Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (June 2, 1999)
Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, June 2,1999 - FIVE School board approves new graduation requirements, eliminates community service The Morrow County School Board, at their May 10 meeting in Lexington, passed new graduation requirements that stipulate that students must pass the Immigration and N atu ra liz a tio n S ervice citizenship test in order to graduate. Plans are to integrate teaching of the INS test materials into the seniors' social studies class, with the initial test to take place during the first semester. If a student does not pass the first citizenship test, he will be given an opportunity to take the test until he does. (See adjoining article with some sample INS test questions.) The board removed from the graduation requirements the proposed stipulation that students complete a specified number of hours of community service. "I have some concerns (about the proposed community service requirement)," said board member Russ Morgan, in opposition to the requirement. "I believe firmly that community service is not for everybody. It doesn't always benefit the community. It can be a burden on the community. Quite frankly I would be really concerned about some kids doing some kinds of community service.. I'd also be concerned that over time this becomes a rubber stamping. I think we can do this without requiring it." Board member Scott Bauska said he favored the requirement. "The Creating the Future group (which recommended the changes) felt that the schools had been falling down in making kids citizens. I really support this," said Bauska, who added that his employer required community service of its employees. Board member Barney Lindsay also disagreed with the proposal, saying, "I have some concerns about mandatory community service and I also have concerns about community service in class time. I think it's a bad thing," concluded Lindsay, who added that academics should receive priority during class time. George Griffith, a member of the audience, also voiced his opposition to the proposal, along with several others. ""You (the school board) seem to be assuming that kids have a lot of time," said Griffith. "A lot of kids work. What right do they have to take the kids' time. I don't think you or this board have the right to make it a requirement of graduation." The board accepted the proposal with the elimination of the community service requirement, four to three, but agreed to study the issue of community service at a later date. In other business, the board: -heard a report from Assistant Superintended Mike Keown on school violence. Keown said that district policies and emergency plans are in place and working in the Morrow County School District. He stressed that the district "has a good working relationship with other county agencies, including law enforcement and mental health." -adopted new, tough regulations on smoking and tobacco. The new regulations prohibit 1) tobacco in any form on all district property and in district-owned vehicles and 2) the possession, use or distribution of tobacco in any form on the school premises or while attending school sponsored activities and "provides for disciplinary action up to and .»uding expulsion and, if appropriate, referral to law enforcement for citation." The new tobacco regulations provide for student suspension from school clubs and organizations for two weeks for the first offense and nine weeks suspension and mandatory sessions with a "qualified assessment counselor" for second or subsequent offenses. -approved revisions to the senior trip guidelines. According to the new district policies, the district "does not promote or sanction senior trips." Senior trips and fund raising for the trips will now be separate from school and will not be considered a school activity, although the district agreed that the schools could "help facilitate and communication" the organization of alcohol/drug free post- graduation "parties". The new regulations on senior trips remove the trips from school jurisdiction. Now, students and parents may plan the trips without district input or approval. But, they must handle the finances, make travel arrangements and provide chaperons without district assistance. (In a separate meeting later with parents, Heppner High School Principal Ron Anthony said that he is considering turning over all or a portion of the concessions and their proceeds to a group such as the Heppner High School Booster Club. The concessions have been traditionally run by the junior class as a fund raiser, assisted by paid high school staff. The concessions in the past have brought in around $7,000 for the junior class, a major portion of their senior class trip funds. Anthony said that fund raising dinners will still be encouraged as they provide a service to the community. However, if the senior class wishes to book a date to put on the dinner, they will have to make reservations ahead of time.) -adopted new policies on trips for school clubs and organizations which require that groups