School District Questions and Answers –
With board chair- Twinkle Ann Morton
First of all, let me begin by reminding my readers that this column is my opinion and my opinion only. By that I mean I am not speaking for the board- merely making observations about educational topics and asking for your perspective and input. I joined the School Board in August of 2008. I was chair previously from 2012-2014. My elected term expires the end of June in 2019.
Your District Administration Building
As you likely have noticed, repairs are being done on the building across from the Fern Ridge Middle School which currently holds the heart of our District. This building, which we call the District Administration Building, was originally constructed in 1912. The building was first utilized as an elementary school until 1964, and even today, they entertain local people who return to see the place where they began their education. The Junior High used the building until the mid 70’s. This historic building now houses the District Business Office [responsible for payroll, budget, personnel, grounds, and building maintenance], the Technology Offices [responsible for the phones, internet, wireless and all computers in all the classrooms], the Superintendent’s Office and district and board Administrative Assistant] and two Conference Rooms. In addition, the building has a full basement utilized for storage of records, tech equipment, Special Services documents and other local sporting goods. The building totals about 10,326 square feet. The Maintenance and Bus shop are separate buildings on the property.
The Main building was remodeled in 2001 and included parking lot improvements and an upgrade of an archaic Heating and AC system. It is now nearly 2017, and the District Administration Building is getting new siding, new roof, a few new windows and an ADA approved “Front” entry that will be accessible for all. The people in this building are special in that they work very hard with very long hours in not always the best of physical conditions. Sometimes it is too hot in the back and too cold in the front- and then sometimes that reverses. Hopefully, the better siding, roofs that don’t leak and new attic ventilation will help that situation.
Without them, our district could not exist. Until I had the privilege of being your representative on the board, I did not realize all the essential pieces that exist somewhat behind the school scene in and around that building. This is not a hierarchical, top down organization. I see it far more as this drawing would suggest:
Around the enclosing square, are the students and community the School District serves. The three circles represent the teachers, the classified, and the District Office including the bus drivers and the food servers. The center where all three circles intersect is the area of ‘requirement’ if you will- or the area where they Must intersect to create a functioning organization.
Students&Community Students&Community
The money spent in improving this building, staying on target with bond promises, is a step in the right direction. The budget projection is that the contractors will stay within the money allotted for the building and that TOTAL amount is 1.7% [LESS than 2%] of the bond budget. Theoretically, giving the district a shot at giving this historic building another twenty years of life.
I would like to thank the following list of people who work tirelessly to make our district better than ever without much, if any, recognition.
My thanks to:
- Greg Baker
- Michael Bateman
- Quanah Bennett
- Michael Biehler
- Gary Carpenter
- Becky Dube’
- Dani Hughes
- David Johnson
- Michael Mazzei
- Debbie Moore
- Laurie Ruell, and
- Jeff Thiessen
As always, please to continue to write to me at tmorton@fernridge.k12.or.us See you at the upcoming Bazaars!!!
Life’s Lessons: Perspective for us all
This inspirational article, written by Dick Ingram [Executive Director Teachers’ Retirement System of the State of Illinois] about his son’s cross country bike race was brought to us by Craig Soderberg and read at our School Board Retreat on August 8th. We all agreed that this is an important message for the board, the district, the community and all of us in the world community. I present it here with Mr. Ingram’s permission.
Before I left for my vacation, I shared with you some tidbits about my oldest son participating in the Race Across America., the longest single stage [that means non-stop] bike race in the world. Now that I am back from vacation I thought I would close the loop on that story and share some thoughts with you that came to me from sharing the experience with Colin. I started jotting down these thoughts over two weeks ago while I was flying to New Hampshire on my way to our family vacation on Lake Winnipesaukee.
Before it began, I had no idea what a major deal this race is, nor did Colin and his teammates and crew. This was serious racing, with strict and detailed rules and one goal, to get from the pier in Oceanside, California to the City Dock in Annapolis, Maryland as fast as you can over the official 3069 mile course. The team took turns rotating in two four-man groups that rode individual legs non-stop. Depending on the terrain, the legs could be 10 to 60 miles. Their average team speed over the entire race was 20.25 miles per hour. Once the gun goes off, the clock keeps running. There are official checkpoints about every 50 miles or so all across the country. A GPS device monitors your progress so shortcuts aren’t possible. One team mistakenly left their device in a vehicle that was hopscotching ahead to a hand off and was called out by the race committee who were wondering how the bike was going 70 miles an hour.
Okay so first the results. Colin’s team finished third [well, second officially, but more on that in a minute]. His team was made up of 8 riders and a 6-person crew. Not all of them knew each other before the race. Even though they had all been riding on their own, it was a sideline to their first love and their day job, running. The entry fees, rented vans and chase car, gas, food, laundry, miscellaneous supplies and the occasional seedy motel room for a shower totaled about $42,000. They brought their own bikes [each had just one]. New Balance provided the “kit” or the racing uniform, but other than that the eight of them kicked in the money out of their own pockets. The crew donated their time just to be part of the adventure.
Who was their competition? Well let’s leave it at this. The first [more on them a little later], second and fourth teams all had race budgets of $150,000 that had been paid for by sponsors. They each traveled by tour bus [one of which had just been used by Axl Rose during part of the Guns’n Roses concert tour], so no seedy motels for them. They each had two bikes for every rider – one especially designed for climbing in the mountains and one for the rest of the course. Masseuses were on the bus along with hot showers and beds. Rock star comforts. Some of the riders were world-class triathlon competitors. In contrast to Colin’s team of runners riding bikes for a change, all were serious and experienced bike racers.
