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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (June 17, 2004)
PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. Postage Paid Vernonia, OR 97064 Permit No. 37 Vol. 19, No. 12 “Voice of the Upper Nehalem River Valley” Lazy summer days have started and it’s play time for kids and dogs in Rock Creek. GED class cancelled, may not resume Don Webb resigns from VRFPD board The resignation of Don Webb at the June 8 meeting of the Vernonia Rural Fire Protec- tion District has created a va- cancy on the Board of Direc- tors. Those interested in serving on the board should attend the VRFPD board meeting on July 13 at 7:00 p.m.; applicants will be interviewed at that time. The term of Webb’s position runs through June 30, 2005. Board meetings are held at the fire station, 555 E. Bridge Street, Vernonia. June 17, 2004 Critical questions, good survey for 47J Fun in the sun… In prior years, residents of this area could take lower divi- sion Portland Community Col- lege courses in mathematics, English, writing and foreign lan- FREE guages, plus a handful of non- credit courses, without driving over the hills to the valley. The classes weren’t all available at one time, just one or two class- es per semester, but they pro- vided a foundation that led many adults to pursue addition- al learning opportunities. One of the most important classes – and the only class remaining this year in Vernonia – was adult basic education, the ABE/GED class that led to a high school equivalency for those who had not finished high school. Even that class will not be offered next school year unless either PCC or the Vernonia School District changes their plans. The GED class, which was taught by a PCC teacher in a Vernonia High School class- room, was abruptly halted in May. The reasons for can- celling the class vary, depend- ing on the source of the expla- nation. Both PCC and the Ver- nonia School District have ex- pressed a desire to reinstate the class, but there has been little apparent effort to reach solutions to what are basically procedural problems. The local equation is this: Local taxes go to both PCC and Vernonia schools and a lo- cal GED class is needed. The cost is not excessive and there is no public transportation to get to other PCC classes. There will be a meeting in St. Helens on June 28 at 7:30 p.m. at the Columbia Center, 375 18th Street. PCC President Preston Pulliams wants to hear how PCC can better serve Co- lumbia County. Those interest- ed should take advantage of this opportunity to let him know. Vernonia School Board’s June 10 meeting was well-at- tended, with audience ques- tions, at both opportunities for comment, pointed and some- what critical of actions taken or contemplated by the board. Speaking as a member of the budget committee, Noni Andersen asked some ques- tions pertaining to the budget. Superintendent Mike Fun- derburg explained that what appeared to be a cut in the cer- tified music position at the high school, resulted from the differ- ence in the salary scale of the individual hired to fill that posi- tion last year, compared to the prior year. A second question, about an increase of almost $25,000 in the office of the prin- cipal at the high school, Fun- derburg said, was due to clos- ing Lincoln School and moving the administrative position from LGS to one with shared re- sponsibilities at the high school and the grade school. Andersen’s last question pertained to board philosophy and, she said, an answer was not expected. At the last school Urban Renewal Districts will be meeting topic Many communities in Ore- gon have used Urban Renewal Districts (URD) to revitalize their downtown areas. Does it make sense to create an Ur- ban Renewal District in Ver- nonia? In an effort to learn more, the City of Vernonia has invited Jeanette Launer, an attorney specializing in Urban Renewal Districts, and Jeff Tashman, of Tashman, Johnson, LLC, a consulting firm, plus represen- Please see page 5 board candidates fair in 1991, according to Andersen, all can- didates, including three current board members, were asked whether they would cut athlet- ics before academic subjects, if faced with the challenge of budget cuts. All three (Jim Krahn, Tim Titus, and Randy Hansen) responded affirma- tively, she said. Comparing cuts in the recently approved budget, she said, 77.6 percent of funds remain in the extracur- ricular athletic budget, but only 22 percent remain for all other extracurricular activities. Noting that drama has been eliminat- ed and music cut back, she questioned, “whether cuts should be that heavy in non- athletic activities when com- pared to athletics?” Questions during the final audience comment time cen- tered around how the school could build in a flood plain, the wisdom of closing LGS prior to the completion of a new build- ing, and how furnishings would be paid for. Funderburg said that useful equipment, includ- ing some playground equip- ment, would be moved to WGS. Amy Cieloha questioned why some sixth grade students would be in the basement when Funderburg said in a pre- vious meeting that all students, including those transferring from LGS, would be in upstairs classrooms at WGS. Funder- burg said that it is the decision of the building principal on how to utilize his building. Andersen asked the same question and said that the superintendent had previously said “everybody would be on the main floor.” Funderburg explained that this would happen after completion of the new building. Murmurs Please see page 20
