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About Hermiston herald. (Hermiston, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 25, 2019)
OPINION A8 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2019 LETTER TO THE EDITOR Decreased poverty level estimates are a good thing rather than a cause for school budget concerns The 12/18/19 issue of the Hermiston Herald had an article discussing our pov- erty level estimates and how it effected the Title V Rural and Low Income Schools grant for the Hermiston School District. For the 2019-2020 school year the district became ineligible for the grant, which amounted to more than $85,000. The U.S. Department of Education, using the most current available data, found that the District’s eligibility poverty rate had dropped below the 20% threshold to less than 17%. Last year the rate was 24.4%. To me, this would be something to celebrate. I am not familiar with the data collection tech- niques used for these determinations; however, I am cautiously optimis- tic this could be a trend based on our improving economy. What concerned me about the article, rather than the diminishing rate being a positive, it was framed in how certain school services were going to have to be modifi ed and money taken from the gen- eral fund or other places in order to maintain these ser- vices at their current fund- ing levels. It strikes me that the district sees this as a glass half empty rather than half full and they have bud- gets they have to forecast, but I would be much more interested in learning what is being done right to lift our citizens out of poverty and stretching district tax dollars. Which, in my estima- tion, is always a good thing for everyone. Jim Sheffi eld Hermiston New Chamber Members MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM DAVE, DOROTHY & TRUMAN ! CHAMBER MEMBERS PETROLEUM 345 N. 1st Place, Hermiston, OR 97838 541-28 9-5015 • www.mcpcoop.com Raffles • Giveaways Food & Drinks Tours Open House! Join us! JANUARY 9TH • 5:30-7:00 PM New Branch/Current Loan Office Location! 1475 N. 1ST STREET, HERMISTON ChamberRibbon Cutting @ 5:40! If you would like to advertise on the Hermiston Chamber page Complete Collection Service HOME • COMMERCIAL 24 HOUR EMERGENCY Please Contact Jeanne Jewett 541-564-4531 or Audra Workman 541-564-4538. 541-567-3781 • 1-800-238-1223 905 Diagonal • Hermiston www.osokleen.com Licensed • Bonded No Collection • No Fee 461 E. Main Hermiston, OR 97838 (541) 289-9107 www.creditsinc.com Tim Mabry President Member FDIC NOW HIRING: Journeyman Pipefitter • Prep Cook • Bartender • Office Clerk • CDL ‘A’ Drivers • Fence Erectors • Gas Attendants 1055 S. Hwy 395, Ste 333•Hermiston 541.567.9670 KEEP IT LOCAL! 202 N. Main St, Ste 4•Boardman MYBBSI.COM AFFORDABLE FAMILY EYEWEAR 6LQFH :%HHEH$YH+HUPLVWRQ25 ELMER’S IRRIGATION, INC. 541-567-6562 Hwy 395 • Hermiston 541-567-5572 190 E Main Street, Hermiston Oregon Our office is located at 1055 S. Hwy 395, Ste 111 Cornerstone Plaza Hermiston’s Best Value in all Eyewear 541-567-3790 298 E. Gladys Ave • Hermiston, OR www.affordablefamilyeyewear.com P4 & MORE COMPUTERS “Proudly serving & investing in the future of our communities” 541. 481.2666 541-567-6151 Complete Collection Service Licensed • Bonded No Collection • No Fee Tim Mabry President 461 E. Main Hermiston, OR 97838 (541) 289-9107 www.creditsinc.com Membership has its Perks. Find out about bill pay options, youth programs, rebates and incentives at www.UmatillaElectric.com. Hermiston Office 750 W. Elm Ave. Hermiston, OR 97838 (541) 567-6414