So what were some of the things that struck me as I shared this experience with him? I have probably forgotten some but I think I got the most important ones. They are below, in no particular order. As you read them, I hope you realize that each of them could be applied in some way to our work together here at the Fern Ridge School District [and in the Fern Ridge Community].
Be a good sport; be gracious and kind no matter where you finish. I mentioned that Colin’s team finished third. Their official place was second because the winning team was disqualified for poor sportsmanship. They didn’t cheat or cut corners. They pedaled the fastest but were just jerks, and the Race Committee took the title away from them after awarding it because they were so graceless. Quite a message in a world where elite athletes are often insufferably vain without consequence.
Don’t taunt or make fun of the other guy. It only makes you look small and sets you up for embarrassment later. Colin’s team had been solidly in third since they climbed the Rockies – all through Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois and Indiana. After they had been slowed by weather and some mishaps in Ohio and West Virginia on the fifth day of the race, the eventual fourth place team was closing the gap and began taunting Colin and his team when they would meet up on the course. Colin’s message to his team was simple: “There is no way we come in behind these guys.” He was good to his word.
Conditions will never be optimal or what you want them to be. It does not matter. Push through. They rode through cloudless skies and heat that maxed out at 131 degrees, heat that softened their tires and killed their speed. They climbed 10,000 feet three times in a row through the Rockies into a 15 mph headwind. They slogged through rain and mud as they climbed through the Appalachians in West Virginia. They endured serious and juvenile harassment from motorists and passerby. But they recognized it was those things that would make the experience the epic adventure that it was.
Strangers will do nice things for you. In Kansas, total strangers who realized why these lone cyclists were pedaling through their town would drive ahead and block intersections after intersection to ensure a safe and unhindered passage through.
It takes a lot of people to make the things that matter work. I was struck by the kindness and support of the many volunteers who manned the time stops for many hours at a time. They generously had food, drinks and supplies for the riders. They were often the only ones around to cheer the riders as they went through. They did it for free: alone- in the dark, in the middle of the night, in the middle of nowhere. When you experience those things, you are reminded about how good we can be as a people. It sounds corny, but it makes you proud. I was proud to have Illinois represented by the kind young couple from Mattoon who spent the night manning the Effingham station.
Hand-offs and keeping track of your teammates is important. In an incident that became humorous only after the race was finished, Colin was left behind at a remote gas station in western Maryland. Thinking he was asleep in the back of the van when he actually was in the rest room, they drove off. Only when they were 40 miles down the road did one of his sleep deprived teammates [who is Irish] asked “Lads, where is Colin…” I have an amusing voice mail from him while he was stranded. Not the best use of time on the last day of the race with the aforementioned fourth place team closing the gap.
Appreciate the people who do the unheralded dirty work. The crew was just as important as the riders. They did all the little things to keep them moving and focused. This struck home for me when I met Colin in Effingham As I mentioned above, they had two vans, one for each four-man group. The vans carried all the supplies, the bikes, etc. But there was a third vehicle also: a chase car that stayed with the rider every minute all through the race. I personally cannot imagine driving across country at 20 mph with my flashers on, but they did, along with many other thankless tasks.
Invest in relationships. Be willing to meet new people. They create the opportunity to do amazing things together. Some lifelong friendships were forged over the course of the race. The testimonies several of them wrote online after the race were some of the most heartfelt pieces I have every read.
Likewise, nurture your old friends as well. One of the key crew members was one of Colin’s former colleagues when he worked at Mizuno before joining New Balance. Old friends won’t let you down.
Step up without being asked. If your teammates are lagging, aren’t performing well or can’t ride their next leg, you can lift them up by doing more without making them ask for help, expecting any praise or giving them a hard time. Just answer the question “who’s next?” with “I am”.
Celebrate together. After over six days of individual rides, Colin asked his four-man team to ride with him for the last 31 miles. They were joined 15 miles from the finish by the other four. They rode together as a team the rest of the way, a perfect parade finish. Not the fastest way to finish but the best.
Have fun. The race committee noted the team’s good humor, sportsmanship and humility that stood in stark contrast to the boorish behavior of the fastest team. The pictures they took along the way testified to the fact that racing hard wasn’t mutually exclusive of having fun.
Don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone. Do the hard things. Colin is a fairly elite athlete who has experienced the highest highs and the lowest lows of competition, but this experience was far beyond anything he had done. In his words, “it was a 6 day, 7 hour and 36 minute catharsis that left me feeling more alive, more thankful to be alive and itching for the next challenge.”
Little gestures mean the world. There were hundreds of little kindnesses and thoughtful gestures during the ride- within the team and from strangers they met along the way. Like the people in Kansas and the older lady in West Virginia who offered to do their laundry so the crew could rest. You can imagine just how skeevy their laundry had to be and what a kind thing it was for her to wash, sort and fold it all!
I will wrap this up with a more personal reflection about waiting in the dark. I had promised Colin that I would meet him as he came across Illinois. That ended up happening at 1:30 am on June 23rd, a very early Thursday morning in Effingham. As it turned out, he rode the leg into the Effingham time station. So I waited for him in the dark. I can’t quite find the right words, but there is something very moving about waiting for your son in the dark of night. It brought floods of memories.
