Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Hermiston herald. (Hermiston, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 7, 2018)
A6 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2018 LOCAL Community colleges ask legislature for $32 million HERMISTON HERALD STAFF PHOTO BY E.J. HARRIS Fire safety educator Gretchen Erickson teaches a group of fifth graders the cobra pose while teaching a class on how to say no to peer pressure on Thursday at Rocky Heights Elementary School in Hermiston. The cobra pose is used by law enforcement officers to project confidence, according to Erickson. Students learn to harness their ‘superpowers’ By JAYATI RAMAKRISHNAN HERMISTON HERALD The best way for chil- dren to stay safe and pro- tect others, according to Gretchen Erickson, is to harness their superpowers. “It would be great if we had a force field around us to protect us,” she told a group of fifth grad- ers Thursday. “But we do have a superpower. What is the first thing a baby does when it’s born?” The students called out: “It cries!” “Babies learn very quickly how to use their superpower voice,” she said. “[Your voice] is your power, too.” Erickson, the fire safety educator for the Umatilla County Fire District, vis- its most elementary school classrooms in the Hermis- ton School District once a month. She spends most of her half-hour lesson teach- ing them how to keep them- selves, and others, safe in various situations. Thursday’s lesson, to has worked in schools for a group of Rocky Heights UCFD since 2004. Elementary School stu- “As a police officer, it dents, wasn’t about fire, but was more about crime — about using their voices to shoplifting, assault,” she speak up — to help some- said. “Now it’s more about one else or to resist peer protection. Protecting your- self and your pressure. family.” Erick- son told stu- In her dents that safety les- sons, Erick- it’s import- son said she ant to stand tries to work up for them- selves. She in ideas to Gretchen Erickson also taught try to get stu- dents to draw students their own that while reporting something they conclusions. “When I give the exam- see another person doing wrong may feel like tat- ple of starting the car in tling, there’s a difference. the garage, that’s carbon “When someone comes monoxide poisoning,” she to the police station and said. “When you talk about reports that their car has Grandpa’s new gun, that’s been stolen, is that tattling gun safety. I try to weave in or reporting?” she asked. lessons to help kids make “Police couldn’t do any- the connections without me thing without reporting — giving them the recipe, so there wouldn’t be a job.” to say.” Erickson was an officer She spends a lot of time with the Hermiston Police on fire safety, teaching stu- Department for 23 years, dents about the different and taught in the schools in ways house fires can start, that capacity as well. She the importance of having “[Your voice] is your power, too.” a smoke detector in their bedroom, and how to avoid smoke, which she calls “floating poison.” Erin Andreason, a Rocky Heights teacher, said Erick- son has been visiting her class for about 10 years. “The students are always very excited to hear the message she’ll be sending,” she said. “She has done les- sons on the importance of having a family plan in case of fire, making sure they have an emergency contact, flagging down fire and police outside.” She said Erickson has stressed to students the importance of basic safety knowledge, like having their addresses memorized in order to tell emergency officials if they need help. Erickson’s lessons span pedestrian and car safety, and water safety in the warmer months. But no matter the subject, all her lessons drive home one point. “Pay attention,” Erick- son said. “That’s the most important safety rule.” Burton is new Stanfield superintendent By JAYATI RAMAKRISHNAN STAFF WRITER Oregon’s community colleges are asking the leg- islature to allocate an addi- tional $32 million to them during the current session. The colleges say the extra funding would help mitigate tuition increases. Blue Mountain Community College increased tuition from $97 to $104 per credit for the 2017-2018 school year. During the 2017 session the legislature appropriated $70 million more to pub- lic universities than the pre- vious biennium, but only $6 million additional fund- ing for community colleges, representing a 27 percent increase in general fund dollars going toward uni- versities compared to a 13 percent increase for com- munity colleges. The state has seven uni- versities and 17 community colleges. “Lack of funding at the state level forces commu- nity colleges to place an WORSHIP COMMUNITY NEW BEGINNINGS CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP Worship Service 10:30 AM Sunday School 9:00 AM Pastor J.C. Barnett Children’s Church & Nursery Available 700 West Orchard Avenue P.O. Box 933 Hermiston, Oregon 541-567-8441 LANDMARK BAPTIST CHURCH 125 E. Beech Ave. • 567-3232 Pastor David Dever Sun. Bible Classes...................10:00am Sun. Worship Service..............11:00am Sun. Evening Worship..............6:00pm Wed. Prayer & Bible Study......6:00pm Stanfield School Dis- trict has a new superinten- dent, several months ear- lier than initially expected. Beth Burton, cur- rent Stanfield Second- ary School principal, was announced as the board’s pick to lead the district at a special meeting Fri- day. She assumed the role Tuesday. School board chair Scott Morris said he had a conversation with cur- rent superintendent Shelley STAFF PHOTO BY JAYATI RAMAKRISHNAN Liscom, who in Decem- ber submitted her intent Lacey Sharp, left, and Beth Burton at a special school board meeting Friday. Burton to resign at the end of the assumed the Stanfield