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Overcrowding, staffing at county
schools topic at school board meeting
P T. S S ! E W E T Z E L
L 1
35C
azette
imes
VOL. 111
NO. 23
6 Pages Wednesday, June 17, 1992
Morrow County Heppner, Oregon
Overcrowding, and a high
student-teacher ratio at schools in
North Morrow County, was a
topic of discussion at the Morrow
County School Board meeting
Monday night, June 15.
The board discussed the
possibility of transferring teachers
and cooks from ‘’overstaffed”
schools, lone, Heppner Elemen
tary School, and Heppner and
Riverside High Schools to
understaffed schools, Sam Board-
man Elementary and A.C.
Houghton Elementary. Also
discussed was the possibility of
combining classes specifically at
lone Elementary.
‘‘We’re not going to continue
to carry a segment able to enjoy
12 to 15 students in a
classroom,” said board member
Dwayne Carroll. “ You can’t
continue to hire new people when
you can combine classes at a
lesser number. You’ve got to get
better utilization.”
Board member John Rietmann
differed, however, “ Combining
classes in lone will not be the
direction we want to go,” he
said. “ My recommendation is
that a half time teacher should be
hired (for Sam Boardman
Elementary).”
According to figures released
at the beginning of the 1991
school year, A.C. Houghton had
60 kindergarten students, Sam
Boardman had 50, Heppner
Elementary had 32 and lone, 11.
First grade students numbered 54
at ACH, 51 at SBE, 35 at HES
and 10 at lone.
A committee will be formed to
study the issues of staffing and
overcrowding and establish
needs.
A.C. Houghton principal Mick
Tolar will receive an additional
half time kindergarten teacher this
fall and Sam Boardman principal
Susan Tolar has requested a half
time kindergarten teacher because
of high kindergarten enrollment.
If enrollment continues to in
crease at those two schools, there
will not be enough class room
space, they said. “ After next year
there is absolutely no more
room,” said Tolar. He said that
the school’s enrollment of around
340 at the beginning of the year,
increased to around 380 at the end
of the year.
In other business the board:
* accepted the resignation of
M ark A tkinson, personal
finance/math. Riverside High
Senate recount
changes little
Exchange students enjoy year at lone
By Anne Morter
Ior.c High School took an in
ternational flavor this past year
when it became the home school
to two exchange Students. Juho
Ali-Raatikainen of Finland and
Asbjom “ Ice” Sigurdarson of
Iceland. The two boys spent the
year not only learning about the
culture and lifestyles in rural
Oregon but also sharing their
culture by speaking to numerous
groups about their own countries.
“ Ice” , 18, lived with host
parents Gale and Betty Gray of
Lexington. He comes from a
small country with a total popula
tion of about 250,000 people. His
hometown is Dessastadahreppur,
population 1100, located about
five miles from the capital of
Iceland (population 90,000). His
father, Sigurdar Asbjomarson, is
the mayor of their town, and his
mother, Hulda Stefansdottir is a
bank cashier in the capital city.
He also has three brothers, ages
three, five and 14. In Iceland, the
mother, father and childen all
have different last names. A
woman does not take her hus
band's name in marriage and the
children use a derivative of their
father’s first name followed by
son or “ dottir” .
Surprisingly, Ice says the
climate of Iceland is less extreme
than the climate of lone, with
highs in the summer in the 90’s
and lows in the winter around 30
degrees. He also noted that the
food here wasn’t that different
from home but he was used to
eating more lamb and fish. They
do eat foods that are unfamiliar
to us, such as boiled sheepshead.
While he admitted that the dish
was tastier than it sounded, he
also said that he was not suffer
ing from uncontrolled cravings
for it.
The school system differs
dramatically from the current
U.S. system but looks much like
the Katz plan being proposed for
Oregon schools. The first school
lasts from age five or six to age
12. Studies become more
challenging in the second school
that last from age 12 to 16. Upon
completion of that segment of
education, students choose col
lege or a specialized program for
ages 16-20. “ Ice” says that
school lasts nine months out of
the year but the subjects are
covered much faster and studies
are generally more difficult. All
students study the Icelandic
language and are required to take
Danish, English and their choice
of French or German.
