N EffSPAPSR
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Why four day school week works
0 7
By Chuck Starr, superintendent
of Morrow County Schools
Bond measure reduces school taxes
According to figures presen­
ted at a Feb. 2 community
meeting on school issues, held
at Heppner High School, voters
will pay fewer taxes for schools
than they do now, even if they
pass a $13,290,000 school bond
levy.
Ballot Measure 5 will knock
the school operating taxes from
$7.50 per thousand assessed
valuation for the 1994-95 school
year to $5 per thousand for
1995-%. So, when $5 per thou­
sand for operating costs is com­
bined with the $1.96 per thou­
sand for construction and
remodeling, the result is $6.96
per thousand, which is 54 cents
less than school related taxes
for the 1994-95 year. The $1.96
per thousand is only for the
first year of the levy; the rate
will decline in subsequent
years.
If voters pass the construc­
tion bond (for a combined rate
of $6.96 per thousand for
operating funds and construc­
tion funds), a taxpayer with
$50,000 home will pay $348 in
taxes; one with a $200,000
business will pay $1,392; and
one with a $1 million farm will
pay $6,960.
-If voters reject the construc­
tion bond (for a rate of $5 per
thousand for school operating
funds only), a taxpayer with a
$50,000 home will pay $250 in
taxes; one with a $200,000
business will pay $1,000; and
one a $1 million farm will pay
$5,000.
At last year's rate of $7.50 per
thousand for operating funds,
a taxpayer with a $50,000 home
paid $375; one with a $200,000
business paid $1,500; and one
with a $1 million farm paid
$7,500.
According to the school
district, classroom construction
is needed, especially because of
overcrowding in north county
schools. A school district fact
sheet says that enrollment at
Sam Boardman Elementary
School has increased 71 percent
since the last construction;
Riverside High School enroll­
ment has increased 66 percent;
A.C. Houghton Elementary, 74
percent; and Columbia Junior
High, 58 percent. According to
the district, computer labs,
storage rooms and library and
cafeteria areas are now being
used for classroom space and
more growth is expected.
District officials say that
passage of the bond levy will
also ease budget woes. The
district expects to lose at least
$1 million because of Ballot
Measure 5 and the state school
funding formula. If the bond
issue is passed, monies for
equipment, technology, re­
pairs, such as repair of the Col­
umbia Junior High roof, and
some state and federally man­
dated items, which have been
budgeted in the general fund,
can be funded by the bond
issue. With passage of the bond
issue, the district expects to
save $180 to $200 thousand per
year from the general fund.
A summary of the proposed
bond issue projects is as
follows:
-Heppner Elementary-$1.2
million, six classrooms, up­
dated technology, American
Disablities Act requirements,
additional maintenance, repair
and equipment needs;
-lone Elementary-$225 thou­
sand, remodel basement area,
updated technology, American
Disabilities Act requirements,
additional maintenance, repair
and equipment needs;
-Sam Boardman Elementary-
$1.4 million, eight classrooms,
storage space, two conference
rooms, one staff room, updated
technology, American Disabil­
ities Act requirements, addi­
tional maintenance, repair and
equipment needs
-A.C. Houghton Elementary,
Irrigon-$1.7 million, eight
classrooms, replace media
center, remodel current library
for staff conference room, add
storage space, updated tech­
nology, American Disabilities
Act Requirements, additional
maintenance, repair and equip­
ment needs;
-Columbia Junior High
School, Irrigon-$2.1 million, 10
classrooms, remodel locker
room area, new roof, repair
gym floor, updated technology,
American Disabilities Act Re-
quiements, additional main­
tenance, repair and equipment
needs;
-Heppner High-$437 thou­
sand, one new computer lab,
remodel gymnasium space, up­
dated technology, American
Disabilities Act Requirements,
additional maintenance, repair
and equipment needs;
-Riverside High-$2.1 million,
12 classrooms, remodel media
center, remodel commons area,
add storage space, updated
technology, American Dis­
abilities Act Requirements, ad­
ditional maintenance, repair
and equipment needs.
