Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (March 8, 1989)
K H K - Heppner G a/ette-Tim es. Heppner. Oregon V \rdnrsdav, M arch N, 1989 « Ü f y "I Resentment spoken for tenure system The Official Newspaper of (he City of Heppner and the County of Morrow ~ The Heppner GAZETTE-TIMES Morrow C ounty’* Home-Owned Meekly Newspaper USPS j» 240-420 P u M b M n f f i M r d fln d a t and m lr r r d aa «arund-tinaa m a llrr a l th t Pual ( IfTVc a t H rp p n r f. O rtg u a un der Ike U 1 a t S ta rth 3, IIP * S n u n d (taaa pmWage patd a t H c p p n rr, O n p a . (W ire at 147 H n l W ill» « s i» ..» T d rp k ia * (M 3 | I7 M 2 B A d d rta a ru m m u n k a lu m * to the H rp p n rr ( > a / r t l r I im rv P ( ) Hua 337. Ilr p p a a r, O n g u a W IH . S ub« O p tio n s *1 2 In M otto « . V S W rrlrr. ( .illia m and « .ra n t Cuaantlca; *2 3 rla rw h rrr J u n e H ia fk n ................................................................. t N TVr M a n a g rr. 1 * p ra c ttln t I Nana K a il ........................................................................................................ S o t Id a .« M a rk M m k n i .......................................................................... (■ ra p lilra llrp a n m r n l t.a li P a p ta ra u .............................................................................. (.rm phk-s Ik rp a rtm m t B aH tjr Kvaaa ................................................................................................ Iksi,ihu(>»>n * David and April Sykes, Publishers n Letters to the Editor Minor incidents being blown out of proportion To the Editor: Too often in an emotional and volatile situation as we are now cx pertcncing. minor incidents can become exaggerated and blown out of proportion, depending on whose version is related ()ft times the giaid that people do ix overshadowed by the more "sensational" actions of a few ()n Friday. March 3, the Heppner High School girls' basketball team competed for the regional title in lafirande For the girls to have ad vanced so far is admirable and wor thy of attention When the girls hoarded their bus on Friday mom ing. there was only a small group of people fo cheer them on their way The classified workers of HHS were there as were Marcie Stookcy and Joan Records The remainder of the * t gmup was made up of striking teachers out of 14 striking teachers at HHS. II were there to give their girts the send-off they had earned They came without picket signs, and the only shouts I heard were those of good wishes. The bouquet of balloons that the team had was also from the teachers, and the signs that were posted along the road to Her- mist on were made and put up by two sinking teachers Heppner s educators have always been caring and supportive of their students This care and support has not stopped even in the face of a strike Our teachers have always supported our children, and as a parent. I intend to return that sup port (Xu faculty is. after all. a class ad . (s) Ginger Bowman To the Editor: The strike has been educational I base learned that the M I A lied when they claimed their actions were for the student's benefits The M E A .’* appearance, dress and language on the picket lines also explains this era’s let down in classroom decorum. School board encouraged to 'hold the line’ To the Editor The School Hoard's March 2, 1989 offer, to the Morrow County teachers, increasing salary, in surance. and travel allowances is very generous I supported ihcm on their original offer But I will sup port (hem on this offer as well But I encourage (hem to hold the line This is as far as I want them to go Because of tenure practices, fair share issues, and the inability or un- ' >• V *. - *. • : - : .*•■ L * ' * ' * . . • * y - « M -I « * ' To the Editor I am sick of hearing certain teachers whine and complain about how hadly they are being mistreated They always neglect to mention the fact that they have received a raise in pay each year for the past three yean They must either think that we taxpayers arc made out of money or that the school district has a direct pipeline* to the U S Mint II these teachers have half the intelligence they arc supposed to have, they would realize from the results of re cent tax levy votes, that the maiority of taxpayers in Morrow County do not want any more increases in school spending for anything in cluding teacher salaries and benefits The latest publication from the teacher's association slated that their quarrel was not with the citizens of Morrow County hut rather with the school district This is ridiculous Why should the teachers blame the school hoard'* Their position mere Is reflects the opinion of the majority ENGTH e* Law n m ow er F urn a ce * * W asher & dryer A ir co n d itio n e r t* Shop toots G arden tracto» Snow blow er C om pressor G enerator » * Sprayer *-» Cultivator belts >^ Molotiller Heppner Auto Parts 'LT «. * li * % 676 9123 148 E C enter Heppner All tin* right p arts in al I the n>¿ht i A.U es' HOW MUCH RADON 10 IN VOUR HOME? 