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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (May 16, 2002)
Vernonia School District Board of Directors voted May 9 to begin implementation of the Certificate of Advanced Mas tery (CAM), one of the final pieces of state education re form. All districts will be re quired to offer the CAM for the graduating class of 2006. The four-year phase-in plan allows the district to develop the CAM over a period of time. Major changes for the 2002-2003 school year will include a move to a trimester system, an in creased number of elective of ferings and expanded student advisory time. The purpose of the CAM, as required by the legislature and adopted by the State Board of Education, is “...to ensure that each student is prepared for successful transition to his or her next step." The five-part certificate requires students to: • Develop an education plan and build an education profile. • Meet the performance standard for extended applica tion through a collection of evi dence. • Demonstrate career-relat ed knowledge and skills. • Participate in career-relat ed learning experiences as out lined in the education plan. • Meet specific CIM perform- ance standards in English, mathematics, science and so cial sciences through CIM as sessment options. The plan, presented to the board by curriculum coordina tor Robyn Cochran and high school Principal Mike Durbin, represents intensive work by staff members to meet state mandated requirements and develop a program based on current research that is educa tionally sound and beneficial to students. The group - teach ers, administrators and a coun selor - has been commended by the Oregon Department of Education for their work, which lest case scenario” leaves Vernonia district budget nearly $200,000 short it they will receive in grant funds From page 1 Education Model, which was until after the budget is adopt- developed by a legislative task • ed. The proposed budget focus force for establishing the level of funding necessary to provide es on maintaining the current Oregon’s students with a quali student/teacher ratio and coun ty education. The legislature seling support for students, did not fully fund the OEM for providing educational leader the 2001-2003 biennium and ship for staff, and meeting state the economic downturn will standards and regulations. It take the state farther away from also includes allocations for all their supposed goal of funding fixed costs, including utilities and transportation. In all other the OEM. Two special legislative ses areas, the proposed budget sions addressing the shortfall in falls far short, including ex the state general fund have re tremely limited allocations for sulted in two ballot measures supplies, textbooks and re for additional school funding. placement equipment, building The budget presented to the and grounds maintenance, fa committee by McClellan is a cility improvements and long “best case scenario” even range planning. McClellan summarizes his though available represent a reduction of almost $172,000 in budget message as follows: “...we are very fortunate to current funding levels. The pro have an exceptional, caring, posed budget also relies more heavily on special grant monies and dedicated staff who focus than at any time previously, all their energies on the youth with eleven grant applications of the community. However, that total over $1.1 million. The even the most talented staff district will not know how much needs adequate supplies, equipment and a safe, clean, appropriate environment to do their best work. Unfortunately, the level of funding we are re ceiving does not support that and we are not able to provide the education our students de serve.” Budget committee meetings are scheduled for May 16, 23 and 30, at 7:00 p.m. in the dis trict boardroom. The public is urged to attend. A public hear ing on the proposed budget is scheduled for June 13 at 7:00 p.m. The budget committee is composed of the seven school board members (Darrell Ham- blet, Randy Hansen, Jim Krahn, Cari Levenseller, Leslie O’Leary, Carla Strand and Tim Titus), plus seven community mem bers appointed by the board (Noni Andersen, Robyn Bas sett, Jeff Blum, Tobie Finzel, Greg Kintz, Cindy Naillon and Vicky Rice). Andersen was elected to chair the committee, with Blum as vice-chairman. Merle Haggard will perform Saturday in Longview Country legend and winner of sixteen Country Music Awards, Merle Haggard will perform at Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts on Sat urday, May 18, at 7:30 p.m. Maverick singer/songwriter Merle Haggard represents an unusual intersection in Ameri can music, a crossroads where folk, pop, jazz and blues tradi tions are used to create his own soul-baring form of ex pression. With hits like Okie from Muskogee and Branded Man, Haggard has always set his own trends. He is the only country performer ever fea tured on the cover of jazz bible “Downbeat”; the only California born singer in the Country Mu sic Hall of Fame, and the only artist who has performed at the White House and done time in San Quentin. He is a creative force unlike any performer of this time. Haggard remains an uncom promising artist whose work re lies upon the honest and purity of his vision, not the obligations of being a country star. Rolling Stone Magazine has said of Haggard, “He is the greatest country artist of our times!” Opening for Merle Haggard are local favorites, Moonshine Country, with special guests Charlie and Monica Tickets are $40, $45 and $50. Call CTPA’s ticket office at 360-575-8499 or toll free at 888-423-TIXX, visit the ticket office at 1538 Commerce Ave., Monday through Friday from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m., or visit www.columbiatheatre.com L was presemea io oiner aisiricis 28 credits by the end of four in the region at a recent meet years. This schedule will allow each student to take 15 classes ing. Vernonia High School has per year, for 7.5 possible cred struggled for many years to of its, or a total of 30 possible fer a greater variety of elective credits in four years of high and job-related courses but, school. The plan will also raise because of the small size of the graduation requirements to staff, these offerings have been 27.5 credits (from the current extremely limited. The CAM re 25.5) for the Class of 2006. quires a wide variety of elective Graduating classes prior to offerings not possible with cur 2006 will not be required to rent levels of staffing. Since in meet the higher level of credit, creasing staff was not an op but will benefit from additional tion, the committee turned to a course offerings. High school trimester system to increase coursework will be restructured slots available for elective and to allow more integrated cur professional/technical courses. riculum that aligns more closely The plan approved will change with the Certificate of Initial the VHS calendar to a 12 Mastery (CIM), the CAM and -w eek trimester system. In PASS, new college admission stead of dividing the 36 weeks standards also being imple of school into four grading peri mented by the state. Unlike the CIM, which seemed ods, or two semesters, the year will be divided into three ses to students to be just another sions. Cochran said that the test, the CAM impacts them on committee, after careful review a day-to-day basis. Four new of a variety of options, chose classes to be offered next year the CAM model that allowed are Health Occupations, Fores students the greatest possible try, Wildlife Management/Ecol- ogy, and Sports Psychology. degree of flexibility. Currently, the schedule al Other courses will be offered as lows a student to take seven the curriculum expands to meet classes each semester or 14 the additional requirements of classes per year. Each class is the CAM. Though not required one-half credit, so that at the by the state, the VHS plan pro end of one year a student can poses to offer all six of the CAM earn seven credits, or a total of options to students. 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