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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 18, 2010)
The INDEPENDENT, February 18, 2010 School Board hears new school update At the February 4 Vernonia School Board meeting, the board received a copy of the district’s budgetary audit for the year ending June 30, 2009. The audit indicated no findings of material weaknesses or ar- eas of noncompliance by the district. Due to additional insur- ance proceeds as a result of the flood of 2007, the district actually showed a net assets increase for the year. BOORA, the architects for the new schools project, an- nounced an exciting develop- ment. The Vernonia Middle School building may be moved to the new site and become a Natural Resource Center with areas for Oregon Colleges and Universities to come to Vernon- ia and work along-side Vernon- ia students. The current esti- mated cost of the new schools is just over $23 million. The community is invited to a Town Hall on February 25, at 7:00 p.m., at the middle school cafeteria to hear more about the Natural Resource Center and other news about the new schools project. The Metropolitan Group, hired by the district to raise funds for the new schools, an- nounced that, as part of their three year contract, they will donated 75 percent of the fees back to the district. In other business, the board: • approved a new policy on naming district facilities. The policy includes a public hearing and notification of the commu- nity in the event that the board wishes to name any facilities. • approved resolution 10-01 that allows the district to issue the general obligation bonds, up to the $13 million approved by the voters in November. This allows for bond sales with pro- ceeds to be received by the district by March 30. • approved an intergovern- mental agreement between the district and the City of Vernon- ia, needed to work on wetlands mitigation projects required at the new schools site, for re- placement of Spencer Park, and for Missouri Avenue devel- opment. • heard a presentation by DeAnna Pearl, Director of the Vernonia Prevention Coalition, on activities in the district aimed at prevention of student drug abuse. The next board meeting will be held on March 11, starting at 6:00 p.m. at the district office. VHS announces 2nd Qtr. Honor Roll The following students were named to the Vernonia Middle School academic Honor Roll for the 2009-10 second quarter. Grade Point Averages (GPA) are on a scale of 1-4, with 4 equaling a perfect score. Principal’s Honors, 4.00 – Bonnie Birkmaier, Rachel Brown, Kaytee Burghard, Jes- sica Cox, Sarah Dupree, Janae Easlon, Adrienne East, Rachel Garcia, Kristina Halvorson, Samantha Lindauer, Alyssa Loggins, Jackson Miller, Sarah Miller, Souvanny Miller, Chelsea Patton, Deziree Roberts, Melissa Sandstrom, Kelly Smith, Katy Stevens, Na- talie Wallace, Samantha Wal- lace, and Katie Wilson. High Honors, 3.50-3.99 – Jacob Alf, Billi Avila, Christo- pher Bamburg, Calvin Barnes, Joseph Benes, Jacob Bring- man, Timothy Brown, Riplee Burch, Joshua Butcher, Kaitlyn Carr, Crystal-Ann Carrion, Rowan Cheney, Austin Cutright, Christopher Dass, Karly DeWitt, Jayme Due, Brandy Fosdick, Elizabeth Gar- cia, Brandon Gilbertson, Laura Hein, Cierra Henson, Brianna Herd, Petr Jiranek, Calie John- ston, Christopher Johnston, Emma Kneubuhler, Brandon Krause, Alex Lende, Rebecca Levenseller, Mickell Maller, Nicole Mitchell, Tasia Pond, Justin Rainbolt, Makayla Roach, Mason Roberts, Sierra Roberts, Sicily Scott, Daniel Shaw, Zachary Shaw, and Levi Timmerman. Honors, 3.25-3.49 – Kimber- ly Allen, Ashlee Archer, Klara Breil, Kelsey Brown, Genesis Castro, Cody Cowles, Jacob Dixon, Kodi Dyer, Zachery Dyer, Katie Ellington, Robin El- liott, Wayne Fogel, Quinlan Jo- hansen, Kayleigh Johnston, Lisa-Marie Kleine, Breonna Maldonado, Emily Mitchell, Samantha Morgan, Anisa Mukhtorova, Elizabeth Poulin, Amy Rethwill, Sean Solberg, Lane Sullivan, Ellyssa Szlavich, Shyla Tungwenuk, Danny Vanderschelden, Dylan Vaughn, Christopher Watrous, and Tyler Young. Honorable Mention, 3.0-3.24 – Margo Cormier, Kaylee Dale- broux, Jed Douglas, Mackenzie Frantz, Nora Hieronimus, Jerrid Johnston, Kendrick Leaverton, Jacob Levenseller, Sara McMahon, Sophia Ostrander, Courtney Paden, Parker Roach, Preston Roach, Sven Sandstrom, Brandon Sears, Deandra Solbert, Roy Stacy, Chantel Szlavich, Jacob Titus, Damian Vifquain, and Jacob Vifquain. VMS Honor Roll The following students were named to the Vernonia Middle School academic Honor Roll for the 2009-10 second quarter. Principal’s Honors, 4.00 – Makayla Adams, Charlette Burghard, Hera Hopkins, An- See Middle on page 21 SAVE up to 50% Gre a t Sa ving s ! Chalk Talk Chalk Talk is a column of information about Vernonia schools. This column was provided by district Superintendent Dr. Ken Cox. I have begun posting regular updates to our blog website so you can know what is going on and make comments. You can find the blogs by visiting Vernoniaschools.org and click on the ‘Looking Forward’ link. I plan on posting about three blogs a week, providing additional information about the various facets of the new schools project. Here is the direct URL: http://blog.vernonia.k12.or.us/?q=taxonomy/term/4 . When you read this we will already have been shooting content for an informational video about Vernonia and our new schools project. This is part of the work that the Metropolitan Group is do- ing to put together the necessary materials to conduct an effective capital campaign, which will include brochures, and an update to our website. We will also be putting together a tour of Vernonia, as a number of potential donors have expressed an interest in vis- iting our community. We may also use the video information we collect to develop a virtual tour of, not only what happened during the flood, but what has been done since. If you have photos, video clips, or stories you would like to share, please let me know and we will get the information to the Met Group. Finally, I would like to invite all of you to our next Town Hall meeting, Thursday, February 25th, at 7:00 p.m. in the VHS Cafe- teria. We will be sharing with you the latest school designs and provide updates on the many facets of the project, including wet- lands mitigation plans, Spencer Park transfer, and the latest infor- mation on both the Missouri Ave. and Bridge St. upgrades. We will also begin an inventory of local workers and contractors, as well as contractors who employ Vernonia District residents. Please come and join us, ask questions, and share your ideas and hopes for the future of Vernonia. Help make March “Undie Sunday” From page 10 and Families office in the Cour- thouse Annex at 203 Strand St. in St. Helens. The underwear and socks will be distributed to Columbia County children through the Commission on Children and Families, primarily to schools and early childhood programs. “We realize the whole com- munity plays a role in forming a positive future for our children,” said Jan Kenna, Director of the Commission on Children & Families, “Please join us in helping our children and our communities.” For more information, call Kenna at 503-397-7225. Midway Veterinary Clinic Senior Discounts Open in Vernonia Wednesdays and Saturdays 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Call for appointments Save on Hundreds of Items for Birds, Fish, Reptiles, Dogs, Cats + Page 11 503-429-1612 805 Bridge Street Vernonia Small and Large Animals