Polk County Education
14A Polk County Itemizer-Observer • February 15, 2017
Dallas targets grad rate increases
By Jolene Guzman
ACADEMIC
HONORS
The Itemizer-Observer
DALLAS — Dallas School
District’s graduation rate
was on par with the state av-
erage, about 75 percent, and
its five-year completer rate
is five percentage points bet-
ter than the average.
District officials are devel-
oping strategies to improve
its four-year rates and get
more students who don’t
complete on time to the fin-
ish line.
Of the 55 students who
didn’t complete require-
ments in four years, 22 have
enrolled this year to earn
their diploma.
“That is a testament to our
Morrison program, that the
students are willing to come
back that fifth year and fin-
ish. It’s a testament to even
our high school program,”
said Steve Martinelli, the di-
rector of instructional servic-
es. “These students aren’t
afraid to come back and
complete their fifth year as
opposed to dropping out.”
This year, the district and
high school staff will begin
the process of contacting
students who fall short earli-
er to encourage them to stay
on to earn their diploma.
“The idea is if we can catch
them now instead of waiting
until the beginning of next
year, maybe we can get them
going again sooner before
they get further behind,”
Martinelli said. “It will be less
OSU lists fall student honor roll
JOHN SCHULTE/ Itemizer-Observer file
Dallas School District’s graduation rate was on par with the state average.
of a job for us in the fall.”
Martinelli said there’s a 20
percent gap between the
graduation rates of students
who are considered eco-
nomically disadvantaged —
determined by whether stu-
dents qualify for free or re-
duced-priced lunches —
and those who are not. Eco-
nomically disadvantaged
students graduated on time
at 64 percent, while students
not in that category graduat-
ed at 84 percent.
He said the district will re-
search ways to identify and
provide help to those stu-
dents. Next year the district
is beginning the AVID (Ad-
vancement Via Individual
Determination) program,
which uses teaching strate-
gies and elective classes to
prepare students for college
or careers after high school.
He added the district
needs to focus on continued
outreach to students at risk
of falling through the cracks.
“Last year, (Superinten-
dent) Michelle (Johnstone)
and I actually drove around
a little bit … and she would
knock on doors and leave
her card saying, ‘We want
you in school; why aren’t you
in school?” Martinelli said.
“If our mission is every stu-
dent earns a meaningful
diploma, then it’s pretty im-
portant that we are out there
banging on doors and show-
ing that we serious about
our mission.”
DHS drafts Measure 98 funding plan
By Jolene Guzman
The Itemizer-Observer
DALLAS — Plans for using Measure
98 funding for career and technical ed-
ucation at Dallas High School are tak-
ing shape.
Last November, voters in Oregon
passed Measure 98, which provides
$800 per each student at the state’s
high schools for career technical edu-
cation, dropout prevention and college
and career preparation. Each district is
required to submit a plan for spending
the money in those three areas.
DHS Principal Steve Spencer pre-
sented his two-year draft plan, which
anticipates a lower level of funding
than $800 per student, to the Dallas
School Board Monday.
“Right now, we are planning on about
half of the $800 that was in the ballot
measure,” Spencer said. “If we are antici-
pating about a thousand kids, that would
be about $400,000 per year of the bienni-
um.”
The plan includes funding for: a ca-
reers coordinator; AVID program imple-
mentation; a career and technical edu-
cation teacher and math coordinator at
Morrison Campus Alternative School;
funding for contracting with Chemeketa
Community College faculty to teach
classes; and year two facilities upgrades.
“The plan itself is still flexible
enough to allow us to do additional
things, but it’s a general framework that
we want to make sure we keep you ap-
prised on as we work to apply for and
get those Measure 98 funds,” Spencer
said to the board. “They will be critical
for us moving forward.”
CORVALLIS — Names of students who have made the
Scholastic Honor Roll Fall term have been announced by Ore-
gon State University.
A total of 1,234 students earned straight-As (4.0.) Another
4,343 earned a B-plus (3.5) or better to make the listing. To be
on the Honor Roll, students must carry at least 12 graded hours
of course work.
Students on the Honor Roll included:
POLK
Dallas:
Straight-A Average: — Charles J. Drake, Post Baccalaureate,
Pre-Forestry; Janet H. Ferguson, senior, Chemistry; Jacob R.
Shryer, sophomore, Pre-Mechanical Engineering.
3.5 or Better — Tyler J. Curtis, junior, Forest Engineering;
Lindsay A. Golly, freshman, Pre-Forestry; Emily A. Lund, senior,
Public Health; Megan L. Mahoney, senior, Digital Communica-
tion Arts; Everett L. Minahan, freshman, Pre-Civil Engineering.
David B. Rebischke, junior, Mechanical Engineering.
Falls City:
Straight-A Average — Caleb J. Schmidt, senior, Mechanical
Engineering.
Independence:
Straight-A Average — Jennifer L. Barker, junior, Social Sci-
ence.
3.5 or Better — Robert W. Cruze, senior, Earth Sciences;
Alexxa D. Gonzalez, sophomore, Psychology; Matthew G.
Grandquist, junior, Biology; Megan R. Marchand, senior, Agri-
cultural Sciences; Brett W. Meador, freshman, Pre-Mechanical
Engineering Kyle J. Miller, freshman, Fisheries and Wildlife Sci-
ence; Troy V. Tyma, senior, Physics.
Monmouth:
Straight-A Average — Makayla R. Kachlein, junior, Animal
Sciences; Trevor Nash, sophomore, Biology; Anne C. Snell, jun-
ior, Human Devel and Family Science.
3.5 or Better — Hanna R. Brown, sophomore, BioHealth Sci-
ences; Karlie J. Holmgren, senior, Pre-Business; Nathan P.
Knight, freshman, Animal Sciences; Koryn J. Murphy, senior,
Pre-Public Health; Brionna H. Poppitz, senior, English. Abbie E.
Potts, sophomore, BioHealth Sciences; Tyler D. Riggan, senior,
Elect & Computer Engineering; Rachel F. Steele, senior, Anthro-
pology; Emily F. Wells, senior, Sociology.
Rickreall:
3.5 or Better — Jenna Drader, senior, Nutrition; Bridget H.
Regan, senior, Zoology.
SCHOOL NOTES
KVCS is collecting prom clothing
PHILOMATH — Kings Valley Charter School, 38840 Kings Val-
ley Highway, Philomath, is collecting prom dresses and you
men’s dress clothes to offer kids to borrow for dances, proms
and professional events.
Gently used men’s dress shirts, ties, slacks, dress shoes and
prom dresses are needed.
KVCS is also looking for kindergarten through fifth grade size
pants and shirts for kids who get muddy or wet.
Kings Valley is also looking for supplies and volunteers to
help with the school’s garden. Netting bags that fruit come in
to make bird nesting material hangers, left over outdoor paint
to make signs for the garden and volunteers to finish installing
fencing are needed.
All donations to the school garden are tax deductible.
For more information: 541-929-2134.