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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (June 3, 2004)
PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. Postage Paid Vernonia, OR 97064 Permit No. 37 Vol. 19, No. 11 “Voice of the Upper Nehalem River Valley” June 3, 2004 47J budget committee okays budget without time to read it Remembering… Veterans from American Legion Post 119 raised the nation’s flag to honor those who had fallen in the serv- ice of our country, as Vernonia Memorial Cemetery filled with grateful memories on the annual day of ob- servance, May 31. A majority of the Vernonia School Board Budget Commit- tee approved the 2004-05 budget as presented at their May 20 meeting—although few of them had read the docu- ment. During a prior meeting, the committee reviewed the dis- trict’s guiding principles and budget goals, plus recommen- dations made by the Budget Assistance Team (BATeam), but the budget wasn’t com- plete, so the full committee saw it for the first time on May 20 and sent it to the board without members of the committee, ex- cept those on the BATeam, having an opportunity to read or review the document. Superintendent Mike Fun- derburg explained changes and revisions in the BATeam recommendations and (sav- ings): • Close Lincoln Grade School, money for mainte- nance of the building is includ- ed in other budget areas, ($30,000). • Reduce junior high speech ($5,000). • Eliminate jr. high track ($3,000). • Reduce high school Voc. Tech. by half ($25,300). • Eliminate high school track ($6,000). • Eliminate JV wrestling, softball and baseball stipends ($6,000). • Reduce VHS certified li- brary position ($29,000). • Reduce drama ($5,000) (This effectively eliminates it). • Eliminate journalism sti- pend ($1,260). Major reductions resulted from the difference in salary of retiring teachers as compared to that of newer teachers, by eliminating one administrative position, a reduction in contin- gency and the transfer of ac- counts payable support to grant funding. After reviewing the recom- mendations of the BATeam, Funderburg told the committee that administrative personnel in the district had been reduced over the past eighteen months from seven positions to 3.5. To- bie Finzel, a committee mem- ber, questioned the unprece- dented level of staff reduction. Funderburg replied that having nearly all students in only two buildings would help. Addition- ally, because of legislative changes equalizing ESD fund- ing, additional money will be available to support the posi- City budget gets approval on first review, public hearing set The City of Vernonia Budget Committee met June 1, to re- view the proposed budget for the fiscal year July 1, 2004, through June 30, 2005, which is specifically designed to allow the City to continue offering the present level of service in every department. No additional em- ployees or new programs are included in the budget. Though final negotiations with employ- ee unions are not yet complete, no problems are anticipated FREE that would impact the proposed budget. Grant funds pay a major role for the new Learning Center and a new Senior Center. Oth- er grants will support planning for expansion of the sewer treatment facility, as well as major improvements to Spen- cer Park, which is scheduled for a paved parking lot and rest- rooms. In the area of marketing, grants provide for a new tourist brochure, a new web site, ad- vertising for the Salmon Fest, and a visitor information guide. A downtown improvement fund is being developed to help busi- nesses make improvements. The City will be looking into the possibility of buying a large portion of the old mill site for multiple uses: To serve as a trailhead for the new Scap- poose-Vernonia Linear Trail, to increase sewage treatment ca- pacity to accommodate future growth and meet DEQ require- ments, and, possibly, for a light industrial business park. Assisting the budget com- mittee in reviewing details of the budget were City Adminis- trator Mike Sykes and Finance Clerk Cindy Naillon. No mem- bers of the public were in atten- dance. After review, clarifica- tion, and a few corrections, the budget was approved. The public Budget Hearing will take place on June 22. tion of Special Education Direc- tor. Nate Underwood, WGS principal and district curriculum coordinator, said that curricu- lum is probably not being ad- dressed as it was when the dis- trict had a curriculum director. Funderburg said, “We cannot continue to function long-term at this level.” The audience expressed great concern about weakening art instruction because sixth grade art will no longer be taught by a certified art teacher, but by a middle school teacher. Veteran art teacher Doug Tes- dal, special education teacher Kathy Pennington, guidance counselor Anne Mason and parent Orissa Burghard all protested the change, in per- son or in writing. Funderburg responded that art and music are maintained; he did not address quality. Parent Amy Cieloha inquired about the lack of an aide for large kindergarten classes. Funderburg said that the only way to add aides would be to find more money. Ray Brixey moved to ap- prove the budget as presented; Jim Krahn seconded the mo- tion. Noni Andersen asked to meet again because committee members hadn’t yet read the budget; school board member Phil Doyle concurred. It was approved by Cari Lev- enseller, Randy Hansen, Tim Titus, Ed Buckner, Gienah Ch- eney and Krahn (all school board members), and commit- tee members Rick Gwin, Greg Kintz, Finzel and Brixey. Two committee members, Jeff Blum and Cindy Naillon, did not attend. The board will meet June 17, then hold a budget hearing on June 24. These are public meetings.