TWO -Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner. Oregon Wednesday, February 20. 2002
The Official Newspaper
of the City of Heppner and the County of Morrow
H eppner
G A Z E T T E -T IM E S
U S P S. 240-420
Morrow County’s Home-Owned Weekly Newspaper
Published weekly and entered as periodical matter at the Post Office at Heppner. Oregon
under the Act o f March 3, 1874 Periodical postage paid at Heppner. Oregon Office at ¡47
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the Heppner Gazette-Times. P O Box 337, Heppner. Oregon 47836. Subscriptions: $22 in
Morrow County; $16 senior rate (in Morrow County oniy; 62 years or older); $29 else
where
David S y k e s ...................................................................................................................... Publisher
April H ilton-Sykes................................................................................................................ Editor
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Letters to the Editor
Editor's note: Letters to the Editor must be signed. The Gazette-Times will not
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Waiting for an apology
To the Editor:
1 was raised in the old school. My
daddy taught me to tell the truth,
respect others and, if 1 couldn't
say something good about some
one else. I was to keep my mouth
shut. My dad said, “Son, sweep
your own back porch, not the
porch o f someone else.”
Terry Mewhinney: I consider you
as a friend. It’s hard to find
words to express the hurt I felt
after reading your thoughtless,
judgmental and cruel letter of cru
cifixion about a little lady you don’t
even know. I'll be the first one to
tell the world you are really a
great guy, Terry. You must have
blinked your eyes and made a
few remarks without thinking how
they would sound. 1 only wish you
would have kept your thoughts to
yourself. I talked to several peo
ple about the victim of your let
ter. Every one of them told me the
little lady is a super wonderful
teenager with a big heart of gold.
In plain common decency, Terry,
I am asking you for a sincere,
thoughtful letter of apology. 1 feel
sure that you are man enough to
admit you made a hasty mistake.
I am looking forward to your re
sponse in a letter to the editor. I
am sorry for not being able to let
this lay; however, in this world
there are rights and there are
wrongs, and I still believe in the
rights. Thank you, my friend. Ter
ry. I am waiting.
(s) Mel Piper
Heppner
Saddened by seduction of power
To the Editor:
I am deeply saddened to
watch as persons, whom I con
sider my friends and neighbors,
fall prey to the seduction of pow
er.
In the recent past, certain
members o f the then sitting
school board set a pattern of
events into motion. Because of
the maturing of this pattern, two
good men must now assume the
roll of imposter.
Burke O ’Brien and Larry
Mills could be excellent school
board members. Though they are
trying to make the best of a bad
situation, any action that they par
ticipate in, while sitting in the chair
of school board member, may be
challenged on legal grounds, and
most certainly on moral grounds
as neither have been elected by
the citizens of the county.
It is known, that at the time
of his election, Keith Lewis, as
well as each member of the sit
ting Morrow County school board,
the Morrow County elections au
thorities and, of most importance,
the Morrow County voters, be
lieved that all was proper.
Mr. Lewis was elected by a
majority of the voters. Mr. Lewis
was removed from his elected
position by a majority o f the
school board.
When the sitting President of
The United States was placed on
trial by the Senate of The United
Arts & Crafts
club to meet
Morrow County Creative
Arts and Crafts club will hold a
meeting on Thursday, Feb. 28, at
1 p.m. at GD’s Restaurant ban
quet room in Heppner.
Workshops for 2002 will be
on the agenda with oils and wa-
tercolors the main topics of dis
cussion. Some samples of Betty
Crosswhite's art will be on dis
play
A nyone w anting to take
paintings classes is asked to at
tend. Those unable to attend the
meeting are asked to contact a
club member and let them know
what classes you would be inter
ested in. Betty Mills may be con
tacted for oil painting at 676-5546;
and Sharon Hamson for water-
colors. 9 8 9 -8 4 % .
States, the Senate refused to re
move the sitting president, even
though the sitting President had
been impeached by the House of
Representatives, was under in
dictment for obstruction of justice,
had been caught, on camera, mak
ing false statements and grossly
misusing the power of his office.
What was the reason that the
Senate gave for not removing the
sitting President from office?
“The President was elected by a
majority of the voters.”
Why would the school board
choose not to follow the example
set by the United States Senate?
Why would they remove a mem
ber of their own board, while find
ing no fault in his honor?
Why would the school board
then ignore a chance to right a
wrong, by appointing Mr. Lewis,
the elected Mr. Lewis, to his right
fully elected seat? Has any ques
tioned his good reputation?
Are the mem rs o f the
school board so drunk with pow
er that they think that they can
choose whomever that they want
and that the voters be damned?
Has this school board done
anything that demonstrates to the
citizens of Morrow County that it
has the collective wisdom to be in
control o f the education of our
precious children?