There are no sports in schools;
all sports are done on a club
system. “ Ice” used his soccer
skills to lend a foot to the Car
dinal football team last fall in the
kicking department. He also
played basketball during his year
here.
Ice says he had a busy and en
joyable stay in lone. He helped
Holland, Germany and Australia
will arrive in August. Although
lone has met its limit for ex
change students, she still has
students available for Heppner or
Boardman. Any family interested
in becoming hosts are encourag
ed to give her a call at 422-7107
for further information.
A Morrow County recount in
the U.S. Senate Democratic race
saw no change in the Harry
Lonsdale vote at 318.
Les AuCoin lost one vote in the
recount, 314 to 313 and Joseph
Wetzel lost two, from 114 to 112.
Bob Bell remained the same at
89.
Les AuCoin won the May 18
election, but only by a narrow
margin over Lonsdale, which
prompted the recount.
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School;
* announced the employment
of Tonya Martin, instrumental
music at Colum bia Junior
High/AC Houghton Elementary;
Alan Haskins, RHS industrial
arts; Lisa Cook, RHS language
arts/social studies, teacher and
assistant volleyball coach;
Gwyneth Franklin, Heppner
High School counselor; Patricia
Furgerson, CJH language arts
and social studies; Jon Horn RHS
weight room supervisor/volun-
teer; and extra duty contracts as
recom m ended by advisory
committees;
* approved military leave for
Steve Dickenson, HHS principal;
* passed policy on the d e te n
tion of students, discipline, sus
pension, expulsion and alternative
education programs following
expulsion;
* authorized the superintendent
to award a bid for the SBE gym
roof contract on or before July
13;
* tabled election of 1992-93
board officers;
* adopted the school budget
and approved levy of property
taxes and appropriation of the
budget;
* awarded a bid for two
66-passenger
and
one
78-passenger Bluebird school
buses to Western Bus Sales at
Clackamas;
* awarded a bid for two Ford
mowers to Carroll Adams Trac
tor Co. at Walla Walla, WA.;
* rejected a bid for a dust col
lector system for the Columbia
Junior High industrial arts
program;
* heard reports on the propos
ed wheelchair lift for Heppner
Middle School;
* directed the superintendent to
pursue policy on law enforcement
officers on district property; and
* declined to initiate an ap
praisal program for district
facilities.
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Army band to perform at lone July 4th
“ Ice” (I), Loren Heideman and Juho spent some time
snowmobiling last winter
in his host family’s restaurant
when they needed help and also
worked on a local farm. He tried
waterskiing and snowmobiling
and topped the year with a much
anticipated trip to Disneyland.
Ice’s year in lone won’t count
for anything academically speak
ing, once he returns to Iceland but
he definitely accomplished his ob
jectives of becoming an exchange
student-to try something new and
to learn English fluently. His
original preference was to go to
the southern part of the United
States but seems to have found
quite a “ home away from home”
for himself in lone. He says he
will miss his new friends as well
as his host parents when he
returns home. But he looks for
ward to going home where he has
more freedom with his own car
and less isolation.
Juho, 17, comes from the city
of Vantaa with a population of
200,000 people. His city is within
15 miles of Helsinki and, together
with several other cities that have
grown together, the population
for the area is around one million.
Coming to lone was not a huge
shock to him however, since he
spends a fair amount of time with
his uncles living in the coun
tryside. His father, Unto, is an
electronic engineer consultant and
his mother, Kirkka. teaches han
dicrafts at a nearby school. He
has one sister, Mari, age 14. His
hosts were Della and Loren
Heideman and family.
One thousand people attend his
high school back home. Students
attend a comprehensive school
lasting from grades one through
nine. They then decide on high
school or vocational training.
High school lasts three years
while vocational training lasts
between two and five years. For
those choosing high school, four
to six years of college is the next
step. Also, every person must
serve a stint in the military after
they turn 17 and before reaching
age 28. This obligation lasts bet
ween eight and 11 months.
Just like in Iceland, sports are
run strictly on a club system.
Juho. an accomplished swimmer,
was a member of one of the best
water polo teams in Finland for
his age group.