planning field trips exceeding 200 miles round trip must submit proposals and get approval of the principal and superintendent by the October meeting prior to the trip. Trips 600 miles round trip or overnight or exceeding $2,000 must have the approval of the principal, the superintendent and the school board in October prior to the trip. -revised the interscholastic activities programs to include boys and girls' varsity and junior varsity cross country; boys and girls' varsity and junior varsity soccer; junior varsity as well as varsity golf; and varsity, junior varsity and C-team softball; and eliminate fhe requirement for a C-team for winter sports for any junior or senior high with an enrollment of 150 or more. Athletic eligibility requirements will now include the stipulation that students be in attendance on the day before, the day of and the day after the activity. Exceptions must be approved by the principal or a designee. Eliminated from the eligibility section was the statement that "Students under the care of a doctor or coach may be excused in rare cases." The thinking behind the changes in eligibility is that they would prevent students from missing school the day after an activity. The board also approved a change which would allow cutting of athletic team participants at the high school level with administrative approval. "Historically, we've tried not to cut and numbers of students grow to the point where we have C-teams and games," said Starr. "The only real cutting before is when we’ve had seniors who wouldn't be on varsity." The board also approved a revision which specifies that schools try to schedule contests as much as possible on Friday, Saturday or Thursday and minimize scheduling on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. "No contests will be played on Sunday, except as required by OSAA," specified the revision. Revised the athletic program schedules to include the following maximum number of contests: cross country-12; football- high school varsity and junior varsity-nme each, junior high-six; soccer-high school varsity-14; volleyball-varsity and junior varsity-18, junior high- eight; basketball-high school varsity, junior varsity and freshman-22, junior high-10 and two tournaments; wrestling-high school varsity, junior varsity and freshman-14 contests, one tournament with one individual limited to 28 matches, junior high-10; baseball-high school varsity and junior varsity-26 (eight junior high games eliminate); track-high school varsity-12, junior high-six; tennis-16 matches; golf-20 nine- hole rounds; softball-high school varsity-26. -reviewed the preliminary extra duty contract list as follows (south Morrow County schools only listed in G-T): Heppner Elementary School- Linda Shaw-Talented and Gifted program coordinator; Georgia VanWinkle-computer trainer; Heppner Junior High-Darlene Marquardt-chorus 1/2 time; Ralph Wemer-band 1/2 time; Juan Elguezabal-head football coach; Chuck Matteson-assistant football coach; Lana Orr-head volleyball coach; Ron Bnsbois- head girls' and boys' basketball coach; Tim Van Cleave-assistant girls' and boys' basketball coach; Keelie Keown-head track coach; Jason Just-assistant track coach; vacant-assistant volleyball coach, head baseball coach. Heppner High School-Linda Dutcher-annual advisor, Talented and Gifted program; Dave Fowler-computer trainer; Darlene Marquardt-choir 1/2 time; Ralph Wemer-pep band 1/2 time; Les Payne-head teacher, assistant football coach; Lynn Harmonson-FFA advisor; Dale Conklin-athletic director, head track coach; Kan Keown-rally advisor; Greg Grant-head football coach, head golf coach; Tony Pupo-assistant football coach, assistant boys' basketball, assistant baseball; Terri Gentry- head volleyball coach; Dana Reid-assistant volleyball coach, assistant girls' basketball; Chuck Matteson-head boys' basketball coach; Ken Eckman-assistant boys' basketball coach; Juan Elguezabal-head girls' basketball* coach, head softball; Keelie Keown-assistant girls' basketball coach; Robin Graff-head baseball coach; Steve Brownfield- assistant track.,c«#ch;, vacant--f dance team, assistant softball. lone Elementary/Middle Schools-Bobbi Childers- computer trainer; Diana Kincaid- TAG coordinator; Betty Rietmann-head teacher; Dean Robinson-head football coach, head track; Steve Schaber- assistant football coach, head girls' basketball; Barb Peterson- * head volleyball coach; Dale Holland-head boys' basketball coach, assistant track. lone High School-Chris Davis- annual advisor, head girls' basketball; Darlene Marquardt- music 1/2 time; Dean Robinson- athletic director; Robin Graff- head football coach; Dennis Stefani-assistant football coach, head boys' basketball; Charity McElligott-head volleyball coach; Cathy McCabe-assistant volleyball coach, head tennis; Scott Bumght-assistant boys' basketball coach; Duane Neiffer- assistant girls' basketball coach: Del LaRue-head track; vacant- rally, assistant track. -approved resignations and retirements for: Kaya McLaren, Heppner and lone art teacher; Pam Minster, Sam Boardman English as a second language teacher; Pennie