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Polk County News 6A Polk County Itemizer-Observer • January 11, 2017 Community shares desires for new superintendent By Emily Mentzer The Itemizer-Observer INDEPENDENCE — The comments were extensive, compiled in a binder about one-inch thick. Where does the commu- nity want Central School District to be in five years? And what qualities does the next superintendent need to get the district there? Good listener, seasoned, diverse, understands the needs of the community, in- vested in the community, good leader, good communi- cator, decisive. These are just a few of the desires of people who partic- ipated in the initial stage of the superintendent search. Representatives from McKenzie Group Search Consultants spoke with about 300 people at 11 com- munity forums in the last month, in addition to about 100 responses via an online survey. Greg McKenzie and Mike Taylor presented the results to the board. “You can see a summary of where we went, who we talked to, what they told us,” McKenzie said. “Then you will see a section called ‘con- sultant recommendations.’ We tossed (the feedback) into a mixing bowl, stirred it up and tried to find com- mon themes.” The basic results were that Central is made up off two close-knit communities working together for the schools, McKenzie said. “It has a great location and proximity to other major cities, also the coast and the mountains,” he said. McKenzie said priorities were similar to other dis- tricts: No. 1 was to lower class sizes. Also, provide more career and technical education, as well as science, technology, engineering and math courses. Some things unique to Central include the issues at the high school, Taylor said. “The topic does come up at the high school about consistent leadership,” he said. “People perceive this as a cycle, and could we figure out how to bridge those.” During a community meeting at Central High School on Thursday, former superintendent Forrest Bell said the high school was unique in many ways. “People who teach in this high school don’t live here,” he said. “That’s a different dynamic. The superinten- dent is going to hire a new principal. It would be really nice if (he or she) could find a place to live in the commu- nity.” Another issue at the high school involved the teachers union, Central Education As- sociation, Bell said. “This is an old-school union,” he said. “They’re going to protect their worst people, and the communi- ty’s going to get frustrated with that, and the union in Salem is not going to care.” Bell said teachers will fight whoever is hired as superin- tendent “tooth and nail.” “They’re going to under- mine them the best they can,” he said. “He or she needs to keep a calm spirit to deal with it.” Independence City Man- ager David Clyne said at Thursday’s forum that he wants someone who is cul- turally diverse and bilingual, and someone who would re- open Henry Hill as an ele- mentary school. McKenzie said that find- ing a bicultural, bilingual ad- ministrator is a tall order be- cause Central cannot offer as much money as larger school districts. “We don’t want a lesser candidate just because they’re bilingual,” Bell said. “We want an outstanding candidate who is also bilin- gual.” The school board ap- proved the qualifications survey and adopted a salary range of $127,000 to $137,000, just above the cur- rent mean and average for districts Central’s size. Before the next school board meeting on Feb. 6, the board will appoint about 15 people to help with the search committee. Board chair Steve Love, who used Skype to attend the meeting, said he has had people contact him to be a part of the search commit- tee, including administrators and Clyne. events in Dallas. In her 80s, she discovered word processors and got a kick out of sending out in- termittent volumes of the “Family Noospaper” that she created, containing news, history, and whatever else came to her mind. Linda Holmbo, Delaine Tankard and Pat Easterly were a big help to Lillian as she grew older. She spent her last 2 3/4 years, and was cared for with excellence, by the many caring people at the Dallas Retirement Village Health Center, and also in her last days, by the nurse and musi- cal therapists from Willamette Valley Hospice. Lillian was the last of her generation in the Chrapla and Kaczka families. She was preceded in death by her husband Chet and her son Joe. She is survived by her son John; grandchildren Mary and Eli; and great-grandchil- dren Maggie, Kiley, and Penny. A memorial Mass will be held at St. Phillip’s in Dallas on Thursday, Jan. 12 at 11 