Page 12
The INDEPENDENT, August 15, 2012
School Board approves a locker fee
Chalk Talk
Chalk Talk is a column of information
about Vernonia schools. This column
was provided by Superintendent Dr.
Ken Cox.
We have occupancy! As of 9:15 Monday morning (August
13th) we received a Temporary Occupancy Permit. We still have
some final items to get checked off before we can use the
kitchen, and the big gym and wrestling room are still under con-
struction, but by the time you read this some of our staff will be in
the building getting their rooms ready. It has begun!
To help us get ready for the Grand Opening at 10:00 a.m. on
the 21st, Lisa Edgar (owner of Vernonia Florist), is organizing an
“Adopt-a-Teacher” day on Friday, August 17th, giving the commu-
nity an opportunity to help our teachers organize their classrooms
prior to the big day next Tuesday. Setting up a classroom prior to
school starting is always a task for any teacher but this year it is
especially challenging for our staff. With the help of Lisa’s en-
deavors we are hoping that it will make things a little easier on
them. If you are interested in helping out please contact Lisa at
Vernonia Florist at 503 429-2000. Updates can be found on the
Vernonia Community Bulletin Facebook page. Children 12 and
older are also welcome to help, if they come with an adult.
We look forward to meeting with everyone on the 21st, either
at the ribbon cutting ceremony at 10:00 a.m. or at the first Town
Hall in our new building from 5:30 – 7:30 that same evening. See
you there!
Drive carefully once school
starts after Labor Day
Be prepared for a longer
commute due to the addition of
school buses being out and
about, and increased vehicular
driving to school. In Vernonia,
all of this will be further compli-
cated by the new school loca-
tion and the change in traffic
patterns on O-A hill.
Expect the unexpected,
watch for children darting out
into the street or riding their bi-
cycles, especially during the
dark hours of the morning.
Be patient and observe the
law when approaching or fol-
lowing a school bus that acti-
vates its stop arm for loading
and unloading children.
Be very mindful of intersec-
tions where children are prone
to gather for the bus or at des-
ignated bus stops.
When traveling in or around
areas where schools are locat-
ed, be aware that the speed
limit is 20 mph.
Vernonia
Veterinary
Clinic
Formerly Midway Veterinary Clinic
Monday, Wednesday & Saturday
700 Weed Avenue
Vernonia
The new school project
manager, Steve Effros, gave
the Vernonia School Board
good news at their August 9
meeting, telling them that the fi-
nal inspection on the new
school was scheduled for Au-
gust 10 (see Chalk Talk for
more information on the occu-
pancy permit).
Shelley Cota gave a trans-
portation report, telling the
board that Curl’s Transporta-
tion would have five large bus-
es (one more than last year) so
they could run a Scappoose/
Vernonia Hwy. route, then
through Stoney Pt. Rd. with
courtesy stops on State Ave.
There are nine drivers and five
substitutes, none of whom are
— CORRECTION —
In the last issue, it was incor-
rectly reported that Cari Lev-
enseller would be the Vice-
chair of the Vernonia School
Board. The correct information
is that Bill Langmaid was voted
in as Vice-chair.
The Independent apologizes
for this error.
new or in training. As followup
to Cota’s report, Superinten-
dent Ken Cox reported that the
district will have only morning
kindergarten. The kindergart-
ners will be in two blended
classrooms with first grade stu-
dents. In the afternoons, after
the kindergarteners go home,
the first grade class size will be
smaller.
The board approved a $5.00
locker fee for all middle school
and high school students for
the 2012-2013 school year,
then approved surplussing any
fire extinguishers from the old
school buildings that are not
needed at the new school.
After returning from an exec-
utive session (closed to the
public), the board unanimously
passed a motion to award an
extra duty contract to Superin-
tendent Cox, for the next
school year, in the amount of
$4,000.
The first day of school for
the 2012-2013 school year will
be September 4.
The next school board meet-
ing will be held September 13,
starting at 6:00 p.m. in the dis-
trict office.
Come help cheerleaders clean up
at Greenman Field on August 30
VHS Cheerleaders will be
hosting a clean up day, August
30 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., at
Greenman Field to get ready
for the 2012 Football Season.
A grant from True Value
Hardware has enabled the
group to get paint and supplies.
The cheerleaders have al-
ready cleaned up and prepped
the field and stadium, and are
now looking for community
help in finishing up the project.
Please gather in the stands
at 6:00 p.m. if you are able to
help. For additional informa-
tion, contact Cheer Coach
Denise Way at cheercoach
dee@gmail.com or Betsy Miller
at bmiller@vsd.k12.or.us
New CCO named for Columbia County
Five new Coordinated Care
Organizations will begin serv-
ing Oregon Health Plan mem-
bers in September, the Oregon
Health Authority announced re-
cently.
The new CCOs will provide
services for OHP members in
22 counties. In total, there are
13 Coordinated Care Organi-
zations serving 33 counties in
the state. By September 1
nearly 500,000 adults and chil-
dren – the majority of Oregon
Health Plan members – will
have access to a CCO.
“In Oregon we are showing
that it is possible to build a
health care system around pa-
tients and their providers for
better health and reduced
costs,” said Governor John
Kitzhaber. “These new Coordi-
nated Care Organizations will
be leading the way for every-
one in our state.”
Oregon Coordinated Care
Organizations to start Septem-
ber 1:
• Columbia Pacific Coordi-
nated Care Organization, LLC
– All of Clatsop, Columbia and
Tillamook counties. Parts of
Coos and Douglas counties.
• Tri-County Medicaid Col-
laborative – Clackamas, Mult-
nomah and Washington coun-
ties.
To see the full list of Coordi-
nated Care Organizations, go
to www.health.oregon.gov.
Under Coordinated Care Or-
ganizations, benefits for Ore-
gon Health Plan clients will not
change. The vision of CCOs is
to allow providers better ways
to address health care prob-
lems.
Through a waiver from the
federal government, Oregon
has flexibility to provide more
preventive care and disease
management than has been
possible under traditional Med-
icaid guidelines. Research
shows that 80 percent of health
care costs are driven by 20
percent of patients, many with
chronic conditions such as
heart disease, diabetes and se-
rious mental illness. CCOs will
have the ability to hire commu-
nity-based health workers to
help people manage their con-
ditions, ensure they are taking
appropriate medications, and
avoid unnecessary acute or
emergency care. Oregon has
agreed to reduce Medicaid in-
flation by 2 percentage points
within two years by focusing on
improving the health of clients
to reduce waste, inefficiency,
and unnecessary expendi-
tures.
OHP members will receive
personal notification of their
new Coordinated Care Organi-
zation, and they do not need to
take any action. More informa-
tion for members and providers
can be found at health.ore
gon.gov.
Watershed Council to meet Aug. 23
The Upper Nehalem Water-
shed Council Steering Commit-
tee will meet on August 23,
6:30 p.m. at the Vernonia
Grange Hall, 375 North St. The
public is welcome to attend.
For more information see
unwc.nehalem.org or call the
UNWC at 503-429-0869, or
email steve@nehalem.org .