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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 19, 2002)
By Nancy Burch, Librarian Vernonia Public Library When Multnomah Coun ty was attempting to pass their operating levy this past Fall, an editorial in The Oregonian quoted fo cus groups run by the li brary levy campaign as fol lows: “ ...bad times are ex actly when the library proves its worth. The more that people feel down on their luck, the more they’re drawn to the library for escapism on the cheap, self-improvement and the serenity and machinery of a home office without the price tag. Instead of buying magazines and CDs and rent ing movies, hard-up families can check out these amusements for free. Job seekers can convert the library into their personal turn-around station, brushing up on skills, educating themselves about new careers and researching openings on the Internet. Citizens who see the library as one of an array of rival pleasures during good times see it as a necessity, plain and simple, during bad times.” No one wants to see “bad times," but the re ality is that these statements reflect the trend here in Vernonia, as well. All of the services and materials that the library has to offer have seen increased usage. The Internet is in use nearly all the time, often with patrons waiting for turns; computers are being used for word processing and resumes; patrons are reading, studying, and relaxing in pleasant and warm surroundings. The article further stated that circulation in Multnom ah County’s libraries had increased 15 percent last year and that 68 percent of the county’s res idents were registered as library patrons. Circu lation in Vernonia increased 21 percent for the months of July-November 2002, over the same five months in 2001, and there are presently 1,446 registered patrons. We are so lucky to have this wonderful, patron-friendly facility to serve the public of Vernonia in “bad times” and in good. It is your library. Use the suggestion box if there are further services or materials that you would like to see implemented and a sincere ef fort will be made to that end. Attendance at the pre-school story time has increased this year. At 10:30 each Monday morning stories are read, after which a craft or activity takes place. This is a good time for par ents and children to interact with each other while having some fun. The after-school Read ing Enrichment Program also continues to be successful and fun. Youngsters read aloud from a selection of stories and books, after which they participate in a related craft. This is under the di rection of Trish Maldonado and takes place on Mondays at 3:30 on days that school is in ses sion. (The Christmas tree in the library’s entry way was decorated by youngsters from these two programs and is adorned mostly with orna ments constructed by these youngsters or those participating in previous programs sponsored by the library.) The St. Helens Book Shop has once again supplied a nice selection of books, which may be purchased (adopted) as Christmas gifts for the li brary. Prices, reflecting a 20 percent discount, are displayed on each book and range from $3.19 to $20.80. These will be waiting to be adopted through Christmas, after which they will be available for circulation. New acquisitions include The Christm as Shoes by Donna VanLiere, Kitchen Privileges by Mary Higgins Clark, That Old Ace in the Hole by Annie Proulx, Hornet Flight by Ken Follett, A n swered Prayers by Danielle Steel and From a Buick 8 by Stephen King. Be sure to check out the nice selection of audio and videocassettes as well as the newest issues of favorite periodi cals. From the library and “anonymous” comes the following wish for this season: Merry Christmas to friends! Merry Christmas to foes! The world's bright with joy, so Forget all your woes. The earth’s full o f beauty, of Love and good cheer. Merry Christmas to all and a Happy New Year! Vernonia Public Library: 701 Weed Ave.m Hours: Mon., Wed., Fri. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Tues., Thur. 2 p.m. ♦ 7 p.m. Sat 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Phone: (503)324-1382 le tte r a to the Editor From page 2 kind people and organizations in our community. Without be ing asked, so many people brought turkeys and all the trim mings, as well as all sorts of other food, to our Center and The Starting Place shelter. O f ten, they did not want receipts or thanks for their generosity; however, we would like them to know how much we appreciat ed their help in giving needy families a very happy Thanks giving. In some cases, it was the only food the families had. So again, thank you for your generosity and thoughfulness. We are grateful to have neigh bors and friends like you, at Thanksgiving time and all year long. Karin B. Kaczmarek Program Coordinator Columbia County Women’s Resource Center POLICY ON LETTERS T/ie INDEPENDENT wel- comes readers’ letters and will publish as many as pos sible. All letters must be signed, including those sent by fax, and include a verifi able address and telephone number, which will not be printed except at the writer’s request. Unsigned letters will not be published. Career Development Program used as example of needed policies From page 1 periences within the existing in structional program at each grade level. Before entering high school, every student will develop a profile designed to carry him or her through high school and into the first two years of post- high school career develop ment. In the first two years of high school, students will de velop, and revise as necessary, their PEP and work to complete the Certificate of Initial Mastery (CIM). Students will also begin to experience activities that connect academic content to real-life applications, through a variety of programs that could include workplace mentoring, workplace simulations, school- based enterprises, structured work experience, on-the-job training, apprenticeship pro grams and service learning. Students will also begin to amass a portfolio with evidence of knowledge and skills that demonstrate their ability to ex tend career-related learning to real-life applications. Juniors and seniors will con tinue to revise their PEPs and begin work on a Career Learn ing Project. Students who have not achieved the CIM will re ceive remediation as needed. After achieving the CIM, stu dents will participate in a C a reer Learning Project (CLP) that will eventually replace the current Senior Project. The CLP will not be part of the re quired senior English class. A com m ittee com posed of in structors Ward Nelson, Patty Dickens-Turk, Leanne Morlock and Jeff Cheney, and Curricu Funderburg accepts permanent position as superintendent. The Vernonia School District Board of Directors has reached agreement with interim Superin tendent Mike Funderburg to ac cept the position on a permanent basis. At a special meeting on Dec. 18, the board praised the work that Funderburg has done since since July 1, when he stepped in as interim superintendent, and said that he had their complete support. Funderburg’s salary was set, unanimously, at $90,000, a $700 cap on health insurance and a three percent, or cost of liv ing, increase annually. Funderburg was honored De cember 20 at an open house in the District office. Mike Funderburg lum Director Robyn Cochran, is working to develop the require ments for the CLP. Completion of CLP will be a part of the re quirements for a Certificate of Advanced Mastery (CAM). The Career Development Program will be voted on in January, along with other poli cies presented as part of the consent agenda. Auditor’s Report Larry Grant, for Grove, Mueller & Swank, PC., pre sented the audit report for fiscal year ending June 30, 2002. In his short report, Grant told the board that the audit was com pleted without qualification and “noted no matter involving in ternal control and its operation” that would be considered mate rial weaknesses. The district com plied in all m aterial re spects with the standards appli cable to financial audits con tained in Government Auditing Standards. Strategic Planning Workshop The board agreed on an ex tended January workshop, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., to con duct a Strategic Planning ses sion. Funderburg would like to have the board, teachers, clas sified and supervisory em ploy ees, community members and students participate in identify ing a vision for the district and identify the district’s core val ues and guiding principles. These principles can then be used to help the district deter mine best practices to use in teaching, guiding budget deci sions, and etc. Maintenance Report M aintenance S upervisor John Lewis reported that sup plies had been moved out of the old storage area at WGS and drywall was installed to an other storage room, per order of fire marshal. Other mainte nance work included the follow ing: • Refrigeration units were re paired at WGS. • ADT replaced old sensors in alarms at VHS and Mist, and determined that batteries need ed replacement. • A problem with the chlori nator at Mist was corrected. • Front lawns and football fields are being aerated with equipment borrowed from the Scappoose School District.
