Baker City herald., October 24, 2020, Page 3, Image 3

LOCAL & STATE
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2020
BAKER CITY HERALD — 3A
School board meets Tuesday to discuss possible bond
To start the session, Jodi
Thew, director of programs
The Baker School Board
and curriculum, will discuss
has scheduled a work session population estimates. That
Tuesday to continue discuss-
will set the stage for the
ing a plan to place a bond mea- conversation about launch-
sure on the May 2021 ballot to ing another bond measure
pay for school improvements. and how best to spend the
The session, which is sched- money if voters approve the
uled to last about 2 hours and measure.
45 minutes, will begin at 4:30
In August, the Board gave
p.m. using the Zoom computer Superintendent Mark Witty
app. For more information
the go-ahead to begin investi-
about connecting to the meet- gating the possibility of plac-
ing, call the District Offi ce at
ing another bond measure
541-524-2260.
before voters. At that time,
By Chris Collins
ccollins@bakercityherald.com
Witty told the Board that to
qualify for a $4 million Or-
egon School Capital Improve-
ment Matching (OSCIM)
grant, the District would have
to seek voter approval of a
bond measure for at least $4
million.
Witty will review the grant
requirements and go over
bond rates with the Board
Tuesday.
In November 2018, the Dis-
trict asked voters to approve
a $48 million bond measure
that would have been used
to improve all schools and
to build a new elementary
school. The measure was
turned down by a vote of
more than 2 to 1.
The Board was prepared to
ask voters to approve a $7.5
million bond measure in the
May 19, 2020 election, but
because of the coronavirus
pandemic and the economic
hardship faced by the com-
munity that plan was taken
off the table.
During Tuesday’s session,
Cassie Hibbert, project man-
ager with the Wenaha Group
consulting fi rm which has an
offi ce in Pendleton, and Am-
ber Van Ocker, a partner with
the Boise LKV Architects
fi rm, will review projects to be
considered if a bond measure
is passed in May. They have
worked with the District on
long-range facilities plans in
the past.
The bond measure under
consideration might be used
to fund safety upgrades such
as improved communication
systems, secure entrances,
SCHOOLS
fi re alarm and fi re suppres-
sion systems, keying and
electrical system updates,
according to the meeting
agenda.
Other consideration will be
given to LED lighting, roofi ng
improvements, construction
of a cafeteria/multipurpose
room for the Baker Middle
School, district-wide window
upgrades, asbestos abate-
ment, improvements to the
Baker High School auditori-
um, stadium and lockers and
heating system upgrades.
“It’s time. We want the kids in our building and
obviously they want to be there.”
Continued from Page 1A
— Skye Flanagan, Baker Middle School principal
Bates commended his staff
members for their hard work to
teach students online when school
started on Sept. 8, and then mak-
ing the transition back to in-person
instruction earlier this month.
“My staff has been doing a great
job,” he said. “I couldn’t be more
pleased.”
Superintendent Mark Witty
agreed that the younger students
are doing well as they have re-
turned to their classrooms.
“I really feel good about where
we’re at,” he said. “Most of the bugs
have been worked out.”
Families of 83 students have
chosen to keep their children in the
Baker Virtual Academy all-online
learning system. Another 737 stu-
dents have returned to classrooms
at Brooklyn, South Baker, Haines
and Keating schools.
Plans are in the works to try to
return students in Grades 7-12 to
their schools, at least part of the
time, with the target date of Nov.
9.
“We all want our kids in school,”
Witty said, adding that the transi-
tion must be in compliance with
guidance laid out by state educa-
tion and health advisers.
Witty said principals Greg
Mitchell at Baker High School and
Skye Flanagan at Baker Middle
School are working on plans.
has increased dramatically since
in-person classes returned, Witty
said.
The social-emotional aspect of
children being isolated and suffer-
ing depression and other mental
health issues also is a concern.
Witty is continuing to meet with
other superintendents in the region
and with state education leaders
in an attempt to get approval for
moving the number of students in
a weekly cohort from 50 to at least
100. That would make it easier,
New computer platform at
especially at the high school level
Baker Middle School
Jayson Jacoby / Baker City Herald
where enrollment is at 402 stu-
Students waited outside Brooklyn Primary School on Oct. 14, the
The District is planning to pilot
dents, to meet that requirement.
fi rst day of in-person classes at the school.
a new computer platform at the
Baker Middle School, which has
middle school known as Blue But- an enrollment of 266 students, will
ton to replace the Zoom system in
every student to in-person classes distance learning programs has
have less of a challenge, Witty said.
use at this time.
one day a week.
been fair, but the failing students
Transportation also is a diffi cult
Zoom has not been totally
“I believe we have a really good
are not completing their assign-
issue to work out as the District
compatible with all of the Chrome- strategizes to return all students to
plan lined out,” he said.
ments.
books students are using for online in-person classes for as much time
Flanagan said the staff is eager
“They’re logging in and partici-
to welcome students back their
pating in the discussion, but they’re classes, Witty said.
as possible.
