The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current, October 03, 2002, Page 13, Image 13

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    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.
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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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