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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 21, 2001)
The INDEPENDENT, February 21, 2001 Page 3 Letters to the Editor Retain present 47J board members To the Editor: Having attended the forum for School Board candidates last week, I was impressed by the caliber of all those who are running. But it seems a shame not to allow the present board, with their new appointees, to have the opportunity for suc cess. The appointees each have their strengths and interests to bring to the table. Leslie O’Leary brings valuable finan cial background, Cari Lev- enseller is actively seeking ad ditional grant money for the district, Schann Nelson is mon itoring and lobbying in Salem, and Jeff Blum brings valuable contruction experience impor tant for long range facility plan ning. These incumbents should certainly be elected so they can continue their efforts. Kathy Denckla Vernonia O’Leary good choice for school board To the Editor: I would like to take this op portunity to encourage Vernon ia School District residents to vote for Leslie O’Leary for school board. Over the past five years, I’ve had the plea sure of getting to know Leslie and her family. She is an indi vidual who always goes the ex tra mile to support family, friends and community mem bers in need. She continually demonstrates a genuine com mitment to all that she be lieves in. Leslie was appointed to the board last fall and has just started to get he momentum going. I feel that Leslie’s en ergy and enthusiasm, cou pled with her analytical ability, give her the skills to be an ex cellent board member. I am certain that, if she is given the opportunity to continue on the school board, the district will be well served. Please join me in voting for Leslie O’Leary for Vernonia School Board Position 4 and ensure a positive future for our educational district. Dana Hyde Vernonia Nelson, incumbents serve schools well To the Editor: In the upcoming school board election, we would like to recommend Schann Nelson for Vernonia School board Posi tion #1. Schann was recently appointed to the school board and with her past experience with different school activities and committees, we would rec ommend that she continue to fill that position. Having three daughters in the school system, Schann has been active with the site council, PCC advisory commit tee, the district budget commit tee and has become familiar with a broad range of school operations. She has no axes to grind with the school district and her concern is maintaining and im proving educational opportuni ties for all the students. We would also like to rec ommend, along with the school board members returning, the following candidates: Leslie O’Leary, Jeff Blum and Cari Levenseller. This would be a well balanced group of people who can serve this community well, with open minds and hard work, to make our school dis trict the best it can be. Ralph & Carolyn Keasey Vernonia Current school board is doing a good job To the Editor: As a Vernonia School Board member who is not seeking re- election, I am asking you to vote for four current school board members - Jeff Blum, Cari Levenseller, Leslie O’Leary and Schann Nelson. The current school board members are dedicated and committed. In the last four years I have learned what it takes to become a contributing school board member. I have chosen not to run again be cause it is exhausting and time consuming. For most of us, it includes a board meeting and a workshop each month, some weekend trainings, additional research, preparation for board meetings and weekly budget committee meetings during May and June. In addition, there is work on special com mittees. Being a dedicated school board member requires this kind of committment. Jeff Blum is a proven leader. He has chaired the school board twice in the last five years. He facilitates fairness and teamwork. He brings finan cial and construction expertise. He has played an active role in bargaining and contracts. He is committed to long range plan ning and improving district op erations. He is also an active sports father, regularly driving the cheerleading bus to and from games. Cari Levenseller was ap pointed to the board this fall. She is co-chair of the grade school site council and a class room volunteer. She has been doing outside research to find grants and increase funding for our school. Her other key areas of interest and expertise are special education and class room improvement. Leslie O’Leary is also a classroom volunteer. She has a strong budget and technolo gy background. Since moving to the district, she worked for the city as the financial director. Before being appointed to the school board this fall, Leslie dedicated over 50 hours to au diting district financial records and implementing accounting systems. Her special interests are technology and classroom size and management. Schann Nelson has been active on the school site coun cils for seven years. She has been involved in developing the school improvement plan and teacher in-service train ings. She is on the PCC advi sory committee and has been working to develop more activ ities between PCC and the Ver Batwaan the Bookends By Nancy Burch, Librarian Vernonia Public Library Do you know Oregon’s state song, bird, dance, insect, and tree? Can you remember the date of the first Tillam ook Burn, the eruption of Mount St. Helens, Ore gon’s admission as a state, or the introduction of the bottle bill? Are you aware that six-time national rodeo champion Larry Mahan is a native of Brooks; that Oregon’s largest vineyard is in Dilley; that the movie “Mr. Holland’s Opus” was filmed at Grant High School, or that five Oregonians won gold medals at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta? Do you know the story behind the ghost in the Umatilla County Library, the haunted lighthouse in Yaquina Bay State Park, the Conser Lake Monster, or the Ghost Ship at Bayocean? Have you heard the tales of Oregon’s early lawbreakers,' such as