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The INDEPENDENT, April 18, 2001
The
INDEPENDENT
Serving the upper Nehalem River valley. Published twice
monthly, on the first and third Wednesdays of each
month, by Public Opinion Laboratory Ltd., 725 Bridge
Street, Vernonia, OR 97064, as a free newspaper. Edi
tors and Publishers, Dirk & Noni Andersen. Phone/Fax:
503-429-9410, e-mail: noni@vernonia.com
Community concerns
reflected in projects
Small community governments spend a lot of time
balancing fiscal obligations; juggling available funds
with community needs for public works, law enforce
ment, fire protection, schools, libraries, planning and
administration. There is usually very little left over for
discretionary spending, which often results in the un
intentional neglect of less “vital,” quality of life consid
erations. It also results in strong, caring organizations
run totally by volunteers who step in where govern
ment is insufficient.
Banks, Vernonia and Mist-Birkenfeld must all deal
with fiscal restraint, but that doesn’t discourage volun
teers.
Vernonia, the largest of the three communities, also
has the most volunteers and is able to take on a lot of
projects, with volunteers taking the lead, and in many
cases doing most of the work.
The annual city-wide clean-up day usually involves
about 200 volunteers who spend about four intensive
hours working - planting flowers, picking up and haul
ing debris, cutting weeds and grass, helping senior cit
izens, painting, or whatever else is needed - and an
hour or so enjoying lunch and satisfaction. Anyone
who hasn’t been involved should participate this com
ing Saturday, April 14.
The Banks clean-up day, April 28, will be more fo
cused on trash pickup, because many volunteers will
be working at the annual community auction. This 28-
year-old event raises large amounts of money for
scholarships, school needs and community projects.
It also requires a lot of effort on a year-around basis,
and it is all done by volunteers.
Rural Mist-Birkenfeld does a remarkable job of
meeting special needs in their community through the
Helping Circle, a volunteer organization that has done
just about everything, from feeding people to raising
scholarship funds to weeding the cemetery.
Vernonia Pride, which organizes the clean-up day,
has supplied trash receptacles, flowers and other
amenities in the downtown area, but this year will
“plant” many artificial flowers because of the pending
water shortage. It may not be quite the same, but it is
really just a different way to demonstrate responsible
citizenship.
All of these organizations have events planned and
all of them can use more helping hands. If you haven’t
done it already, it’s a good time to get involved with
others who care as much about your community as
you do.
Letters to the Editor
Parent feels wronged
by school district
To the Editor:
In April of last year, many of
your children watched as I was
escorted from Washington
Grade School by the police.
Mrs. Brock, the crossing guard
lady? Mrs. Brock who played
the guitar and sang with us?
Mrs. Brock who did Science
Club and had field trips out to
her house? Yes, that Mrs.
Brock.
What was my heinous crime
that made the Administration
call the police? I went to ob
serve my eighth grade son's
core classes without the per
mission of the principal. I tried
to follow the procedure any
other parent would. I called and
left messages for the four
teachers to call me, but only
one of them did. I went to the
office and tried to check in and
get a visitors pass, but was de
nied. I was told I had to talk to
the Principal. I was there for my
son, and had nothing to dis
cuss with the Principal.
First I had received a threat
ening letter from the Superin
tendent stating that I was not to
be on any school district prop
erty or the police would be
called and I would be removed.
This was because of some
thing I allegedly said or did. I
have never been told what I
said or did, or to whom I said or
did it. I was accused by some
one of something and found
guilty by the Administration. I
responded with a letter of my
own to the Superintendent say
ing that I would go where I
wished and see to my chil
dren’s education as I saw fit. I
then received a letter from the
school district’s attorney modi
fying the threats from the Su
perintendent to only keep me
from
Washington
Grade
School. Once again, there
were only vague accusations,
nothing specific, and nothing to
which I was given a chance to
respond. I did not and do not
recognize a letter from an attor
ney as a legal document. Why
didn’t they get a restraining or
der? Why? Because they had
no grounds. Had they ap
proached a Judge to restrain
me from a school that one of
my children attended, they
would have been forced to give
their reason, and I would have
been afforded the right to re
spond. The Superintendent
has never spoken to me direct
ly about any problems, he has
merely made vague accusa
tions in writing. Provided with a
law firm at District expense, he
has punished me for question
ing his authority and compe
tence in other matters. How?
By trying to limit my involve
ment with one of my children’s
education, one of the greatest
punishments that can be given
to a concerned and involved
parent.
I pled not guilty to the
charge of Criminal Trespass II.
The word guilt implies wrong
doing, and trying to observe my
child’s classroom was not
wrong. It is both the right and
responsibility of all parents. I
did “disobey” the letters from
Mr. McClellan and the School
District’s attorney, but I am
guilty of no wrong doing.
At my trial, Mr. Sherrill in
formed the court that this year,
there are new rules governing
parents visiting the school. He
said that now it is necessary for
all parents to obtain his permis
sion before they go into the
classroom. I would think that as
the Principal of Washington,
Lincoln and Mist, he would be
far too busy to discuss every
parent’s reason for being in
their child’s classroom. Re
member, if he “doesn't approve
of the purpose of your pres
ence,” he will be duty bound to
call the police and have you re
moved.
Apparently, the authority of
the Vernonia School District
outweighs the rights for all citi
zens guaranteed by the United
States Constitution. To me, this
•entire, incident was a blatant
abuse of authority.
We do live in a changing
world, but I for one am not will
ing to give up my rights and re
sponsibilities as a parent. How
about you?
Alice Brock
Vernonia
(Ed. note: Ms. Brock was found
guilty in court; the charge will be
dismissed after one year probation
if all court-imposed conditions are
met.)
Others help success
of Easter cantata
To the Editor:
We would like to express our
appreciation for the gracious
cooperation shown by Wash
ington Grade School Principal
Kirk Sherrill, David Van Meter
and the rest of the staff in al
lowing us the use of the WGS
auditorium for our 2001 Easter
Cantata.
Other contributors to the
success of this year’s efforts
were Ron Welch, John Cahill,
Jessilyn and Jenifer Thomas,
L.V.
Schoonover,
Nicolas
Phelps, Dave and Bryan
Benes, Mary Lou Beach, Jac
queline Ramsey, Fran Fletcher
and The Independent for the
great pictures and story.
Special recognition to Marc
Douglas, who brings his own
sound equipment, installs it
and runs it for dress rehearsals
and performances.
In His Service,
Lynda Cahill and
The Vernonia Community
Choir
More Letters on page 3