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' V ' '•* .* • 4 *v ( I - » , t. *> i .* V i • í • 01 I I •*?! r ; -.V ■V - *< ♦ > > ; Cut & Thread Pipe Cut Window Shades Cut Keys Custom Mix Paints Custom Order Wallpaper Sell Hunting & Fishing Licenses Free Gift Wrapping Layaway Advice For Your Projects are ic a To the Editor: Mr Carroll My name is Tyson Pratt, from Boardman I am a seventh grader at Columbia Junior High I have just returned from a meeting concerning the teacher strike I am very upset that the hoard didn't bother to show up, It was said that die board was in sited to speak al the meeting one week ago It was also stated at the meeting that the hoard's response was dial you (the hourdldid not have enough time I feel that it is your To the Editor Conflict ikies strung things to pav pie's personalities When we as in dividuals feel threatened, we react hy striking hack at whoever threatens us, or whoever we perceive as threatening to us These past two months in Morrow C ounty have been especially threatening to all of us The teachers tccl threatened by the hoard The hoard feels threatened hy the teachers The remainder of the populus tcels threatened by what is. or is not. happening between the teachers ami the hoard I've heard stories about unkind personal attacks being made by the hoard members to teachers or other concerned citizens My own family has been the victim of someone's North Morrow Chamber urges Yes vote on bond To the Editor The Boardman North Morrow County Chamber of Commerce urges a yes vote for the G O Bond election March 28, 1989 The refinancing of older revenue bonds will allow plants a minor reduction on the utility rates and will assist in making them competitive with other plants in our regain The Chamber urges your support for this important investment in jobs and future property tax reductions Sincerely, (s) John Prag Prevalent Boardman North Morrow County Chamber of Commerce y*. * 4 ^ •*$ We can help you. M p and>, C andy a Oh So Sw eet, Sixteen Y e a rs Is Q uite a Feat Court S treet M arket CHECK OUR EVERYDAY LOW PRICES WHERE YOUR DOLLAR MAKES MORE CENTS Ground Beef 81 % « I 1*» ( risp Celery______________ I f * * Cabbage ea. Broccoli 19* lb 39* lb Rome Apples Hills, slu ed Beef Bacon * i4 , b Chuck Roast We Print BUSINESS FORMS Printing 147 Willtm-lleppner 676-9228 •» X» „ A* we write, the school teacher strike rages on And it appears that it will continue for some time As I see it. the hoard has the edge in public support hy a huge margin The teachers are standing alone And the issue boils down to "what level of quality are we willing to pay for”” ’ A former hoard member told us that a former poluy of the district was to set teacher salaries at about the 60th percentile of districts across Ore state With some 213 districts in Oregon, that policy should make Morrow County rank about 86th For the beginning teacher, we re pretty close Figuring in the 2 * rat* effective March I (7»ItXhs of one percent for the year) offered last week beginning teacher salaries would rank 80*4 out of the 213 districts. But die 2% raise in each of the next two years, much less than other districts provide, would drop that rank to I6bth hy 1990 9 | Al the top of the salary range, however. Morrow County would rank only 160th. and that ranking would drop to 180th hy 1990 91 We think it is important to maintain some relationship with teachers salanes in the rest of the state since we do not raise our teachers hut must attract die majority of them from other parts of the state And we don't think the amenities of lis mg in Morrow County will do it It takes a com petitive salary schedule We think it inescapable that w ith a salary schedule lower than many other districts pay will not attract a very high quality teacher Worse, with a salary schedule that ranks so low on the upper end, we think even those good teachers we attract fresh out of school will move on in just a couple of years We talked this over with a local contractor a few days ago and he agreed Then he went on to say that he was willing to sacrifice his childrens' cduca tion to save a few dollars on his tax hill We think he understands the nature of things far better than his children ever will With all the wounds infected on all concerned, we think it is time now. even before a settlement, to begin the healing process Much hate and disrespeci has arisen toward teachers, some much deserved Similar hate and disrespect toward hoard members is being voiced in some circles, most ly teacher Taxpayers are variously heros or villains depending upon who is voicing an opinion The healing can begin on several fronts, but an essential clement will he a community consensus on just what kind of education do we expect for our children Do we want, for them, a strong, solid foundation from which they may compete effectively at college, at work, in the real world? Or is it enough that tliey just barely slide by with a little readin' wntin' an' ‘nthmatic? Once the kind