P r S S I E
VOL. 114
NO. 40
High School sorts out dress code
’A ' E T Z T L L
U OF ORE
NEWSPAPER
LIB
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o -i 4 , ..
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By April Hilton-Sykes
8 Pages Wednesday. September 20. 1995,
Morrow County Heppner, Oregon
City receives street improvement grant
The city of Heppner was
notified this week that its ap
plication for a $25,000 Special
Cities Allotment Grant for
street improvements has been
selected for funding in 1996 by
the Oregon Dept, of Transpor
tation (ODOT).
City manager Gary Marks
said the grant funds will be us
ed next summer to repair and
overlay Gale Street between
" A " Street and Church Street.
The city anticipates that Gale
Street will be used as a detour
for Highway 74 during the
summer of 1997 when ODOT
plans to rebuild Heppner's
Main Street and sidewalks.
"This grant comes at the
perfect time to prepare Gale
Street for heavier than normal
use in 1997," said Marks.
Marks said another section of
Gale Street, between Church
Street and May Street, will
undergo repairs within the next
two weeks as part of the city's
1995 Street Improvement Pro
ject. Other improvements an
ticipated this month are the
reconstruction of Elder and
Aiken streets north of the Elder
Street Bridge, widening of the
Water Street hill and overlay
ing of the vehicular turn
around at the downtown city
park.
School board takes care of business
Chairman Scott Bauska call
ed the regular meeting of the
Morrow County School District
Board of Directors to order at
7:30 p.m. at the district office
in Lexington, Monday, Sept.
11 .
The consent agenda was ap
proved as presented and in
cluded the following: minutes
of regular meeting of Aug. 14;
minutes of executive session of
Aug. 14; financial report;
resignations of Bill Umbarger,
teacher at Heppner High
School, Judy Buck, SpEd assis
tant at Columbia Middle
School, Cynthia Shular, food
service clerical assistant at AC
Houghton, Bryan Padberg,
assistant boys' basketball coach
at HHS; termination of Eugene
Lewis, assistant custodian at
HHS; layoffs of Mike and Cin
dy Brosnan, van drivers at
Heppner; transfer of Marchell
Downey, from ed assistant at
Riverside High School to SpEd
assistant at CMS; employment
of Marilyn Stewart, food ser
vice clerical assistant at ACH,
Darlene Fulmer, food service
clerical assistant at Sam Board-
man Elementary, Kathy Cuts-
forth, assistant custodian at
Heppner Elementary School,
Bob French, three hour assis
tant custodian at CMS, Robin
Jones and Kelli Jo Keithley, 3Vi
hr. Title I ed assistants at HES,
Sharon Rietmann and Shelly
Key, 3V2 hr. Title 1 ed assistants
at lone, Lois Tallman, Title I ed
assistant at RHS/SBE, JoLynn
Britt, half-time sixth grade
teacher at HES, Sharon Morris,
kindergarten teacher at HES,
John Scanlan, language arts
teacher at RHS, Debbie Bums,
TAG coordinator at ACH,
Doug Howell and Marge Bert-
leson, assistant volleyball
coachs at CMS, Laura Combes,
assistant volleyball coach at
RHS, Robin Huxoll, cheer
leader advisor at RHS, Cathy
McCabe, assistant volleyball
coach at lone High School,
Lana Orr, head volleyball coach
for seventh/eighth grade at
Heppner Jr. High School, Dana
Reid, assistant volleyball coach
at HHS, Chris Rauch, assistant
football coach at HHS.
Delegations: ESD-Bill Taylor;
MCEA-Martha Lee Wallace;
OSEA-no representatives.
Field trip request: approved
request from SBE to take
students to OMSI on a field
trip. Costs of the trip are
covered by a cash award from
an Oregon Dairy Council
contest.
Curriculum report: the 1995
SAT and Oregon Statewide
Assessment Test results were
presented and evaluated.
Superintendent's report:
clarified new election laws for
Board and Advisory Commit
tee members. No elections in
19%; reported on District Inser
vice and the opening of the
school year; reported on the
enrollment comparisons from
1994-95 to 1995-%. Gain of 51
students over last year;
reported on alcohol/drug viola
tions and enforcement of
district policy; reported that the
Title VII (ESL) grants for RHS
and SBE were denied; in
dicated that the budget calen
dar would be presented at the
Oct. meeting; discussed new
laws related to Site Councils
and the need for a policy
revision.
Unfinished business: tabled
the appointment of a new
budget committee member un
til the October meeting.
