School to put up $1 million option
033319
The Morrow County School
Board Monday night voted to put
a $1 million five-year local
option serial levy before the
voters on May 16.
Because of a complicated
formula concerning the option
levy, school district officials
expect to raise only around half
that amount which has been
earmarked to fund teaching
positions which had been cut in
anticipation of a shortfall of
around $1 million next year
Morrow County Assessor Greg
Sweek, on hand to explain the
formula, said that residential and
farm property owners would
probably bear the brunt of the
new tax, while commercial
property owners would probably
be less affected. Industrial
property owners would probably
not see an increases in their taxes
because the tax monies generated
result from the difference
between market and assessed
valuation.
Most
industrial
property, he said has nearly equal
market and assessed valuation, so
would not see additional taxes.
He said that tax increases are
estimated around three percent.
According to the board.
Morrow County School District
is expecting a shortfall because
the state legislature did not give
the district as much money as the
district anticipated.
The board specified that if the
local option levy passes, "the tax
monies would be used to fund
teaching positions, including
employment of 10 teachers-two
teachers in Heppner; one teacher
in lone; and seven teachers in the
Boardman-Irrigon Schools."
Board Chairman Gary
Fredenckson said that the board
was "between a rock and a hard
place"-the board had to be
specific enough to ensure that the
funds were used to hire back
teachers, but flexible enough to
accommodate changes in growth
and population.
One parent at the meeting,
who refused to be identified to
the press, complained that one
teacher would be added back to
the lone Schools. She said the
teacher/student ratio in lone did
not justify such an addition when
north
county
schools'
student/teacher ratio was much
higher.
Gary Frederickson reiterated
that a small school still requires a
certain number of staff to remain
in operation and added that the
inclusion of the one teacher at
the lone Schools was a political
move.
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The reigning champions of the
O’Planky Race are in fit
condition and ready for all
challengers on Saturday, March
18.
Representing
Heppner
Elementary School, Georgia Van
Winkle, Mary Haguewood,
Maryanne Anthony and Karen
Smith-Griffith have dominated
the competition two years in a
row. If another team of four
shows up at the shamrock at high
noon on Saturday, the HES crew
will try to extend their glory days
for another year.
A bonus this year will be the t-
shirts that will go to the winning
team members.
Still time to
enter parade
The board also came under fire
for both informing the teachers
who may be affected by the cuts
St Patrick's Day is almost here
too soon and then not soon
but there's still time to decide
enough.
what sort of entry you'd like to
School superintendent Bruce
have in Saturday's St. Patrick's
Anderson said that he and the
Day Parade.
board felt they had to inform the
"Entries for the parade are
teachers who may be affected as
coming in every day now and it
soon as possible so that they
looks like another grand event is
could
make other plans.
taking shape," said parade
However,
cuts of individual
chairman Bob Kahl. "But not to
teachers cannot be made until the
worry, there's still time for you to
district goes though a painstaking
get entered."
formula which takes into account
Parade categories include Irish
seniority
and attrition (teachers
floats,
characters,
groups,
who
will
retire or resign before
musical groups, cars, bikes-if it's
photo by Allison Sykes the next school year). Anderson
"Irish", there's a place in the
The Heppner Elementary O’ Planky Race team: L-R: Mary Haguewood,
estimated that the list of specific
parade.
Maryanne Anthony, Karen Smith-Griffith and Georgia VanWinkle.
teachers who will be affected
Ribbons and cash prizes
will be available by the end of
awarded are awarded for the
June. He stated, however, that
lucky winners in each category.
because of factors such as
Of course if you just want to get
retirements and resignations, he
green and be in the parade for the
Children of all ages are invited Director Merry Brannon.
anticipated that all of the
fun of it - well, that's what its all to collect their pot of gold at the
Meal deals include: hot dog,
elementary
teachers
who
about anyway so "come on Heppner
DayCare
"Little chips and pop; Polish dog, chips
received notices that they may be
down."
Leprechaun's Carnival and Kids' and pop; nachos and pop, PJS,
affected by the cuts will have
The parade will take place Cuisine on Saturday. March 18, chips and pop, and hot cocoa.
jobs
next year within the district,
Saturday, March 18, at 1 p.m. between the Shoe Box and the
"Come and have some fun with
although
perhaps not at the same
The parade route starts at Green Heppner Post Office from 11 the
'Little
Leprechauns,"’
school.
Feed Store and travels down a.m. to 3 p.m.
Brannon adds.
Concern was also raised at the
Main Street to May Street. On
The carnival will feature
Heppner DayCare will also be
meeting about the length of the
May Street, the route continues "exciting games", including open during spring break week
to nearly to Court Street Market miniature golf, basketball and "We would love to have some local option levy. Some in the
before it ends.
bean bag toss, a face painting fun with your children," says audience suggested that a two-
year levy would be better than a
For an entry form or booth, fish pond and duckie Brannon.
more information about the pond.
The center will be open from five-year, because it would give
voters more control over the
parade, stop in at Van Marter and
"And why go some place else 6:45 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
district.
However,
board
Kahl Insurance or call Bob Kahl for food when you can eat at
Call Heppner DayCare for
members said that coming back
at 676-9113 days, 676-5422 Kids' Kuisine?" says DayCare more information, 676-5429.
evenings.
Day Care sponsors mini carnival
St. Pat's info
on Internet
The St. Patrick’s Day schedule
of events is now posted on the
Internet at Heppner's web site
www.heppner.net.
Also on the web site is a
complete list of items that will
be available at the St. Patrick's
Day auction.
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to the voters in only two years
would be divisive for the district
and disruptive for both teachers
and students.