a.m. Lillian will be interred alongside her husband Chet in Phoenix, Ariz., at a later date. Dallas Mortuary Tribute Center is handling the arrangements. We appreci- ate the help provided by the Bollman family and their as- sociates. The family suggests that, if you are so inclined, me- morial donations be made in Lillian’s name to an or- ganization that does a good job of working for a cause that is important to you. To share an online condo- lence go to www.dallastrib- ute.com. May she rest, in peace. Wagoner, of Salem. Also three grandchildren: Jacob, of Spokane, Wash., and Jaden and Ella, of Billings. He had six brothers and one sister, Mar- l i n Wa g - oner (Geor- gia), Ed- mond Wag- o n e r (Lenora), Reba Skaug (Harold), Lonnie Wagoner and Robert Wagoner. Predeceased Brothers: Delmar Wagoner and Larry Wagoner. He worked for Willamette Industries in Dallas for 25 years. He enjoyed wood crafting, putting airplane models together, and he was an avid Rock Collector. A memorial service is Jan. 14 at 1 p.m. at First Freewill Baptist Church, located at 1390 45th Ave NE, Salem. Reception following service; food provided by church members. OBITUARIES Cora Roylene Elder April 13, 1962 – Dec. 29, 2016 Cora Roylene Elder, 54, a resident of Dallas, died Thursday, Dec. 29, 2016, in the Salem Hospital. She was born on April 13, 1962, in McCloud, Calif., the daugh- ter of Clyde F. and Myrtle Wion Thomas. She was raised in Sacramento and graduated from the Lassen High School in Susanville, class of 1980. Cora received an associ- ate degree in nursing from Lassen Community College in 1982. She went on and earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Humboldt State University in 1988. She is survived by her husband, Dale, of Dallas; daughter, Shasta Hodge, of Independence; mother, Myrtle Thomas, of Janeville, Calif.; and brother, Darrell Thomas, of Janeville. At Cora’s request, there will be no services. Memori- als are suggested to the charity of the donor’s choice. The Dallas Mortuary Tribute Center is caring for the fam- ily. You may leave a message or memory for the family at www.dallastribute.com. Dorothy Joyce Baker Oct. 1, 1932 – Jan. 1, 2017 Dorothy Joyce Baker of Dallas, died Jan. 1, 2017, at the age of 84. She was born In Polk County, Nebraska, on Oct. 1, 1932, to Fred and Margaret (Mitchell) Byrom. Dorothy moved to Dallas as a young child where she at- tended school and later met her husband of 63 years, Francis Baker. She and Francis enjoyed traveling and mule-packing together, but she also en- joyed reading. Dorothy is survived by her children, Sherry Hale, Teri Lynn and Jim Baker; four grandchildren; two great- grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. The family will have a pri- vate inurnment in Arizona at a later date. Dallas Mortu- ary Tribute Center is caring for the family. To leave and online con- dolence go to: www.dallas- tribute.com. Dave and Helen enjoyed traveling in their motor home and living the Snow- bird life between Oregon and Arizona. Dave also loved to deep sea fish on his boat at Newport. Dave did not want any fu- neral or memorial service, and none will be held. Lillian Clare Kaczka Aug. 10, 1917 – Jan. 5, 2017 David H. Schultz Jan. 24, 1928 – Jan. 4, 2017 David H. Schultz, of Cor- vallis, passed away on Jan. 4, 2017, at Samaritan Regional Medical Center in Corvallis. Dave was born in Marion, S.D., to Susan Fast and Rev- erend D. P. Schultz. He was sixth of seven children. The family moved to Ore- gon in 1940. Dave was married to his High School sweetheart Helen Neufeld on March 5, 1948, and would be celebrat- ing their 69th wed- ding an- niversary this coming March 5. Dave is survived by his wife Helen; daughter Pam Blair and son-in-law Jim Blair, of Salem; son Greg Schultz, of Lebanon; grand- daughter Kellie Grant, of Salem; sister, June Heinrich and husband Dr. Gene Heinrich, of Sanger, Calif.; and sister Ann Friesen, of Reedley, Calif.; and numer- ous nieces and nephews. During his work life, Dave was a sheet metal journey- man with Local 16 working residential and commercial jobs throughout the Willamette Valley. He served in the Army from 1946 to 1947 in Germany. Lillian was born to John and Louise Chrapla, who had immigrated from Poland and began American life in Neodesha, Kansas, in 1911. Lillian was the youngest of five children. She was born in Collinsville, Okla. The family eventually moved and settled in East Chica- go, Ind. Growing up, Lillian was best pals with her brother Adolph and had fond mem- ories of “babysitting” her niece Patty and possibly Ar- lene also. She was the vale- dictorian of her