SIX - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, May 7, 2003
Morrow County School Board Candidate Forum
F ifte e n p e o p le are
r u n n in g fo r th e M o rro w
C ounty S chool Board. Each
c a n d id a te w a s a s k e d to
answer six questions regarding
c h a ll e n g e s a n d e v e n ts
happening in w ith the school
b o ard . B a llo ts h a v e b e e n
mailed out and the election will
be held M ay 20. A ll ballots
m ust be returned by 8 p.m .,
on M ay 20.
T h e s ix q u e s tio n s
asked were: Q 1 - W hy w ould
a voter select you over y our
o p p o n e n t? Q 2- I f e le c te d ,
w hat is the biggest challenge
facing you? Q 3- W hat is your
p o s itio n re g a rd in g l o n e ’s
secession from the M orrow
County School D istrict? 0 4 -
H ow w ould you deal w ith
budget constraints and w hat
are som e solutions you feel
would help resolve the budget
crisis. Q5- Currently funds are
distributed to each school by
the amount they bring in. Is this
fair and equitable, or should
there be a different form o f
distribution? Q6- W hat is your
opinion on m oving the district
o ffic e fro m L e x in g to n to
Irrigon?
Pos. 1 candidates:
Richard Rockwell,
2 7 , liv e s
w ith h is
w i f e
N a ta s h a
a n d th e ir
t hr ee
c h il d r e n ,
H ans, six,
A risto tle ,
fo u r, a n d
L ily A nn,
one,
in
B o a rd m a n .
R o c k w e ll
graduated from Riverside High
School in 1994.
R ockw ell has been a
part o f the B M C C D iversity
C o m m itte e , th e W al-M art
-A B C C o m m itte e , a n d a
v olunteer at R iverside H igh
School and H erm iston H igh
School, as well as a volunteer
w ith th e B o ard m an Y outh
Wrestling.
W orking w ith a lot o f
the stu d e n ts in the school
district and being on a first-
nam e basis with m any people
in the north end o f the county
h a s a ls o p r o v id e d s o m e
experience for Rockwell.
Q l - “ I w ill listen to
e v e r y o n e ’s n e e d s a n d
problems. Will represent every
student in the district equally.
Will look for funding methods
outside o f state that current
m em bers have failed to do.
W ill lo o k to b r in g c u t
program s like vo-ag, back to
the schools.”
Q 2 - T h e b ig g e s t
challenge is “getting to know
people on the south end. If
e le c te d , m y first o rd e r o f
business will be to get to know
the south end better and listen
to their ideas as well as others
in the county. We need to get
everyone in the county m ore
involved.”
Q 3- “ I think anytim e
you see a city pull together to
help their children have a better
education is great.”
Q 4- “ A sk for m ore
v o lu n te e r h elp . A p p ly fo r
grants to help fund program s.
H old year-round fundraisers
to also h elp w ith funding.
Once that is com plete, look to
c h a n g e o u r l e g i s la t iv e
problems.”
Q 5 - “ I do think this is
fair to a certain degree. If one
school m akes all the m oney,
should all schools get a fair
share? N o. Should som e o f
that money go to help schools
that are struggling? Yes. We are
here to m ake sure all students
get an equal education.”
Q 6-
“O ver
80
p e r c e n t o f th e d i s t r i c t s
business is at the north end, so
yes, it m akes sense [to m ove
the d istrict office]. O n ce the
school opens, should a new
Q 2 - “ O u r b ig g e s t
c h a ll e n g e in th e s c h o o l
currently is funding. We must
be able to m anage our system
to get the m ost from every
dollar received for education.
W e h a v e to c o n tin u e to
p ro v id e e v e ry e d u c atio n a l
opportunity that our children
need and desire so they m ay
go forward in their continuing
education and excel. We have
to meet this challenge head on
as a g ro u p ra th e r th an as
individuals.”