In other business the board:
- announced the resignation of
Don Holes, Columbia Middle
School principal. Holes was
praised for his contributions to
the district.
-approved extension of the
following teachers for the 2000-
2001 year:
Heppner Elementary School:
third year teachers-Sue Gibbs,
fifth/sixth grade, Karen Holland,
fourth grade; second year
teachers-Mary Ann Elguezabal,
third grade, Tom Shear, art.
Heppner Junior/Senior High
School: contract teachers-Juan
Elguezabal,
Spanish,
Lynn
Harmonson, vo-ag, Tony Pupo,
PE; third year teachers-Mona
Hardman, counselor, Jason Just,
science, Keelie Keown, math;
second
year
teachers-John
Flaherty,
seventh/eighth
grade/social
studies.
Lea
Mathieu, language arts, Carol
Rosecrans, educational resource
center, Tom Shear, art.
lone Schools: third year-
Darlene Marquardt, music,
Duane Neiffer, science; second
year Ryan Rudolf, seven-12
social studies, Tom Shear, art.
Sam Boardman Elementary:
contract teachers-Micki Fabian,
counselor, Annie Patton, art;
third year-Mike Jeppeson, first
grade, Paul Keefer, fifth grade,
Debra Kennedy, second/third
grade, and Brenda Profitt, ed
resource room; second year-
Jennifer Cox, fourth grade,
Jessica Oleman, second grade,
Molly Rill, third grade.
Riverside High School:
contract teachers: Alissa Daltosa,
language arts, Adam Eldridge,
math, Wendell Kreder, science,
G. Ann Thomas, language arts;
third
year-Winston
Cook
band/music; second year-Matt
Neff, social studies. Jay Rogers,
math, Julie Rogers, Spanish,
Kathy Simoms, language arts,
Tom Vail, English as a second
language.
A.C. Houghton Elementary:
contract Annie Patton, art
(resigned); third year-Shannon
Jensen, kindergarten/first grade;
second year-Rachel Burton, fifth
grade, Cynthia Hodgdon, fourth
grade, Tana Jons, third grade,
Angelica Prongua, fifth grade,
Joanie Reck, ERC, Stacy
Schaefer, kindergarten, Julie
Walker, first grade. Holly Wells,
counselor.
Columbia Middle School:
contract-Bill Delong, alternative
education, Donna Neighbors,
language arts; third year-Poul
Murtha, math, George Riedel,
PE, Tom Schultz, Spanish;
second year-Karen
Brown,
language arts. Dawn Callow,
science, Webster Castanada,
Spanish/social studies, Ray
Davis, art,
Lynn
Hams,
alternative ed (resigned). Dean
Peck,
social
studies/Plato,
Heather Shaw, science, Janet
Symionow, language arts, Heidi
White, language arts.
-voted not to renew contracts
for Heppner Junior/Senior High
School language arts teacher
Sally Walker and Columbia
Middle
School
counselor
Kathleen Nightskve.
-approved resignations
for Kim Finley, SBL library tech;
Angel Smith, CMS assistant
cook, and Dan Husoll, RHS head
football coach.
-approved employment of
Kevin Mossman, computer
technician I, Justin LaCoss,
temporary ACH kindergarten-
first grade teacher, replacing
Tory Larsen.
-approved promotion for Anne
Orcutt from SBE ed assistant to
SBE library technician, replacing
Kim Finley.
-approved an attendance
variance for Amalie Mendez to
continue attending Umatilla High
School.
-approved a second reading of
the
Consolidated
District
Improvement Plan.
-adopted the 2000-2001 school
calendar which call for a pre-
Labor Day start of school and
two weeks vacation at Christmas
break. In option C, which was
approved, teachers start school
on August 22 and students,
August 28, with Christmas
break-Monday. December 18, to
Tuesday, January 2; spring break
March 19-23; the last day for
students June 7; and the last day
for teachers June 11.
-heard the following
announcements-deadline
for
filing ballot measure-March 16;
spring break-March 20-24; first
budget meeting-April 3; next
board meeting, lone School
cafeteria-April 10.
Local artist creates art
gallery on the web
Marsha Sweek online with new website
Who says that art and
technology don't mix.
Not local artist Marsha Sweek
who has developed a way for
artists to market their creations
on the Internet through the
Dryside Gallery-Art East of the
Cascades.
Sweek's new web page,
www.drysideart.com,
will
provide a venue for regional
artists to display their work.
Sweek will offer two services
on the web-one is a consignment
gallery, through which she will
sell art on a commission basis,
handle shipping and other details.
and the other is a directory for
artists who feel comfortable
marketing their own work.
Sweek says she is initially
focusing on Oregon artists, but
has plans to expand to include
artists from eastern Washington
as well.
The web site can include the
individual artist's page with his
or her art work, a photo of the
artist, the artist’s statement and
biographical information Die
information can also be accessed
by the media or the subject.
Sweek says she can adjust to
accommodate any artist in the
area. Artists who wish to be
contacted directly can have up to
three images of their artwork
included on the site
For those who wish to order,
orders may be taken by email, in
which the order button comes up
with an email message, or
through conventional mail
Sweek stresses that accessing the
page and placing orders is "really
straightforward and shouldn’t be
intimidating."
Sweek and her husband. Greg,
are artists in their own right. His
media is stained glass. She has
experimented in acrylics, water
color, stained glass and pen and
ink, but her real passion is
bead work. Her and her husband's
work is displayed on the website
Sweek. 50, grew up in
Heppner and graduated from
Heppner High School She has a
bachelor of fine arts degree from
Pacific University at Forest
Grove. She has been director of
the Morrow County Museum for
12 years. Greg Sweek is the
Morrow County Assessor.