After a while the group’s van rolled in to get the next rider set up for the exchange. “Are you Colin’s dad? It’s true; you do look just like him!” Then I waited for the pinprick of light from his headlamp to appear in the darkness. Behind him was the chase car with its flasher on. And out of the darkness he came.
So we had fifteen minutes together on an ungodly hot and humid night in the middle of America, and they were off to the next hand off and a truly epic final two days of the race. And I head back to Springfield and a final day of work before I took a vacation. I got the distinct impression that some thought I was a bit crazy to drive to Effingham for a brief snatch of time with him in the small hours of the morning. I would have driven to Effingham even if just to wave as he rode by. Why? Because in a very special way, I knew how much this race meant to him and what was driving him through the miles. He knew I would be there, and I wasn’t going to let him down. If you care about someone you should always be willing to wait for him in the dark. I wouldn’t have missed the moment for anything.
School District Questions and Answers –
With board chair- Twinkle Ann Morton
Key Communicator Question about
Playing Fields and PRAISE for our HIGH SCHOOL COMMUNITY
First of all, as I always do, let me begin by reminding my readers that this column is my opinion and my opinion only. By that I mean that I am not speaking for the board, merely making observations about educational topics and asking for your perspective and input. I was contacted the other day by one of the key communicators [thank you] who shared with me that some of the high school parents are concerned with the condition of the playing fields for our kids. I contacted our Grounds person who does a superb job of making things work for our kids on a very small budget. He shares the parents’ concerns and is doing everything possible to improve the situation. What follows are his remarks:
“All of our playing fields throughout the District are in need of upgrades and long term maintenance plans. The field in question has been recently aerated, fertilized and is receiving water 4x a week as part of this plan. Yesterday I attended a field turf training seminar at OSU which confirmed in my mind we are on the right track to accomplish our objective. The components of the plan are as follows:
- Secure a reliable irrigation water source. Water from Fern Ridge is not always available to adequately irrigate all our fields. Recently, holding tanks and valving were installed at EHS allowing water from our domestic well to be used for irrigation. The risk is that we over tax our aquifer jeopardizing our domestic source. Other holding tanks and systems are planned for EE.
- Implement scheduled maintenance program. Our fields receive heavy use by both school and community groups. To ensure our fields stay in decent shape we need to follow a schedule for fertilization, aeration, top dressing and over seeding. This will require additional equipment and man hours.
- Increase our turf field resources. Because of all the user groups we need additional fields. This would allow for major maintenance projects to be accomplished without interrupting sports schedules
- Staff training. The key for long term sustainability is for these practices be carried on in perpetuity. Once a field is damaged or stressed its condition deteriorates exponentially.
I realize people are concerned, and rightfully so. We are moving in the direction to eliminate these hazards. I am in communication with staff and coaches concerning these issues and plans to address them. “ Jeff
I want to thank Jeff and Greg for all the work that goes on that sadly only gets noticed if it’s perceived as a problem. The rooms are clean, the floors polished, the grounds spiffed up- ready for our great teachers and wonderful students to return for another year. AND
I want to give a big shout out to our high school teachers and administrators. I received this message from Principal Gary Carpenter this morning. “Sorry, have to take this opportunity to brag…. :)” And Brag he should. The Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium [SBAC] testing results are back for the 11th graders who took the test this year. The percentage change from last year to this year is truly amazing AND Elmira High School Scores continue to be above – way above the state averages. Here they are: The Language scores increased by 7% [state average 71% our average 90%], Math increased by 20% [state average 34% our average 61%], and Science increased by 14%[state average 55% our average 67%]
Mr. Carpenter wants to thank the teachers, parents, families and students for their hard work. He asked I not thank him… sorry, that part I can’t do. Mr. Carpenter’s leadership is integral to the hard work these people perform each and every day… so congrats to all – well deserved and VERY impressive. To get the full and real deal, be sure you read your high school state report card- I borrowed this from him “Each year we[EHS Staff] reflect on our strengths and our weaknesses and implement changes to improve in areas of concern, while maintaining and supporting those things that are going well. 2016-17 will be no different as we have already implemented many new ideas, programs, support services and classes that we hope will benefit all of our students here at EHS. The FRSD community should be proud of the great staff working here at EHS. They are second to none.” I have to agree- And it not just us that recognize the strength of our high school- we are recognized by the US NEWS and WORLD REPORT’s annual Best High Schools list on a consistent basis. What’s not to like?
I look forward to continuing my column and answering your questions so please continue to write to me at tmorton@fernridge.k12.or.us and read my articles. I hope to reach new readers so share with your friends and loved ones. I leave you with this quote from Maria Orlando’s article “Nine Characteristics of a great Teacher” “The great teachers, however, work tirelessly to create a challenging, nurturing environment for their students. Great teaching seems to have less to do with our knowledge and skills than with our attitude toward our students, our subject, and our work.” We’ve got it all at Elmira High School.
In addition, I want to share with you what happens when researchers dropped a penny onto a group of ants. https://youtu.be/Ul3_D3DtZgw What if a society could be so closely aligned as to let something invasive fall right through it while regaining our bond with each other on the other side… a coin could crush one or two ants but working together they release to let it pass through and then rejoin on the other side while the weight goes to the bottom where it does no harm… just a thought.
Until next time.
School District Kudos –
With board vice- chair- Twinkle Ann Morton
Just wanted to print a few of the many things our students excel at… impressive range of things and I have only scratched the surface. Enjoy reading of their many accomplishments.
