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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (May 7, 2009)
The INDEPENDENT, May 7, 2009 Page 11 Chalk Talk Chalk Talk is a monthly column of information about Vernonia schools. It is written by vari- ous staff members. This column was provid- ed by Superintendent Dr. Ken Cox. Left to right; Taylor Smith, Chris Bamburg, Megan Hartford, Megan Parkin, Blake Moeller, Brandon Gilbertson, and Collin Moeller wait for friends, before heading to the Vernonia High School prom on April 18 in the stretch limousine behind them. 47J Board agrees to video surveillance The Vernonia School Board of Directors held a Special Meeting on April 23. After an executive session held to nego- tiate real property transactions, the Board voted unanimously to authorize Superintendent Ken Cox to negotiate real prop- erty transactions as outlined in the executive session. The Board also approved the first reading of Policy ECAC on Video Surveillance. ECAC authorizes the use of video cameras on district property to “ensure the health, welfare and safety of all staff, students and visitors to district property, and to safeguard district facilities and equipment.” A statement in the policy says, “Video record- ings may become a part of a student’s educational record or a staff member’s personnel record.” The Board held a workshop on April 30 to hear a presenta- tion by Carol Samuels of Seat- tle NW Securities on bond measures. This was for infor- mational purposes only. The board will be addressing the bond issue at future meetings. The next regularly sched- uled board meeting will be May 14, at 6:00 p.m. at the District Office. Vernonia Middle School Honor Roll The following students were named to the Vernonia Middle School academic Honor Roll for the 2008-09 third quarter. Grade Point Averages (GPA) are on a scale of 1-4, with 4 equaling a perfect score. Principal’s Honors, 4.00 – Makayla Adams, Charlette Burghard, Jessica Cox, Nicole Glass, Andrew Jenning, Sa- mantha Lindauer, Madeline O’Leary, Marley Orahood, Deziree Roberts, Summer Snow, Ellyssa Szlavich, Sa- mantha Wallace, Jaylin Wilson, and Brittany Young. High Honors, 3.50-3.99 – Ashlee Archer, Austin Best- Cutright, Riplee Burch, Andrew Cheney, Rowan Cheney, Chris- topher Curtis, Jacob Eyrrick, Julie Fletcher, Jessica Gardner, Timothy Jennings, Cortney Jones, Alisa Levenseller, Gar- rett Mulliken, Adrianne Ora- hood, Daniel Rice, Laura Rice, Leah Rice, Sven Sandstrom, Rowan Scott, Amanda Sebring, Winter Snow, Deandra Sol- berg, Dylan Taylor, and Damian Young. Honors, 3.25-3.49 – Kayla Aronhalt, Slylar Binford, Mat- thew Bringman, Ryan Cochran, Tori Dalebroux, Scarlet De- Beikes, Jessica Farr, Mandi Hartford, Jennifer Hayes, Cier- ra Henson, Brianna Herd, Cay- la Jenkins, Rebecca Leven- seller, Lilliann Lindsley, Nathen McMillen, Darrian Ragsdale, Makayla Roach, Bridger Stew- ard, Natasha Talley, Taylor Ti- tus, and Jared Whitton. Honorable Mention, 3.0-3.24 – Stephanie Castro, Zi_Xian Chen, Jessica Fitch, Jazmine Harper, Adonis Hopkins, Sara McMahon, Felicia Schirmeister, and Logan Titus. Two weeks ago, a group of students and staff had the opportunity to visit four different schools that were designed by BOORA Architects in recent years. We were able to see first-hand the innovations and design elements they used to make those schools highly sustainable, as well as being effective learning environments. Last Tuesday, we had a Town Hall Meeting to review these and other design options for our new schools. We hope to have some of the Power Point presentations shared at that meeting available on the website (www.vernonia.k12. or.us) soon. The big question that is out there is what is this going to cost? In our work with BOORA we have compressed their normal 4 – 6 month design development process into just over two months. The current plan is to have a concept design and more accurate cost estimate by the end of June. But what is it going to cost me as a taxpayer, you ask. Well, we have the beginning of an answer. The board appointed a commit- tee to discuss what would be a realistic bond amount and they recommended $13 million. The school board met last week at a workshop to review the committee’s recommendation and gather more information from a bonding company on the cost per thousand (tax assessed value) and financing of such a bond. The remainder of the cost for the new schools will come from stimulus funds, grants and fundrais- ing efforts by the Oregon Solutions Team. The bottom line is – we will get $45 million dollars worth of safe, sustainable schools for our $13 million investment in a bond. Our schools are the heart of our community! We need your in- put in knowing what you want your schools to look like and how they can support our community as a whole. Please call if you have questions or ideas. I will listen, and together we can make a difference in the future of our children and our community! Preschool to hold Open House Vernonia Community Pre- school will hold an open house on Monday, May 11, from 11:00 a.m. to noon. Stop by 957 State Avenue for a visit and tour with your Pet of the Month Columbia Humane Society in St. Helens has a variety of wonderful pets available for adoption. Find the pet that’s right for you in the shelter at 2084 Oregon Street. Phone 503-397-4353 Open Mon - Fri 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, 11 am. to 5 pm. Flopsy Mariolino’s T REAT MOM TO BREAKFAST Mother’s Day Breakfast Special Dad Full price Mom 1/2 Price 721 Madison Ave.,Vernonia • 503-429-5018 preschooler. Come prepared to register for fall of 2009 pre- school. Call Amy Cieloha at 503- 429-0745 to RSVP. Flopsy is the sweetest guy you've ever met! His coat is a beautiful brown and gold with black stripes. He has a weakness in his back legs which the vet says may or may not improve, but he does not think it will get worse. Flopsy can get around without much difficulty, though he sometimes has trouble get- ting all the way into the litter box. He plays well with other cats and is very affectionate. The Columbia Humane Society is a No-Kill non-profit shelter dedicated to helping friends find each other since 1985. This Adopt a Pet is Sponsored by: Senator Betsy Johnson