Heppner gazette-times., October 22, 2003, Page TWELVE, Image 12

TWELVE - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, October 22, 2003
TO THE PARENTS AND TAXPAYERS
OF THE MORROW COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT
W hy is it that fam ilies from the Lexington and Pine City areas no longer deserve the
right to choose between Heppner and lone schools for their children, as they have
done since the Lexington Schools were closed in the late 1950s?
The Morrow County School Board has decided to no longer release ANY students from the
Lexington/Pine City Area to the lone School District. Why did they do this?
□ Did they make this decision to secure the funding for these students for the Morrow County
School District?
> No. Morrow County School District will only receive the state funding for these students
if they actually enroll and attend school in the Morrow County School District. The lone School
District has consistently told the Morrow County School Board that these children will be
accepted into the lone School system whether or not they are released by Morrow County. In
effect, the lone School District will honor the right that these families have had to choose the
best school for their children, even if Morrow County won’t. So no, this decision does not secure
the state funding for these students to the Morrow County School District.
□ Did they make this decision because they hope that the lone School District will not be able
to operate without the state funds from these students?
> This may be, but if they did they are wrong. In addition to being wrong, they have made
a decision that has serious consequences for all of South Morrow County based upon petty and
vindictive reasoning.
□ Did they make this decision because they think that only those children from the affected
areas who choose to attend Morrow County Schools deserve to have state school funds allocated
to their education?
> We hope not, but that is the message that is being sent.
□ Did they make this decision because they believe it will calm people’s emotions and help to
make a better business environment between the three communities in South Morrow County?
> They may think so, but it is doubtful that telling Lexington families that they don’t
deserve the right to a choice that they have had for nearly 50 years will be good for business or
schools in South Morrow County.
□ Did they make this decision because they want to spend taxpayer dollars defending their
decision in the courts?
> Probably not, but it can be expected that if they continue to refuse to do what is right for
the families and children in the Lexington/Pine City area that will be the result.
□ Did they make this decision based on the same type of quality thinking that made the
following predictions:
• People in lone realize that it is best for their children’s education to consolidate Heppner
and lone High Schools.
• People in lone will complain, but they will come to accept that consolidation is inevitable.
• lone can’t form a separate school district. There is no way to do that.
• When this is all over lone will owe the Morrow County School District at least a million
dollars and they will be back because they can’t afford to have a separate district.
> If they did then maybe you should think about how many of the above statements have
proven to be true.
It is time for the Morrow County School Board to do what is right for the families o f the
Lexington/Pine City Area instead of spitefully holding their children’s education funding
hostage. These families have the right to choose where their children attend school
because lone will give them that right. All the Morrow County School Board can do is
withhold their funding. But the Morrow County School District won’t receive the funding
for any students choosing to attend school in lone either. So what exactly are they
trying to accomplish here?
If you are a concerned citizen of the Morrow County School District and would like to
ask them that question yourself, the following members of the Morrow County School
Board voted to withhold the funding for any Lexington/Pine City area students choosing
to attend school in lone:
John Renfro 989-8117
Bill Kuhn 676-5033
Craig Miles 676-5290
Ken Matlack 922-5173
Also, if you are a resident of the Lexington or Pine City areas and would like to be placed on the
mailing list for the Lexington Self Determination committee please mail your name, telephone
number, mailing address and e-mail address to: v.
Lexington Self Determination Committee
P. O. Box 584, Lexington, OR 97898
SELF-DETERMINATION IS ABOUT FAMILIES IN THE LEXINGTON/PINE CITY
AREA HAVING THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE WHAT IS BEST FOR THEIR CHILDREN
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