Elmira High School received ranking in national publication
Elmira High School is a “bronze medal” school this year according to the USA Today rankings. Last year, EHS won the “silver medal”. This foregrounds our high graduation rates. The Four Year Cohort Graduation Rate has the State Average at 73.8% while Elmira High School recorded an 89.83% rate which is well above the state average. Similarly, the Five Year Cohort Graduation Rate shows the State Average to be 76.49%, and Elmira High School’s average is 88.35%.
Fern Ridge Elementary Schools Perform Well in OBOB at state
The Fern Ridge School District sent several teams to the OBOB competition. On the elementary level both Veneta and Elmira schools performed very well. Congratulations to the Veneta team who made it to the “Sweet Sixteen” standing. The team consists of Jake Bondurant, Jacob Janeczko, Alexys Kallio, and Bailey Cedarleaf. Jake and Alexys are fourth graders and Bailey and Jacob are 5th graders. They were coached by Jake’s father Nate Bondurant. The Elmira team made it to the “Elite Eight” battling it out during overtime rounds, and the members are called “The No Mercy (Sisters) Return”. Their names are Grace Vestal, Nancy Coffman, Gracie Storey, Kelly Torres and Lucy Mitchem. With thanks to Alisa Johnson for coaching them. Nice job to everyone who read, participated and tried their best. All of you made us proud!
Fern Ridge Middle School Wins OBOB at State
The OBOB team consisted of three 8th graders from last year’s team and one 6th graders (Josiah Lorenz, Emily Eagle-Eye, Jessica Woods, and Zola Walker). The kids put in a lot of hard work along with their coach Sherry Cooper.
Fern Ridge Middle School at Brain Bowl at LCC
Fern Ridge Middle School competed in their first Lane County Brain Bowl today. They did great! They got third out of 17 teams. There were some incredibly smart middle schoolers in that room. Everyone would like to thank Angie Pebworth and Jason Alansky for organizing and coaching the team. Middle School Brain Bowl competition involves students in grades 6 to 8 in games similar to athletic competitions offered at this level. Questions are read in major areas of learning and the team member buzzes in when he or she knows the answer. The participants in this event were Maddie Alansky, Emily Eagle Eye, Josiah Lorenz, Reign Luxembourger, Ian Miller, and Megan Porter.
Elmira High School OBOB in Fern Ridge District
The team won the first round in the Terrific 12 split bracket but then lost in the Elite 8 second round, which sadly was a sudden elimination match. The participants are Finn King, Celeste Ossowski, Cooper Barnes, Jessica Coone, and Jessica Yost. Everyone put in a great deal of work and thanks goes out to their coach Sherry Cooper and Forrest Cooper for his help at the competition.
Veneta Elementary Earth Day Fair
Our Earth Day Fair was a huge success again this year. We increased the time by one hour and were able to have all of VES students and some Elmira Elementary School students attend. At another event, we had our Third Quarter Award ceremonies where we gave out 118 class awards, 117 outstanding citizen awards, and 11 perfect attendance awards.
Fern Ridge Family Resource Center
Fern Ridge School District now has a Family Resource Center! Located at Veneta Elementary School, the Family Resource Center will provide services to all families in the district with a focus on families with children birth to five years old. As it gets going, the center will feature information for families on community resources, parent education workshops, and activities for small children. The goal for the center is to help build literacy skills in small children and help families make the transition to kindergarten. The Family Resource Center is made possible by a grant from Lane Kids.
Our Family Resource Coordinator is Angi Trent who has been on the job for a short time, but she already has big plans for the Family Resource Center. Plans included a play date on March 9th which featured sensory play with shaving cream and a visit from a local police officer. It was a big hit with kids and families alike. Stay tuned for more events in the works.
For more information on the Fern Ridge Family Resource Center contact Angi at 541-935-8225 ext. 418.
School District Questions and Answers –
With new board chair- Twinkle Ann Morton
A few things about the New Year
First of all, let me begin by reminding my readers that this column is my opinion and my opinion only. By that I mean that I am not speaking for the board merely making observations about educational topics and asking for your perspective and input. I joined the School Board in August of 2008. I was chair previously from 2012-2014. My elected term expires in the end of June in 2019.
I am honored to be chosen by my fellow members to be the spokesperson for the board. I would like to say first of all that I know this to be one of the strongest boards in the state for working together to achieve the many responsibilities of the 21st Century School Board. I am a graduate of the OSBA [Oregon School Board Association] Leadership Institute, and while many of the boards represented there were MUCH larger or represented much larger districts, we have a group of people who are willing to work together and give much of their time to achieve our vision for the district. In terms of experience, your board has 38 years of combined service to the Fern Ridge School District. We continue to seek better ways to work with the community to improve not only our students’ and staff’s achievement but also their well-being. While we derive our ‘authority’ from the state regulations, I see our responsibility to hear the community’s needs within that framework.
Our last board chair, Andrea Larson, did a marvelous job during a very high stress time having to do with construction and other changes in the district. I am fortunate she agreed to continue as our vice-chair so we can continue the excellent work she has begun. At our last meeting, Director Soderberg suggested that as part of our planning for next year, each board member talk about something s/he is passionate about. The ideas brought out spontaneously at that time are fresh, and I believe that the community will be excited as well after we flesh out the possibilities. We all have high expectations for our students’ ability to succeed in life based on our children, our community, and our excellent staff. Our challenge will be to find ways to achieve our goals within a limited budget future. Knowing this group, we will find a way.