Karwacki, HHS media education assistant; Cheryl Filarski, Columbia Middle School ESL ed assistant; Staci Duitsman, CMS assistant cook -approved termination of employment for Tanya Scanlon. HHS/HJH and lone Schools special ed teacher. -approved employment or transfers for: Maya Phipps, from CMS ESL ed assistant to special ed assistant, replacing Ellen Slover; Elnora Johnson, CMS ESL ed assistant, replacing Maya Phipps; Richard Thomas from CMS assistant custodian to RHS assistant custodian, replacing Ken Moms; Richard Smith CMS assistant custodian, replacing Richard Thomas; Gloria Orjuela- Schmidt, RHS ESL ed assistant, replacing Margaret Ramirez; Bart Prouty, transfer from CMS assistant custodian to ACH assistant custodian, replacing Joel Stahl; Elsie Tome, ACH temporary ed assistant, replacing Priscilla Juarez; Susan Riedel, SBE secretary, replacing Dora Viali; Mary Gressley-Grow, transfer from third grade teaching position to ESL teaching position at SBE, replacing Pam Minster; Julia Jorgensen, probationary contract for RHS new Spanish teaching position; Jay Rogers, probationary contract for RHS advanced math teacher, replacing Paul Hibbard. -hired Phyllis Danielson as HES principal to replace Bill Karwacki, who is retiring June 30. -discussed the financial aspect of the operation of the lone pool. Board member Scott Johnson, Imgon, suggested that perhaps the financial obligation of the pool's operation should no longer be the responsibility of the school district. "Now might be the time to relinquish this to another entity," said Johnson. -accepted donations from: U.S. West-RHS video conferencing equipment valued at $55,000; Bank of Eastern Oregon and Inland Empire Bank-$400 each toward the SBE accelerated reading program; Sam Boardman Parent Teacher Club-$800 toward the SBE accelerated reading program. -heard the following announcements: last day of school, Friday, June 4; staff work days, June 7-8; and the next regular meeting June 14 at RHS, 7:30 p.m. lone High School holds 1999 commencement s*? f W FISSI » O l ï Î # P o 5 — w N Ï * * * ,« ■*** ,m r to»-. I Ï i 1 « . v V u * «ccii f . F t . i f ’ *«*»« The graduating class of lone High School The lone High School Class of 1999 held their commencement exercises on Friday, May 28. Katie Tworek and Niki Sullivan delivered the valedictory addresses and Lea Mathieu was guest speaker Retiring Superintendent Chuck Starr and Morrow County School Board President John Rietmann presented diplomas. The lone Middle School Band played "Pomp and Circumstance" and Jessica Krebs lead the Pledge of Allegiance. Community organizations presented awards and the senior class made special presentations The class of seven students, Rosanne Nicole Baker, Christopher Ryan Bennetto, Lela Jean Gribskov, Jessica Cook Krebs, Victoria Elizabeth Odinet,. Niki Maureen Sullivan and Kathryn Josephine Tworek, filed out following the ceremony to the song, "Staying Alive." Their class motto was, "The first and most important step toward success is the feeling that we can succeed." Principal is Dick Allen; class advisor was Jim Raible. Seniors received scholarships and awards as follows: Rosanne Baker- Blue Mountain Community College tuition waiver. Jessica Krebs-4-H Leadership Council, Cargill, lone Cardinal Booster Club-$300, lone Youth Group, Oregon Wheat League- $500, Sdiith Morrow County Scholarship Trust-$500, Elks Scholarship, Bank of Eastern Oregon-$500, Ken Snider Memorial, lone Lion's Club- Si 50, Blue Mountain Life Underwriters-$800, Carl Troedson Educational Fund scholarship^ 1,000. Tori Odinet-Jason Halvorsen Memorial, lone Volunteer Fire Department-$200, Carl Troedson Educational Fund scholarship- $ 1 , 000 . Niki Sullivan-Class of 1968- $300, Jason Halvorsen Memorial, Outstanding Senior Athlete, Big Sky Student Athlete Award, lone Lions Club-$150, lone Youth Group, South Morrow County Scholarship Trust-$500, Soroptimist Club-$400, Mike Mathews Memorial, St. Mary's College-$2,000 and $10,000, Troedson scholarship-! 1 , 000 . Katie Tworek-Jason Halvorsen Memorial, Sam Walton Community Scholarship^ 1,000, Elks Scholarship-, lone Lions Club-$150, lone Youth Group, South Morrow County Scholarship Trust-$500, Ken Snider Memorial, Blue Mountain Community College tuition waiver, American Legion Post #95, Troedson Scholarship- Si,000. (Not all scholarship amounts were available at presstime.) 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 Gary O Is Five-O! We Love You, Uncle Gary! Tiffany & Chip * 50 5 0 50! 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 ‘ EVERY VOICE. CHILD DESERVES ESPECIALLY IN COURT. Mark I'nxlcr, Student, ( A S A loLn irrr Like Mark, you can help abused and neglected children who are caught up m the complexities of the court system Volunteer to speak up for a child in court. As a C A SA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) or Guardian Ad Litem volunteer, your voice can help these children find a safe, per manent home where they can thrive Call us today Morrow County Juvenile Department (541) 676-5642 A e o w t n r u L IN A C H I L D * v o i c e Lire." A
