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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 18, 2007)
The INDEPENDENT, January 18, 2007 Page 13 Banks school board receives report from facilities committee Banks Elementary School Principal Bob Huston invited sixth-grader Dallis Kendall to the January meeting of Banks School District Board of Direc- tors, so she could read the per- suasive essay she wrote to convince him to root for the Ducks. Huston invited all ele- mentary school students to write an essay to convince him to be either a Duck or a Beaver since he is new to the state. He found Kendall’s to be the most convincing. Kendall included facts about the team’s record and coaches in her essay and was rewarded with a new Ducks jersey. The board heard the annual insurance presentation from Amy Hansen of WSC regarding the district’s policies. She said that the insurance market is level to slightly soft. As a result, the district’s rates are going down slightly and liability limits have been raised. She attrib- utes the softening of the market to increased competition within the state. She also commend- ed the district on their impres- sive record with workers com- pensation. The district will re- ceive a 24 percent credit on workers compensation rates because of the lack of claims in recent years. The board approved super- intendent goals for 2006-07. These goals will be used in evaluating the superintendent’s performance and also as long range goals for the district. They provide guidance in the areas of fiscal management, curriculum and instruction, fa- cilities, communications, posi- tive work environment and stu- dent success. Gary Hartman, director of the technology/assessment de- partment, reported that Oregon is evaluating the achievement standards for statewide testing. The review is required as part of the No Child Left Behind Act. At this point, the “cut scores” (cutoffs for meeting standards) have been reviewed and rec- ommendations are being made for adjustments. The adjust- ments will be reviewed and adopted in March and will apply to tests that have already been taken this academic year. As a result, some students who met standards may end up not meeting and vice versa. State School Superintendent Susan Castillo asked the U.S. Depart- ment of Education to delay im- plementation of the new stan- dards until the 2007-08 school year. The request was denied and is currently being ap- pealed. The school board has re- ceived a report from the facili- ties committee that was devel- oped last spring. The volunteer committee was composed of a spectrum of citizens in the dis- trict and was to look at how the district should cope with current student enrollment and predict- ed increases. The report in- cludes a comprehensive exam- ination of the district’s buildings and options for adding educa- tional space. The board will ex- amine this report in the coming months. “It’s an impressive re- port and an impressive effort by the volunteers,” Director Will Moore said. “This report will help to guide the district for the next ten years.” Now it’s time to learn boating safety if you are sixty or younger The Mandatory Boater Edu- cation program is past the half- way point of the age required phase-in. Beginning in 2007, powerboat operators 60 and younger will be required to take a boating safety course and carry their boater education card when operating boats greater than 10 hp. “This is our largest group of registered boat owners,” said MariAnn Koloszar, Education Coordinator for the Oregon State Marine Board. “There are approximately 36,000 regis- tered boat owners between 51 and 60 years old who will need their education cards in 2007.” Boaters have several op- tions to meet the mandatory education requirement. “We encourage boaters to take ad- vantage of classroom courses,” said Koloszar. “It’s the best learning environment because instructors use various teach- ing techniques that cater to dif- ferent learning styles. Class- room course materials are or- ganized to make learning easy, fun and interactive. Boaters also have an opportunity to Firefighters are ready to cook breakfast Banks Volunteer Firefight- er’s Annual Breakfast will be Sunday, February 18, from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the Banks High School Cafeteria. The menu includes pan- cakes or biscuits and gravy, ham or sausage, eggs, fruit, coffee, milk or orange juice. Ticket prices for this year’s breakfast will be $6.00 for adults, $4.00 for children (6-12 S TRASSEL ’ S A UTO R EPAIR & H YDRAULIC H OSES Tell your Valentine how you feel with an ad in The Independent’s February 1 issue. Call today to order your very affordable ad - 503-429-9410 2-4-6 S PIRAL W IRE F LANGE H EAD • S UCTION H OSES A DAPTORS - 3/16” TO 2” B ULK O IL P RODUCTS 276 S UNSET , B ANKS 503-324-9808 years of age), free for children under 6 years of age, $5.00 for seniors. A family ticket (maxi- mum of six persons) is $25.00. Purchase tickets at the door. found at the Marine Board’s website: www.boatoregon.com. Costs of the various education options range from free to around $45. Classes and equivalency exams are sched- uled to fit boaters’ needs. So far, the Marine Board has issued almost 150,000 cards and has one of the top compli- ances for mandatory education in the nation. The fine for not carrying a card, along with oth- er law enforcement violation fines, was increased in 2006 from $94 to $97. Ye Olde Dingheiser Pub & Restaurant VISA - MC - ATM Access COCKTAILS • BEER • WINE FOOD, KEGS & ICE TO GO Lunch & Dinner Served Daily SUNSET LAUNDRY 11:00 am – Closing Wash…$1.00 Dry…25¢ CASH PRIZES!! 180 S. Main St. Banks, Oregon learn about local hot spots and hazards – information you can only get in a classroom with other boaters.” Koloszar adds. The U.S. Coast Guard Auxil- iary, U. S. Power Squadrons, Oregon State Marine Board volunteer Instructors, and other private providers offer class- room courses. Your local Sheriff’s office of- fers free equivalency exams that are designed for the expe- rienced boater. Approved inter- net courses are also available, and course information can be Are you Looking for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables? Come see Big Al at Jim’s Thriftway. Al has been carefully selecting only the best and freshest quality produce for 33 years! If you don’t see what your looking for just ask Big Al and he will do his best to get it for you! BINGO SUNDAYS 5-8 PM All Lottery Games CLOSED MONDAYS 47100 NW Sunset Hwy. Manning • 324-4848 660 So. Main, Banks • 503-324-2171