I am pleased to say that the Key Communicator group members who I have talked with are willing to continue in that capacity. I hope we can increase the messages they receive to share with you and that you, the community, will continue to bring your questions and concerns to them. I believe my job as a board member is to make sure that your interests are being served as best we can within our financial situation. To do that, we need to solidify our vision for the district as well as our board goals, while engaging and linking with the community.
I hope to help the board develop more chances for the community to get involved with programs that will benefit our children and our community. As you know, many strong programs have begun at the schools during this last year. Several serve our youngest members of the community through Kids in Transition to School [KITS] and the Family Resource Center[FRC]. Programs also serve our middle school and high school students. Construction is moving along well and even some ahead of schedule. Pictures are available on the district website [http://www.fernridge.k12.or.us/]. In addition, announcements, calendars and copies of all my articles are available as well. Please check it out.
I look forward to continuing my column and answering your questions so please continue to write to me at tmorton@fernridge.k12.or.us and read my articles. I hope to reach new readers so share with your friends and loved ones. I leave you with this quote from Nancy Walser from the Harvard Graduate School of Education from her book The Essential School Board Book. “Boards are now expected to do more than make policy, sit back, and oversee the Superintendent…The role of the school board member today has to be one of leadership working in tandem with the superintendent to make sure that the public’s interests are served by the public schools.”[12] I take my responsibility seriously and want you to know your school board is working hard to do just that. In addition, I want to share with you a moment of humane ‘duck’ action in this YouTube video https://youtu.be/YIZaC33fVy0 Until next time.
School District Thoughts
With vice chair- Twinkle Ann Morton
Unfunded Mandates
First of all, let me begin by reminding my readers that this column is my opinion and my opinion only. I am not speaking for the board merely making observations about educational topics and asking for your perspective and input. Today, I want to share some of the state and nationally added expectations for the schools while offering no funds to help accomplish them. The list will likely astound you- it did me- all of these things are a good idea. What makes it difficult is the strain it puts on under paid and under-appreciated staff who work to complete these things and more. After all- we have not even mentioned in this long list preparing students to read, write and do math. Oh yes, that.
In the 21st Century alone, the nation added:
- No Child Left Behind (Republican)
- Bully prevention
- Anti-harassment policies (gender, race, religion, or national origin)
- Expanded early childcare and wrap around programs
- Elevator and escalator safety instruction
- Body Mass Index evaluation (obesity monitoring)
- Organ donor education and awareness programs
- Personal financial literacy
- Entrepreneurial and innovation skills development
- Media literacy development
- Contextual learning skill development
- Health and wellness programs
- Race to the Top (Democratic)
In 1980, the nation added:
- Keyboarding and computer education
- Global education
- Multicultural/Ethnic education
- Nonsexist education
- English-as-a-second-language and bilingual education
- Teen pregnancy awareness
- Hispanic heritage education
- Early childhood education
- Jump Start, Early Start, Even Start, and Prime Start
- Full-day kindergarten
- Preschool programs for children at risk
- After-school programs for children of working parents
- Alternative education in all its forms
- Stranger/danger education
- Antismoking education
- Sexual abuse prevention education
- Expanded health and psychological services
- Child abuse monitoring (a legal requirement for all teachers)
And in 1990, the nation added:
- Conflict resolution and peer mediation
- HIV/AIDS education
- CPR training
- Death education
- America 2000 initiatives (Republican)
- Inclusion
- Expanded computer and internet education
- Distance learning
- Tech Prep and School to Work programs
- Technical Adequacy
- Assessment
- Post-secondary enrollment options
- Concurrent enrollment options
- Goals 2000 initiatives (Democratic)
- Expanded Talented and Gifted opportunities
- At risk and dropout prevention
- Homeless education (including causes and effects on children)
- Gang education (urban centers)
- Service learning
- Bus safety, bicycle safety, gun safety, and water safety education
All this is Nationally – and then at the state level we have many more. According to a leading authority in Education these things were added to the existing school day WITHOUT adding time to the calendar or the day. Pay to do all this has risen but not kept up with the inflation of other essential providers – and tell me what could be more essential than our children? The authority, by the way if you wish to check it out, is an author, educator and motivational speaker. His name is Jamie Vollmer.
Statewide we have an onslaught of unpaid requirements as well. I’ve listed them here with the Bill number behind. Thank you, Sally Storm for supplying a partial list.
- Dyslexia Screening & Support (SB 612)
- Abuse Prevention (SB 856)
- Dental Screening & Sealants (SB 660)
- School Nursing Provisions (SB 698)
- Domestic Violence Awareness (SB 790)
- Public Immunization Reporting (SB 895)
- Improving African-American Outcomes (HB 2016)
- Attendance Verification to ODOT (HB 2545)
- Safety Threat Drill Requirements (HB 2661)
- Oregon Civics Training for Teachers (HB 2955)
- Chronic Absenteeism Prevention Reporting (HB 3319)
- ELL Reporting (HB 3499)
- Instruct All Students in CPR (SB 79)
This article is not intended to negate the importance of any of these- I merely point out how much we expect each and every day from our fine staff. I was going to check with the budget manager to see if she could determine the money we spend on these items. However, I hated to add to her already overloaded schedule to give an estimate. It does not take much of a leap to see, regardless of the dollar amount, it takes teaching and preparation time to deal with all of this. If you’d like me to go into anything specifically, contact me at tmorton@fernridge.k12.or.us. I leave you with this thought from Henry Adams: “A teacher affects eternity; he can never determine where his influence stops.”
