School Board Approves Academy Application
Last night’s meeting of the Siuslaw School Board was a lengthy one as the board heard from community members and from the organizers of the proposed Whitmore Classical Academy. Public comment was mixed with those in favor of moving forward with a charter school and those who were against it. Jennifer Ledbetter spoke in opposition to the charter. She sees the creation of the school as something that would not be inclusive.
“This exclusivity is a critical concern as it runs counter to the principles that should underpin public education.”
During the question and answer period of the members of the Whitmore classical academy board, Kay King addressed the idea that it would indeed be inclusive.
“We’re not going to pick a person here and pick a person there it’s open to everybody, it’s inclusive. So the fear of thinking that there is something there that is going to bother people, its wide open, you can see everything that is going to be there, we have seen the successes nationwide.”
In the end, a straw poll of the members of the school board showed a desire to move forward with a vote on the application and the motion was made by John Barnett to do so. Whe it cam to the vote Maureen Miltenberg was the single no vote voicing concerns that the proposal still had some issues of discriminating against certain sectors of the population. The application was approved 5-1.
Fire Prevention Week
The week of October 8 through the 14th is fire prevention week. On Friday of last week, the Siuslaw News printed and in-depth section focusing on the fire prevention and on recognizing the members of the Western Lane Fire and EMS Authority. A supplemental announcement from the American Red Cross on Tuesday outlined some of the safety practices while cooking. Food preparation is one of the primary causes of house fires and the Red Cross offers 10 simple steps in avoiding a fire in the kitchen. The common sense approach includes never leaving items unattended, use a timer and keep kids and pets away from the cooking area.
Logo Contest
The Florence Area Chamber of Commerce is still looking for submissions for the 2024 Rhododendron Festival logo. The theme High Tides and Good Vibes and the logo must include representations of the Florence area, such as the Bridge, river, dunes and the Heceta lighthouse. Details on the logo contest are available at florencechamber.com. winner of the logo contest will receive $250.00 for their submission and it will appear on many of the marketing items for the 118th Rhododendron Festival. Submissions can be sent via email to info@florencechamber.com.