Q 3- “ 1 h ave no
problem with lo n e ’s desire to
leave the school district. I do
w a n t th e d is tr ic t an d th e
com m unity o f lone to w ork
o u t a n a g re e m e n t th a t is
satisfactory to both parties. I
w ish them the best o f luck in
the challenges they face.”
Q 4 - “ O u r c u rre n t
budget constraints have not
developed overnight. We have
seen these problem s com ing
for years, and we are not alone
in th e tro u b le s th ey h a v e
created. T his is an issue that
h a s to b e a d d r e s s e d by
everyone. We m ust push the
State L egislature to address
this problem head on. They
have danced around the issue
too long. If they are not willing
to face the problem s but pass
them on to the local districts,
m aybe it tim e to send them a
m essage w ith new faces in
Salem. I again em phasize that
we must explore every avenue
to get the most for every dollar
w e spend on education. I see
programs being developed and
implemented that are working
to do that, and I will push for
t h e i r c o n ti n u a ti o n a n d
success.”
Q 5 - “ F u n d s a re
currently going to the schools
based upon the am ounts they
generate from state funding
g u id e lin e s . I su p p o rt th is
practice.”
Q 6- “T here is m uch
discussion about m oving the
d istrict offices to Irrigon. I
really do not care w here the
office is located. I do care
about the costs o f operation
and the disruption they could
p o ssib le im pose on school
facilities. We have ju st spent
sev eral m illio n d o lla rs on
facilities throughout the district.
Som e o f them we currently do
not plan on using. We still have
to maintain them and that will
cost us valuable dollars. Again
let us manage our dollars to get
the m axim um bang for the
buck.”
Position 3 candidate
Debbie Radie did not respond
to the questionnaire.
district building be made? No, co m m ittee and has been a
use the resources w e have M o rro w C o u n ty P la n n in g
available at the tim e.”
director.
He says that being part o f the
M o rro w C o u n ty G r a in
C raig M iles, 3 8 , G row ers B oard o f D irectors
liv e s in
has helped prepare him for this
H e p p n e r,
possible position, as w ell as
w ith h is
having a good relationship with
w i f e ,
teachers in the school and
Tawny and
being able to com m unicate
their three
with everyone involved.
c h ild r e n .
Q l - “ I h av e b een activ ely
Mi l es
involved in school issues for
c a m e to
years. I fully understand the
M o rro w
importance o f offering a quality
C ounty in
education for all children. I will
1970 and
m ake rational decisions with
grad u ated
facts on all issues.”
from H eppner H igh School.
Q 2- “T he shrinking
H e also receiv ed a degree funding from the state. We
fro m
B lu e
M o u n ta in have to continue to offer a
C o m m u n ity C o lleg e in ag quality curriculum with flat or
b u sin e ss m an a g e m e n t and declining revenue.”
production agriculture.
Q 3- “ I feel that lone
M iles served in the should secede at this point.
U nited States M arines both However, there m ust be a full
sta te sid e a n d in O k in aw a, and equitable division o f the
Japan, and Korea from 1985- assets and liabilities involved
1 9 8 9 . H e h a s a ls o b e e n in the separation.”
actively involved in the Oregon
Q 4 - “ W e m u st be
W heat G row ers L eague, as m ore efficient in how w e run
M o rr o w C o u n ty v ic e - our district. The staff m ust be
p r e s id e n t 1 9 9 6 , M o rro w flexible in how they are used.
C ounty president 1997 and C la s sro o m te a c h e rs m u st
c h a ir o f th e M a r k e tin g always be the last place to cut.”
C om m ittee 1998-2000.
Q 5- “T he equity o f
Q l - “ I am dedicated curriculum in the district must
a n d c o m m itte d to b e tte r be m aintained. We have to
education in M orrow County. realize that it is more expensive
I am w illing to learn w hat I to operate sm aller class sizes-
don’t know, and open m inded th a t so m e tim e s c a n n o t be
enough to listen and m ake a avoided.”
decision based on facts.”
Q 6- “It should not be
Q 2- “ Backgrounding m oved at this time. We do not
m y self in education policy in know the costs involved with
Oregon.”
opening the office in Irrigon.
