The INDEPENDENT, December 18, 2008
47J Board discusses possible
budget shortfall and solutions
The Vernonia School Board
spent the first part of their De-
cember 4 meeting discussing
what appears to be a budget
shortfall that could amount to
$130,000 by the end of the
school year. The budget figure
is based on lower than antici-
pated tax revenues, lower en-
rollment, and a reduction in the
School Improvement Fund.
The district instituted a spend-
ing freeze two months ago and
tightened it further last month,
without seeing much savings.
Superintendent Ken Cox
suggested to the board a num-
ber of approaches, including
“wait and see if it comes out
that way,” make staff cuts, use
flood insurance money to shore
up the budget, use proceeds
from the previous sale of Lin-
coln School, or cut school
days. Snow days might be
used as unpaid staff days and
only five would be needed to
make up the potential shortfall.
After lengthy discussion, the
board was leaning toward an
approach that would combine
some insurance funds, some
sale proceeds, and some un-
paid snow days. The board and
Cox agreed to wait until the
January board meeting for a fi-
nal decision, they will than
have budget numbers through
December on which to base
their decision.
The Oregon Solutions team
should have site information by
the January meeting, Cox told
the board. The next step is the
selection of an architect for the
schools. This process will be
started now so work can begin
as soon as the final site selec-
tion is completed.
Cox told the board that a
five-foot high engineered flood
wall around the middle school
might be possible with FEMA
covering three quarters (or
about $300,000) of the cost.
Board member Ernie Smith
said he would like a determina-
tion of whether such a wall
would displace more water in
any future flood events. “We
need to make sure a wall does-
n’t negatively affect our neigh-
bors,” said Smith. Cox said that
the wall would be kept very
close to the building to reduce
negative impact, but allow the
building to continue to be used
for some purpose. The board
approved an engineering study
and request for FEMA approval
of such a wall.
The board accepted, with
much regret, the resignation of
Cathy Ward. Though the resig-
nation is effective December 1,
2008, Ward will stay through
the school year to complete her
contract.
The next board meeting will
be held January 8, starting at
6:00 p.m. at the District office.
Buy roses and help VHS students
Because a number of Ver-
nonia students are planning
significant trips – either with a
class to Washington, D.C, or
with the high school band to
Disneyland – Creatures & Ver-
nonia Florist are planning a
fund raiser to help them.
Creatures & Vernonia Florist
are taking orders for 12 long-
stemmed red roses displayed
in a gift box, for $20. If you
would like to place an order,
students will be taking orders
for the next couple of months.
The plan is to have orders
processed and available for
pick-up at Creatures & Vernon-
ia Florist, starting Saturday, De-
cember 20, then every two
weeks, until funds are raised to
send the kids on these memo-
rable trips.
Orders may be placed at
Creatures & Vernonia Florist,
736 Bridge St., Vernonia.
Page 13
Lego Team competes in robotics, plus
Left to right; Rock’em, Sock’em Robots team members Jacob Eyrrick, Bridger Steward, Bill
Organ, Brad Ely, Megan Ely, Kaitlyn Eyrrick, Anthony Pelster, and Coach Susan Ely, after
demonstrating their project and presentation at the Senior Center on December 9.
Remember Lego Bricks,
• build an autonomous robot Jacob Eyrrick, Bridger Stew-
named that in 1953? If you that will, in two minutes and 30 ard, Bill Organ, Brad Ely,
have kids or grandkids, you seconds, complete pre-de- Megan Ely, Kaitlyn Eyrrick, and
know that Legos aren’t just signed missions,
Anthony Pelster, along with Ely,
brick-shaped plastic building
• analyze, research, and in- made up the team.
pieces anymore. Nowadays, vent a solution for a given as-
This year’s project was
Lego is so much more.
signment, and
called Climate Connections.
For instance, First Lego
• create a clever presenta- The team had to research how
League (FLL) is a program tion about their solution to per- climate affects their community,
aimed at getting children aged form in front of a panel of and identify a problem caused
9 to 14 excited about science judges.
by climate. Not surprisingly,
and technology. FLL sets up
Winning teams earn awards Rock’em, Sock’em Robots
yearly theme-based challenges and trophies.
chose flooding. Then they had
that incorporate research,
Vernonian Susan Ely took to find another community
problem solving and engineer- on the role of FLL coach for a somewhere in the world affect-
ing, utilizing Lego robotics Vernonia team with a goal of ed by the same issue. Next
units.
competing on December 14 in was to create innovative solu-
Each team of up to 10 kids, Hillsboro at one of the FLL tions, program Lego robots,
with at least one adult coach, events. Rock’em, Sock’em Ro- and share their research and
has about 10 weeks to:
bots was the team name and
Please see page 24
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