Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (April 14, 1999)
School district changes senior trip policy, graduation requirements Assisted Living Board hears survey results The Willow Creek Valley Assisted Living Board has received the results of the telephone survey conducted recently by the Health Facilities Planning and Development firm of Seattle. This survey was conducted as part of a market assessment and feasibility study report. The data provided from this survey is required by the funding sources before they can move on to the next phase of their plan to secure grants and loans, said a board news release. The results of the phone survey indicate significant interest and need for an assisted living facility in the Willow Creek Valley, according to the release. A copy of the results of this survey is available at the Heppner City Hall. Consultants are now in the process of identifying potential funding sources through grants and loans. If the board decides to move ahead with the process, the consultants will proceed with applications for financial assistance. The telephone survey revealed that many of the respondents have questions about care provided in an assisted living facility and monthly costs to residents. In an effort to answer these questions the board has Health district receives emergency gear from CSEPP Left to Right - Steven Myren, medical preparedness officer, Rusty Estes and Carl Lauritsen, EMTs, and Sheila Dahlman, hospital administrator, look over new emergency medical gear recently received by the Morrow County Health District from the Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program. There is about $30,000 worth of medical equipment pictured here, which will be divided up between fire departments and EMT groups throughout the county. Myren said more equipment will be arriving later The supplies are to aid the EMTs in case of an accident at the Umatilla Army Depot during future destruction of chemical weapons that are stored there. prepared a brochure to be available by Friday, April 16. These brochures will be placed at city hall in Heppner and at the post offices in lone, Lexington and Heppner. Brochures will also be mailed to those who indicated during the telephone survey that they want more information. The board invites all interested people to pick up a brochure for themselves or to mail to a friend. Individuals with further questions may call any of the following board members: Suzanne Jepsen, 676-9850; Gail Hughes, 676-9782; Doris Brosnan, 676-5382; Rene' Devin, 676-9618; Diana Ball, 676-5306; Don Bristow, 422- 7470; Luella Taylor, 989-8508; Sherron Woodside, 989-8166; or Sally Walker, 676-9112. Booster Club holds meeting The Cardinal Booster Club met Monday, April 5, at the lone High School Library. The club heard reports from committees. The 1980 district basketball board is being made. Monica Swanson has set up a meeting with Jan of Jan and Bob's Signs to discuss gym improvements. Betty Gray announced that Wednesday, May 19 will be lone Physical Fitness Day. May has been designated Sports and Physical Fitness Month for the state of Oregon. Club members agreed to help support any activates the school may want to sponsor to promote physical fitness. The club will be selling t-shirts on the 4th of July as a fund raiser. Swanson is looking into designs and will report back to the club. Track coach Dean Robinson thanked the club for buying middle school track shorts. Jim Swanson suggested the club sponsor a steak feed as a money maker next fall. A committee of Swanson. Betty Gray and Chris Davis will make suggestions at the next meeting. A Cardinal Beanie Baby was donated to the school by Pat Sweeney. Various ideas for using it as a money maker were discussed. The next meeting of the Cardinal Booster Club will be Monday, May 3, at 7 p.m. at the high school library. HI QUAL POLY WATER TROUGHS 55 gallon • 100 gallon • 155 gallon • 300 gallon Sale through Apr!! 30th M orrow C ounty G rain G rowers Lexington 989-8221 • 1 -800-452-7396 For farm tquipmtnt visit our w*b site at www mcgg.net The high school senior trip to Disneyland, anticipated by many Morrow County students on graduation night, may now be a thing of the past. The Morrow County School Board, at its regular meeting Monday night at lone, set guidelines which would prevent schools from sponsoring senior class trips. The students may still opt to plan such a trip, but. according to the district's new "senior trip guidelines", they must do so independently of the school. According to the new guidelines, "The district does not support or sanction senior trips. Any student-parent group proposing such a trip will be advised that both the fund raising and the trip itself will be separate from the school and will not be considered a school activity." Student-parent organizations planning for a senior trip would still be able to use the school facilities for fund raisers, such as taco feeds or bake sales. They would be granted the same access as other groups outside the school who are seeking to use school facilities and would be required to approach the school's student council