(s) F. Green White
Heppner
Seeders’ meeting Feb. 25
N utrient
m anagem ent
adjustments for direct seeding in
Morrow County will be the main
discussion for the upcoming direct
seeding meeting planned Monday,
February 25, at 9 a m. at the
H eppner
Forest
Service
Conference Room.
Don Wysocki will present
information on his direct seeding
nutrient trials on the Haguewood
place south of Heppner. Wysocki
and Larry Lutcher started nutrient
trials last year using differing
rates of nitrogen, phosphorus and
sulfur. Lutcher will also present
information on managing nutrients
from his experiences. Loren
Unruh will present information on
programs to help direct seeders
get started.
For further information,
contact Unruh at 676-5021 or
Lutcher at 676-9642.
teachers, administrators to be cut at Heppner schools
experience. Thirty-seven students
completed the Certificate of Initial
Mastery before the end of the
12lh grade. The average SAT
scores for seniors graduating
during the 2000-2001 year are as
follows: Verbal-478 HHS, 526
state. 506 nation; Math-484 HHS,
526 state, 511 nation. Nineteen
students or 63.3 percent were
tested, compared to 51.8 percent
statewide.
lone School received an
exceptional rating overall. The
school received a strong rating in
student performance with 71
percent o f students in grades
three, five, eight and 10 meeting
standards in reading, compared to
70 percent in comparison schools
and 69 percent statewide; 75
percent in writing, compared to 70
percent in comparison schools
and statewide; 75 percent in math
multiple choice, compared to 70
percent in comparison schools
and 62 percent statewide; and 85
percent in math problem solving,
com pared to 60 percent in
com parison schools and 64
percent statewide. The school
received an exceptional rating in
attendance with 95.6 o f the
students attending school daily,
com pared to 91.3 percent
statew ide, and no students
dropping out. lone received an
exceptional rating in school
characteristics with 93.8 percent
of students participating in state
testing, com pared to 96.4
statewide. The school improved
in math and reading and
attendance and the dropout rate.
An average o f 149 students
attended the school with no ESL
students listed. T hirty-eight
percent of the teaching staff had
a master’s degree or higher and
the teaching staff had an average
of 17 years experience. Twenty-
three students completed the CIM
before the end of their senior
year. The average SAT scores for
seniors graduating during the
2000-2001 year are as follows:
Verbal-488 IHS, 526 state, 506
nation; Math-484 IHS, 526 state,
511 nation. Fifteen students or
68.2 percent were tested,
com pared to 51.8 percent
statewide.
Sam
B o ard m an
Elementary School received a
strong rating overall. The school
received a strong rating in student
performance with 70 percent of
the students in grades three and
five meeting state standards in
reading, com pared to 70 in
com parison schools and 80
percent statewide; 56 percent in
writing, compared to 50 percent
in comparison schools and 64
percent statewide; 60 percent in
math multiple choice, compared
to 62 percent in comparison
schools and 74 percent statewide;
and 57 percent in math problem
solving, compared to 69 percent
in comparison schools and 76
percent statewide. The school
received a satisfactory rating in
student behavior with 93.5
percent o f students attending
school daily, compared to 93.8
percent statewide. SBE received
an exceptional rating in school
characteristics with 92.7 percent
participating in state testing,
compared to 96.1 statewide. The
school improved in math and
reading and stayed about the same
in attendance. The school had an
average o f405 students with 56.3
percent enrolled in ESL programs.
Fourteen percent of the teaching
staff had a master's degree or
higher and they had an average
of 12 years experience.
A .C.
H oughton
Elementary School received a
satisfactory rating overall. The
school received a satisfactory
rating in student performance
with 72 percent of the students in
grades three and five meeting
state standards in reading,
com pared to 73 percent in
com parison schools and 80
percent statewide; 28 percent
meeting standards in writing,
com pared to 55 percent in
com parison schools and 64
percent statewide; 62 percent in
math multiple choice, compared
to 66 percent in com parison
schools and 74 percent statewide;
and 67 percent in math problem
solving, compared to 72 percent
in comparison schools and 76
percent statewide. The school
received a strong rating in student
behavior with 94.1 percent of
students attending school daily.
com pared to 93.8 percent
statew ide. ACH received an
exceptional rating in school
characteristics with 94.1 percent
of the students participating in
state testing, compared to 96.1
statew ide. The school improved
in math and reading and
attendance. The school had an
average of 355 students with 34.4
percent enrolled in ESL programs.
Tw enty-one percent o f the
teachers had a master’s degree
or higher and they had an average
of 13 years experience.
