Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 18, 1995)
TWO - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, January 18, 1995 Cuts proposed for agri-science program Ä 1 f t Bm K . I P 9 ~ ■ P hoto b y J o yce H ughes Vo Ag teacher Bill Umbarger (front) helps the Vo Ag 2 class in an automotive tune up session. Pictured clockwise are students: Chris Jones, Jeremy Cimmiyotti, Tiffanie Munkers, Andy Burt, John Humphreys, Matt Browning. Proposed budget cuts are be ing considered by the Morrow County School budget commit tee to offset loss of financial funding for education. Along with other non-mandated courses a proposed $90,000 may be axed from the Morrow County District's agri-science programs next year. Value-added diverse produc tion has increased the agricultural output of Morrow County's natural resource bas ed economy. For the past 58 years, the agri-science depart ment has played a vital role in helping students to train for Spirit Days ALE Sale Dates: AGRI-POWER LSB rear tractor tire designed to reduce vibration and provide a better ride. Tire Size 23 1-30/8ply 18 4-34/6ply 16 9-34/6 ply 30 5L-32/10ply 24S-32/10p!y 20 8-38/8ply 18 4-38/8ply 18 4-38/6ply j 16.9-38/6ply 15.5-38/6ply 14.9-38/6ply 13.6-38/6ply 13 6-38/4ply 12 4-38/4ply 11.2-38/4ply 14 9-24/4ply 12 4-24/4ply 0**50 In addition to>our of prices, Pu'c anp receive $5Q$r"y s^hier Limit 4 ce ertifica1 rtitica^ P / \ V ■ • r V* April l 6 thru uaUcl J' c . « . » = 1995. ,r r 30. 1995. ay 15, 1995 M redeemed by >JJ|.cipaUng 1 S p S » » “ '“ “ .r, .-f Price *71150 ‘36530 *37400 *118300 *955« * 66860 *481°o *40508 *4281° *279«5 *36848 *28875 *256*0 *253°° *25515 *227” *20670 AGRI-RADIAL Tire Size 20.8R42 184R42 20.8R38 184R38 20 8R34/8ply \) • • "» I ;■ , * V, , ’ Tire Size ’• . - • *•»> » . ' , • I • *100000 *7215« *6 7 6 °o *502°° *828’° AGRI-IRRIGATION II 11.2-24 14 9-24 F* Price Price $8900 *15974 ■ SKOAL PUCES *'• % ON SIZES 11 . 2-24 14 . 9-24 ■ :• ' : • • v •• *• •1 ' . ,>* f -.y* - • * * r V •- - - -• - •* ' * •.•*4* -vv. - Prices including Mounting Call for details Morro w County Crain Phone IN 1221 Wasco 442 5781 1 100-124-7115 I 800 45? 7 396 LEXINGTON OREGON 97131 INC PO Boi 3 t ; agricultural related careers. "T h e practicality of the pro gram goes into real life situa tions," said Heppner teacher Bill Umbarger. Although only three percent of the population is now directly involved in pro duction agriculture op p or tunities still exist for pro gressive land-based students as future ranchers and farmers. H ow ever the agri-science department serves as a catalyst for students contemplating agri-business careers, the na tion's largest work force. Cur rently nearly one-third of Heppner High School students are enrolled in this program. Under the guidance of a voca tionally trained and certified in structor, students can explore a wide range of job opportun ities. Those skills are attained through apprenticeship train ing, internships and practical applications using new technological equipment and applied hands-on laboratory training. Lifetime skills ac quired through this training in cludes safe use of power tools, com puter training, record keeping, training for sales and service positions, job resume guidance and job interview skills. "Agri-science departments are ahead of time in compliance w ith O reg o n 's Education Reform Bill," Umbarger said. By 1997 CIM (Certificates of In itial Mastery) and C AM (Cer tificates of Advanced Mastery) will replace diplomas. Students must demonstrate learned skills before receiving certifica tion. Those requirem ents equate to agri-science programs that involve classroom, labor atory, supervised experience and FFA participation. "M orrow County is depen dent on natural resources," Umbarger said. It would be a disadvantage to our com munities if students have to go outside the district to receive natural resource certification when we are already attune to this new program. In addition, through an agreement with Blue Mountain Community College, college credits can be earned for high school agri science classes." Focusing on education and work place changes, Umbarger said he would like to continue with his present position. But, he added, "I'm out of here," if his position is cut to half-time. Agri-science programs have continued to expand with resource training skills now in cluded through cooperation with several agencies. Um barger said that it was this type of "unlimited potential" for the department that initially drew him to Heppner. "Learning op portunities extend beyond classroom doors," he said, such as a student-constructed pole building on campus. That's a visual accomplishment in which students have ownership," providing a place for further laboratory experi mentation. In addition those students also attain personal develop ment through the FFA program that focuses on citizenship, leadership, responsibility and team work to help students become well-rounded citizens, Umbarger added. Concerns raised about move of junior high students to HHS Heppner parents, teachers, students and com m unity members, at an open meeting held Tuesday, Jan. 10, voiced their concerns about moving Heppner grades seven and eigh t to the high school building, effective this fall. Concerns included: why weren't parents informed of the changes earlier; curriculum; potential for harrassment of younger children by high school kids; possible relation ships between younger girls and older boys; the elimination of five teaching positions in the Heppner schools; elimination of a playground for the junior high students; crowding of classrooms resulting from the staffing loss; the extent to which the younger students can be separated from