Several controversial line
items have been eliminated, in­
cluding a greenhouse at Hepp­
ner High School at $22,500; an
art music, cafeteria and gym
facility at Heppner Elementary
at $1,020,000 and a gym-
nasium/wrestling area at
$1,275,000, lockers and weight
room at $400,000 and restrooms
at $110,000 at Riverside.
Administrators stress that the
7-12 configuration at Heppner
High School will still proceed
whether the bond issue passes
or not. “Don't take it out on the
ballot box," said principals,
Steve Dickenson and Bill Kar-
wacki, moderators at the Feb.
2 meeting.
The fact sheet also stated that
this does not mean that the
chance for a high school in Ir-
rigon is lost forever and made
it clear that the old Irrigon
school will not be destroyed.
Doctors express interest in area
A husband-wife doctor team
from Bangladesh has express­
ed interest in joining the staff
at the Pioneer Memorial Clinic
in Heppner, Pioneer Hospital
Administrator Kevin Erich told
the Morrow County Health
District Board at their meeting
Feb. 6.
Erich told the board that the
doctors, currently completing
their residency in Chicago,
have visited Heppner.
Erich added, however that
because the doctors have a cer­
tain type of visa, a J-l visa, they
must work for a “ medically
underserved “ area if they wish
to work in United States. While
the Heppner area qualifies as
an underserved area according
to state requirements, it may
not qualify according to federal
regulations. According to Erich,
federal regulations require a
3,000 to one patient/doctor
ratio, while the south county
area currently has a 4,5000 to
two ratio.
Additional doctors are sought
for the Heppner area, because
the current doctors, Ed and
Jeanne Berretta, have an ex­
tremely heavy workload, said
Erich. In addition to regular of­
fice hours, they are also on call
evenings and weekends at
Pioneer Memorial Hospital.
The clinic has not been accep­
ting new patients because of
the patient load.
An additional dentist and a
hygienist are also being sought
for the dental offices located in
Heppner and Boardman. Ac­
cording to Erich, Dr. Blair
Smith, who splits his time bet­
ween the two dental offices,
has a two to three month
waiting period for appoint­
ments.
Why didn't teachers take a
pay cut when you went to a
four day student week? They
only work four days a week
now.
There are two major reasons
why teachers did not take a cut
in pay when we went to the
four day student week. They
are as follows:
1. Teachers are actually work­
ing more total hours now for
the district than they were
under the five day student
week calendar. Their work on
student days has been extend­
ed by one hour per day. They
are required to work many
Fridays, and those involved in
coaching are working Fridays
whether there is school or not.
They are participating in both
required and volunteer inser-
vke training activities that are
conducted on Fridays and do
not detract from student con­
tact time.
2. Teachers are actually pro­
viding more direct instructional
time for students than was
possible under the five day stu­
dent week calendar. This fact is
made possible by eliminating
most interruptions to instruc­
tional time.
Hasn't the four day student
week robbed our kids of
valuable instruction time? For
example, our kids only had
nine days of school in
December.
The absolute, flat out honest
answer to this question is no.
As a matter of fact, our
students have actually gained
in actual instructional time
under the four day student
week calendar. Let me give you
three concrete examples of how
they have gained this time.
1. By having most of our
cocurricular activities (athletics,
etc.) on Fridays now, we have
gained significant instructional
time for all high school and
middle school students, as well
as elementary students who
either attended those activities
in the past or were impacted by
teachers leaving for them. We
know we have gained at least
60 hours of direct instruction in
our high schools.
2. Under the five day student
week, parent/teacher/student
conferences were scheduled
during times which impacted
instructional hours. We closed
school for elementary and mid­
dle school students anywhere
from two to four days per year
for those conferences. Under
the four day week, our teachers
have agreed to conduct those
conferences on Thursday even­
ing and Friday morning.