I apologize for Mr. Adams sexist choice of pronouns… remember he was born in 1838. The idea is sound- the pronouns not consistent with today’s verbiage. Oh Yes- that is yet another thing we expect our teachers to teach our young people- great thoughts of long ago still apply just without today’s awareness of racial and gender changes. Here is a video from Mr. Vollmer for you if you’d like to see more about these and more added mandates. http://www.jamievollmer.com/video.html
First of all, let me begin by reminding my readers that this column is my opinion and my opinion only. By that I mean that I am not speaking for the board merely making observations about educational topics and asking for your perspective and input. As I said in my last article appearing in the Fern Ridge Review on June 22, 2016, emotional and psychological support of programs for ages 0-6 help our children find the onramps to success through education and into life. And, as promised in that article, I want to now talk about the economic advantages for all – and that means even those of us who no longer or never had any children in the schools. How in the world could these programs help all of us economically?
While some recognize the importance of social equity in economic terms as well, let’s look more directly at the issues that are affected here. According to the Register Guard Guest Viewpoint from the Oregon Community Foundation, dollars spent in the “early years pay off many times over. We can save anywhere from $3 to $17 for every $1 invested because of lower costs for remedial education, lower crime and incarceration costs, and higher productivity over a lifetime.” [Register Guard 6/16/16] Besides the obvious costs of crime and jail, the higher productivity translates to more taxes paid into local coffers and advances in livability in the community itself. Equally, important in this time of political questions, these children will be better citizens as well and be more informed and ready to make critical decisions so necessary in our political and social world.
In addition, as crime drops and taxes and livability rise, property values rise as well. Needless to say, if one owns property of any kind, one wants to get the most money a person can when selling it. Run down, crime ridden cities are not prime real estate. The Family Resource Center focuses on programs to improve family stability and effective parenting while creating the foundation for effective learning as well as self-regulation which I talked about last time. Ultimately, one of the goals would be reducing the opportunity gap for all ages while aligning learning supports for students AND families.
Our Family Resource Center, active at both elementary schools, is a starting point. At some point, we should hope to coordinate with all community agencies, including the school district, while reaching out for resources to support families and extended learning opportunities for students. Remember, it is through learning that we all can reach our potential. We need to grow and change for as long as we are alive with the world we inhabit. Morally, ethically, psychologically, judicially, AND economically, this is one way to improve the quality of life for all who share our world and our community.
Check out these short videos from Vroom Brain Games: https://youtu.be/trm38G2e5NE and https://youtu.be/PB1Uo9nbIVU are introductions. Then watch these to see examples of things you might do with your baby or toddler. https://youtu.be/Auns4tHyXes and https://youtu.be/iAj3wW1piTI and this one https://youtu.be/WwkLayJQHQ8 to feel good for all you already do for your child, grandchild, niece, nephew, foster child, adopted children and all kiddos – young and old- in your life and neighborhood.
I leave you with this quote from Rose Kennedy: “When you hold your baby in your arms the first time, and you think of all the things you can say and do to influence him, it’s a tremendous responsibility. What you do with him can influence not only him, but everyone he meets and not for a day or a month or a year but for time and eternity.” As always, keep writing to me at tmorton@fernridge.k12.or.us and see you in July!
School District Questions and Answers –
With board vice- chair- Twinkle Ann Morton
More things for Children 0-6
First of all, let me begin by reminding my readers that this column is my opinion and my opinion only. By that I mean that I am not speaking for the board merely making observations about educational topics and asking for your perspective and input. As I said previously, I am so pleased to see that we have secured several valued grants to help our youngest community members and their families. The Family Resource Grant will serve all parents with an emphasis on the early pre-kinder years. Many people are focusing on the importance of working with our children during this time, and the revelation of the effects of NOT doing that are striking and important to note.
In a Guest Viewpoint in the Register-Guard on 6/16/16 Sabrina Parsons, a board member and chair of the Oregon Community Foundation’s Southern Willamette Valley Leadership Council, and Max Williams, the foundation’s president and CEO, provides information expanding on the importance of early learning. Ms. Parsons says the “Brain architecture, which is 90 percent complete by age 6, is literally shaped by children’s earliest relationships and experiences. “ I thought the term ‘architecture’ is evocative as the physical structure is built early on and life experiences and classroom work create the interior design and furnishings.
So what can every parent do to help strengthen and build that ‘architecture’? Many minds are at work on this, and the most important player in your child’s [children’s] life is YOU. The question really is – How do I help my children reach beyond my potential? The good news is there is more and more help to do just that. Interested? I sure hope so. May I suggest you either go to this website http://www.joinvroom.org/ and click to add the application to your phone or computer that offers games and ideas for you to do with your child while you shop, while you watch TV, while you have dinner and while you go through the day. Or, if you are interested in more information before joining, check the newsletter out at… http://us7.campaign-archive2.com/?u=986d65b7a9d80a53b6c948c40&id=fb6df18830&e=e5a4616a76
If you don’t have internet to check on either of these, hang on until next week. I will attempt to find another way for you to access these things. In this newsletter, you will find important ideas and fun facts such as “We at KinderCare know that little minds are wide open and ready to learn – we see this each day in our work with 170,000plus children and families. We also know that even more learning takes place outside the classroom. After all, parents are children’s very best teachers!”[From Vroom Spring newsletter] It might help you to make a decision to know that “Science is at the heart of Vroom! Our work is advised by an exceptional group of 13 leading researchers in child development and neuroscience and we continue to incorporate their findings in the tips and tools we share with you.