Schools superintendent role Tuesday, several months earlier than school year. He said that planned. Burton is currently principal of Stanfield Secondary School. because Burton was from within the district, board asked to have the dis- been taking on several of have a brief meeting with members felt it made sense trict pick up her insurance the elementary principal teachers on Monday to tell for the next two years, duties. He said the board them. to have her start now. “I asked (Liscom) if that which would cost around will now begin looking at Burton was the only would work,” Morris said. $30,000. The board unani- filling those roles, but the person from the district to The board voted 4-0 mously voted not to extend timeline for doing so is apply. She was selected (board member Eliza- coverage past the end of unclear. by the board, and by a beth Sperr was absent for her employment with the Some, including Sharp, screening committee that the decision) to have Bur- district. had questions about how consisted of some teach- ton assume the superinten- Morris said that for now, the transition would work. ers and a few community dent’s office on Tuesday Burton will serve as both She also asked Morris how members. and place Liscom on paid secondary school principal they would communicate Liscom had been at the leave from Tuesday until and superintendent, and the the news to teachers, who district for four years, and June 15, which was previ- elementary school princi- had not yet been officially resigned after months of ously scheduled to be her pal spot will remain open. informed of the changes. contention with the board. last day with the district. He said assistant principal They agreed that Burton, She did not respond to a Morris said Liscom Lacey Sharp has already Sharp and Morris would request for comment. www.hermistonlmbc.com Grace Baptist Church 555 SW 11th, Hermiston 567-9497 Counselors and a safe room were available to stu- dents at Hermiston High School Monday after the death of a student. The Hermiston School District was notified Mon- day morning by the Herm- iston Police Department of the death of Jenna Thomas, a sophomore and member of the high school’s swim team, according to a news release from the district. Members of the area cri- sis flight team that respond to schools during times of tragedy were on hand to help staff and students pro- cess the difficult news. “The district asks for parent and community sup- port by keeping an eye out for those students, or staff members, that may be struggling with the news,” the district stated, noting that counselors are avail- able for those struggling. “We are heartbroken for the Thomas family. Our thoughts and prayers go out to them and friends and rel- atives of Jenna.” Hermiston 191 E. Gladys Ave , Hermiston OR Sunday Worship 11am • 541-567-3002 Nursery available Check us out on Face Book Worship Livestream at herfumc.com Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors Rev. Dr. Jim Pierce, pastor Our Lady of Angels Catholic Church 565 W. HERMISTON AVE. Nursery provided for all services Sunday School - 9:30 AM Worship - 10:45 AM 6:00 PM Wed Prayer & Worship - 7:00 PM “Proclaiming God’s word, growing in God’s grace” Seventh-day Adventist Church Community Church Saturdays Sabbath School........9:30 a.m. Worship Service......11:00 a.m. English & Spanish Services 567-8241 855 W. Highland • Hermiston First Christian Church “Proclaiming the Message of Hope, Living the Gospel of Love” Sunday School 9:15am Worship Gathering 10:30 am Children’s Church 10:30 am 567-3013 775 W. Highland Ave., Hermiston Echo 21 N. Bonanza Street, Echo OR Phone: (541) 376-8108 Sunday School • 9:30am Worship • 10:45am Children’s Church • 11:15am Potluck & Communion ~ First Sunday of the Month The Full Gospel Home Church 235 SW 3rd Phone 567-7678 Rev. Ed Baker - Rev. Nina Baker Sunday: Sunday School........10:00 am Worship...................11:00 am Evening Service........7:00 pm Wednesday Service..7:00 pm “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” 1 Pet. 5:7 St. Johns Episcopal Church Join Us On Our Journey With Jesus. Family service 9am Sunday HERMISTON HERALD First United Methodist Church DAILY MASS: Monday-Friday ...............................English 7:00 am Thursday...............Spanish 6:00 pm SATURDAY:.........English 5:00 pm ...............................Spanish 7:00 pm SUNDAY:..............English 9:00 am ..........................Bilingual 11:00 am ..............................Spanish 1:00 pm Offi ce..............................567-5812 Scripture, Tradition and Reason Hermiston high school student dies unfair burden on the backs of students in the form of tuition increases,” a news release from BMCC stated. “Community colleges already serve students with the greatest academic, finan- cial and social challenges, but receive less per student in public funding than their university counterparts.” The college provided examples of ways it is already working to help stu- dents save money. Those efforts include programs, success coaches, faculty advisors and an early col- lege credit connections coordinator, all geared toward helping students only take courses necessary for their degree or certifica- tions so they finish sooner and don’t pay tuition on unnecessary classes. “Investing in community colleges now will help col- leges continue this path of profound change in how we serve students,” the news release stated. The 2018 legislative ses- sion began Monday. N.E. Gladys Ave & 7th, Hermiston t. PH: 567-6672 We are an all inclusive Church who welcomes all. 1520 W ORCHARD AVE Sunday Worship Service 10:30 am Classes for Kids @ 9:15 am SEEKING JESUS, SHARING LIFE, SERVING PEOPLE www.hermistonnazarene.org To share your worship times call 541-278-2678
