
But what’s in a score, anyway?
As long as students can show they know the material
through skills assessments, the results of the test do not af-
fect their future. The real question is how many of these
students will graduate and continue on to further their ed-
ucation, traditionally at a college or university, or nontradi-
tionally.
Also, with parents able to opt out of having their chil-
dren participate in Smarter Balanced tests, it seems like
the scores are becoming less and less relevant.
What is important is creating “lifelong learners.” That is
one of those jargon phrases often used by education pro-
fessionals, but it is filled with truth.
If our youths graduate from high school, they can check
that off their list of things to do.
When they graduate with a sense of creativeness, curios-
ity, a skill of critical thinking, engaged in the world around
them, a desire to effect change in this nation — increasing-
ly divided — and a sense of adventure, that’s when we’ll
know we have succeeded in building a better generation
than we were.
And those are not things that can be scored with a test.
PUBLIC AGENDA
Public Agenda is a listing of upcoming meetings for gov-
ernmental and nongovernmental agencies in Polk County.
To submit a meeting, send it at least two weeks before the
actual meeting date to the Itemizer-Observer via email
(ionews@polkio.com).
—
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 14
• Independence Heritage Museum Commission — 4 p.m.,
Independence Heritage Museum, 112 S. Third St., Independ-
ence. 503-838-1212.
• Monmouth Library Advisory Board — 7 a.m., Monmouth
Public Library, 168 Ecols St. S., Monmouth. 503-838-0725.
• Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9 a.m., Polk
County Courthouse, first floor conference room, 850 Main St.,
Dallas. 503-623-8173.
THURSDAY, SEPT. 15
• Monmouth Arts and Culture Commission — 7 p.m., Vol-
unteer Hall, 144 S. Warren St., Monmouth. 503-838-0725.
• Independence Parks and Recreation Board — 6 p.m., In-
dependence Civic Center, third floor, 555 S. Main St., Independ-
ence. 503-838-1212.
• Polk County Fair Board — 8 a.m., Polk County Fairgrounds
and Event Center, Main Building, Meeting Room No. 2, 520 S. Pa-
cific Highway (99W), Rickreall. 503-623-3048.
MONDAY, SEPT. 19
• Independence Tourism and Events Commission — 6:30
p.m., Independence Civic Center, 555 S. Main St., Independence.
503-838-1212.
• Dallas City Council — 7 p.m., Dallas City Hall, 187 SE Court
St., Dallas. 503-831-3502.
TUESDAY, SEPT. 20
• Monmouth City Council — 7 p.m., Volunteer Hall, 144 S.
Warren St., Monmouth. 503-838-0725.
• Dallas Parks Advisory Board — 5:30 p.m., Dallas City Hall,
187 SE Court St., Dallas. 503-831-3502.
• Falls City School Board — 6:30 p.m., Falls City High School,
111 N. Main St., Falls City. 503-787-3521.
• Polk County Board of Commission work session — 9
a.m., Polk County Courthouse, BOC office, 850 Main St., Dallas.
503-623-8173.
Morett voice
echoes freedom
Liberty has found her
voice with candidate Laura
Morett.
Our own voice in state pol-
itics is carried by the repre-
sentative we elect. With
decades of piled-up regula-
tion and tax burden, we need
a voice which rings of free-
dom: teachers free to teach,
entrepreneurs free to create
jobs, and citizens free to see
the actions of its government.
Well-meaning rules have
inadvertently created ghost
towns and political corrup-
tion. Let’s abandon the dys-
functional top-down ap-
proach to positive change
and unshackle those trying
to make better lives for their
families and a better Ore-
gon. Let’s start by voting for
Laura for HD20.
Jason Haury
West Salem
Evans leadership
proven for Polk
Paul Evans deserves re-
election. He is a proven
leader who works hard for
women, minorities, the en-
vironment, students, and
veterans. He has a record he
can be proud of.
Conversely, there really
isn’t much known about his
opponent. She has not ex-
plained what she would do
about problems facing Ore-
gon. She goes on the radio
and talks in vague generali-
ties, like, “we need good
schools.” Great. How will
she accomplish this?
Paul works to lower class
sizes and compensate
teachers in a fair manner.
Paul has a record to stand
on; his opponent does not.
The choice is clear.
blessed to have strong sup-
port in Dallas.
Wanda Davis
Dallas
Leonard Hlavinka
Coordinator, Dallas
Emergency Food Corp.
Thank you, Trinity
Lutheran
Thompson right
choice for dems
The Dallas Food Bank
would like to extend a spe-
cial “thank you” to Trinity
Lutheran Church for a high-
ly successful “Fill the
Pantry-Pay the Rent”
fundraiser. Their fundraising
committee, congregation,
and youth group spearhead
this annual fundraiser. The
amount of time and energy
put into this event makes it
one of the largest fundraiser
for the food bank. With such
tremendous community
support, the food bank will
be able to fulfill our mission
statement in reducing
hunger in our community.
The food bank is truly
As a registered Democrat
I will vote for Jim Thomp-
son, Independent candi-
date, House District 23.
There are two candidates in
this race.
This election presents us
with a clear choice. Jim in
the House of Representa-
tives would represent all
constituents in our District
not a narrow minority. He
would work with all mem-
bers of the House to help
pass legislation good for
Oregon.
I have known Jim for
years, and served with him
on a local fine arts board. I
support his decent values
and interests.
I urge all Democrats to
vote for Jim Thompson, In-
dependent candidate,
House District 23.
Tremaine Arkley
Independence
Why the wait on
senior center
The seniors of Polk Coun-
ty have been working for
over 12 years to have a sen-
ior center built. We are cur-
rently occupying a room at
the rear of the city library.
This is a room for which the
library staff has plans for,
but they are unable to uti-
lize the space as long as the
seniors occupy it. To make
matters worse, the room is
too small to serve as a use-
ful senior center. We have
worked with three city man-
agers and several mayors,
all of whom profess to be in
favor of a new senior center.
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—
Reach us at:
503-623-2373 ext. 117
A grant has been secured
and the city has agreed to a
site for a new center. Pre-
liminary architectural draw-
ings have been made and
submitted. Must we wait
another 12+ years? Surely
the city planning commis-
sion can approve the con-
struction of the building. It
meets all the zoning laws.
Apparently the planning
commissioners are unduly
influenced by a small group
of people who are against
change. Let’s get off dead
center and get a senior cen-
ter built so the small room
we are currently using can
be returned to the library.
Jerry Wennstrom
Dallas
Elect Thompson
for State Rep
One of the abilities I have
admired about Jim Thomp-
son is his knowledge and
understanding of our health
care system. He has dedi-
cated his career researching
better solutions for allergies;
he has established a pre-
scription monitoring pro-
gram to slow down drug
abuse and has worked to
control ever increasing
medical costs.
Our health care system is
more important than ever.
We need a Legislator that
understands how the sys-
tem works and how we can
make it better. That choice
is Jim Thompson.
Join me voting for Jim to
put his experience and
common sense solutions to
work for us.
Cheryl Williams
Dallas
HOW TO REACH US
Vol. 141, No. 37
(USPS) - 437-380)
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