“One of those researchers is Laurie Brotman for New York University School of Medicine. Her work with ParentCorps is central to the ideas of Vroom. ParentCorps builds on the strengths of culturally-diverse families and helps schools engage parents as partners in helping children succeed. One of the things that is essential for all of us is something called self-regulation. I am sure that we all have our own ideas, and they are most likely correct, of what this would entail. But more specifically, as it relates to our children is using “the term self-regulation to talk about a range of strategies and behaviors that help children be ready to learn and engage in interactions while getting the most out of what’s going on in their environments.
Beginning at about the age three, it is a critical
time for the development of those skills. And what parents do in their interactions with children can really foster these skills.”
IT IS SO WORTH TRYING… our children always deserve more. They are our future leaders; Social equity is at work here. Help our children achieve more by creating On Ramps to the fast paced highway we call 21st Century life. Help them build that architecture so they can furnish their homes with beauty, peace and intellectual curiosity. This is far more than just a Social Equity issue – if that was not enough- but also an economic issue for all of us. Watch for next week’s article where I will hopefully bring you ways to access the newsletter for those of us without easy internet access and share a little of the effects on the economic front as well. As always feel free to contact me at tmorton@fernridge.k12.or.us. I leave you with a Chinese Proverb I’ve used before which seems perfect for this article. “Do not confine your children to your own learning, for they were born in another time.” We all grow when our little ones do. Here is one of the many videos from Vroom honoring one of the important educators in your child’s life… the Mother done for Mother’s Day. I will include another one next time. Here’s the video… https://youtu.be/WwkLayJQHQ8 Until next time- have a great week.
School District Questions and Answers –
With board vice- chair- Twinkle Ann Morton
Last month, West Lane Technical Learning Center had a change in leadership. I have known Mr. Osibov for several years and am pleased to see him doing wonderful things again in the world of education. I asked him for some information about his plan. Clearly he has thought a great deal about this already, and many plans are in the works. What follows are some of his comments and plans in his own words. Mr. Osibov says:
I am excited. After my two and a half year hiatus from school administration, I am excited about helping students grow into young adults. This is the most important job in the world.
In addition to working with students in a safe and supportive environment to obtain a high school diploma, I envision WLTLC guiding students to realistically explore career paths for their future. To achieve this end, it is imperative that students have opportunities to dream their dreams and explore how these passions translate to the working world. A student’s social/academic achievement in high school is a main determinant of their success as a contributing member in the world of work. Helping students to understand how high school social and academic achievement can lead to employment is a critical factor in helping students to begin exploring how they fit into the world of work. Both state and national educational policymakers have identified Career Pathways as a conceptual framework to organize and promote student educational attainment to support entering the working world.
To help students grasp the relevance of education and explore career options WLTLC staff will continue to make adjustments with a focus on individual student exploration of Career Pathways which is a series of connected education and technical training programs and student support services that enable individuals to secure a First of all, let me begin by reminding my readers that this column is my opinion and my opinion only. By that I mean that I am not speaking for the board merely making observations about educational topics and asking for your perspective and input.
Last month, West Lane Technical Learning Center had a change in leadership. I have known Mr. Osibov for several years and am pleased to see him doing wonderful things again in the world of education. I asked him for some information about his plan. Clearly he has thought a great deal about this already, and many plans are job.
There are regional activities that provide students the opportunity to talk with industry professionals, community college staff and do industry site visits. Building on these experiences,
I foresee facilitating curricular enhancements emphasizing Career Pathway exploration, employability skills and work based community experience/s in addition to obtaining a high school diploma. The following bullet points are examples of programs and Career Pathways that students will explore to help establish relevance to their high school education and quite possibly lead to entry level work.
- Increase utilization of the Oregon Career Information System (CIS) to create electronic student portfolios and monitor student progress. Existing Program
- Establish student exploration of Career Pathways to develop ideas for entry level job/s… some examples:
- Culinary Arts and Hospitality Mgt. Existing Pathway
- Baking and Pastry (Career Pathway Certificate-Lane CC)
- Health Services Existing Pathway
- Example: Medical Coding (Career Pathway Certificate-Lane CC)
- Agriculture Develop Pathway
- Example: Forest Ecology (Career Pathway Certificate-Central Oregon CC)
- Computer Information Technology Develop Pathway
- Example: Computer Game Programing In C++(Career Pathway Certificate-Lane CC)
Special Note: all the above are entry level positions
Oregon’s seventeen community colleges have Career Pathway roadmaps for dozens of occupations that visually chart the certificates, degrees and skills progression needed to obtain entry level positions and continue on through career advancement opportunities. More than 350 roadmaps are available through all Oregon community college websites. Staff at WLTLC will introduce/establish Career Pathways as an organizing framework so students can explore Career Pathways to gain knowledge about preferred work and possibly engage in valuable experience in work based community experience/s leading to possible entry level employment.