graduating class at Roosevelt High School. She loved to play tennis, and she and her future hus- band Chet won trophies to- gether. She began work as a secretary, and maybe that and her schoolin’ were the beginnings of her lifelong organizational skills. She and Chet were mar- ried on June 8, 1940, in East Chicago. After Chet returned home from service in Europe in World War II, they made a pretty bold move to Phoenix, Ariz., in 1948. Lil- lian loved the “wide open spaces” of Arizona. The population of Phoenix at the time was roughly 90,000. They had a house built in “the county.” They both loved their new life there, and they raised their two sons in that house, which is now in the midst of other houses for 30 miles in every direction. In the mid-1950s, her husband opened Chet’s Paint and Wallpaper, and to- gether they owned operated what became a well-regard- ed business for over 25 years. Lillian would come into work after the sons were off to school, and be back home by the time they returned. She was a lifelong devout Catholic and was active at St. Agnes Church and St. Agnes School. Her family and friends en- joyed the fact that some- where along the way she be- came an accomplished pi- anist. The Kaczka household had an “open house” every Christmas Eve where many looked forward to, and en- joyed, friendship and the unending amounts of tradi- tional Polish food prepared by Lillian. It was difficult for Chet to get around to retiring, he loved what he did, but he did get around to it and they successfully sold the paint store and business. He and Lillian began play- ing tennis again, and en- joyed travelling by car to many far-off places in the U.S., including trips to Ore- gon to see their new grand- daughter and then a grand- son. After Chet passed away too soon in 1984, Lillian spent much of her time in- volved at St. Agnes Church and had several extended stays in Oregon. She was a significant part of her grandkids’ early years, and we all have fond memo- ries of those days. In the mid-1990s, she moved to Oregon for good. She was fortunate and grate- ful to make many friends at St. Phillip’s Church in Dallas. She was likely an inspiration to many. Lillian enjoyed going to the summer outdoor music Joyful Sound Hearing 312 Main Street • Dallas • Hearing Testing • Hearing Aids • Service Call today for your FREE Consultation Mark Sturtevant 503-623-0290 Personally involved and invested in the Dallas community Harold Wayne Wagoner Feb. 22, 1939 – Jan. 2, 2017 Harold Wayne Wagoner was born on Feb. 22, 1939, in Dexter, N.M., to parents Al- fred and Nora Wagoner, now both deceased. Harold is survived by his wife of 50 years, Josie Wag- oner, of Keizer; sons, Wayne Wagoner ( Jennifer), of Billings, Mont., and Adam Welcoming new patients. Most insurance health plans accepted. Also a Moda preferred provider. Salem 412 Lancaster Drive NE Salem, OR 97301 (503) 581-6265 Low Cost Cremation & Burial Funerals & Memorials Simple Direct Cremation $595 Simple Direct Burial $710 Traditional Funeral $2,275 Discount priced Caskets, Urns and other Memorial items. ~ Polk County’s ONLY Family Owned Funeral Homes ~ Privately owned cremation facility. Locally owned and operated by Oregon families. www.ANewTradition.com Sherry Lynn Creswell Sept. 12, 1953 – Dec. 23, 2016 Sherry Lynn Creswell, 63, of Dallas, died Dec. 23, 2016, in the Salem Hospital. She is survived by her mother, Carol Creswell; brother, Dean Creswell; sis- ter, June Patterson; and ex- tended family. A memorial service was held on Dec. 31, 2016, in The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-day Saints in Dallas. The Dallas Mortuary Tribute Center handled arrange- ments. Obituary Information Obituary information must be submitted by 4 p.m. on the Monday before publication to be included in the newspaper. Most funeral homes handle obituary information and pro- vide it to the newspaper. However, information can also be submitted directly from family members. Color and black-and-white photos can be submitted, but photos will only be published in black and white. The Itemizer-Observer uses a flag logo in the obituaries of people who served in the armed forces. Obituaries cost $8 per 25 words (column inch) and in- clude photos and flags for vet- erans. Obituaries placed by private parties must be pre- paid. Obituaries — like all infor- mation submitted to the news department — are subject to editing for style, content and length. Information can be brought or mailed to the Itemizer-Ob- server, 147 SE Court St., Dallas, OR 97338, or emailed to ionews@polkio.com. For more information: Emily Mentzer, 503-623-2373.