New business: approved
Baker & Associates as "Clerk of
the Works" for the bond issue
projects and appointed Russ
Morgan to work with Chuck
Starr to negotiate a contract;
approved contingency expen
diture to address unanticipated
staffing needs at SBE, HES and
HHS.
Announcem ents: Oct. 5
OSBA Fall Regional meeting in
Pendleton; Oct. 9 next regular
meeting at HHS at 7:30 p.m.;
Oct. 9-13 Classified Employees
Week.
Ree. district budget passes
M orrow C ounty
Special E lectio n Results
Tuesday, Sept. 19, 1995
Shall District levy $450,000 per year for
three years outside the tax base for operating
purposes beginning in 1995-96?
Yes
No
Boardman
lone
Irrigon
Lexington
Heppner/Hardman
Totals
302
207
299
165
636
1609
241
93
353
81
267
1035
An expanded dress code
policy at Heppner High/Junior
High school in effect this year
has many parents, students
and perhaps even teachers con
fused.
Principal Steve Dickenson
said that while this year's dress
code policy is much the same
as in previous years, the school
has "borrowed" some aspects
from Riverside High School's
policy.
The HHS/HJHS policy pro
hibits clothing that is in viola
tion of the district's sexual
harassment policy, is too
revealing, has a sexual content,
advertizes drugs, alcohol or
tobacco, is discriminatory or is
deemed to be gang related.
The district's anti-gang policy
prohibits clothing that is over
sized or baggy, overalls that are
not fastened, stocking hats
knotted in back, bandanas,
headbands, hair nets, hanging
belts, pagers or beepers (often
used by gang members for
drug deals) and gang-related
tattoos. Hats are prohibited
during school hours from 7:30
a.m. to 4 p.m.
Also banned are T-shirts or
other clothing printed with per
sonalized messages, nick
names, the phrase" Smile now,
cry later" or "In memory o f..."
Dickenson said that some gang
members had memorialized
their slain friends by printing
their photos and birth and
death dates on T-shirts.
Dickenson said that while
"fad " memorial shirts are not
gang related, they have to be
included in the ban because of
consistency. He said that he
sent a student home to change
a Kurt Cobain memorial T-shirt
and suggested that a student
with a Steve Prefontaine
memorial shirt also change.
While not associated with
gangs, Kurt Cobain was a rock
musician and drug user who
committed suicide. Steve
Prefontaine was an Olympic
runner who died in a car acci
dent in Eugene.
Dickenson said that the
school is also sensitive to sex
ual harassment issues, especial
ly since the seventh and eighth
grade students have moved up
to the high school. He said that
students wearing T-shirts with
sexual double meanings will
also be sent home to change.
Dickenson said that an official
OSU Beaver T-shirt would be
acceptable, but not a shirt that
uses the term beaver as a sex
ual double entendre. Similarly,
a student wearing a "Bush" T-
shirt was sent home. Although
"B u sh " is the name of a rock
band, it also conveys a sexual
message, unbeknownst to the
student who wore the shirt to
school. A teacher considered
sending another student home
to change because the student
wore a "White Zombie" T-
shirt. "White Zombie", initially
thought by a teacher to be gang
related, is the name of a rock
group.
Dickenson said that students
in violation of the dress code
were previously asked to put
on a coat or turn their shirts
inside-out, but too many in
stances occurred where the stu
dent would later reverse the
shirt or take off the coat. He
said that the code also applies
during school sanctioned ac
tivities such as sports events.
Dickenson stresses that the
dress code is to protect the
students and create an at
mosphere conducive to learn
ing. He asks that parents and
students contact him if they
have any questions or concerns
about the policies.
The Heppner High School
clothing policy, found on page
15 of the student handbook, is
as follows:
"In general, students should
dress in neat, clean, appropri
ate clothing that does not
disrupt the educational process
and protects the rights of
others. This specifically in
cludes the following.
"1 . No bare midriffs or styles
that show one's underwear,
spandex or immodest tank
tops. 2. Shoes must be worn at
all times. 3. No clothing adver
tising alcohol, tobacco, drugs or
insinuating sexual or discrim
inating messages. 4. Shirts and
tops must be worn at all times.
5. Shorts may be worn, but
must be mid-thigh, no boxer
shorts. PE shorts in gym only.
6. Clothing must fit (see district
policy below). "S a g g ie s ",
"S lo u ch ie s", or extremely
oversize clothing is not to be
worn. Torn or otherwise
damaged clothing is not ap
propriate for school. 7.
