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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (March 18, 2010)
Page 14 The INDEPENDENT, March 18, 2010 School board hears details of options available on bond measure From page 12 with total estimated costs of $32.1 million and $31,500 mil- lion, respectively, but have sig- nificant differences on the ground. Option C1 includes A & B as above, with $650,000 included for seismic upgrades to the dis- trict office. By demolishing the building known as the barn, the addition of an outdoor com- mons adjoining a new parking and drop-off area between the high school and junior high be- comes possible. Also included are new grandstands and lights at Kelley Field, an additional regulation gym at the high school. Option C2 demolishes both the district office and the barn. This would make it possible to extend the classroom wing of the high school towards the street, putting five classrooms, two science labs and a comput- er lab along a single hallway. An adjoining new Vo/Ag, metal and wood shop would be added. District offices would be next to high school administra- tion. Another difference is that the district would gain over 1000 square feet of instruction- al space at the junior high and almost 9000 square feet of ad- ditional commons and instruc- tional space. Several members of FPC3 said that C2 made the best use of the entire school campus and delivers the best options for future expansion needs. C2 also includes new Coloring contest announced From page 13 finish by October 31. • Psalm 1 Landscapers have been contracted to pump the “ponding” of water at the Greenville City Park Play- ground until it can be fixed. Steve Jackson Construction will be doing the job. • Banks water utility is spon- soring a children’s coloring contest as part of an education- al outreach for National Drink- ing Water Week in May. • Economically stressed families in Banks and through- out Washington County, can call 211 for advice and informa- tion in English or Spanish. There are cards available at city hall. The current franchise with PGE, which would have ex- pired last December 31, has been extended to March 31. Council adopted a resolution to extend the franchise, then held the first and second reading of an ordinance granting a fran- chise to Portland General Elec- tric (PGE), and adopted it by declaring an emergency. They also conducted a first reading of an ordinance amending the Banks Municipal Code and adding the Portland General Electric Franchise. All actions were unanimous. The city entered into an In- tergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with Washington County to realign Sellers Road and the underlying water main. A mo- tion to approve the IGA carried unanimously. Council Presi- dent Pete Edison said that he is “glad to see it come to an end.” The next city council meet- ing is April 14 at 7:30 p.m. in City Hall. grandstands and lighting at Kelly Field, athletic field rest- rooms, parking lots and site lighting. The final report from FPC3 contains a complete roster of the participants and consult- ants, and lists the committee’s objectives. Moore said that FPC3 established evaluation priorities and guiding principles similar to those so successfully used by the budget committee. These principles, based on in- formation gathered over the last three years are: • Fix the Jr. High before any- thing else. • Remedy inadequate cur- rent and future space require- ments. • Save and make use of ex- isting buildings to the extent it is cost and use effective. • Any new construction should address the core of the building first. • Seek to create a physical environment that will optimize daily learning potential and learning opportunities. • Plan and execute up- grades/construction for minimal impacts on students. Moore asked the panel to evaluate the designs in terms of how well they utilize dollars to meet the district’s needs. He gave the example that if you in- vest $10 million to renovate an old building to make it usable, you still end up with the same old building. He continued his example by saying that you could spend $12 million and have a building designed to meet instructional needs, be more energy efficient and much safer for students and staff. Copies of the report are available at the district office on request. The board will meet April 12 to report to the public the re- sults of superintendent evalua- tions. Jim Foster has been ap- proved as interim superintend- ent through 2010-2011, high school principal Jim Smith, and junior high principal Mark Everett have been offered three-year contracts. of VHS Alumni game ciating, to Gordon Crowston for announcing, to Cathy Ward for running the clock, to Sentry, to Mini Mart, to the Pampered Chef, and to everyone who do- nated Food and Raffle items, to the OSEA members who worked at the game, and a spe- cial thank you to all of the peo- ple who came to watch the game and support their team. Oregon School Employees Association Vernonia Chapter 67 Letters From Page 3 build a church. We meet at 740 Madison Avenue. Sunday School is at 9:45 a.m. and worship is at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday Prayer is at 7:00 p.m. and nursery care is provided for all services. John Cahill Pioneer Baptist Fellowship Vernonia Thanks for support To the Editor: Thank you to everyone who helped to make the OSEA sponsored VHS Alumni game a success. A big Thank you to Coaches Ted Aubin, Steve Whiteman, and Theresa Williams, to the Varsity teams, to all of the Ver- nonia High School Alumni who came to play, to James Brookins and Matt Blair for offi- Salem Scene From Page 3 • HB 3674 – Clean Energy from Forests: Supports biomass as an alternative energy tech- nology, helping to create new jobs for Oregoni- ans while obtaining energy from our forests. • HB 3680 – Business Energy Tax Credit: Reforms the BETC, protecting the jobs the pro- gram has created while adding stringent new controls to rein in costs and prevent abuses. Other items of interest… SJR 41 – Creates annual sessions of the leg- islature, subject to a vote of the people at the next general election. In the odd-numbered years it would be 160 days long and in even- numbered years it will be 35 days long. Although this adds up to roughly the same number of in- session days that we are accustomed to, meet- ing yearly will allow us to address important is- sues in a timelier manner. Last Session, we passed a bill that allows for the collection of unused drugs for the benefit of those who need them but cannot afford to pur- chase them. These medicines can be expired, State Farm ® Providing Insurance and Financial Services Home Office, Bloomington, Illinois 61710 Bunny Girt, Agent 1229 N. Adair PO Box 543 Cornelius, OR 97113-0543 Bus 503-357-3131 Fax 503-357-9667 bunny.girt.b71g@statefarm.com medicine from a deceased family member, un- known tablets and capsules, drugs that are no longer needed or did not work for you, a family member or pet. I hope you will look through that medicine cabinet and contribute any unused pre- scriptions that you may no longer need. Several collection events have already been held in Clat- sop and Columbia counties, and more will be scheduled in the future. Finally, I want to invite you to attend upcoming town halls to be held throughout the district. Sen- ator Betsy Johnson will join me, as will a number of other panelists that I have invited to provide in-depth information on these topics. April 10th – Education Port of Astoria, 11 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Rainier Senior Center, 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. Oregon has a $6 billion K-12 public education budget. Come hear local and state educators as they address concerns about education in your area and the state. May 1st - Jobs & Economic Development Port of Astoria, 11 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. St. Helens Library – Colum- bia Learning Center, 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. Oregon has been hit hard by the global economic crisis. Come hear what we are doing to try and reinvigorate Ore- gon’s economy. Participate in a far ranging discussion of what we can do right here to get our neighbors back to work.