FOUR - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, January 31, 2018
Morrow County superintendent evaluates graduation rate
The Oregon Depart-
ment of Education (ODE)
recently released high
school graduation rates
for schools statewide. Stu-
dents in the Morrow County
School District who grad-
uated in the 2016-2017
school year have a four-year
cohort rate of 77.84 percent.
The four-year cohort rate
means students who earned
their diplomas within four
years of high school. For
the three high schools in
the Morrow County School
District, Boardman, Hep-
pner and Irrigon, there were
a total of 194 students in the
four-year cohort.
Oregon’s statewide
graduation rate is 76.65
percent.
Superintendent of Mor-
row County School District,
Dirk Dirksen, provided
some calculations regarding
the class of 2017 gradu-
ates and those who did not
graduate in the four-year
timeframe.
Of the 194 four-year
cohort students, there were
41 non-graduates in the
group. Of those:
-Three students re-
ceived a GED.
-14 have returned to the
school district and are on
track to graduate or receive
a GED this school year.
-Three students’ re-
cords were not received
from another school district
in time to be removed from
the MCSD graduation list.
This leaves 21 non-
graduates. Based on those
facts and figures, Dirksen
said, he calculates the dis-
trict’s graduation rate as
89.18 percent. Of those 21:
-Eight of those students
moved out of state and the
MCSD never received a re-
cords request from another
district. In this instance,
schools in Oregon must
take responsibility for those
students not graduating.
In other words, those stu-
dents are counted as non-
graduates on the Morrow
County School District’s
rate, although maybe these
students did graduate else-
where.
-This leaves 13 stu-
dents. Dirksen said that in
his opinion, these are the
students the district was
not able to help graduate in
four years, which is still too
many students.
Considering those fig-
ures, 89.17 percent of the
students in the 2016-17
school year either gradu-
ated, received a GED, re-
enrolled or transferred to
another school. “We are
always striving for a 100
percent graduation rate,
but 89 percent is certainly
not the 77.84 percent that
the state has us report,”
Dirksen said.
In nationwide gradua-
tion rates, Oregon usually
ranks at the very bottom or
close to it. Dirksen believes
that comparisons between
Oregon and other states are
not always accurate – the
way rates are calculated
and reported vary greatly
by state and may not be
comparing the same things.
“I truly believe that what I
have depicted about MCSD
is a sample of what happens
across the state of Oregon
regarding graduation rates.
When looked at carefully
and individually by district,
our graduation rates are not
the last in the nation, but our
state report makes it look
like we are,” Dirksen said.
Dirksen said that as
long as there is one student
that his district can support
in receiving a diploma or a
GED, they will. “My belief
is that if a student needs
more time to accomplish
the task, and they are able
to receive their diploma or
GED in five or six years,
the state should report that
and recognize that as the re-
sponsibility of the district.”
Morrow County School
District’s completer rate
over the last 3 years, which
includes diplomas and
GEDs earned, has averaged
84.73 percent.
Graduation rates for
each district high school
are Heppner Jr.-Sr. High
School, 88 percent; Irrigon
Jr.-Sr. High School, 80.26
percent and Riverside Jr.-
Sr. High School, 86.08
percent
Superintendent Dirksen
reported that he is pleased
with the district’s results
and continued improve-
ment. “We have put some
energy and focus into sup-
porting students towards
graduation. We have been
monitoring attendance and
student progress, commu-
nicating and supporting
students so they stay on
track to graduate. I am
pleased and thankful for
the relationships, support
and dedication our teachers,
counselors, administrators
and wraparound support
staff have displayed toward
our students. I am also very
appreciative of our students
and families as we have all
partnered to communicate,
stay engaged and support
one another so students in
the Morrow County School
District can be successful in
meeting graduation goals,”
Dirksen said.
Conservation Stewardship Program available
The Conservation
Stewardship Program is
now available to agricul-
tural producers wanting
to enhance current con-
servation efforts. Through
CSP, USDA’s Natural Re-
sources Conservation Ser-
vice (NRCS) helps private
landowners build their busi-
ness while implementing
conservation practices that
help ensure the sustainabil-
ity of their entire operation.
NRCS plans to enroll up to
10 million acres in CSP in
2018.
The press release indi-
cated that through this pro-
gram, agricultural produc-
ers and forest landowners
earn payments for actively
managing, maintaining, and
expanding conservation
activities like cover crops,
ecologically-based pest
management, buffer strips,
and fish and wildlife habi-
tat – all while maintaining
active agriculture produc-
tion on their land. CSP also
encourages the adoption of
cutting-edge technologies
and new management tech-
niques such as precision
agriculture applications,
on-site carbon storage and
planting for high carbon
sequestration rate and new
soil amendments to im-
prove water quality.
Some of the benefits of
SWCD to hold work session
The Morrow SWCD
will hold a work session on
Tuesday, Feb. 6 at noon in
the Ag Service center con-
ference room to update the
long range plan, employee
job descriptions and succes-
sion planning.
The work session will
be followed by a regu-
lar monthly meeting at 3
p.m. The meeting agenda
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ADVANTAGE DENTAL CLINICS
includes minutes of the
previous meeting, financial
reports, partner reports,
staff reports and a surplus
property discussion.
The Morrow SWCD
meetings are open to the
public.
CSP include:
-Improved cattle gains
per acre;
-Increased crop yields;
-Decreased inputs;
-Wildlife population
improvements; and
-Better resilience to
weather extremes.
According to the news
release, NRCS recently
made several updates to the
program to help producers
better evaluate their con-
servation options and the
benefits to their operations
and natural resources. New
methods and software for
evaluating applications help
producers see up front why
they are or are not meeting
stewardship thresholds, and
allow them to pick prac-
tices and enhancements that
work for their conservation
objectives. These tools also
American Sign
Language classes offered
Lelia Workman will be
conducting American Sign
Language classes in Hep-
pner at Sweet Productions
Restaurant and Bakery.
