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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (April 12, 1995)
• Page 2 The INDEPENDENT, April 12,1995 »INDEPENDENT Serving the upper Nehalem River valley. Published twice monthly on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month, by Public Opinion Laboratory Ltd., 1206 S tate A venue, V ernonia, OR 97064, as a free new spaper. E ditors and P ublishers, Dirk & Noni Andersen, (503) 429-9410. rtRCfivf» It’s been interesting, hopefully, it’s over A six-year controversy, under litigation for four years, is, hopefully, coming to an end. The U.S. Supreme Court can now decide the fate of Vernonia School District’s mandatory drug-testing policy. Like Don Dailey, chair of the district’s Board of Di rectors (See Letters), we are pleased to see that the system works, that a question of national importance can go before our highest court without regard to the origins of the question. No matter how the court rules, the same question will arise again some time in the future but, with luck, it won’t be here. There are many projects that can use more energy and attention, among them the Community Center Project, Jamboree, Spring Spirit Day, the school dis trict’s facilities study, and numerous City endeavors. One project that seems to have been orphaned is the annual fireworks show. Is there a group around town that can raise several thousand dollars by mid-June for fireworks? With all our desire to move on to something else, one thought makes us pause . . . what if the court doesn’t rule on the constitutionality of the policy? What if they remand the question back to a lower court???? For today, that possibility will be ignored. Hwy. 47 realignment may actually go out for bids The long-awaited realignment of Highway 47 be tween Beaver Creek and the Nehalem River finally has a bid date—April 27, 1995. Unfortunately, the fact that a date is set is no guarantee the Oregon Depart ment of Transportation will follow through. It isn t as though ODOT has been in a rush to cor rect the problem they created. It has been about 35 years since they built a “new” bridge across the Ne halem River, with the promise to realign the road and eliminate the worst of the curves created by changing the angle where the highway and bridge join. 9 ^ O T st’N re^ers t0 realignment as a “modern ization” project, rather than a safety project, in spite of the documentation they have received—several times—confirming the accident toll their “new” bridge helped cause. The situation has become further complicated, too, with paving for the Banks-Vernonia Linear Park tied to the highway realignment project. If ODOT doesn’t put the job out for work this summer, there is still the possibility of losing the money intended for paving the park. ODOT insists the money won’t be lost, but how many times have they said the highway would be re aligned “next year? Words are cheap (with ODOT, too often totally worthless) but projects cost money and ODOT contin ually approves cost overruns on other projects while saying there’s not enough money for the Hwy. 47 pro ject. Let’s all keep an eye out on that April 27th date. ♦ - .!• • t e * /700' I&0& TH& ovsh THE MAN The JosiReport By Rep. TimJosi Oregon Representative, District 2 (Two of Rep. Josi’s columns have been combined for this commentary on education reform legislation. Ed.) There is an old adage that says ignorance is bliss. For some that may be true but for most individuals, and for society as a whole, ignorance is a grave danger. We have become aware over the last decade that many of our society’s problems are created or exacerbated by ig n o ra n c e . G en era lly, we look to our schools as the primary vehicle for dispelling ig norance, but today too many of our children are graduating from high school without the ability to w rite or speak proper English, to read, compute simple math problems, think critically, or understand their part in the history of mankind and the universe. In an attempt to develop educated citizens who are capable of not only surviving, but thriving in the new world economy and as the leaders of world democracies, President Bush and the nation’s governors created Goals 2000, a list of reforms they felt would improve the nation’s educational standards and results. Since 1989 the federal government has been encouraging states to create their own educa tional reforms to achieve these goals. The Oregon Educational Act for the 21st Century, also known as HB 3665 or the Katz bill, was born of this process in 1991. Oregon’s schools are now in the midst of putting the reforms into practice. During this process concerns have arisen regarding some of the Act's provisions. Some people see Goals 2000 as a federal conspira cy to control the minds and attitudes of the na tion’s children. Others are concerned that the reforms are too nebulous and will not achieve the goal of better educated citizens. Some people would be happy to see the entire re form scrapped, others believe that fine-tuning is all that is required. The House of Represen ta tiv e s o p te d last w eek to fin e -tu n e . HB 2991,addresses many of the concerns about the Act that have surfaced since its passage in 1991, including clarification of some of its lan guage. Modifications proposed in the House legis lation fall into four categories: state responsi- bilities, local options, local responsibilities, and academic requirements. The state will allow a timeline extension for local compliance; pro vide statewide tests at grades 3,5,8, and 10; eliminate specific dates for lengthening the school year; and require rigorous academic standards throughout the state that are contin uously reviewed and raised when necessary. School districts will be required to issue Certificates of Accomplishment rather than Certificates of Initial Mastery in grades 3, 5, 8, and 10 based on the state tests and class work; certificates may also be granted in other school years. Grades will also be issued, as will a diploma upon graduation. If a student fails to meet the goals of the Certificate of Ac complishment then the school must provide an individualized instruction plan and/or alterna tive programs. School-to-work programs must provide at least 2 years study/work experience and shall include career endorsements. Dis- tricts are also required to develop and imple ment discipline plans to be reported on annu ally to the State Board of Education. Locally, the schools may determ ine the composition of site councils or eliminate them if they choose; however, the state encourages parental involvement. The schools are able to select their teaching methodologies, including developing public school choice schools. The bill also stresses that all social services avail able to children and families at school sites are optional. Academically, the primary grades will con centrate on reading, w riting, science and math. These subjects will be supplemented with language arts, health, geography, history, civics, art, music, P.E., foreign languages, computer technology and humanities. By the year 2002, graduating students w ill be re quired to have completed two years of lan guage study. I believe these changes make the original bill much stronger and give us more direction in our effort to change the course of our edu cational system. •...VAM lay be reached at: iprtof Room H491 3 a tem ,0R 97310 Phone: (503)986-1402 FAX: (503)986-1575