C o lu m b ia
M iddle
School received an overall
satisfactory rating. The school
received a satisfactory rating in
student performance with 42
percent of the students in grade
eight meeting state standards in
reading, compared to 45 percent
in comparison schools and 62
percent statewide; 46 percent in
writing, compared to 54 percent
in comparison schools and 68
percent statewide; 29 percent in
math multiple choice, compared
to 35 percent in com parison
schools and 56 percent statewide;
27 percent in math problem
solving, compared to 47 percent
in comparison schools and 58
percent state wide. The school
received a low rating in student
behavior with 91.7 percent of the
students attending school daily,
compared to 93.8 statewide.
CMS received an exceptional
rating in school characteristics,
with 91.2 percent participating in
state testing, compared to 95.8
percent statewide. The school
improved in math and reading and
attendance. The school had an
average of 350 students with 35
percent enrolled in ESL programs.
Thirty-two percent of the teaching
staff had a m aster’s degree or
higher and they had an average
of 11 years of experience.
Riverside High School
received an overall strong rating.
The school received a satisfactory
rating in student performance
with 58 percent of the students in
grade 10 meeting state standards
in reading, com pared to 38
percent of students in comparison
schools and 53 percent statewide;
68 percent in writing compared to
68 percent in comparison schools
and 79 percent statewide; 25
percent in math multiple choice,
com pared to 25 percent in
com parison schools and 42
percent statewide; 47 percent in
math problem solving, compared
to 48 percent in com parison
schools and 57 percent statewide.
The school received an
exceptional rating in student
behavior with 92.6 of the students
attending school daily, compared
to 91.3 percent statew ide.
Eighteen students (four percent)
dropped out of school that year.
RHS received an exceptional
rating in school characteristics
with 91.7 o f the students
participating in state testing,
compared to 97.4 statewide. The
school improved in math and
reading and attendance and
dropout rate. The school had an
average o f428 students with 32.2
percent enrolled in ESL programs.
T hirty-eight percent o f the
teachers had a master’s degree
or higher and the staff had an
average of 16 years experience.
The average SAT scores for RHS
seniors graduating during the
2000-2001 school year are as
follows: Verbal-503 RHS, 526
state, 506 nation; Math-520 RHS.
526 state, 511 nation. Thirty-four
students or 37.4 percent were
tested, compared to 51.8 percent
statewide.
M orrow
C o u n ty
School
D istrict-S tu d en t
performance: Reading: grade
three-80 percent meet state
standards, 85 statewide; grade
five-68 percent, 77 statewide;
grade eight-53 percent, 62
statewide; grade 10-59 percent,
53 statew ide; M athem atics
multiple choice: grade three-66
percent, 75 statewide, grade five-
66 percent, 73 statewide, grade
eight-42 percent, 56 statewide,
grade 10-39 percent, 42
statewide: Writing: grade five-49
percent, 64 statew ide, grade
eight-55 percent. 68 statewide,
grade 10-72 percent, 79
statewide; Mathematics problem
solving: grade fivc-63 percent. 76
statewide, grade cight-43 percent,
58 statewide, grade 10-57 percent
both district and state.
A ccording to state
statistics, 34 percent of Hispanic
students in the district meet state
standards in mathematics multiple
choice, compared to 37 percent
of Hispanic students statewide
and 65 percent of white students
in the district and statewide. In
reading, 50 percent of Hispanic
students in the district met state
standards, com pared to 46
percent o f Hispanic students
statewide, 74 percent of white
students in the district and 72
percent o f w hite students
statewide.
MCSD superintendents
had an average o f 26 years
experience, compared to 25 years
statewide; district administrators
had an average o f 22 years
experience, compared to 21 years
statewide; teaching staff had an
average of 14 years experience
both in the district and statewide.
The district spent more
per student, at $4,027.66, than the
statewide average of $3,425.89,
but spent slightly less on classroom
support at $906.58 than the state
average of $1,082.69. Building
support for the district was
$1,156.64, compared to the state
average o f $1,001.63. Central
support was $355.14 in the
district, compared to $282.33 for
the state.
The ESD support given
to M orrow County was
approxim ately $129.53 per
student, dramatically less than the
state average o f $350.59 per
student.
The d istrict has a
comparable percentage of special
education students, with 12.2
percent in the district, versus 13.1
statewide. MCSD has over triple
the percentage o f students
enrolled in ESL programs, with
28.2 percent in the district,
com pared to 8.1 percent
statewide.
In other business at the
Feb. 11 meeting the board;
-accepted
the
recommendation from the lone
Advisory Committee for design
#4 for the school layout for the
bond construction and remodel.
-denied a paid leave
request from Jessica Oleman.
Board Chair Julie Weikel said that
if the request were approved, the
board would then be required to
evaluate the value o f each
subsequent request in comparison
to Oleman's situation.
-approved
2002/03
Education Service D istrict
resolution services.
-approved the first
reading o f the Consolidated
District Improvement Plan as a
first reading with action for
approval at the March meeting.
