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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (June 6, 2012)
Page 20 The INDEPENDENT, June 6, 2012 Letters From page 13 support and hope to see you next year. Questions: Please email me at nvsbcarclub@ gmail.com. Glenda DeLemos NVSB Car Club Vernonia We must speak up to make schools better To the Editor: It is amazing to me the amount of parents that sit qui- etly because they are afraid of being ostracized. I am guilty as Memorial Day services at the Vernonia Memorial Cemetery were, as usual, well attended and included a 21-gun salute along with speeches and singing. Mariolino’s Try our Barbecue Ribs Lunch Special 721 Madison Ave.,Vernonia • 503-429-5018 Open Daily 11 a.m. Great Food Biker Friendly June 9 th Texas Hold ‘em June 15 th Country Back Roads June 23 rd Third Member All Bands & Karaoke start at 9 P.M. Happy Hour: Mon - Fri 4 pm - 7 pm Ladies Night: Wed. 5 pm - Midnight Open until midnight Sun-Thu & until 2:30 a.m. Fri, Sat. 733 Bridge St., Vernonia well. It is sad we live in a com- munity that chases out its members because of issues at the school with staff. So many families move out of town, choose to send their children to Jewell, Banks, Mist, do online or home school. Do you really 503-429-9999 think that this shiny, new school is going to bring people to our town? I think you will be sorely disappointed if you do. I am not saying what hasn’t already been said by so many of our citizens. I am just saying it a lit- tle louder because no one is listening. The damaging words and complaints are so powerful that it doesn’t matter how pret- ty the school is. Wake up! Peo- ple are leaving and their words are being taken with them to spread to the outside world. No one is going to move here if things don’t change. If you want to blame me because you are a staff member that got in trouble, then fine, blame me. I’m guilty for sticking up for the very children that will some day make up this community. Do my complaints mean I hate the school? Absolutely not. I was a student at the school, played many sports, belonged to many clubs, came back to volunteer and was employed as a coach after graduating and currently drive a school bus. Am I saying that all the staff is horrible? Ab- solutely not. I’ve had the oppor- tunity to work with some bril- liant, loving staff members. But on the flip side, there have been some horrible ones that have left us doing damage con- trol. I know this is a mutual feel- ing of many K-12 parents. Am I perfect? Nope. Do I make mis- takes? I wouldn’t be human if I didn’t. But the staff members that are making the same mis- takes over and over are not be- ing held accountable and it’s affecting our children. If you choose to live in the “every- thing is perfect” world, then you really aren’t seeing the whole picture. There are real issues here people. I know it’s every- where, but why do we choose to allow it to continue? We’re not just raising kids, but hus- bands, wives, fathers and mothers. If people choose to beat them down at a young age, what is that doing for their future? I don’t gripe about my situation to upset anyone. I do it because I’m not the only one griping. It’s time that the staff hears what we are saying and stop sweeping the issues un- der the rug. I have worked with them for 5 years. I’ve sat in on countless meetings, not open- ing my mouth the way I should have. Why? I didn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings. How many parents are doing the same? How many children are suffer- ing, feeling worthless, being set up to fail? Who is responsible? I am 100% responsible. And if I don’t hold the others that work with my child 100% responsi- ble, how am I being responsi- ble? I hope that this letter shows others who remain quiet that it is ok to come forward. We’ve gone to the teachers and principals and now it’s time to go higher. If you don’t, my words mean nothing. Please speak up for our kids and their future. Document your issues, frustrations, suggestions, why you moved away, why you pulled your kid and send your emails and letters to the district superintendent (ken.cox@ver- nonia.k12.or.us) (Dr. Kenneth Cox, 475 Bridge Street, Ver- nonia, OR 97064) so some- thing can be done. If he doesn’t listen, we go higher. Do we have what it takes to be one of the best districts? Absolutely! With a little more compassion, communication and consisten- cy we can bring people to our town. But if nothing changes, nothing changes. Thank you for your help! Amy Barton Vernonia