Finland enjoys four seasons. In
the summer, only a few days go
above 90 degrees but the humidi
ty level is high. The winters are
fairly hard. Juho says that they
usually get three months of snow
and it isn’t unusual to have three
feet or more in his city. Since he
likes to downhill ski, that suits
him fine.
Young drivers must wait until
age 18 to try for a driver’s
license. Even then, they must at
tend a special school and pay
$1,500 for the license. His host
mother jokingly suggested that
Juho’s main motivation for com
ing to the U.S. was to learn to
drive. Juho will probably not
have his own car back in Finland.
He says that cars are twice as ex
pensive as they are here and most
families own just one.
Juho has done some traveling
prior to this trip. On family vaca
tions, his family visited various
places in western Europe and he
attended a swimming camp in the
Soviet Union. He wanted to be an
exchange student after hearing
several friends who had visited
the U.S. say what a good ex
perience it was. Although his first
preference was also the Southern
U.S. he wasn’t disappointed with
his experience. He says he has
been too busy this past year to get
homesick.
Juho played football, basketball
and tennis this past year as well
as discovering new sports like
waterskiing and snowmobile
riding. He also enjoyed a trip to
Disneyland and other Southern
California destinations with the
rest of the senior class shortly
after graduation ceremonies.
Both boys arrived in lone via
the
American
Swedish-
Scandinavian Exchange program.
The program has branched out
since it was named to include
more than Swedish and Scandina
vian countries.
Cathy Halvorsen, lone, area
representative, has already plac
ed four students in lone host
homes for this coming school
year. Students from Sweden,
Army band will entertain July
The 234th Army Band under
the direction of Chief Warrant
Officer James Powell will bring
their annual concert tour to the
high school football field in lone
on Saturday July 4. The concert
will precede the fireworks show.
The band, often referred to as
“ Oregon’s Own” is the goodwill
ambassador of the Oregon Na-
4th
WWII.
The 234th Army Band plays a
variety of music from baroque to
contemporary, Sousa marches to
jazz and Dixieland to bluegrass.
The band will perform patriotic
music, marches, popular music,
and other music by various com
posers. The stage band will
feature traditional jazz standards
and current popular music. Per
tional Guard. It has performed
extensively in Oregon at both
civilian and military functions for
several years. Recently, as of
ficial representative of the U.S.
Government, the band toured
Australia, Papua, New Guinea,
and other South Pacific locales
honoring the 50th anniversary of
the 41st division’s involvement in
Pre-fair June 20 for 4-H members
Saturday, June 20 is the date set
for the home economics and ex
pressive arts pre-fair. Held at the
Morrow County Fairgrounds in-
the 4-H annex building, pre-fair
is open to ail 4-H project
members, leaders and parents
The session begins at 8:45 a.m.
and ends at 12:15 p.m. It is an
educational activity designed to
increase self-confidence and
reduce uncertainty about county
fair exhibits and contests. It is
especially helpful to newer
members.
Pre-fair will also include
presentations on: “ Cooking for
Competition" by Jo Anne Kock,
Sherman County 4-H Agent;
understanding the fair premium
book; and an introduction to judg
ing contests. Glenda Madden,
Gilliam County 4-H agent will
share techniques for ‘Style
Revue’ and ‘My Favorite Outfit'.
There will be some hands-on
activities to get everyone up and
moving. This is a fun opportuni
ty to meet and exchange ideas
with members and leaders from
all over Morrow County. Those
attending should bring a snack for
the break.
PTe-registration is not required.
Certificates of participation will
be awarded at 12 p.m. There is
no charge.
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formances by the Dixieland and
bluegrass groups will precede the
concert.
The concert band is conducted
by CW3 James Powell of Lake
Oswego and SGT D arrel
Meisenheimer of Beaverton.
Drum major for the marching
band is 1SG John Skelton of
Salem and the stage band is lead
by SSG Peter Spooner o f
Portland.
The band is stationed in
Portland but draws its member
ship from communities as far
away as Culver. Unlike other Na
tional Guard units which meet
one weekend a month, the band
meets one night per week to
rehearse for performances in con
certs, parades and ceremonies
throughout the state.
Loans For All Reasons
Loans For All Seasons
n A N K
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