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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 19, 2004)
Page 12 The INDEPENDENT, August 19, 2004 Board agrees that trees on playground are a liability and should be removed From page 1 ture. “The liability far exceeds the esthetics” of these trees and they should be removed, according to Funderburg, and the board agreed. Jones said he hoped the board would con- sider setting aside any revenue from the removal of trees to purchase landscaping or for natural resource programs for students. Following the hearing, the board convened their regular meeting and voted to accept the findings, which will allow the district to serve as its own contractor. The primary advan- tage is savings in cost and a shortened timeline compared to the usual bid process. The county will determine the eleva- tion of the building in relation to the flood plain, and other permit issues. The board also ap- proved the recommendation of Willamette ESD to contract serv- ices with Terra Architecture PC. 2004 Vernonia Jamboree Softball Tournament Creatures Pet Grooming 15% discount for multiple pets! We Special Order Advantage & Frontline Walk-ins Welcomed For Appointments Please Call: Report on AYP If you want to vote in November… 503-429-PETS 736 Bridge St. Vernonia ® You must register by October 12, 2004 ™ FOURTRAX RANCHER AT 6.9 6.9 % FIXED APR 0 DOWN PAYMENT On any new 2005 Honda FOR 3 YRS.* upon approved credit. FOR 3 YRS. Honda * upon approved credit. Forest Grove 3619 Pacific Ave. Forest Grove (877) 500-7300 or ( 503) 357-7300 Offer ends August 31 honda.com BE A RESPONSIBLE RIDER. ALWAYS WEAR A HELMET, EYE PROTECTION AND PROTECTIVE CLOTHING AND PLEASE RESPECT THE ENVIRONMENT. OBEY THE LAW AND READ YOUR OWNER’S MANUAL THOROUGHLY. FOURTRAX RANCHER AT RECOMMENDED ONLY FOR RIDERS 16 YEARS OR OLDER. PROFESSIONAL RIDER SHOWN ON CLOSED COURSE. *6.9% fixed APR financing up to 36 months through American Honda Finance Corporation upon approved credit. Payment example: 36 monthly payments of $30.83 for each $1000 financed. Offer good on any new and unregistered 2005 and prior model year ATV. Check with participating Honda Dealers for complete details. Offer ends August 31, 2004. FourTrax ® and Rancher ™ are trademarks of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. ©2004 American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (7/04) Funderburg reviewed sever- al pages of information on the results of schools progress un- der the No Child Left Behind Act, the Annual Yearly Progress (AYP) rating and state assess- ment results. A table of state- wide results for all schools in Columbia County shows that in Vernonia, Clatskanie and Scappoose all elementary schools met AYP standards, as did Scappoose Middle School. None of the high schools in the county met the standard. The results across the state were equally disheartening, with more than 70 percent of high schools failing to meet AYP. However, Funderburg said, the picture for small schools is brighter. While only two percent of 4A schools met AYP, 18 percent of 3A schools, and 27 percent of 1A and 2A high schools were successful in meeting AYP goals. Small schools are clearly doing a bet- ter job, Funderburg said, and there is no reason that Vernon- ia cannot be in this group. Further details of AYP in Ver- nonia show an across-the- board failure to meet the needs of special education students. Funderburg said the district has made structural changes in special education and will be changing directions. Additional- ly, a new director, from North- west Regional ESD, has been hired to work with both Vernon- ia and Scappoose. late to the real world, and there must be a positive relationship between the teacher, student and parent!” State test results A notable change this year serves as an example of efforts to raise standards. Students must achieve a passing grade in language arts and mathe- matics, beginning in the sixth grade, in order to advance to the next grade level. Sixth and seventh grade students who fail in these subjects will be re- quired to make up courses through the regular school pro- gram or in summer school. Fail- ures in the eighth grade will re- sult in the student remaining in the junior high, unless the stu- dent attends and passes the necessary language arts or mathematics course during summer school or in a remedi- ation program approved by a principal. State testing results were also briefly discussed. Funder- burg praised the work of Judy Gingerich, whose third grade class exceeded the statewide average in both reading/litera- ture and mathematics. There was very little change in the percentage of third graders meeting the state stan- dard in reading and literature (R&L) between 2002-2003 and 2003-2004, but the percentage of students successfully meet- ing the standard in mathemat- ics declined by seven percent. Declines in success at the fifth and eighth grade were even more dramatic: five percent fewer in R&L and seven per- cent less in math at the third grade; 17 percent fewer in R&L and 12 percent in math at the fifth grade level. There was improvement at the tenth grade level, however, by eight percent in R&L and six percent in math. Mist is not evaluated because of the small numbers of students at each grade level. In his written report to the board Funderburg said, “Improvement is not happen- ing, pride is missing, and ex- pectations are too low. A fifth grader only has one time to be a fifth grader.” Handbooks The board approved new handbooks for students and staff and, in a letter at the be- ginning of the book, Funder- burg said that the handbook should serve as a first resource for information. The board uses the vision statement and guid- ing principles to focus decision- making and “there will be con- sequences” for anyone who makes a decision to limit ac- cess to a free and appropriate education. “I know that our district can meet every student’s needs if we focus on the three “R’s”: Rigor, Relevance and Relation- ships,” he said. “Instruction must be challenging, it must re- Changed promotion standards Miscellaneous In other business the board: • Accepted the resignation of Patty Dickens-Turk. • Hired Andrew Scherrer as middle school counselor, Kim Morrison as art teacher and Carlie Price as Title I reading teacher. • Extra duty contracts were awarded to Lorrie Webb as high school activities director, Jessica Streeter as yearbook advisor, Aaron Pierce as junior high head volleyball coach, Scherrer as assistant football coach at the junior high and Price as assistant high school volleyball coach. • Approved School Improve- ment Plans for both WGS and Vernonia High School. • Heard that all of the wood- en play equipment at WGS was quite rotten and was removed for safety reasons. The small slide from LGS was moved to WGS. • Decided that Funderburg and board chair Jim Krahn would work together to set goals for the superintendent. • Accepted a revised organi- zational chart reflecting the clo- sure of Lincoln and redistribu- tion of administrative tasks.