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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 3, 2002)
Banks School District Board of Directors heard a grim report from Superintendent Marilyn McGlasson, at their September 16 meeting, about the state of school financing. Future Farm ers of America (FFA) represen tatives presented their summer activities and administrators unanimously reported that school began on a positive note despite the grim financial pic ture. FFA Chapter President Tim Dyck reported that two summer fundraising events, tire recyling and a hay bale maze at the Banks Barbeque, were very successful. FFA members also did extremely well at both the Washington County Fair and the Oregon State Fair. Three chapter members, Dyck, Jared Rigert and Ryan Evers, will travel to the 75th annual nation al FFA convention in October. Superintendent McGlasson noted that enrollment in the dis trict continues to rise, with about eighteen more students enrolled than projected. During the summer, many mainte nance activities were complet ed, including a huge cleanup underneath the grandstands and the installation of a new sidewalk as part of a city grant. McGlasson told the board that the district had opted to let the impact of reduced revenue with grass dry out and get brown be state Representative Bruce cause of increases in water Starr, who represents the rates. She also expressed Banks area. thanks to two individuals, not The situation is particularly parents of district students, difficult because Banks, like who organized a crew of ap school districts across the proximately 30 volunteers for state, is still waiting for actual general cleanup and beautifica numbers, rather than vague tion throughout the district as projections, of what revenue part of the annual SOLV Clean- they will be receiving. McGlas Up Day. son assured the board that dis trict policy is being followed Funding discussed and, as she said in a letter to parents, “whatever the results McGlasson spent some time explaining the political sit from Salem, the situation hand uation in relation to school ed to us will be handled with funding. The continuing debate fairness and equity in an at about how to solve the budget tempt to minimize, as much as dilemma has become a political possible, the impact on stu argument for both Democrat dents.” and Republican legislators in the face of upcoming elections After school lab opens in November. Further compli Banks Elementary Principal cating the budget shortfall is Marty Voge reported that refer that, as of Sept. 16, data proj rals were significantly reduced ect a continued reduction in the from last year and that morale Oregon economy of $150 mil among the staff was high. BES lion per month, according to has a new AmeriCorps mem McGlasson, due primarily to re ber, Theresa Pompili, who will duced income and capital gains be supervising the grant-fund taxes. McGlasson told the ed after-school learning lab that board that she is in daily con is expected to begin in October tact with the Confederation of and run through May. Voge School Administrators (COSA) also told the board that he has and the Oregon School Boards been working with John Schae Association (OSBA) about the fer on ways to improve bus situation and has discussed the loading. P le a s e j o i n u s f o r . . . C ustomer A ppreciation D ays AND O pen H ouse FRIDAY, OCT. 4 th , 3 a rrr0pm and Saturday, Oct. 5 TH,Sam-5pm Door Prizes • Cider • Cookies • Coffee PLUS... UaRD Samples from these fine companies Guess the Weight of our Pumpkin (thru Oct. 30, 2002) and Win s50°°Per Month worth of Merchandise for One Full Year! 549 SE 2nd Ave., Hillsboro • 503/640-9140 Toll Free: 888/244-0665 • Cell: 503/550-7088 • Fax: 503/693-7144 Very large” class freshmen Banks High School Principal Jim Foster told the board that the very large freshman class has had him scrambling for ba sic materials such as textbooks and desks. Because this class is a “bubble” in the enrollment, and next year’s enrollment should drop back to more nor mal levels, Foster said that it is difficult to justify buying books that will be used only this year, but he had obtained enough used texts and donated desks to complete the school year. Foster told the board that all Banks high school teachers are now certified to sign-off stu dents on the Proficiency-based Admission Standards System (PASS), the new system of ad mission to Oregon colleges, that is integrated with the Certificate of Initial Mastery (CIM) and the Certificate of Ad vanced Mastery (CAM). The high school staff is developing curriculum for the CAM for im plementation next year, accord ing to Foster. During the board round table, Chairman Joe Evers said he hoped that all five members of the board would be able to attend the OSBA regional con ference next month. He also said that after a visit to the spe cial needs classroom, he great ly admires the ability and pa tience of the teachers. Director Gene Kelly aid he was glad to see the upbeat attitude of dis trict administrators and encour aged the administration to stay positive in this time of financial crisis. In reference to the finan cial troubles of the district a couple of years ago Kelly said that the district had greatly re duced expenses before and “we can do it again.” Bargaining contracts ratified Following an executive ses sion to discuss the recently completed collective bargaining process, the board returned to general session to ratify con tracts for both licensed teach ers and classified employees. Both agreements fall within the parameters established by the board and are for the 2002- 2003 school year. The high lights of the agreements are as follows: • Four percent step increase for classified employees • Three percent step + one percent cost of living increase for licensed teachers • $600 insurance cap • Language that will allow the district to reopen contract negotiations related to the po tential loss of 2002-2003 rev enue. McGlasson said that the work of the board negotiating team (Nancy Hungerford, Willis Meeuwsen, Doug Nordholm, Nancy Hall, Jim Foster and Jim Smith) required extreme pa tience and endurance to com plete the arduous process be gun last spring. Banks Centennial Chili Cook-Off The Banks Centennial Chili Cook-Off will be held October 19 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. next to Jim’s Supermarket in the Oak Village Shopping Center on South Main in Banks. The cook-off is open to the public, with a registration fee of $25.00 for a chili entry. Participants start cooking at 9:00 a.m. and must do all cooking at the site, supplying their own equipment and stove. Clean-up is also the participants’ responsibility. Wine tasting and dessert will also be offered1 and a silent auction will be held during the event. For more information or a registration form,! contact Mike Riddock at 503-324-9023. 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