the older ones at lunch, in classes, in the halls and at dances; possible loss of music, art and other electives, in addition to sports and other extra-curricular ac tivities; state school funding; and why the Heppner area is bearing the brunt of the cuts, when to the observer it seem ed that surrounding districts and schools within the Morrow County School District will not be as affected by Ballot Measure 5. M orro w C ounty School Superintendent Chuck Starr, Heppner High School Principal Steve Dickenson and Heppner Elementary School Principal Bill Karwacki were on hand to answer questions. Starr made it clear that the decision to move the seventh and eighth grades to the high school was final and no longer up for debate, but the process would be explained. Starr also took issue with the complaint that parents were not inform ed of the upcoming move, say ing that the issue was discuss ed at public meetings beginn ing over a year ago. Starr explained the reason for the cuts in the Morrow Coun ty School budget. Under the state school equalization plan, poorer school districts will receive more money and richer districts less, to achieve an equal amount of funding per pupil. According to Starr, Mor row County had been spending around $6,000 per student and some other districts in state as low as $3,000 per student. So, Morrow County will receive less per pupil and other districts will receive more per pupil until an average spending figure of around $4,200 per pupil is reached by all districts. He also cited a "significant decline in en rollm en t" in Heppner schools compared to other schools in the county. Starr said that additional monies that could be awarded to the Morrow County District, for example, tax monies from the Coyote Springs generating plant, would not help the district's funding problems because the additional money would just be absorbed by the state and distributed to poorer districts. Starr said that the decision to move seventh and eighth grade classes to Heppner High School would result in a more efficient use of staff and would allow the district to maintain all of its schools. "It would be a tough decision to close down a com m unity," he added. Dickenson said that while they will try to keep the seventh and eighth graders segregated from the upper classmen, it is just not possible, especially with fewer teachers. Seventh and eighth graders will be in some classes with older students and will pro bably have the same lunch hour. However, plans are to locate the seventh and eighth grade lockers upstairs on a floor separate from high school locker areas. He added, " I think w e can do some discouraging," concerning rela tionships between seventh and eighth graders and older students. He noted that he didn't anticipate a lot of hazing of seventh and eighth graders by older students and says ì V* I. there are few incidents of that now because of the high school's current discipline pro gram. Dickenson said that he would abide by a straw vote, taken the night of the meeting, to keep seventh and eighth- grade dances separate from high school dances and would consider keeping junior high students on campus during lunch. The high school now has an open campus policy during the lunch hour. Starr said that to save costs, the administration has agreed to a zero increase in salary; the assistant superintendent and main grounds supervisor posi tions have been eliminated and those jobs are now supervised by him; the district has already made cuts in food service, has im plem ented a pay-to- participate program for sports and other extra curricular ac tivities, and has gone to a four- day student week, which was designed to cut down expenses related to substitute teachers and utilities. Starr said that while five teaching positions will be eliminated, he doesn't an- ticipate the layoff of five teachers. H o w ev e r, the teachers may be offered jobs at other locations in the county, which have resulted from resignations and retirements. " W e hope to make ad justments so we don't have to lay off anyone," he said. Administration cited an ad vantage in the new system in that bright seventh and eighth graders will now be able to take advanced classes more in line with their abilities. " I don't think Heppner's academic pro gram will suffer," said Starr. Dickenson said that while the number of students in a classroom will increase, the high school has plenty of room to accommodate the junior high students, since it was design ed for 225 to 250 people and now has only around 140 students. Starr added that the passage of the school district bond issue will do much to ease the finan cial pinch. Some of the monies for repairs and renovations will come out of the 1995-96 budget if the bond issue fails again 4-H Speakeasy slated Jan. 27 Elizabeth Allen gives demonstration 4-H members, leaders and parents are invited to the 4-H "S p e a k e a s y " on Friday, Jan. 27 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Riverside High School in Boardman. Those attending can play TKT "S p e a k in g " games, make posters, learn to do a team presentation, laugh and eat ice cream. For more information, call the Morrow County Exten sion office, 676-9642 or 1-800-342-3664. ./ M ¿ / ¿ ¿ -¿ ¡S .d ? / 9 9 S * ' W Doubles \ T u b s S i B|i le t • 'C * ' V wise 9 All teems M u t i Do u b l e s Super Demers Dleieloe(CS) ? °° entry All Iteels Entry Torme Aeiilible it BEI7NER BOILING LANES \A J f7 L * # * * # * # * # * § Highly luminous, these watches are designed withstand pressure of 660 feet of water inside threading screw crown and surgical steel parts en- ^ sure longer term durability. * # * # * 4 Mei I w Jewelers ol America. Inc Peterson’s Heppner 4 ^