Classes are free, open to
the public and all ages are
welcome. Study materials,
which will cost approxi-
mately $15, are at attendees
expense.
The current session will
start Jan. 30 and classes
are offered every Tuesday
and Thursday night from
6-7 p.m. for beginners and
The Morrow County Sheriff’s Office has released the following information:
January 3: Morrow stay away as there has been parked at the high school.
County Sheriff ’s Office issues there. UEC will be A very younger gentleman
received a report on Miller out today to disconnect at got out and walked inside.
-MCSO received a re-
Rd, Boardman that she about 1 p.m. and requests
has been hearing car doors deputy presence in the area. port on SE Kristen Dr,
opening and her dog has
-MCSO received a re- Irrigon that a 79 year old
been barking for the past port that Debra Jean Portillo female is bleeding from
15 minutes. RP advises she was arrested at UCJ for sores on her neck. Trans-
believes it to be coming MCSO warrant. Subject is ported to GSH.
-MCSO received a re-
from the house across the lodged at UCJ with a bail
port that RP found a driver’s
street which is vacant. Un- of $25,000.
able to locate.
-MCSO received a re- license in the middle of the
-MCSO received a re- port at Irrigon Elementary street in Heppner.
-MCSO received a re-
port on Hwy 207 Spray, School, SE Wyoming Ave,
Heppner that there is a dead Irrigon that someone is port on SE Thirteenth Pl,
deer on the side of the road stalking. Under investiga- Irrigon that someone has a
gun at the location.
before Willow Creek Rd. tion.
Referred to other agency.
-MCSO received a re-
January 4: Morrow
-MCSO received a re- port at Sergio’s Mexican County Sheriff ’s Office
port on Depot Ln, Irrigon restaurant, E Hwy 730, received a report on W Wil-
that last night someone took Irrigon of a found phone. low St, Heppner that his son
out her fence line.
Property was returned.
has locked himself in the
-MCSO received a
-MCSO received a re- apartment and the landlord
report on Wagon Wheel port at Irrigon High School wants him out. Owners
Loop, Irrigon that UEC is on SE Wyoming Ave, Irri- were advised they need
doing a pump house discon- gon that a white single cab to go through the eviction
nect and they were told by Doge went to pass her and process to get him to leave
the new property owner to another vehicle and almost the residence.
hit the vehicle coming to-
-MCSO received a re-
wards them head on. RP port on Hwy 74, Heppner of
advised the vehicle is now a white van on the shoulder
The Advantage Dental Clinic has Re-opened in Heppner!
DENTAL
CLEANING
with the purchase of new patient exam and necessary x-rays.
DID YOU KNOW?
GUM DISEASE
• is linked to •
HEART DISEASE
every Wednesday night
from 6-7 p.m. for level two.
Visitors are welcome.
For more information
or to register for the classes,
contact Jodi Segraves at
Sweet Productions or call
541-626-1440.
Sheriff’s Report
Advantage Dental Group, PC
FREE
enable producers to see
potential payment scenarios
for conservation early in the
process.
While applications
for CSP are accepted year
round, applications must
be received by Mar. 2 to be
considered for this fund-
ing period. For additional
information contact the
NRCS office at 541-676-
5021.
The Neighborhood Center strives to
end hunger in South Morrow County.
Our programs assist the low income
with monthly food boxes and emer-
gency rent or utility assistance .
* 797 food boxes were distributed to the low
income residents of South Morrow County
throughout 2017.
* 20 families received emergency rent and or
utility assistance.
143 N Main Street, Heppner, OR
888-468-0022
www.AdvantageDentalClinics.com
Offer valid January 1, 2018 thru February 28, 2018. Offer cannot be combined. Additional
restrictions may apply. Some level of treatment financing is avaliable to everyone.
* 26 local families were blessed by community
members with gifts from our Christmas "Giv-
ing Tree" in December.
The success of these programs was made
possible by our amazing team of volunteers
who worked a total of 3,579 hours in 2017.
Financial donations are always needed and
appreciated to ensure this important work
continues. Please remember the Neighbor-
hood Center when doing your estate planning.
of the road, it has been there
awhile. Referred to other
agency.
-MCSO received a re-
port on NW Union Ave,
Heppner that a deer in the
back yard is dead. RP has
no way of getting rid of it.
-MCSO received a re-
port on SE Wyoming Ave,
Irrigon that there is an as-
sault at the high school.
-MCSO received a re-
port at Heppner Volunteer
Fire Department on NW
Riverside Ave, Heppner of
a driver that may be intoxi-
cated, is all over the road.
Jonathan Ceel Vandenbrink
was given a verbal warning
for electronic device.
-MCSO received a re-
port on Columbia Ln, Ir-
rigon that across the street
from him there are 3-4
goats being attacked by a
Rottweiler and Pit Bull.
Referred to other agency.
-MCSO received a re-
port on NW Washington
Ave, Irrigon that company
that cleans contaminated
houses has completed the
cleanup and the bank want-
ed them to advise when it
was completed.
-MCSO received a re-
port on Hwy 207 Echo,
Lexington that there is a
van with flares out chang-
ing a tire. Vehicle was gone
before deputy arrived on
the scene.
-MCSO received a
report on SE Utah Ave,
Irrigon tat a white Geo
Metro with blue stripes is
speeding.
-MCSO received a
report at Heppner Mar-
ket Fresh on N Main St,
Heppner that a dog named
Spark Plug is coming into
the store. She has attempted
to contact the owners and
they have not responded.
Dog will be transported to
owner by a person who is
familiar with the animal.
-Continued on PAGE SIX