Page 14
The INDEPENDENT, November 18, 2010
Banks plans future of school buildings after voters say no to bond
From page 13
Parents in attendance asked
about other education options
for their children, citing poor air
quality as affecting their sons’
asthma. Superintendent Jim
Foster assured them that is-
sues affecting student health
are still top priority, bond or not.
Members of the board, staff
and public in attendance
shared sadness and dismay at
the voters’ decision.
Chairperson Kathy Edison
gave a heartfelt speech that
conveyed much gratitude to the
many citizens and community
organizations involved in pro-
moting the bond. She promised
to remain steadfast in achiev-
ing the necessary goals for stu-
dents regarding safety, health
and education. Edison then
spoke emotionally of the com-
munity groups whose purpose
was to prevent the bond. Say-
ing anti-bond groups did a
“huge disservice to students
and the community,” and de-
picting their ads as “full of mis-
information.”
Administrative reports in-
cluded that the junior high re-
ceived a bomb threat that was
quickly assessed and properly
taken care of by all involved
personnel. Foster commended
Junior High School Principal
Mark Everett and his staff on
their professionalism during the
situation.
Everett told the board about
a newly purchased online cur-
riculum called Oregon Career
Information System. O.C.I.S.
will give students a career-
planning portfolio that can be
utilized throughout high school.
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The new system also allows
parents a complete overview of
their
students’
progress,
through a link on the website,
www.MyChildsFuture.org
The elementary school re-
ported that there was an excep-
tional turnout for parent confer-
ences, as well as improved rat-
ings on State Report Card.
Continued progress on State
criteria may move the elemen-
tary school into the Outstand-
ing category by this time next
year. The high school revealed
the re-working of graduation el-
ements because of the New
Diploma Requirement, which
stresses career awareness
throughout high school.
In other business, the board:
• Approved the temporary
hiring of Junior High Counselor
Linda Wacker; and
• approved an extra duty
contract for Laura Cummings,
Junior High Yearbook Advisor.
The meeting was adjourned
at 7:19 p.m. To be personally
informed, attend the next regu-
lar meeting on December 13 at
7:00 p.m.
Boy who took
gun to BHS is
found guilty
A 15-year-old Banks High
School student, from North
Plains, has been found guilty of
bringing a gun to school in
September, with the intention
of shooting his ex-girlfriend
and another student. He was
also found guilty of menacing.
The boy was arrested Sep-
tember 23 after the gun was
found by high school principal
Jim Smith. After questions of
bullying were raised at the
boy’s trial, Smith said, “The boy
had never reported being bul-
lied or picked on here.”
Banks School Superinten-
dent Jim Foster stated, “I think
they (other papers) took the
bullying issue out of context.
Overall, we have had very few
episodes of violence or bully-
ing over the years here.”
The boy was expelled from
Banks High School after this
incident and is currently at
Harkins House, a juvenile shel-
ter. He is expected to be put on
probation at his December 21
disposition hearing.