The INDEPENDENT, July 16, 2009
47J gets more money from FEMA
The Vernonia School District
Board of Directors meeting on
July 9 started with board nomi-
nations for chair and vice-chair.
Jim Krahn was unanimously
voted in as Chairperson and
Cari Levenseller got the
board’s nod for Vice-Chairper-
son.
The board approved hiring
K&L Gates as bond counsel.
The district will pay K&L Gates
approximately $15,000 for their
services, but payment is con-
tingent on the bond passing.
Superintendent Ken Cox
told the board that FEMA has
approved the district’s request
to pay for an additional 18
months of rental on the modu-
lar classrooms. FEMA has al-
ready paid $60,000 and will
pay up to about $180,000
more.
Board member Tim Bam-
burg asked Cox to reconsider a
budget decision that will cut the
hours of two employees by 30
minutes, having the effect of re-
ducing their hours to where
they lose medical benefits.
These employees will be affect-
ed in this manner because of
their negotiated contract lan-
guage.
In other business, the board;
• adopted new textbooks for
math and health/wellness
classes at the K-5 level,
• approved compensation of
$170 per day for substitute
teachers,
• heard that Vernonia Sentry
donated $10,000 to the Oregon
Solutions project and the dis-
trict will received $10,000 in
grant funds from the Ford Fam-
ily Foundation,
• after an executive session
to discuss real estate negotia-
tions, the board approved a
motion authorizing Cox to ne-
gotiate for property as dis-
cussed.
There will be a Town Hall
with BOORA (the district’s ar-
chitects) on July 30, at 7:00
p.m. in the cafeteria.
The next board meeting will
be August 13, at the district of-
fice, starting at 6:00 p.m.
Oregon State Fair bigger than ever
Once again, the 2009 Ore-
gon State Fair will be too BIG
to miss! On the heels of last
year’s Fair – which boasted an
attendance of 365,000 people
– and with a number of fun new
events to celebrate Oregon’s
150th birthday, organizers are
expecting a BIGGER turn-out
in 2009.
“We can think of no better
place to celebrate Oregon than
the State Fair, which embodies
everything that makes our state
so great,” says Connie Bradley,
Acting Fair Director. “We invite
everyone to come celebrate
Oregon’s 150th birthday in
grand style, and to rediscover
the State Fair, which is among
the best values Oregon has to
offer, from August 28-Septem-
ber 7.
The 2009 Fair will be an 11-
day birthday party as Oregon
celebrates 150 years of state-
hood. With 185 acres of fair-
grounds, an expected atten-
dance of 385,000, and with
over 9,000 things to do, see
and taste, that’s a BIG party.
There will be special pro-
gramming each day of the Fair
to celebrate the sesquicenten-
nial. Opening night kicks off
with internationally renowned
Pink Martini and the debut of
“Oregon! Oregon! 2009” – a
rollicking Stan Freberg/Thomas
Lauderdale musical with an all-
star Oregonian cast.
Also on August 28 (5-8 p.m.)
is “Celebration Oregon,” the
only all-Oregon Wine Competi-
tion and Awards Ceremony,
plus wine tasting with 50 winer-
ies and ten Oregon chefs. The
$45 admittance fee includes a
free “Oregon! Oregon! 2009”
ticket (limited to first 500).
Other
sesquicentennial
birthday events include a bike
parade, antique car display and
USO-style variety show. And
towering over the festivities will
be a new 55-foot tower, made
from recycled steel, recreating
the old State Fair Flame from
50 years ago, now lit with re-
newable energy sources.
The Oregon State Fair re-
mains one of the best values in
See State Fair on page 21
Page 11
Chalk Talk
Chalk Talk is a monthly column of information about
Vernonia schools. It is written by various staff mem-
bers. The first portion of this column was written by
Superintendent Dr. Ken Cox. The portion after “Athlet-
ic Update” headline was written by VHS Athletic Direc-
tor Gordon Jarman.
Are you curious about the status of our new
schools? Have you been visiting with other com-
munity members about what they might look
like? Do you have any student athletes in your
family? If you answered yes to any of the above,
here is some information you need.
You can find some of the answers to your
questions about the new schools in both news-
papers and we will also be placing much of that
information on our website. In addition, BOORA
Architects have gathered enough information to
come up with a concept design. They will be
sharing the ideas that they and the school staff
have developed at a Town Hall Meeting on
Thursday, July 30, at 7 p.m. in the VHS Cafete-
ria.
At this meeting BOORA will be sharing the
first artist renderings of the design, a detailed de-
scription of some of the energy saving technolo-
gy we are considering, and a look at what some
of our students produced as they participated in
the University of Oregon’s Classroom of the Fu-
ture design competition.
We invite everyone to come and join us for
some food (hot dogs, chili, chips and watermel-
on), friendship and lots of information. We want
to keep you informed! Please come and get your
questions answered, or at least get them asked
so we can find the answers if we don’t have
them.
Athletic Update
There have been two major changes in athlet-
ic policy handed down by the Oregon Schools
Activities Association (OSAA) that will go into ef-
fect for the upcoming season of 2009-2010.
The first major change deals
with academic eligibility. In ad-
dition to an athlete passing at
least five classes to be eligible,
they must also be making sat-
isfactory progress toward grad-
uation. To graduate
from VHS a student
must have earn 25.5
credits by graduation
day. To be making satisfactory progress an ath-
lete must have earned 6.5 credits prior to the
athlete’s 10th grade year, 10.5 credits prior to
their 11th grade year, and 18 credits prior to their
12th grade year.
Students can enroll in summer school to
make up lost work and credits. However, this has
to be done before the athlete participates in the
upcoming sports season. All incoming freshmen
are excused from this requirement for the first
semester, after that however they must be mak-
ing satisfactory progress toward graduation.
The second with the establishment of a Dead
Week. Dead Week is set aside for athletes to
take one more family vacation before the athlet-
ic season gets into full swing. This year Dead
Week is August 1st through August 8th and this
means that no coach, volunteer coach, adminis-
trator or any other high school personnel may
work with any student athlete during this time
and no school facilities may be used by student
athletes.
Physicals are being offered once again by the
local Providence health clinic for those student
athletes that are planning on turning out for
sports for next year. Any student that has not had
a physical in the past two years needs to get one
before they may participate. Any incoming fresh-
man and any junior need to get their physicals
before the season begins. These are available to
any student athlete that does not have insurance
to cover athletic physicals or their insurance
does not cover well child care. They can pick up
the OSAA physical forms at VHS and they need
to sign up for the appointments with Barb Carr at
the school district office. These will take place
August 11 but please do not wait until the last
minute and sign up well ahead of time.
Midway
Veterinary
Clinic
Midget team to
go to playoffs
The Vernonia Midget Base-
ball team, playing on the
Midget National West team,
had an undefeated season and
won their July 8 playoff game,
8-5, against the number one
team from the East, McMin-
nville.
They will play in the state
tournament, July 16-19, held in
Eugene’s Bethel Park.
Senior
Discounts
Open in Vernonia
Wednesdays and Saturdays
9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Call for appointments
503-429-1612
805 Bridge Street
Vernonia
Small and Large Animals