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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (June 18, 2009)
PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. Postage Paid Vernonia, OR 97064 Permit No. 37 Vol. 24, No. 12 “Voice of the Upper Nehalem River Valley” June 18, 2009 Smiles lit up the faces of Vernonia High School seniors as they entered the graduation area prior to the ceremonies. Fewer days, smaller staff required 47J Town Hall to balance next year’s 47J budget Vernonia School District 47J The Vernonia School District Budget Hearing preceded the regular school board meeting on June 11. Board member Jim Krahn started the hearing by thanking everyone who was in- volved in the budget process. “We didn’t have any good decisions, only decisions,” said Krahn. This was also reflected in the Budget Message, which started with, “This budget re- flects significant cuts in all lev- els of staffing, staff support, student services and supplies.” The number of students is still low, as it has been since the flood of 2007, which negatively impacts the money the state sends to the district. Anticipated General Fund revenues were down by 11 per- cent ($691,205). Changes made to adjust to the reduced funding include the following: • Lay off the Vernonia Middle School Principal and Coun- selor, one teacher at the grade school and one at the middle school, plus the equivalent of a half time secretary position; • one high school teacher is being reduced from full time to .67 time, and the Athletic Direc- tor is going from a .6 time to a .4 time position; • 1 and 2/3 retired teacher positions will not be replaced. Student days have been cut from 173 to 170 and staff days have been cut by 13 days, plus See 47J, page 11 has scheduled a Town Hall meeting for June 25 at the Ver- nonia Middle School cafeteria at 7:00 p.m. to hear more infor- mation from BOORA, their ar- chitects. BOORA will present a final working version of the require- ments of the proposed building and discuss how each ‘school’ would retain it’s identity while sharing common areas of the building. The site plan is ex- pected to be completed and ready for presentation at this meeting, along with a project schedule and preliminary proj- ect cost estimates. Come hear the latest on the new schools project at this town hall meeting. Mackenzie Carr in winning form at the Rose Festival Parade. Carr adds a Rose Parade trophy Mackenzie Carr, 2009 Miss NPRA (Northwest Professional Rodeo Association), was se- lected as the winner of the State/Regional Queen for the Portland Rose Festival Grand Floral Parade on Saturday, June 7. The parade is among the festival’s most popular events and is one of the na- tion’s top two all-floral parades. As the winner, Carr received a large revolving trophy as well as a permanent plaque and blue ribbon. Carr is pleased to have been selected for this honor. This year, Carr’s horse was decorated by Vernonia Florist. In 2007 Mackenzie won the Rose Parade as part of the Columbia County Fair and Rodeo Court in the Courts divi- sion. Carr is the 19 year-old daughter of Alan and Barb Carr of Vernonia. She was Valedic- torian of the 2008 class at Ver- nonia High School. In high school she was a member of the National Honor Society and Who’s Who Among High School See Carr, page 4