The INDEPENDENT, December 17, 2009
47J board hears latest new school cost
The December 10 Vernonia
School Board meeting started
with a presentation by Pam
Weller, Wauna Federal Credit
Union, of a check for $2,455 to
Cari Levenseller for the Ver-
nonia Education Foundation
(VEF). Vernonia Wauna em-
ployees thought up, designed,
and then sold T-shirts with a
Twilight movie theme. The em-
ployees decided they wanted
the proceeds to go to the VEF
to help toward new schools. T-
shirts are still available at Wau-
na for $15.00 each.
In Tom Ramsay’s mainte-
nance report, he told the board
that there had been a break-in
in the modular classrooms. Re-
keying and new deadbolts
would be installed and cameras
put in behind the modulars.
Ramsay also reported that
three pipes broke due to the
cold.
An update by Project Man-
ager Steve Effros included in-
formation that he would be sub-
mitting a wetlands application
(mitigation plans) soon, but that
it may be months before a re-
sponse is received.
BOORA gave an update on
the architectural plans for new
schools, telling the board that
everything is still on schedule
for students to move in by Sep-
tember 2011. Current cost esti-
mates, which have been re-
viewed by three different gen-
eral contractors, set a price tag
of $28,836,582 for the build-
ings, and site (without sports
fields).
Superintendent Dr. Ken Cox
reported that employee volun-
teers’ hours generated money
from Intel in the amounts of
$470 (Washington Grade
School), $210 (high school)
and $1,600 (district employee
hours).
The board voted, unani-
mously, to extend the Trans-
portation Contract with Curl’s
Transportation to June 30,
2016, with changes to the max-
imum vehicle age, including
language that the average age
of all buses shall not exceed 12
years.
Athletic Director Gordon Jar-
man gave the board a fall
sports report (see separate ar-
ticle, page 25).
The next board meeting will
be held January 14 at the dis-
trict office, starting at 6:00 p.m.
Left, Pam Weller from the Vernonia branch of Wauna Federal
Credit Union hands a check to Cari Levenseller of funds
raised by Wauna for the Vernonia Education Foundation.
Wrestling: Welcome to the brotherhood
by Chris Barnes
VHS Wrestling Coach
Wrestling: Welcome to the
Brotherhood
Camaraderie is the most
perfect aspect of wrestling. It’s
wonderful. The simplicity of the
sport lends itself to friendship
and brotherhood like none oth-
er. Let’s put wrestling into a ba-
sic perspective: Either I am go-
ing to beat you or you are going
to beat me. It’s a fight. We have
a ring, a referee, and rules that
we fight by. The ultimate goal is
to beat your enemy into sub-
mission by forcing his back to
the mat for two seconds.
Wrestling is harsh, it’s mean,
and it’s perfect. So perfect,
once it’s in your blood it be-
comes a passion that lasts a
lifetime.
What a person puts on the
mat determines how he or she
will be measured. Win or lose
doesn’t matter. Did you wrestle
or did you give up? That is the
real measure; there is no gray
area. You earn my respect be-
cause you are willing to do this
with me. If you want to be in the
brotherhood you must live by
the code of the brotherhood;
work hard, never complain, and
See Wrestling on page
Banks Christian Academy
Now Enrolling for 2009 - 2010
Affordable Tuition for an Excellent Education
Established since 1983
Challenging academics, Christian values and small class sizes.
• Preschool thru 12th Grade
• Before & After School Care
• Languages, Music, Art & Computers • 3 or 5 Full Day Kindergarten
• Many Educational Field Trips
• Transportation Vernonia/Banks
22785 NW Fisher Rd. Buxton 97109
503-324-4500
www.bankschristianacademy.org
Page 13
Chalk Talk
Chalk Talk is a column of information about
Vernonia schools. This column was provided
by Superintendent Dr. Ken Cox.
Christmas break is here. Your children
will be home for two weeks. It is our hope that you will have a
wonderful holiday break and everyone will be safe and warm as
you spend some additional time together as families.
Before students return to school again, another year will have
passed into history. As we look to the new year we often take the
time to consider some New Year’s Resolutions and set some
goals that we want to obtain for the year. Last October the school
board did the same thing, they took some time at a retreat to set
some goals for the future direction of the district. After some de-
liberation they came up with the following goal, which we will be
focusing on as a district for the next few years rather than just one
year:
• Demonstrate pride in our schools and community through ef-
fective communication and higher expectations.
The board felt that this goal encompasses the whole range of
areas that we have been and want to continue to address as a
district. In particular, we want to ensure that our students and staff
work toward excellence and that everyone is doing the best they
can. We also want to continue to improve communications be-
tween staff and parents. We have a great team and invite you as
parents and grandparents to become part of a united effort to
make our schools the best that they can be.
You will be hearing more in the months to come about the dif-
ferent programs and areas of focus that we as a district feel will
help all our students do the best that they can.
We wish each of you an enjoyable holiday season and assure
you that we will continue to do our best to make 2010 a year that
will bring many positive changes to our community.
Eat out to help kids go to Costa Rica
Vernonia High School stu-
dents are raising money for a
trip to Costa Rica. You can help
by picking up a flyer and eating
at Panda Express, in Hillsboro,
on Saturday, December 19, be-
tween Noon and 10:00 p.m.
Flyers are being distributed
this week or are available at
both the high school and the
district office. Take the flyer
with you and present it when
you order and 20 percent of
your purchase price will be do-
nated to the trip fund.
Panda Express is located at
2785 NW Town Center Dr.,
Hillsboro.