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
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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