Q 3 - “ lo n e c itiz e n s T h is is s u e s h o u ld b e
have decided to secede, and, readdressed at the first school
in fact, are alm ost there. Their board m eeting o f th e new ly
decision should be respected elected board.”
w hether agreed with or not.”
Q 4- “There is no one
easy solution to this problem ,
Marc R ogelstad,
but there are som e that stand 4 5 , a n d
out m ore than others. Schools w i f e
need a stable revenue source. B r e n d a
T his d o e sn ’t have to“m ean liv e
in
m ore o r hig h er taxes. PERS Boardman.
needs fixed. It needs to be fair The couple
but not excessively expensive have three
like it is now. M ost o f all the c h ild r e n ,
e c o n o m y n e e d s to tu r n A dam 20,
around, so people m ove back H e a t h e r ,
to O regon.”
18, a n d
Q 5- “Funding should C a s s a n d r a ,
12.
The
follow each school based on R ogelstads cam e to M orrow
students. A dditional m oney, C ounty in 1998. R ogelstad
such as E S L or special ed g rad u ated from F essen d en
m oney, should be used for High School, Fessenden, ND.
w hat it is intended, and not be H e then jo in e d the U .S. A ir
used to fund things that d o n ’t F o rce as a se cu rity po lice
pertain to the intended use.”
o f f ic e r /la w e n f o r c e m e n t
Q 6- “The decision to branch and attended numerous
m ove the district office should t e c h n i c a l s c h o o ls a n d
have been m ade strictly on an academ ies through the years
econom ic basis. It obviously in th e f ie ld s o f la w
w asn’t since the costs to move enforcement, fire technologies
Kenneth Matlack,
to Irrigon are unknown.”
and m anagem ent. He worked
54,
lives
in
Position 1 candidates for 12 years with the Air Force
I
r
r
i
g
o
n
DeAnne L. Tolle, Jim Doherty and tw o sheriffs departments.
and John R ietm ann did not Currently, he is em ployed by w ith w ife,
respond to the questionnaire. th e B o a rd m a n R u ra l F ire D o n n a ,
a n d th e
Protection District as fire chief,
couple has
a position held since January
two grown
1998.
daughters.
R o g e ls ta d
is
a
John Kilkenny, 46, along
Matlack
m em ber o f G ood Shepherd
w ith w ife,
liv e d in
Lutheran Church in Boardman.
Diane, and
Irrigon for
H e is a ls o th e c u r r e n t
t h r e e
four years from 1955-59, then
president ofthe Riverside High
c h ild re n
m o v ed w ith h is fam ily to
School B ooster C lub and a
a g e s 18,
U m atilla w here he graduated
m em b e r o f th e B o ard m an
15 and 13,
from high school in 1967. He
Irrigon Advisory Board. He is
a re
a ll
th e n w e n t o n to E a s te rn
a charter m em ber and first
H eppner
O regon U niversity w here he
president o f the B oardm an
re sid e n ts.
graduated with a bachelor’s o f
Kiwanis. Rogelstad also serves
K ilk e n n y
science degree in secondary
on the budget com m ittee for
g rad u ated
education in 1971. M atlack
the M orrow C ounty School
f r o m
m o v e d b a c k to Irrig o n in
H ep p n e r H igh S chool and District, as well as serving on 1999. M atlack is a retired
w ent on to the U niversity o f the budget com m ittee for the O regon State Police sergeant
O reg o n w here he graduated city o f B oardm an. He is also and currently a background
w ith a degree in business. He th e b u d g e t o ffic e r for the i n v e s t ig a t o r
w ith
th e
R u r a l F ire
h a s w o rk e d as a f a rm e r/ B o a r d m a n
D epartm ent o f Corrections at
Protection District.
rancher for 20 years.