The District has spent another
classrooms.
missing the opportunity to have
“Transportation ends up being
$10,000 on infrastructure for the
“It’s time,” he said. “We want the monitoring and dialogue with an
one of the biggest puzzle pieces,”
new platform, Witty said. Total cost Witty said.
kids in our building and obviously adult,” he said.
of computer upgrades and other
they want to be there.”
Logistics are still being worked
Protocols implemented during
improvements made to improve
out with transportation and food
the coronavirus pandemic have
Baker High School
instruction during the pandemic
services, Mitchell said. Those stu-
reduced the number of students
About one-fourth of the Baker
dents who participate in the all-day are nearing $800,000.
allowed on each bus to about one-
High School student body is strug- classes will have the opportunity to
“This has not been an inexpen-
third of the former capacity per
gling with comprehensive distance ride the bus with younger students sive thing to do in our district,”
bus, Witty said.
learning, Principal Greg Mitchell
Witty said.
who already travel to class daily.
While the schools have met the
Baker Middle School
said on Friday.
But he believes the cost will pay state metrics to offer in-person
To accommodate delivery of the
In the meantime, Flanagan said
“We kind of expected there would younger students, BHS classes will off in the long run.
classes based on requirements for
his students have experienced
be some struggles,” he said, adding start at 8:15 a.m. when the new
“We want to be able to serve our rural schools, the District will rely
struggles such as glitches with
that it’s the level of engagement
families to the best of our ability,”
program begins. That’s about 15
on the community to help keep the
technology or misunderstanding
that seems to keep some students minutes later than usual.
he said.
coronavirus from infi ltrating the
how to turn in assignments, but
from succeeding along with mul-
In reviewing the benefi ts of
Students attending the in-person
schools, Witty said.
overall they also are doing well.
tiple other frustrations, including
returning students to in-person
classes will rotate through their
“The challenge is for us to stay
Attendance in the comprehensive computer glitches, problems log-
classes, Witty said schools again
seven-period schedule with their
in,” he said. “It’s really a commu-
distance learning program is run- ging in and bandwidth issues.
have the ability to provide more
online classmates, Mitchell said.
nity challenge. The better we follow
ning above 92 percent.
For that reason, the school will
students with nutritious meals.
Those classes end at 1:55 p.m.
the protocols and make good deci-
“They want to be in school,
be reaching out to families of at-
School meals have been delivered sions, the more likely we’ll be able
The students attending in-person
although they may not be enjoying risk students, those who have the
to sites throughout the District
classes will remain at the school
to stay in school.
this method the most,” Flanagan
highest number of failing grades,
until 3:30 p.m. when the buses run since online instruction began
“It’s in the community’s interest
said Friday.
to provide a day-long session of in- and will receive support from the
last spring and delivery continued and a community responsibility to
He said the middle school is
person classes at BHS.
staff during that time as they work through the summer and fall. Still, be judicious about how you operate
looking at plans that would return
Mitchell said attendance in the
the number of meals being served in your everyday life,” Witty said.
to make up assignments they’ve
been missing, Mitchell said.
Students in the special education
life skills group already have been
meeting all day in person at the
school.
Student cohort groups in career
and technical programs along with
chemistry labs, advanced math
classes and others also are tak-
ing advantage of those extended
hours at the end of the day to meet
with teachers and practice skills,
Mitchell said.
Trick-or-treat Oct. 31 at Sunridge parking lot
COVID-19
Continued from Page 1A
In a press release Thurs-
day, Nancy Staten, director
of the Baker County Health
Department, said: “I want
to extend our condolences
and deepest sympathy to
the friends and family. This
is such a diffi cult announce-
ment to make. Please stay
diligent about taking precau-
tions to prevent the spread of
the virus, it’s absolutely our
BALLOTS
The event will run from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
— 1 hour longer than the downtown trick-
or-treating cavalcade that has become a
tradition.
The holiday celebration is being moved
this year due to the coronavirus pan-
demic.