train robbers Hugh, Roy and Ray DeAutremont; gunfighters Hank Vaugh an and Jack Dalton; and of Oregon’s vigilante days? ’‘ “ Have you explored such unique events as the annual Chemult invitational Sled Dog Races or Rock Creek’s draft-horse plowing exhibition? Have you read novels by Jean Auel, April Henry, Philip Margolin, Beverly Cleary, Ursula Le Guin, or Kate Wilhelm? Books answering these questions and written by these and more Oregon authors may be found in the Oregon/Northwest section in the li brary. The theme chosen by Oregon Public Li brary Directors for 2001 is “Literature and Pub lishing," particularly about the Pacific Northwest and written by Pacific Northwest authors, espe cially those from Oregon. With that in mind, watch for materials from Oregon/Northwest au thors and about the Pacific Northwest to be highlighted throughout the year. Vernonia Library 701 Weed Avenue Hours: Mon., Wed., Fri. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues., Thur. 2 p.m.-7 p.m. Sat 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Preschool Story Time, Mondays, 10:30 a.m. Phone: (503)429-1818 nonia School District. She has now taken on the awesome task, of Legislative representa tive for our school district. She has been meeting with legisla tors and keeping up on legisla tion affecting our schools. The current school board is diverse and doesn’t always agree, but we do believe in set ting a positive direction toward academic excellence. We are focused on meeting the needs of our children, facilities im provement, improving special education services and com munication with the community. Continuity and commitment are important. Please join me in voting for Jeff Blum, Cari Levenseller, Leslie O’Leary and Schann Nelson for school board. Kim Tierney Vernonia School Board V Owners must control dogs at the lake To the Editor: The day the new docks ar rived for Vernonia Lake, my son, husband and myself went down to watch them being un loaded. While we were there, we observed a lot of dog feces on the blacktop and the ground adjacent to the path. Later, when walking from one dock to the other, 80 piles of dog feces were counted. There is a leash law, and if people observed the law, they could control where their dog went, better yet, clean it up. In another couple of months, they will be stocking the lake with fish and many families will be using the lake and spread ing their blankets out to picnic. Please take your dog out away from the path and not turn our wonderful lake into a doggie restroom, “and if you think your dog’s doesn’t stink, just try stepping in it.’’ Hopefully this situation can be corrected, making a walk around the lake a pleasant ex perience for everyone. DeLoris Webb Vernonia Brock seeks seat on 47J school board To the Editor: I am Peter Brock, and I am running for Position 5 on the Vernonia School Board. I am doing this for several reasons. First, I have three children in the school district. I have at tended many board meetings over the past few years and have been continually disap pointed in the lack of leader ship demonstrated by the board and by the Administra tion. I realize that we are facing funding problems, but so is every other district in Oregon. I don’t pretend to have all the answers, but I know that an swers only come when the right questions are asked. For instance, if the teachers were willing to forego part of their raise in order to buy text books, why were the administrators given their raises? Another major problem in this district is the last of com munication between the board and administration with the public. Letters are sent by par ents that are ignored and never responded to by the board of administration. Problems are brought up at board meetings that are never discussed or ad dressed. It has become an in tolerable situation. Many of the same issues facing Vernonia are being dealt with by districts all over the country with varying de grees of success. Alternatives need to be seriously explored and not discarded out of hand just because they are different. The safety and well-being of students and staff must be the top priority. We need an envi ronment where the public feels it can ask questions and offer suggestions without being ig nored. The staff should feel it can bring concerns before the board and administration with out fear of retribution. Communication is the key to all relationships, including the school board, the administra tion and the community. If elected, I will strive to improve this communication. Certainly, people are elected or appoint ed to positions based on their expertise and abilities. Howev er, no one is infallible. Our gov ernment works under s system of checks and balances. It is time to return these checks and balances to our school district. Peter Brock Vernonia O ’Leary for Vernon ia School Board To the Editor: For the past three years, Gwin and Sons Logging Co. has had the pleasure of having Leslie O’Leary working in our office. While her financial ac counting background included graduating from college with honors and excellent recom mendations, she exceeded all expectations and we have ben efited greatly from her unparal leled capability, thoughtfulness and efficiency. Continuously, she has proven her ability in handling complex issues in all manners of business including payroll, accounting, benefits and insurance. Leslie has the rare ability not to just shoot from the hip, even on topics she is well versed in, but will listen and evaluate dif ferent viewpoints and respond with well-thought-out opinions in a non-confrontational man ner. I know that our company, subcontractors and vendors have been lucky to have some one with such dedication and skill working in our business. I strongly urge you to sup port Leslie O’Leary in her run for the Vernonia School Board. Her ability, financial experience and commitment as a parent make her an outstanding school board candidate as the Vernonia School District faces tough funding issues ahead. Sincerely, Matt Chesley Vernonia