WLTLC’s collaboration with local merchants, governmental agencies and educational institutions is integral to helping students not only obtain a high school diploma and understand the job market/s but also obtain meaningful (entry level) employment. Staff will help grow these collaborations and organize processes where students can gain valuable experience/s in work based community experiences. This could be referred to” the frosting on the cake” for students who attend WLTLC.
In the short term I welcome the completion of our commercial kitchen for the Culinary Arts / Hospitality Management Career Pathway. This will enable our students to participate in their school based community catering business. In our Health Services Career Pathway we will continue to grow our job shadows, visitations and class offerings. In the long term, I plan to visit various community agencies (public and private) seeking to develop educational partnerships to increase our menu of hands-on Career Pathway exploration opportunities for students.
These are exciting plans and ideas from the new director of WLTLC. I look forward to him and his staff bringing this to completion and helping his students graduate while finding a path and an on-ramp to their dreams. Who could possibly ask more?
As always, please to continue to write to me at tmorton@fernridge.k12.or.us See you at the Farmer’s Market!!!
School District Questions and Answers –
With board vice- chair- Twinkle Ann Morton
OPERATING BUDGET IS NOT BOND CONSTRUCTION
and
Key Communicator Questions
First of all, let me begin by reminding my readers that this column is my opinion and my opinion only. By that I mean that I am not speaking for the board merely making observations about educational topics and asking for your perspective and input. A few people appear to be confused about the issue of the bond and the projected budget issue that was reported in the paper last week. So I am trying to address those problems as they were asked of our Key Communicators. Here we go.
We just passed a bond. How could the school district have a budget issue? Interesting Question. In reading the bond description, one can see that the bond money can be used only to build schools, remodel existing schools, and increase safety and technology. The promise of transparency and progress reports has been fulfilled for those interested. The agreement is “The Fern Ridge School District will provide a monthly update on the progress of the work funded by the $26.7 million bond approved by voters last May, to be published regularly. This has been done as well as listing project plans and information pertaining to each project. You will find this additional information on the District’s website www.fernridge.k12.or.us under the heading BOND.
So what caused a budget shortage? The district shortfall is a result of years of underfunding from the state as well as unfunded mandates created by the legislature. Our district is the only one, I believe, who returned to a full school year this year. We hope to maintain a full schedule while other districts have cut days and positions. The administration has worked tirelessly to maintain our staff and our lower class sizes so as to protect the students’ learning. The bond can do nothing to fund salaries, insurance, supplies, textbooks, or bus and food contracts. The teachers through FREA have been wonderful in their attempts to keep costs at a minimum while maintaining the full school year. They too have seen the cost of insurance and PERS rise while the cost of some “must have” commodities has also increased.
Will this bond save us money in the Operating Budget? Many people understand the difference but still have this question. The answer is a resounding YES. The roofs at the buildings will not need fixing; the new walls will not need to be painted; the new systems will not need to be perfected; so many unforeseeable issues that arise for maintenance should be taken care of. Will there still be some issues? Of course, but they will be surprises – not issues that we have band aided because of money issues. Elmira Elementary and Veneta Elementary will be relatively new and protected by an improved security system as will the Middle School and the High School.
So will there be a Reduction in Force [RIF]? The simple answer is no. The administrative team has been working to turn yet another shortage from the state school fund into as good as possible. “Lemons to Lemonade sort of thing”. Teachers who are retiring will not be replaced. The Elementary Principals have met and are looking for ways to balance their numbers and class sizes. It is time for some textbook replacements- it is likely they will be put off yet again for a better time. But at this time, we will be able to keep all of our wonderful staff.
What remains for Veneta Elementary and for Elmira Elementary School?
VES
With most of the Veneta Elementary construction project wrapping up for this school year, we’re excited to share a few pictures of the new wing, classrooms, library, and the cafeteria on the District Webpage. New flooring, more technology, landscaping, and new parking and bus loops are some of the improvements still to come.
EES
It is with great anticipation that constriction is in full swing at Elmira Elementary. The ground works are moving along on schedule, despite the weather’s occasional lack of cooperation.
Plumbing and underground electrical have been laid, and the concrete has been poured. Framing has begun, and it is very exciting to watch as the walls go up. Drive by sometime and see.
FRMS
The work at Fern Ridge Middle School is mostly complete and the students and staff have settled in to the school year.
EHS
At Elmira High School the installation of the new field lights is complete, which has greatly improved the viewing of activities on the field and increased both the safety of the students and security of the campus. The new auxiliary gym project for the high school has begun its design phase and bids have come in within our hopes but a bit higher than predicted. As time passes in the economy beginning recover, the costs of product and of labor will continue to rise. The Company representing the District, Cornerstone, has done an excellent job at seizing the golden ring when they can, and the companies we are working with have been great as well.
Why is some work not done at all the places? As you know, when you need to have an electrician or a plumber- any highly skilled work person- to your home, it is wise to have any and all projects lined out so they can be achieved all at once. Several important reasons for that apply here. One is scheduling- Once you have them on sight, do it all at once. The other reason is cost. If someone comes out to do the security upgrade at one school, he or she loads up all the stuff, drives here, completes that job- load up and goes home. Then they do it all again for the next job… so the bond committee is saving money by doing the total project all at once for several things.
So keep those questions coming- I’ll answer as best I can and as quickly as I can. Here’s a short video to raise your spirits. https://youtu.be/vANn8BMSi9M Aa quote to think about from Nelson Mandela. “There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children.” Write to me at tmorton@fernridge.k12.or.us.
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