with a request to do so. The board voted unanimously in accepting the first reading of the new guidelines, which, if approved, will go into effect for the 1999-2000 school year. Superintendent Ohuck Starr said, however, that if this year's juniors have funds which they have raised and definite plans for a senior trip destination, they may use the money they have raised so far. However, the majority of money earned for a senior trip is made the students' senior year. So if the present juniors intend to take a trip they must either scale down their plans to accommodate their current funds or raise money independently of the school. School board members said that they were concerned about the district's liability and lawsuits arising over incidents occurring on the trips, such as the ones recently in the news, some of which involved underage drinking, wet T-shirt contests and other unchaperoned activities. The board also cited concerns about students raising the large amount of money required to fund such trips. The district, however, said that they support alcohol/drug free post graduation parties for seniors. According to the district, "While fund raising and the "parties" themselves will be separate from the school and not considered a school sponsored activity, the school will help facilitate and communicate their organization. Riverside High School Principal Duane Yecha cited this year's graduation party for Riverside High School's seniors as an example. Their graduation activity will include a trip to Portland with an all-night party on the stemwheeler on the Columbia River. The trip was organized separately from the school and funds were raised independently. In a related issue, the board approved a draft of new regulations for club and organization field trips. If this proposal is approved, "Clubs or organizations planning field trips which exceed 200 miles round trip must submit proposals and secure approval of the building principal and superintendent in the academic year preceding the trip. "Any trip involving travel exceeding 600 miles round trip; or overnight stays; or total cost exceeding $2,000; must be approved by the principal, the superintendent and the board in the academic year preceding the planned trip." Proposals must include the name of the club, organization, number of students. number of adult chaperons, destination of trip, distance and number of days and whether they are school days, transportation plan, purpose of trip, cost, fund raising proposed and liability insurance provided. According to the proposed regulations. Outdoor Club ski trips, for example, would come under the new guidelines and have to be submitted the previous year, but athletic programs, such as basketball, volleyball or football, would not fall under the new guidelines. According to assistant superintendent Michael Keown. sports programs arr usually scheduled by the athletic director a year in advance, approved by the school principal and reviewed by the superintendent. The board also approved the first reading of new graduation requirements. Graduation requirements for the class of 2000 would include a passing score on the Immigration Nationalization Service test of citizenship and would also include 10 hours of community service. The class of 2001 would have to complete 20 hours of community service to graduate and the classes of 2002 and beyond would be required to complete 30 hours of community service. Requirements for a career/personal finance class would be dropped for the class of 2001, Instead, career education would be integrated into a combination of classes and the advisor/advisee program. "Beginning with the class of 2002, an "Employability Skills Certificate" for pre-employment and applied skills will be required for graduation." Students graduating in the class of 2003 will be required to have a third math class (two are now required) and will be required to take two credits of a second language. The additional math class could be basic math, it student parent and school counselor all agree. Otherwise the third unit should be integrated Math II or higher. The second language requirement may be waived as a credit requirement if the student has met the PASS" proficiencies required for entry into Oregon universities. Also for the class ot 2003, the applied/fine arts requirement must include at least .5 unit of music or art. The board approved changes in staffing, which would involve teachers at Heppner High School. Heppner Elementary School and lone Schools. At Heppner High School, Starr proposed eliminating a half-time alternative education position and laying off alternative teacher Chuck Matteson. Starr said that the ag program at HHS is under utilized and proposed that current ag teacher, Lynn Harmonson. teach alternative education classes in addition to the agriculture program. Board member Barney Lindsay, a former ag teacher, opposed the move, saying he wanted to separate the item from others in the action agenda so that he would be able speak with the ag and alternative ed teachers before taking action. Starr interjected, saying that it was not the board's duty to