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.