Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 15, 2009)
The INDEPENDENT, January 15, 2009 Page 13 School board told jr. high school building should be vacated now near future. The first report, fi- nalized in December 2007, concluded that both junior high and high school buildings should be replaced. In 2008, engineering reports and recom- mendations supported the same conclusions. Now, FPC concludes that “the combined expenses to repair, upgrade and maintain the two schools would be far greater than the combined cost of building and maintaining new structures over their estimated lifespan.” No major renovation at ei- ther the existing high school or elementary facilities is included in the $19.6 million. The board would have to prioritize safety mitigation projects, including seismic and security issues for those buildings. Vicki Van- Domelen, an elementary tea- cher and member of the FPC, 6th International Soup Festival, Jan. 31 The sixth annual Internation- al Soup Festival, hosted by the Banks Community Foundation, will be held Saturday, January 31, from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. in the cafeteria of Banks Elemen- tary School. The festival includes all-you- can-eat soup and dessert as well as musical performances by John Deegan, Larry Lee, Rex Bryant and the Bare Soul Band. Many soups will be of- fered representing cultures from around the world. Selec- tions this year include: wonton, egg flower, Italian tortellini, tor- tilla, and Hawaiian chili. Both hummingbird and chocolate cake will be served. Advance tickets are $8 for adults and $4 for children. Tick- ets at the door will be $10 for adults and $5 for children 6-12. Children 5 and younger are free. Contact Cathy Louie at 503-324-5713 for tickets or oth- er information. The Banks Community Foundation is a non-profit or- ganization committed to en- hancing cultural, social and economic development in the Banks community. The soup festival is a major fund raiser for this organization. Last year, the foundation worked to get the new play Super Quiet Portable Power structure purchased and in- stalled in Greenville Park. The foundation is continuing to work on this project by seeking con- tributions for benches and ta- bles. Another major project for the foundation is establishing a community calendar on its website, Banksfoundation.org. This website should be live by the time of the festival and will eventually feature event infor- mation from organizations throughout the community. In- formation about how to be a part of the website will be avail- able at the festival. Kustom rd Klutte a Y WAI Inc. r Custom Hand Crafted Yard Ornaments, Fences & Decks Mark Hamm 503-324-7317 or 503-319-5228 330A S Main St.,Banks CCB#164221 said that the public needs to understand that correcting structural deficiencies identified by engineering consultants does not make the building “safe” [particularly in the event of a major earthquake]. Seis- mic mitigation is intended only to allow people time to get out of the building with minimal in- juries. Damage to the building would probably prevent ap- proval for continued use. Lively discussion about the possibility of passing a bond for the original amount ($25.5 mil- lion) ensued. Board chairman Duanne Lundsten asked mem- bers of the FPC, who were at the meeting, for their personal opinions regarding the possibil- ity of passing a bond for $25.5 million. Pete Edison, whose wife Kathy is a member of the board, was firm in his opinion that the bond would pass in May if a professional campaign manager was hired. He said that the public is concerned about the safety of the build- ings. FPC member Ron Frank was less enthusiastic about presenting the same amount, but felt that a “repackaged” bond should be on the ballot in May. The state allows the dis- trict three attempts to pass a bond. If voters fail to pass a bond on the third attempt, the district is required to wait at least two years before present- ing another bond. In other business the board: • Learned from district busi- ness manager Simon Levear that the current transportation contract with Shafer’s Bus Company extends until 2013. The 1977 (typed & carbon- copied!) contract has never been revised, though revisions could be advantageous for both parties. • Encouraged Jennie Comp- ton to pursue plans for replac- ing the softball equipment shed with a more substantial multi- use building that would include restrooms. However, Lundsten told her, “make sure all costs were covered “…‘cause we don’t have any money to give.” • Heard the annual report for WSC Insurance from Amy Hanson. • Approved modifications to the school calendar that have been endorsed by both the cer- tified and classified staff: Janu- ary 26 and March 12, previous- ly non-student in-service days, will be instructional days for all students; the last day for stu- dents will be June 12; the end of the first semester is moved to January 29. • District property has been expanded by the addition of property next to the post office. • BIG SAVINGS, GREAT VALUE! • BIG SAVINGS, GREAT VALUE • Must Buy 2 Golden Bananas .59 per lb del monte Right Here… Right now! Thriftway or Western Family Gallon Milk $ 2 for 5 Right Here… Right now! Western Family Yogurt Special Value Paper Towels 8 oz for assorted varieties 1 ct 10 $ 4 Right Here… Right now! .59 Right Here… Right now! 660 So. Main, Banks • 503-324-2171 BIG SAVINGS, GREAT VALUE! BIG SAVINGS, GREAT VALUE! The committee also pro- posed a new alternative, allow- ing a reduced bond request of $19.6 million. In the new pro- posal, junior high school stu- dents would move into the ex- isting high school facility after minimal mitigation of critical safety issues in that building. Following the relocation of stu- dents and demolition of most of the existing junior high facility, the district would build a new high school. This plan meets all space requirements of both junior and senior high pro- grams, though high school stu- dents would need a temporary facility during a two-year con- struction period. The FPC did not recommend this alternative, because an ad- ditional bond would be neces- sary “likely costing more than the original $25.5 million” in the BIG SAVINGS, GREAT VALUE! BIG SAVINGS, GREAT VALUE! From page 12 collected over the last three years, including engineering re- ports, long-term operations and maintenance costs, and the evaluation of instructional and curriculum needs. Birr empha- sized repeatedly that the com- mittee unanimously affirmed that a bond amount of $25.5 million represented the best op- portunity for the district. The committee also found “that much of the Banks Junior High School facility is no longer safe for our children and facul- ty” and recommended that the board immediately implement seismic structural improve- ments or “that the oldest structures of the junior high school be vacated immedi- ately and no students or fac- ulty allowed within.” (Empha- sis is in the committee letter.) • BIG SAVINGS, GREAT VALUE! • BIG SAVINGS, GREAT VALUE •