Coveralls/overalls must be
completely fastened. Chains
and other noisy or dangerous
items attached to clothing are
not allowed. 8. Stocking hats
knotted in back, bandanas,
headbands, hairnets and hang
ing belts are not allowed. 9. No
personalized messages or inap
propriate nicknam es on
clothing and no "In memory
o f" or "Smile now, cry later"
logos are permitted. 10. No
pagers or beepers, unless prin
cipal approved. 11. All tattoos
deemed gang related must be
covered. 12. Hats are not to be
worn during school hours.
School hours are from 7:30 a.m.
to 4 p.m.
"Students found to be in
violation of these guidelines
will be asked to immediately
conform and will be subject to
disciplinary action according to
the student management pol-
History center planning underway
Meetings are planned as
follows: Wednesday, Sept. 20,
5-8 p.m., public forum; Thurs
day, Sept. 21, museum plann
ing and design; Friday, Sept.
22, museum and exhibit de
sign, rough draft strategic plan
report; Saturday, Sept. 23,
museum and exhibit design, 12
to 3 p.m., public design forum.
The meetings will be held at
the GEODC office on Main
Street in Heppner.
icy. Be aware, however, that
violations of guidelines 6, 8, 9
and 11 may be a violation of the
district's gang policy and could
result in severe disciplinary ac
tion."
Dickenson says that contrary
to popular belief that the Hepp
ner area hasn't had any gang
problems, several instances in
the past have been gang re
lated.
The dress code also includes
the follow ing, previously
established:
" 2 . Student dress and
grooming are the responsibili
ty of parents and students. 3.
All clothing worn to school
should fit, reflect cleanliness,
good taste and be of acceptable
length. Acceptable length shall
be considered to be no shorter
than m id-thigh. Clothing
would be worn properly but
toned or snapped and with ap
propriate undergarments. The
following are examples of
clothing that are not acceptable
at any time of the year: See-
through clothing, clothing
worn above mid-thigh, half
shirts, jerseys or sweatshirts in
bad taste, of immodest nature,
and any form of clothing that
is dirty or slogans which are
profane or suggest the adver
tising or any form of drug or
alcohol, short shorts and PE
shorts, b. Shoes must be worn
at all times. Sandals are accep
table but students wearing
them do so at their own risk.
For the sake of cleanliness and
good hygiene, it is recommend
ed that stockings or socks be
worn at all times. Thongs are
not acceptable, c. Hair and
facial hair must be kept clean
and neatly trimmed, d.
Students may not wear hats
during regular school hours in
side the school building, but
hats may be worn at extra
curricular activities. Scarves
and head bands may be worn
appropriately, e. Jewelry, but
tons and other forms of or
namentation which are distrac
ting, make noises, espouse
violence, are obscene, suggest
obscenity or call for an illegal
act may not be worn.
The policy also states that in
dividual teachers are not
limited in their responsibilities
and obligations to "make and
enforce regulations concerning
control of hair or clothing in the
interest of safety within their
own unique classroom situa
tions."
Dickenson advises that
students comply with the rules
first and then, if they or their
parents want to pursue the
issue, they may discuss it with
him. If they still are not
satisfied, they may appeal the
decision to the school board.
First W C P D
hearings closed
The first public hearing on
both the first and second group
of petitioners asking to be ex
cluded from the Willow Creek
Park District in South Morrow
County has been closed.
The second public hearing for
both groups of petitioners will
be held Monday, Oct. 16, ten
tatively at the lone School.
Bryan Burke
Bryan Burke of the Office of
Bryan Burke, Architect,
Portland, Brooks Heard, an ar
chitect with the firm, and Mar
sha Sweek, Morrow County
Museum director, are holding
meetings and planning ses
sions all this week to gather
public input on plans for a
history center to be located in
Heppner.
Tim Cundell featured in magazine
Tim Cundell, Lexington,
senior trooper with the Oregon
State Police, was featured in
the summer 1995 issue of the
"Oregon State Trooper", the
official publication of the
Oregon State Police Officer's
Association.
The magazine featured a
photograph and article entitled,
"Talented Trooper", about
Cundell, who is an accomplish
ed musician and vocalist.
D AN N ER
Boot Solo
1 0 % oft
Our in Store prices
Sale through 9-30-95
Stop by and check our super pricing on DANNER Work and Sporting boots.
Morrow County Crain Growers
Lexington 989-8221
1-800-452-7396