T w o R iv e rs C o r r e c tio n a l
Q 1 - “ Every candidate
K ilk e n n y h a s a ls o b e e n
Institute and a licensed private
h
a
s
h
is
o r h e r in d iv id u a l
involved in the com m unity in
investigator in O regon and
activities such as the M orrow strengths. M y strength is my Washington.
C o u n ty R o d e o B o ard a n d com m itm ent to providing for
M atlack is a m em ber
best
e d u c a tio n a l
coach o f both Little L eague th e
o f the Irrigon C o m m u n ity
and C olt basketball. He has experience w e can provide for Baptist Church and a volunteer
a lso been on the H e p p n e r our children. We cannot forget kitchen w orker at the Irrigon
High Site Council, H eppner- th a t w h a t w e te a c h o u r Senior/Community Center. He
children today will become the
L e x in g to n
A d v is o r y
has been involved w ith the
Committee, the ASCS County m o ld f o r o u r le a d e r s G illiam C ounty public safety
tomorrow.”
Pos. 4 candidates:
Pos. 3 candidates:
p la n n in g c o u n c il a n d th e
budget committee. He has also
been a part o f the A rlington
b u d g e t c o m m it t e e a n d
A r lin g to n
p l a n n in g
com m ission, as well as being
a part o f the A rlington C ity
Council and school board. He
has also been elected to the
Irrigon C ity C ouncil and the
M o rro w C o u n ty H e a lth
District. Along with community
involvement, Matlack has also
se rv e d as a te a c h e r and
substitute teacher throughout
eastern Oregon.
Q l-
“My
lo n g
experience in law enforcement
prepared m e for w o rk in g in
fields that have strict rules,
policies and regulations. I have
had y e a rs o f m an a g e m e n t
experience working with labor
contracts and labor relations.
1 have served on a variety o f
appointed positions as well as
being elected to public office.
I have se rv e d as a fo rm er
school b o a rd m em b e r and
have w orked as a classroom
teacher and coach. I currently
serv e as a m em b e r o f the
countyw ide M orrow C ounty
Health District.”
Q 2- “M orrow County
has a large and very diverse
school district. Each tow n and
area w ithin the county has its
ow n unique and im portant
needs. T rying to m eet every
area’s needs and expectations
is going to be a ch allenging
task.”
Q 3- “ I believe lone,
like o th er cities in M orrow
C ounty, has its ow n idea on
w h a t is b e s t f o r t h e i r
community and their children’s
education. I believe the group
th a t
s u p p o rts
s e lf -
d e te rm in a tio n has th o u g h t
through the process and they
b elieve c re a tin g th eir ow n
school district is in the best
interests o f their children and
their community. I believe their
decision is strongly supported
by a m ajority o f lo n e area
r e s id e n ts . I s u p p o rt th e ir
decision to create th eir ow n
school district. I also believe
th e y a g re e to a f a ir a n d
im partial arbitration process
for distribution o f assets.”
Q 4- “ I feel w orking
w ith the legislature and our
local representatives is the best
w ay leg isla tiv e ly to try to
secure additional funding for
schools. To k eep as m any
classroom teachers as possible
in th e c la ssro o m , I w o u ld
support few er adm inistrators
and ad m inistrative assistant
positions. W hile I am sure all
the adm inistrative duties are
v e ry im p o rta n t, I b e lie v e
keeping good teachers in the
classroom is m ore important.
T he use o f co m p u ter classes
a n d d i s t a n c e e d u c a t io n
o p p o r t u n i t i e s v ia t e l e
c o n f e r e n c i n g s h o u ld be
e x p lo r e d f o r e n h a n c in g
educational opportunities.”
