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The INDEPENDENT, June 20, 2002
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Board action wrong
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After spending a great deal of time and energy loud
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ly worrying about inadequate school funding, the Ver
nonia school board made a foolish decision to reim
burse six administrators $1,500 each for attending a
national conference. This is the sort of action that cre
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ates disbelief among the general public.
S Y T U iit iJ
This is not an argument about the value of such con
ferences, nor is it disagreement with the potential for
professional development that can create positive re
sults for the district’s students. Director Darrell Hamblet
was correct in viewing the expenditure as an invest
ment in the future.
BUT NOT AT THIS TIME!
Administrators offered conference, refused COLA
High school Principal Mike Durbin and elementary
board that end-of-year events were very suc
school Principal Kirk Sherrill - who were not consulted From page 1
the district will pay an increase in the cost of their cessful, with the election of next year’s class of
- both understand the problem. They have cut non insurance and continue to pay the entire cost of
ficers at the Spring Fling. Spring sports were en
teaching positions and have asked their respective health insurance. The salaries of three confiden joyed, with players receiving first team all-league
staffs to do more with less.
tial employees, - the district deputy clerk, super and honorable mention in both softball and
“I’ll use all the professional development I can get,” intendent’s secretary and district accounts clerk baseball. Boy’s golf placed third at state and
said Durbin, “but how would my staff feel if I spent - were adjusted to bring their salaries closer to track placed fourth in district competition. The
similar positions in comparable districts.
Equestrian team won several awards at State
money for a national conference? I can’t do that.”
In a four-two split, the board approved an al competition, most notably the Sportsmanship
Sherrill said he appreciated the board’s acknowl lowance of up to $1500 each for the high school Trophy at both the district and state.
edgement that administrators should have opportunity and elementary principals, vice-principals and
Elementary Principal Kirk Sherrill reported
for professional development. “But I must respectfully special education coordinator to attend a nation that teachers Matt Blair and Michelle Eagleson
decline,” he said, citing reductions not just in resources al conference. Director Darrell Hamblet said that organized the first annual grade school field day.
he viewed the potential expenditure of $9,000 as Blended teams of students in grades 3-8 com
and supplies, but jobs. “We’ve cut people,” he said.
an investment and that, in his experience, na
The p o te n tia l $9,000 expenditure will neither make tional conferences produced improvements in peted in a variety of events all over the Wash
ington Grade School campus. Sherrill - and
nor break the budget. It’s not enough for a text book the system far outweighing their immediate cost. board members who attended - said that it was
adoption; it won’t replace a job. If the board’s desire is Voting in favor of a motion by Jim Krahn to ap great watch the teams work together and sup
to acknowledge dedicated administrators who did not prove the expenditure, were Hamblet, Krahn, porting each other in order to accomplish their
Cari Levenseller and Carla Strand. Tim Titus and goals. Other events included the junior high
get either a raise or a COLA, this is not the way to do it.
Randy Hansen were opposed to the motion; Di awards assembly, OMSI overnight, field trips,
Politicians foam at the mouth, declaring they can bal rector Leslie O'Leary was on vacation.
band concerts, and eighth grade promotion.
ance the budget with money that’s wasted, and most
The board adopted the budget for fiscal year
In other business the board:
voters forget to ask for details. Unfortunately, this po 2002-03 as approved by the budget committee,
• Approved an adjusted policy for admission
tential expenditure of $9,000 is the sort of thing that is with the exception of the correction of errors not of foreign exchange students.
• Approved an agreement with Jewel School
used as an example of “crying ‘wolf’.” This is not a fool previously noticed in the 1999-2000 and 2000-
2001 figures. They did not discuss the guidelines
District for the 2002-2003 football season.
ish board of directors, but it was a foolishly untimely and priorities recommended by the budget com
• Tabled an extension of the architect’s con
decision.
mittee if anticipated revenues are not received, tract.
Speaking of foolish: Rep. Betsy Johnson was in Ver instead referring those decisions to the adminis
• Were told that the district will not know the
trative
team.
nonia to talk with constituents about how to balance
results of applications for a school renovation
The board approved a resolution appealing to grant, technology grant and special education
the state budget. Many people showed up (the largest
the legislature to cooperate in reaching a bi-par
crowd she had anywhere), but there was not one tisan agreement to provide schools with stable grant until mid-August.
• Set a board workshop, at the request of new
school board member, not one administrator, not one funding and restore at least $200 million to the Superintendent Mike Funderburg, prior to the
teacher. Not one person involved in education. That re state school fund.
July 11th board meeting, to discuss goals for the
High School Principal Mike Durbin told the upcoming year.
ally goes beyond foolishness; it’s unfathomable.
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