The parking lot makes it easier to
maintain distance between groups of
trick-or-treaters, said Shelly Cutler,
executive director of the Chamber of
community’s best defense.”
Although the rate of new
COVID-19 cases statewide
has been increasing — in-
cluding a record daily total of
550 cases on Thursday, Oct.
22 — Baker County’s trend
has been the opposite.
From Oct. 10-23, a period of
14 days, the county reported
three new cases, one each on
Oct. 6, 20 and 22.
For the week Oct. 11-17, a
total of 93 COVID-19 tests
were done in Baker County,
Commerce and president of the Kiwanis
Club.
Kids and their adult escorts will follow
a serpentine, one-way route among the
booths, with volunteers ensuring no more
than 250 people are going through at one
time. Everyone will be required to wear
a face covering, and the people giving
out treats will wear gloves and drop
the sweets directly into bags and other
containers.
and only one of those was
positive, according to OHA.
For the week starting Oct.
18, through Friday, Oct. 23,
the test total was 62, with
two of those positive. The
total number of tests for the
current week will increase,
as the fi gures typically lag
several days behind.
Since the pandemic started
in March, the county has had
114 cases — 100 people who
tested positive, and 14 “pre-
sumptive” cases. Presumptive
higher than 21 of Oregon’s 35 other
counties.
Continued from Page 1A
The rates ranged from a low of 12.2%
Baker County’s ballot return percent- in Yamhill County to a high of 42.3% in
age slightly exceeds the statewide fi gure Curry County.
of 31.1%.
Baker County’s recent ballot break-
For Oregon as a whole, voters are re- down by the four categories that com-
turning their ballots at a faster clip than prise 98.6% of registered voters:
during the 2016 general election. The
Republican
ballot return percentage for the same
Of the 5,903 registered Republi-
period of time that year was 27.6% (the
cans — 47.3% of total voters — 2,023,
comparable Baker County fi gure was
or 34.3%, had returned their ballot by
not available).
Thursday.
Baker County’s return rate was
By Jayson Jacoby
jjacoby@bakercityherald.com
A reward of $6,150 is being offered for information
leading to an arrest in the fatal shooting of a gray wolf in
eastern Baker County in late September.
The wolf, the breeding male from the Cornucopia pack,
was found dead off the 125 spur road about 1 mile east
of Eagle Forks campground. The wolf was killed on or
around Sept. 24, according to Oregon State Police.
Oregon Wild and the Center for Biological Diversity
each contributed $2,500 to the reward fund. NE Oregon
Ecosystems added $850, and the Turn in Poachers pro-
gram, which involves the Oregon Department of Fish and
Wildlife, Oregon State Police and the Oregon Hunters As-
sociation, is offering $300 or five hunter preference points.
The breeding male and female from the Cornucopia
pack raised three pups in the spring of 2019 and denned
again in 2020, although ODFW doesn’t yet know how
many pups were born this year, said Brian Ratliff, district
biologist at the agency’s Baker City office. The killing of
the male could jeopardize the future of the Cornucopia
pack, Ratliff said.
cases are people who have
not tested positive but who
had symptoms consistent
with COVID-19 and had close
contact with someone who
did test positive.
The vast majority of the
county’s cases — 103, as of
Oct. 18 — are residents in
the 97814 ZIP code, which
includes Baker City.
No one was being treated
for COVID-19 at Saint
Alphonsus Hospital in Baker
City as of Oct. 18.
3210 K St, Baker City, OR 97814
Democrat
Of the 2,057 registered Democrats —
16.5% of total voters — 907, or 44.1%,
had returned their ballot by Thursday.
Up for ADOPTION
The Kiwanis Club of Baker City is
partnering with the Sunridge Inn and the
Baker County Chamber of Commerce to
put on a 3-hour trick-or-treat event the
afternoon of Halloween, which is on a
Saturday this year.
Businesses and other groups will stack
portable tables with sweets in the parking
lot between the Chamber’s visitors center
and The Sunridge Inn. That’s just north of
Campbell Street and east of Birch Street.
$6,150 reward
in killing of wolf
Nonaffi liated
Of the 3,697 nonaffi liated voters —
29.6% of total voters — 700, or 18.9%,
had returned their ballot by Thursday.
Independent
Of the 647 registered Independents —
5.2% of total voters — 224, or 34.6%, had
returned their ballot by Thursday.
$
1- Male
3- Females
45 Adoption
Fee
Phone: (541) 403-2710