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About Cannon Beach gazette. (Cannon Beach, Or.) 1977-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 2, 2016)
December 2, 2016 | Cannon Beach Gazette | cannonbeachgazette.com • 9A Cannon Beach Academy celebrates progress Charter school plans to open in fall 2017 By Lyra Fontaine Cannon Beach Gazette Community members of all ages gathered at Chamber Hall to celebrate the Cannon Beach Academy’s uncondi- tional charter application ap- proval by the Seaside School District board. This major step brings the school closer to opening in fall 2017. “We have come a long way,” board President Kellye Dewey said at the academy’s November potluck dinner. “Hard work from the start is now paying off for our fam- ilies and our community. There still remains tons of work ahead, but our approved charter without conditions is a milestone that needs to be ac- knowledged and celebrated.” The Cannon Beach Acade- my formed in 2013 after Can- non Beach Elementary closed. The school district had denied two of the school’s proposals, and withdrew its conditional approval for another proposal earlier this year. The academy and school district worked together this year on the charter applica- tion. Before getting approved, the academy clarified certain aspects of its financial plan, with revenue to be generat- ed primarily through district funding, pledges, fundraising and grants, board members said in October. LYRA FONTAINE/CANNON BEACH GAZETTE Residents gathered in Chamber Hall to celebrate the Sea- side School District’s unconditional approval of the Can- non Beach Academy charter application. LYRA FONTAINE/CANNON BEACH GAZETTE Cannon Beach Academy board members Patti Rouse, Barb Knop, Sally Steidel, Phil Sim- mons and Kellye Dewey with Jeneé Pearce-Mushen, Yohali and Alondra, who translated for Spanish speakers in the audience. Not having a school in town is a ‘major logistics issue’ in the event of an emergency. Ryan Dewey, parent “We want to thank you all for being here and helping us start this from the ground up,” Dewey said. “We wouldn’t be where we’re at without you all.” Moving forward The academy can now start to finalize financial details, apply for grants, plan for en- rollment, prepare the school building and start hiring staff, according to board members. With its approved charter, the academy can apply for state Department of Education charter school implementa- tion grants that will be avail- able in the spring. “If we can dig down and find the drive to take us to the finish line so we can open those doors for the first day of school, we will be so grate- ful,” Dewey said. “Imagine the smiles on those kids’ fac- es. We are not only providing this school for our commu- nity, but also a choice in ed- ucation, which is what every child deserves.” Dewey and board mem- bers Sally Steidel, Barb Knop, Patti Rouse and Phil Simmons were available for the audi- ence to answer questions. South County clash over timber lawsuit Timber from Page 1A “They were very coopera- tive and saw the value in our acquiring the parcel,” Morgan said. “I think setting up an ad- versarial relationship with the state of Oregon and the Ore- gon Department of Forestry is a bad idea. I can see this dragging on years and years. The only entity that is going to benefit is the law firm rep- resenting the counties.” Lianne Thompson, who represents South County on the Board of Commissioners and serves on the Forest Trust Land Advisory Committee, is in favor of the county’s inclu- sion in the lawsuit. ‘How do we fulfill our obligation as elected leaders and be good stewards for these resources if we are not at the table?’ Lianne Thompson Thompson said opting out would deny the county an op- portunity to “negotiate to pro- tect our resources.” Thompson said she wants the county to have a say in the legal dispute. “We are forest trust land counties so we’re automatically part of it,” she said. “We would have to affir- matively say we don’t want to be part of it, in which case we would have no say.” Opting out, she said, would leave Clatsop County out of future decision-mak- ing. “If you’re a part of the lawsuit and sitting at the ta- ble and you get up and walk away, you’ve denied yourself a voice in whatever happens,” Thompson said. “How do we fulfill our obligation as elect- ed leaders and be good stew- ards for these resources if we are not at the table?” Thompson said she listens to both environmental groups and timber companies. “The timber industry is not monolithic,” Thompson said. “If you see them as the enemy and all the same, that doesn’t allow for effective negotia- tion.” Jenee Pearce-Mushen and two local children, Yohali and Alondra, translated Dewey’s words for Spanish speakers. A “fundraising mountain” created by artist Bill Steidel will serve as a marker for funds raised by the acade- my. Board members thanked Steidel for contributing his original artwork. “I think you’ve all noticed that we have a mountain, and we do have a mountain of work to do,” said Sally Steidel, adding that the piece of art will be placed some- where in town. Getting ready The academy’s grade lev- els will start with kindergarten through second grade, then add a grade each year. The board will recommend 17 to 21 students per class. A contract will likely be se- cured with the school district by the end of the year, and en- rollment could open in March. Getting the building ready is one of the top priorities, Knop said. Because the academy’s conditional use permit expired, board members have turned in a revision for the Planning Com- mission to review in December. The school is temporarily locat- ed at 171 Sunset Blvd. With potentially vulnerable bridges between Seaside and Cannon Beach, not having a school in town is a “major lo- gistics issue” in the event of an emergency, parent Ryan Dew- ey said. “It’s not about my kids’ in- dividual experience,” he said. “It’s for the community. If you don’t have a school, grade school kids, parents and grand- parents in a community, it’s not a community. It’s a resort town.” The potluck gathering also celebrated voters approving the Seaside School District’s $99.7 million bond measure to relo- cate schools out of the tsunami zone. look great in a way you can feel good about Cannon Beach Astoria 382 12th Street 107 N Hemlock 503.468.0788 503.436.0774 Featuring one of kind, handmade leather bags by Miguel Rios -a La Luna Loca exclusive. 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