Q 5 - “T h e c u rre n t
school board has adopted the
policy o f each school living
with in its budget. I believe this
is the goal for each school. I
d o n ’t b elieve any school is
taking in more money that they
can use. It appears that m oney
targeted for special program s
lik e E n g lis h as a S e c o n d
Language m ay be diverted to
pay for other program s other
than the school w h ere the
money was intended. I believe
the goal o f living within your
own budget is the direction the
board is going and I support
it”
Q 6 - “ I b e lie v e the
p o s itio n M r. C rip p e n has
taken is that 80 percent o f the
d is tric t’s c h ild re n an d the
m a j o r it y o f th e r e l a te d
adm inistrative duties is in the
north end. It m akes sense to
me
th a t
w ith
h is
r e c o m m e n d a tio n a n d th e
b o ard ’s decision to m ake the
m o v e w a s th e c o r r e c t
decision. The Irrigon location
is temporary. While I know we
need d istrict office space, I
don’t believe a majority o f the
school district patrons would
s u p p o rt a n o th e r b u ild in g
p ro je c t fo r a n e w d istric t
office.”
Mike Armato, 47,
along with
wife, Kim,
a n d tw o
children
ages
11
an d n in e,
c u r r e n tly
l i ve
in
H e p p n e r.
Armato
g rad u ated
from San
Raf ael
H i g h a n d a tt e n d e d th e
University o f California where
he received a bachelor o f arts
d e g re e . H e h as w o rk ed in
banking and mortgage for over
20 years.
A rm ato is a m em ber
o f the St. P a tric k ’s C atholic
Church where he is a mem ber
o f the parish council, director
o f religious ed u cation and a
second grade teach er for the
church. He is also a seven-year
m e m b e r o f th e M o rro w
County Board o f Property Tax
A p p e a ls a n d a c u r r e n t
c h a irm a n o f th e H e p p n e r
Coordination Council. Armato
is also a hospice volunteer. He
is also a four-year m em ber o f
th e H e p p n e r /L e x i n g to n
Advisory Committee where he
is c u r r e n tl y s e r v in g a s
chairm an. A rm ato is also a
past m em ber o f the M orrow
C o u n ty S c h o o l B u d g e t
Committee.
Q l - “ I h a v e v astly
m o re
e x p e rie n c e
and
kno w led g e o f th e M orrow
County School District. While
m y opponent has stated that
his main interest and motivation
for running for a school board
directorship is to establish an
Irrigon H igh School. I will
represent the entire district in
o r d e r to p r o v id e fo r th e
d e liv e r y o f a n e x c e lle n t
curriculum”
Q 2 - “ T h e b ig g e s t
c h a lle n g e is th e d is tr ic t’s
financial constraints as well as
successfully addressing the
fractionalizing o f the district
over the past three-plus years.
The unification o f the district’s
s c h o o ls , e m p lo y e e s a n d
com m unities m ust becom e a
reality.”
Q 3- “ I b e lie v e that
lone should be aided in its
se arc h
f o r a u to n o m y .
H o w e v e r , th e d i s t r i c t ’s
responsibility is to ensure that
an a d e q u ate a n d eq u itab le
financial settlement is reached.
It is not reasonable for the
su rv iv in g m em b e rs o f the
M o rr o w C o u n ty S c h o o l
District to subsidize any alien
district in any form.”
Q 4- “ W e need to be
creativ e in sh arin g district
assets such as courses and
teachers. We should use ou r
technology to its full potential
and seek partnerships w ith
o th e r a re a e d u c a to rs (i.e .
B M C C ). W E should further
seek financial redress from the
legislature by requesting that
they fund ed u cation to their
ow n recom m ended levels.”
Q 5- “First o f all, the
state district funding formula is
ju s t that, a d istrict funding
form ula and not a spending
formula While there is a certain
degree o f logic in this plan, we
have seen th is first year o f
implem entation bring us poor
results. As a result o f this idea,
lone has decided to divorce
i t s e l f fro m th e d i s t r ic t.
Furtherm ore, the district has
a lr e a d y d e c id e d th a t a n
exception must be made in the
formula for this next year. This
idea must be revisited in order
to m old it to fit the needs o f
the district The final definition
o f e q u ity m u st be that w e
d eterm in e th e b est w ay to
d e liv e r e q u a l e d u c a tio n a l
opportunity throughout the
district.”
Q 6- “T he reason the
d istrict decided to close the
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