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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 20, 2005)
The INDEPENDENT, January 20, 2005 Page 13 Firefighting course can help students toward career position Chairman Willis Meeuwsen opened the Banks School Board meeting January 10 by welcoming the audience, say ing it was “nice to see a full house.” Fire Chief Brian Coussens introduced Banks Fire Depart ment training officer Levi Eckert and started a presentation on the Firefighter program. Cous sens told the board that stu dents must apply for the pro gram as if for a job. For some of them it is the first time they have filled out a job application or had an interview. Students must be juniors or seniors with at least a 2.5 Grade Point Aver age and excellent attendance. They must also provide refer ences, pay a $50 fee and pass a drug screen and physical exam. All books, materials, uni forms and turnouts are provid ed by the department, bringing the total cost for the class to about $950 per student. The program is limited to ten stu dents. The program teaches life skills, Coussens explained, par ticularly civics, by offering ex periences that include being part of a team, giving back to the community and working in a professional environment with adults. Eckert said that stu dents learn compassion by ob serving real-life crisis situa tions, not television re-enact ments or drama. Students also learn CPR, advanced first aid, rescue skills, fire prevention, accident prevention and chemi cal awareness. Successful completion of the program will earn 14 Portland Community College credits the first year, an additional nine PCC credits during their senior year if they started as juniors, and national- Oak Village Laundromat 4 Jumbo Washers Air-conditioned Easy Access with Ample Parking located next to Jim's Market at the junction of Hwy 47 & Hwy 6 Main Street, Banks ly recognized firefighter certifi cation. Much of this credit is trans ferrable to other institutions, Coussens said, a major sav ings in tuition expenses. While many students participate only during their senior year, several have completed, or are en rolled in the second year of the program. Students receive certifica tion as firefighters by Christmas of their first year in the pro gram. After being certified, many of the students also join the fire department and re spond to local calls as volun teers. Banks High School Prin cipal Jim Foster said that he was surprised to see so many familiar faces when he attend ed a drill. Several students who have graduated are still active in the fire department, with some even commuting from Corvallis for drill. Students also work with oth er firefighters to teach fire pre vention and awareness to ele mentary students, Coussens said, greatly increasing the ef fectiveness of the program be cause younger students identi fy with the older students. Chief Coussens thanked the district for the opportunity to provide the program. He will be meet ing with district administrators to ensure that the class is meeting student needs. He would like to encourage more students to join in their junior year and receive the full advan tage of the program. Insurance Report Amy Hanson, of Waltz, Sheriden, Crawford (WSC), summarized the annual insur ance report for the board, say ing that the major activity of the last year was refining the policy covering facility use. Unlike the last several years, the insur ance market appears to be sta bilizing, according to Hanson. When the Special Districts As sociation of Oregon (SDAO) opened their insurance pool to school districts in 2003, the cost decreased by about 12.5 percent. SDAO provides insur ance for many fire districts and other special districts. Hanson told the board that WSC does not receive contin gency income and operates strictly on a commission basis. National media reported in De cember that some agencies were engaging in bid rigging, but WSC’s interest is in placing their clients with the best possi ble insurance to meet their needs, according to Hanson. New Policies Superintendent Marilyn Mc- Glasson introduced two poli cies to help the board develop budgets with a new superin tendent. The policies define two items included in school (and other government) budgets - the operating contingency and the unappropriated ending fund balance. McGlasson explained that, without a written policy, the board is “somewhat adrift” when determining what these amounts should be. Meeuwsen noted that over the last several years of decreasing state sup port, the ending fund balance has been “whittled away, all revenues were expensed.” The board engaged in a lively dis cussion as they struggled with the need for such policies. A second draft of the policies will be presented next month. In other business, McGlas son reported that the district is compliant with all 22 standards required by the state. Int’l Soup Festival, February 5 The second annual Interna tional Soup Festival will be on Saturday, February 5, from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. in the Banks Elementary School cafeteria, on South Main Street in Banks. The International Soup Fes tival will feature live music from several professional musical groups such as The Heather- lands playing Celtic folk songs. Homemade soups will include English Vegetable Beef, Italian Tortellini, German Potato Bisque and All American Tex- Mex Chili. “Attendees can support a community event, learn more about the Sound Stage Project, and listen to live music while enjoying a smorgasbord of all- you-can-eat homemade soups from around the world,” said Tracey Rowatt, Vice Chairper son of the Foundation. This family friendly festival is open to all ages. Tickets at the door are $10 for adults and $5 for children age 12 and young er. Advance tickets are also available at a discounted price of $8 for adults and $4 for chil dren. Call Charlotte Cline, 503- 324-9382 for advance tickets. The Soup Festival is hosted by the Banks Community Foundation, a non-profit organ ization committed to enhancing cultural, social and economic development in the Banks community. Local businesses have joined with the Founda tion to sponsor the event. The Foundation, in partner ship with Rural Development Initiatives Inc. and Diversity Corporation, has produced a feasibility study for a “world class” motion picture sound stage and back lot facility to be built in the Banks area. The Foundation is dedicated to the clean industry of filming, which in turn creates more jobs, in creases education, cultivates cultural arts and brings the arts to the City of Banks and sur rounding areas. For additional information about the festival or the Foun dation please log onto <ww w.banksfoundation.org>. CONGRATULATIONS Jfc ! 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