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.