The INDEPENDENT, May 21, 2009
School Board splits on site plan vote
Banks school board busi-
ness meeting May 11 was only
23 minutes long, including pre-
sentations by elementary stu-
dents. Heather Ferrigan’s first
grade students performed two
songs with choreography as a
debut performance of their Tal-
ent Show act. Sixth grade
teacher Shannon Dotson told
the board that she had as-
signed the topic “Which alter-
native energy source is best for
Banks?” After studying a wide
variety of sources, students
Courtney Ragsdale and Kinsly
Rowan wrote convincing es-
says which Dotson read to the
board, about the future use of
methane from local cows. Dot-
son told the board that these
two students convinced her to
change her mind (she previ-
ously favored geothermal), the
assignment goal. Additionally,
sixth grader Oteka Todd read a
moving poem she wrote about
“The Place That I Remember”.
Prior to the business meet-
ing, the four members of the
board present (Angi Duyck was
unable to attend) revisited two
items previously approved by
the board: the school calendar
and the decision to hold off
spending money to complete a
facility site plan. The workshop
concluded with an executive
session to discuss key person-
nel.
Will Moore brought up the
subject of the site plan, saying
that he knew of three exam-
ples, including the softball as-
sociation, that have money and
volunteers ready to begin con-
struction. The board has re-
quested that these privately
funded facilities be included in
the facility site plan, but has
postponed completion of the
plan. Moore said that, because
the money to finish the plan
could come from the Buxton
fund, there was no reason not
to spend it, as it has no effect
on the school operating budget.
A rather heated discussion en-
sued, with chairman Duann
Lundsten saying he “can’t fire a
teacher and build a shed at the
same time” and Morris replying
that “not every single thing
[needs to be] tied to the gloom
and doom of the district.” Board
members were split, with Lund-
sten and Nordholm supporting
the decision to postpone the
plan, while Morris and Kathy
Edison favor spending $7500
to finish the drawings. The top-
ic will be placed on the agenda
for the next board meeting.
Every decade or so, Labor
Day falls on September 7th.
Schools in Oregon have tradi-
tionally started after Labor Day.
Since the state began mandat-
ing the number of required in-
structional hours, beginning af-
ter Labor Day extends the
school year well into the middle
of June. Nordholm asked the
board look at that decision
again, in response to public in-
quiries he received, though he
was unable to attend the April
meeting. Other board members
and administrative staff present
confirmed that all had conver-
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sations with students and par-
ents about the problems for
families and the beginning of
fall sports season when school
starts after Labor Day.
Nordholm asked the admin-
istrative team to explain what
had tipped their recommenda-
tion in favor of an earlier start.
High school principal Jim Fos-
ter said that ending the school
year on June 18 (starting after
Labor Day) would make it diffi-
cult for year-end reports, and
that it could conflict with teach-
ers’ ability to begin summer
term continuing education
classes. Shelley Mitchell, stu-
dent services director, said that
the early start calendar had two
more full five-day weeks than
the late start calendar. Since
the calendar adoption in April,
close-by districts have adopted
a calendar beginning after La-
bor Day. Foster said that end-
ing in mid-June conflicted with
FFA state competition and oth-
er possible state or national
level competitions. Board con-
sensus was that beginning the
school year after Labor Day
was in the best interest of stu-
dents, and agreed to change
the calendar to the later start.
The board revised the budg-
et calendar, with the budget
committee’s first meeting on
May 28. The board may also
call a special meeting for the
public hearing on the 2009-
2010 budget. Questions about
these public meetings may be
Mark Hamm
503-324-7317
or 503-319-5228
330A S Main St.,Banks
CCB#164221
directed to the district office at
503-324-8591.
Council reviews Depot St. parking
From page 12
A second reading was held
regarding an amendment to the
city’s ordinance identifying and
regulating dangerous dogs.
Hough told council that, as
part of the federal American
Recovery and Reinvestment
Act (ARRA) of 2009, the Ore-
gon Department of Transporta-
tion (ODOT) has set aside five
million dollars for a Small Cities
Economic Stimulus Program.
Council earlier this year identi-
fied the repaving of Oak Way
as a high priority transportation
project. Council approved a
grant application for the ODOT
program.
The Transportation Develop-
ment Tax (TDT) is in place and
scheduled to begin on July 1,
2009. In order to participate in
the collection and use of the
TDT, the city council must
adopt a resolution authorizing
the administration of the tax.
Using a template drafted by
Washington County, Council
adopted the necessary resolu-
tion.
In response to recently re-
stored No Parking signs on the
south side of Depot Street,
Pastor Brian Shimer of Banks
Community United Church has
requested that the parking re-
strictions be rescinded. After
conferring with the Banks Fire
District about applicable fire
codes regarding street width,
the city found that four parking
spaces could be created if par-
allel parking is permitted on the
wide end of the south side of
Depot Street, but that the nar-
row part should remain a no
parking area on the south side
and the curb should be painted
yellow. Council confirmed the
parking restrictions on Deport
Street, but authorized parking
on the south wide portion of the
street.
Council discussed three
Charter amendments. A deci-
sion regarding annexation pro-
cedures was tabled for next
month’s meeting; allowing the
mayor to vote was declined 4-2;
and changing the mayoral term
from four years to two years
was adopted unanimously.
The next City Council meet-
ing will be held June 9 at 7:30
p.m. in City Hall.
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