The INDEPENDENT, October 20, 2005
Page 13
Banks School Board hears from parents worried about class size
Approximately 20 parents at-
tended the Banks School
Board meeting on October 10
to voice their concerns about
elementary class sizes, espe-
cially the third grade. Parent
Kelly Rowan stated that there
were 33 children in her daugh-
ter’s class, up from 29 last year
and wanted to know what the
board could do “I’m worried and
I’m getting more worried…I
can’t imagine how frustrating it
is for teachers to go in and be
overwhelmed.”
Parent Jennifer Bailey said,
“I have a child that needs to be
academically challenged and a
class of 33 makes it impossible
to hit those outer bounds.” Bai-
ley added that she and other
parents would love to help
brainstorm for solutions and
help any way they can.
Third-grade teacher and par-
ent Vicky VanDomelen added
that this class of students
brings a strong group of parent
volunteers and she uses multi-
ple volunteers daily, but that
volunteers weren’t enough. “I
spend a lot of time simply man-
aging the class…You can’t do
what you want in class given
those numbers, no matter how
good your volunteers are.”
Board chair Duane Lundsten
agreed that class size and
school crowding are issues fac-
ing the board. “We know this is
a great community and we
need to make it a place where
people can come and still keep
it that way.” He said that there
was little that the board could
do immediately. He didn’t know
what the solution would be but
said that the board could have
Superintendent Marv Ott evalu-
ate the situation and make a
recommendation.
Out-of-state trips
The board approved two out-
of-state trips for students. One
will allow Spanish III and IV stu-
dents to go to Costa Rica in
March. The other trip is so the
high school wrestling team can
attend a tournament in Oxnard,
Calif. Both groups will be
fundraising for the trips. Board
member Gene Kelly voted
against the trips because of
concerns about flying and be-
cause of community perception
issues. He feels that even
though no district money is
spent on the trips, people in the
community may think that the
schools are being extravagant.
Policies and goals
District policy regarding stu-
dent searches by law enforce-
ment officials was updated to
include student interrogations
and given a first reading. The
new policy requires the school
principal or designee be pres-
ent when possible and that the
school attempt to notify the stu-
dent’s parents or guardian in
advance.
High school vice principal
Jim Smith commented that in
his experience, law enforce-
ment officials tell him that no
school personnel may be pres-
ent during the questioning and
do not always allow him to con-
tact a student’s parents. Ott
said that a conversation with
law enforcement will be needed
to clarify how interrogations
may be conducted.
The board had a first reading
of an updated child abuse poli-
cy which brings district prac-
tices in line with new laws re-
garding how abuse is reported.
The superintendent will be the
person designated to make
sure that all reports are fol-
lowed up.
The board also had a first
reading of district goals and
continued to modify language
to reflect the board’s desire for
broad, attainable goals.
Katrina project
Teacher Tim Eggleston told
the board about a project he
had found for his students to
help the victims of Hurricane
Katrina. Through Habitat for
Humanity, 20-25 students will
be constructing “Home in a
Box” kits. The work will take
place in November or Decem-
ber. To help pay for the boxes,
students will be selling the op-
portunity to “sign a stud.” For
$5 or $10, people will be able to
sign or write a message on a
stud that will be included in one
of the boxes and shipped to the
gulf coast.
Eggleston said that both the
students and Habitat for Hu-
manity were excited about the
project. Banks is the first high
school to volunteer and will be
the model program for the rest
of the state.
Recognitions
Teacher Rob Frank and Stu-
dent Body President Marghee
Lewis were both honored with
certificates of commendation
from the school board. Frank
was recognized for his years of
dedication and loyalty to the
students. Principal Marty Voge
noted that Frank has an incred-
ible rapport with his students.
Lewis was honored for being a
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dedicated leader. Her work in
planning and carrying out a
successful Homecoming was
especially noted.
Banks HS theatre
seeks volunteers
2006 marks the 20th an-
niversary of the Banks High
School (BHS) productions of
Once Upon a Mattress . In hon-
or of that successful past pro-
duction, Banks High School
Theatre will again produce
Once Upon a Mattress.
To make this show success-
ful, BHS needs the following:
• a piano player for re-
hearsals and performances;
• assistance with building,
painting, and sewing;
• donations of wood, cloth,
paint, and other supplies.
Anyone who can assist with
these needs is asked to contact
Lori Daliposon at 503-324-2281
or <lorid@banks.k12.or. us>.
Dandy Farm Market
Open 7 Days • 9 AM - 6 PM
45770 NW Sunset Hwy, Banks
503-324-3954
Got your winter wood ?
MS 250 Chain saw
$319 95
With 18” bar
Trick or Treat
Bags
&
Candy
Halloween
Costume Contest
Win Gift Certificates
Shopping lis
t
Makeup
costumes
candles
Pumpkins
1st Place $100.00
2nd Place $50.00
3rd place $25.00
Monday 31st
660 So. Main, Banks • 503-324-2171
MS 361 Chain saw
$549 95
With 16” bar
MS 270 Chain saw
$359 95
With 16” bar
PRECISION UTDOOR
POWER EQUIPMENT
Banks Hardware
503-324-5221 • 150 N. Main Street, Banks
• Mon - Fri 8am to 6pm
• Saturday 8am to 5pm
• Sunday 10am to 4pm