of quality is decided upon, we should make a realistic estimate of cost And he willing to pay that cost We seem to be willing to pay for roads and such through a County tax rate that 's one of die highest in the state We have more than one city with tax rates higher than most other cities Our school tax rate on the oilier hand, is one of the lowest, statewide The healing will also require an elevated degree of pro fees Kinal ism among our teacher*. The cards and letters they have sent hoard members and ad ministration, full of hate and threats have hurt the profession immensely. Their conduct on the picket line has been less than endearing The way they have treated non-stnking teachers has been reprehensible (Xir teachers must restore to their profession the respect that it deserve* and must have in order to provide any acceptable degree of education The healing will require a higher respect for die system and for in dividuals by the hoard Even the best teacher will find working for a hoard that is out to break them, every one. a difficult task indeed A board wili ng to say "w e expect a degree of education equal to the bottom 25% of statewide average and therefore will pay salanes in the bottom 23% of the statewide average." will find dealing with its teachers much easier. The healing will require an administration willing to deal with difficult situations, espec ially involving parents, with a level head. Operations are difficult indeed and temper tantrums, swearing and emotional outbursts add. not detract, from that difficulty Wc fear that this healing will take a long time Perhaps longer titan even a kindergarten student will take to graduate from high school We think some good people, teachers and parents alike will wonder if the healing period won’t be loo long Perhaps longer than living in Morrow County is worth Hill’s Doggies American Cheese 12 0 / f . * hostility I've also heard stories about teachers or other concerned citizens making pervmal attacks on hoard members This kind of bchavaw is sad to see and is so counter productive in any situation It only destroys what is already fragile W'c need to remember that we are all neighbors, with the right to make decisions about issues for ourselves even if those decisions do not agree with each other I challenge each citizen of Morrow County to find a positive way to deal with your frustrations, not only in this situation hut in all situations We need to channel those energies toward making things better and not allowing our dark sides to surface Sincerely, fs) Nancy Brownfield Heppner Conscious Mediocrity W estern Family, sliced G-T if; responsibility as a hoard members to do anything you have to do to end this stnkc and if you can't do that you should not he on the hoard I believe that a good hoard would have lumped at the chance to meet with the public Mr Carroll, it is not going to do much good hiding from the public or sending out partially true infonna lion But maybe that is what you want, is it not? Think about it (s) Tyson Pratt Boardman Positive direction needed to channel frustrations Wo Can IIHp Yon_____ ¿Qi;. \ of the voters and also the financial realities of the day. I think that if some of our teachers are this dissatisfied with their job they should do what the rest of us ikv find another one They arc neither indispensable nor irrcplacahlc This community managed just fine long before these particular teachers came here and we will get along () k after they arc gone I'll het that there arc hundreds of good teachers that would give their "eye teeth" to get out of those big city schools and in to a small community like ours away from the crime and drug scene No. I don't feel that the teachers should stnkc If they don't like it here they should just pack (heir hags and hit (he road 1x1 them go to those big school districts with the high salaries and outrageous medical benefits They arc going to need them when they get mugged in the hallways. Sincerely, (s) Sidney G Zinter 7th (trader responds to teachers strike 0 F 0 R fNAPAi 1' willingness of the union to police their own. I resent across the hoard pay and benefit increases Until merit pas and control by the School Board and School Ad ministrators for hiring, firing and disciplining of teachers. I will not support increased step increases and across the hoard pay raises Respectfully, Is) Mamie Anderson lone Teachers are chastised for actions We have belts for: • I The M F A has taughi a lot of " u s " to not like a "few " of them Due to the tenure system we have hern forced to axitmue sending our dollars to those few ", which I per sonally resent. Respectfully, (*) Eric Anderson lone Nabisco Diet Pepsi, Diet Pepsi Free, Diet Cherry Pepsi 12 6-pack cans Reg *2™ o i •Io* plus dep Shredded Wheat 15 ot re g . » 2 ” »I1* reg »1« 99* W estern Family, frozen French Fries 2 ib. Prices good March 9th. - 13th OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK • 7 A M. - 6 P.M. Court Street Market 111 N. Court Heppner 676-9643