Students gain back those two
to four days of direct instruc­
tional time.
3. All around us, and across
the state, schools are closing
one or two days per month for
planning and inservice related
to the 21st Century Schools re­
quirements. Even though we
far exceed the state minimum
instructional hours in all of our
schools but Riverside High
School; and even though we
are allowed by state rule to use
all of our excess hours and an
additional 30 of the minimum
hours to close school for
students and have planning/
inservice days, we have not
done so. The four day student
week has allowed us to meet
most of our needs on Fridays,
without disrupting student in­
structional time.
Yes, we only had nine stu­
dent days in December. If we
had been on a five day student
week, we would have had 12
student days, with less hours
per day. The overall result of
the four day student week
calendar has been an increase
in valuable instructional time
for all of our students.
Keep
those
questions
coming.
M CGG breakfast Saturday
Photo by Joyce Hughes
Jenny Krein (front) arranges items on the shelf at MCGG while
Char Coe watches. For the past several years MCGG has hired
the senior class of Heppner High School to help prepare the store
for the annual appreciation breakfast The money raised goes
toward the senior drug and alcohol free graduation trip.
The Morrow County Grain
Growers will hold their annual
customer appreciation day this
Saturday, Feb. 11 from 8 a.m.
to 12 noon.
The day starts off with the
traditional free pancake
breakfast, followed by product
displays, door prizes and fac­
tory representatives.
The new 2100 series combine
from Case IH will be on
display, as well as a huge in­
flated repleca of a Case tractor.
Everyone is invited to attend
the customer appreciation day.
Armato heads up BEO Mortgage
ing in a new office at the Hepp­
ner Branch, announced bank
president George Koffler.
Managed by Mike Armato, the
new company offers a wide
variety of products, including
conventional, jumbo, custom
construction and VA loans.
FHA Loans will be available
soon, Koffler says.
“The addition of the bank's
mortgage company with many
products we have av ailable will
allow people to find the pro­
gram to best fit their needs with
the most competitive rates and
turnaround time. Also, by pro­
cessing the loans locally, we re
making it much easier for po-
Mike Armato
ple to go through the loan pro­
BEO Mortgage, the newest
cess," Koffler explains. “We re
division of the Bank of Eastern
lucky to have Mike on board.
Oregon, is now up and runn-
His experience in the mortgage
lending business will be a big
asset. Kith for the bank and the
local people as well."
Marks said that the grant will
Originally from San Fran­
provide salary and benefits tor cisco, Armato graduated from
an entry level position, w ith the the the University of California,
city to provide approximateh
Berkeley, and began his career
$25,000 in matching funds over
in finance in 1979 . He was most
the three-year period. He said
recently employed with
after the city receives a mailing
DeMark Financial Corporation
from the Department of Justice,
in Lake Oswego. Armato s
the position will be advertised.
wife, Kim Cutstorth and their
The city was forced to
two children, Maggie, three
eliminate its third policeman s
and Joe, 20 months, will be
position on July 1, 1992,
joining him in Heppner soon
because of Ballot Measure 5
budget shortfalls.
City receives grant for police position
Heppner City Manager Gary
Marks told the Chamber of
Commerce Tuesday, that the
city has qualified for a grant to
fund a third police officer for
the city of Heppner.
Marks said that he was
notified by Senator Packwood's
office and the U.S. Attorney's
office that Heppner will receive
a $72,270 grant over a three-
year period from COPS FAST
(Community Oriented Policing
Services Funding Accelerated
for Smaller Towns).
Gotloiiier Appreciation Pay
Friday, Feb. 10 - Chemical Clinic
Sat. Feb. 11 - Free breakfast • Trade Show, 8 a.m.-noon
Door prizes • Knife Sharpening
Morrow County Grain Growers
Lexington 989-8221
1-800-452-7396