-approved a contract for
alternative education services
with Union-Baker ESD for 2002/
03 through 2004/05.
-approved the first
reading o f 2002/03 calendar
options. Option A would have a
pre-Labor Day start (August 26),
one-plus week at Christmas, with
the last day of school May 30;
Option B would have a post-
Labor Day start (September 2),
one-plus week at Christmas, with
the last day o f school June 6;
Option C would have a post-
Labor Day start, two weeks at
Christmas, with the last day of
school June 11. Board member
John Rietmann said he didn’t
support the first two plans in that
they called for a full five-day
week for the last week of school.
He suggested that a five-day
week be planned for October or
November to provide for the
required num ber o f student
attendance days.
-approved the first
reading of 2001/02 probationary
teachers for the 2002/03 year.
South Morrow County teachers
include: Heppner Elementary-
Wendy Appleton, music, second
year, Pam Dowdy, fifth-sixth,
second year, Mary Ann
Elguezabal. reading, contract. Sue
Gibbs, fifth-sixth grade, third year.
Lindsay Harle, special education,
third year. Molly Rill, second-third
grade, contract; Heppner High
School-Appleton, Lucas Casady,
math, second year, John Flaherty,
seventh-eighth social studies,
contract. Lea Mathicu. language
arts, contract, Jason Palmer,
science, second. Tom Shear, art.
contract. Kathleen Spinks, special
ed. second; lone Schools-Ryan
Rudolf, sev en th -12"’ social
continued from page one
studies, contract, Shear, art,
contract.
-denied a variance
request from Beth Jeffries to
transfer her son from lone
Elem entary
to
H eppner
Elementary. Jeffries said that her
son has been victimized by bullies
and maintains that his classroom
is “out of control.” The board
suggested she first meet with the
classroom teacher, then the
principal
and then
the
superintendent, if the issues are
not resolved. Jeffries said she had
exhausted the options and said
that she may have to resort to
home schooling.
-approved resignation or
retirement for: Karen Cooley,
early retirem ent from CMS
special education teaching
position, effective Dec. 21; John
Moyer,
resigning
from
Maintenance II position; Alissa
Daltoso, RHS assistant tennis
coach.
-approved
interim
agreement for Karen Cooley, to
continue employment as CMS
special ed teacher from Dec. 21,
2002, through June 2003.
-approved m aternity/
child care leave for A lissa
Daltoso, from RHS language arts
teacher from Feb. 25 through the
end of the school year.
-approved attendance
variances for students to remain
resident students in the Hermiston
School district until the end of the
year. They will enroll at SBE in Ì
the fall.
-learned that three
finalists have been selected for
the superintendent position and
that each candidate will visit the
district Feb. 19-21.
-heard the follow ing
announcem ents-next board
meeting, March 11, lone High
School, 7:30 p.m.
ESD offers students
closer look at careers
Wednesday, February 20,
eighth graders from Umatilla and
Morrow counties gathered at the
Pendleton Convention Center for
the annual Career Showcase.
Fifty businesses from the
Pacific N orthw est offered
interactive booths to over 1250
students throughout the day,
offering “hands-on” activities that
demonstrated skills, training, and
the application o f academ ic
knowledge needed for success.
Students also participated in
“ Individual Student C areer
Interest
Inventories
and
Assessments” that will help them
in developing their unique
education polan, which is part of
the new Oregon school legislation.
This is the sixth year the
U m atilla-M orrow ESD has
sponsored this event that has
continued to evolve as area
schools
have
started
implementing CIM (Certificate of
Initial M astery) and CAM
(C ertificate o f A dvanced
Mastery) requirements.
“ This is the first
opportunity for most eighth grade
students to investigate diverse
career options by talking with
professionals, and taking part in
hands on activities from various
careers. Career Showcase pulls
together the im portance o f
academ ic achievem ent and
em ployability skills such as
attitude, responsibility, and ethical
behavior,” said Sharon Holes,
U m atilla-M orrow
ESD
instructional services coordinator.
Career Showcase 2002
“Pathways to Your Future” was
held from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m.
For more information
contact Sharon Holes at the
Umatilla-Morrow ESD, 541-966-
3160.
l
4
I
Births
Melissa Rose S truthers-a
daughter. Melissa Rose, was bom
to Joe and Sarah Struthers of
Clovis, New Mexico, on January
2, 2002, at Clovis. The baby
weighed 7 lbs. 12 oz. and was 20”
long.
She joins sisters, Aubry and
Rebecca, and brothers, Bradley
and David, at home. Grandparents
are Edna and the late Maynard
Struthers of Hermiston and Carl
and Geri Martin o f Heppner.
Great-grandmother is Lottie Mar
tin of Rogue River.
I