interview individual teachers, but rather to set policy. Lindsay's motion died, however, due to lack of a second. Starr said that his proposal would save the ag program, which is under utilized. Staffing changes also included increasing the music teacher at Heppner High School and Heppner Elementary School from half to full-time. Ralph Werner currently holds that position. Darlene Marquardt would be transferred to lone full-time to teach music, business education and two periods of special education. The Heppner special education specialist will be to lone 1/2 day per week. Starr said the changes would "increase music by eliminating travel time" between Heppner and lone and there would be no actual impact on the full-time equivalent positions. He also said the layoff of the alternative ed teacher would eliminate the benefits for a half time teacher The board approved the hiring of new school superintendent Bruce Anderson, who will replace Chuck Starr. The board hired Anderson over the objections of Clint Carlson, who read a letter to the board citing "ethical and moral" concerns about Anderson. A March 18 article on Anderson in the Central Oregonian newspaper in Pnneville said, "Last year Anderson told the (Crook County) school board that he would seek other employment and expedite his departure from the school district following a critical review by the board." A March 27 article in the Bend Bulletin said that Anderson "was often criticized for his alienating management style. District teachers game him a vote of not confidence last spring." The Morrow County School Board defended their choice of Anderson, saying he was the best choice of 17 candidates who applied. Board chair John Rietmann said that the board "very carefully" checked Anderson's background and said "It was the consensus of the board that he has the capabilities to lead a district that is functioning well." Lindsay added that Anderson"rose to the top" of the field of candidates. In other business, the board: -Accepted resignations/retirement from A1 Beck, retiring as Heppner Junior/Senior High social studies teaching position at the end of the school year; Karen Dubuque, from Heppner Elementary third/fourth grade teaching position at the end of the school year; Paul Hibbard, retiring from Riverside High School advanced math teaching position at the end of the school year; Ken Morris, resigning from RHS assistant custodian position, effective March 19; Margaret Ramirez, resigning from RHS ELL education assistant position, effective March 31; Cynthia McConnell, resigning fro a part- time special education assistant position at HES, effective March 8; Priscilla Juarez, resigning from a temporary education assistant position at ACH, effective March 30; Tome Philippi, resigning from RHS extra duty position as assistant volleyball coach; Sara Greenup, resigning from HJH extra duty position as assistant volleyball coach. Granted a request for maternity leave for Anita Ottemess, from ESL position at RHS from May 10 to June 11. Approved employment/transfer to Len Bodeen, as CMS probationary art teacher for the 199-2000 school year; Julie Weikel, CMS probationary science for the 1999-2000 school year; Shannon Jensen, probationary contract to teach kindergarten/first grade at ACH for the 1999-2000 school year; Tracy Gordanier, transfer from CMS as special ed assistant to Boardman Learning Center education assistant position; Karli Cook, transfer from RHS education assistant to Boardman Learning Center ed assistant; Ellen Slover, transfer from special ed/food service assistant at CMS to RHS special ed assistant; Amanda Shasteen, special education assistant at SBE; Charlene Baker, on-on-one special ed assistant at CMS; Charleen Baker, on one special education assistant at CMS; Debra Campbell, part-time special education assistant at lone Elementary School to work with a special needs student; Charity McElligott, extra duty contract to serve IHS assistant tennis coach. - Accepted a donation of a number of technology hardware items to the district. -Approved a request for the 1999 lone senior class trip. -Accepted first readings of several smoking/tobacco policies; March 9 election results.; second readings of an injectable medication policy. -Heard the superintendent's reports: on an increase of 1999- 2000 meal prices; the school funding update; bond issue update; classified and confidential employees for May action; dropout report for 1997- 98; dropouts for 1997-98; the Heppner Elementary principal selection process and academic excellence reports. -Heard the following announcement of upcoming events: April 21-HES principal selection committee. 7 pm.; April 26-first budget committee meeting and budget message, district office. 7:30; April 27-29- mterviews with HES principal candidates, to be announced; April 29-Unified Recreation District budget meeting. RHS. 7:30 p.m.; May 3-second budget committee meeting, RHS, 7:30 p.m.; May 10-next regular meeting, district office, 7:30 p.m Rodeo court plans can drive The Oregon Trail Pro Rodeo and Morrow County Fair Court will hold a can drive this Friday. April 16. starting at 10a.m
