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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