Siuslaw School Board Meeting
The Siuslaw School Board passed a number of amendments to district and state policy in this week’s meeting. In district policy the board restored the district’s ability to issue citations for excessive absences. Guardians who are not requiring that children attend school may also be in violation of a state statute for failure to supervise a child. They voted 5 to 2 to support a fee increase for the Oregon School Board Association. The Association has not raised its fees in several decades and now plans a series of increases over the next year that would double the fees by 2031. The board voted 5-2 not to support an OSBA policy amendment to create a PRIDE caucus within OSBA. The Association currently has two other caucuses: members of color and the rural school board member’s caucus. Board members Lacouture Barnett, Cole, Haberly, and Pimlott voted not to support the bill. Miltenberger discussed her support of the bill in discussion,
“My vote will be to vote for it. I attended the breakout session of the OSBA conference? And this is a community that is really undergoing a lot of stress. the hotline for suicide has gone way, way up and there’s a real fear that this is a community that’s not being acknowledged as. much as it’s should and as much as other communities are, so I will be voting to approve it.”
Support for the full slate of OSBA bylaw amendments was unanimous until a board member pointed out that it included the PRIDE caucus resolution. Support for the full bylaw amendments ultimately failed with the same 5-2 lineup that voted against the creation of the caucus. The board voted unanimously to support a number of other policy updates including: an OSAA cooperative sports agreement for boys and girls wrestling with Mapleton High School; out of state travel for the High School wrestling team to attend two tournament events; clarification of the relationship between the Siuslaw Valley Charter School and the Whitmore academy. Details about all Siuslaw District Board meetings can be found on the district’s YouTube channel.
Pounding for Florence Food Share
Over 600 local families are in need as the holidays approach, and charities are stepping up to help. Tomorrow, the 24th Annual Pounding for Florence Food Share kicks off at 10:00 AM at Grocery Outlet. Community members are encouraged to bring fresh, canned, frozen, and boxed food donations to support families before Thanksgiving. Colin Morgan, executive director of Florence Food Share, says the event is critical for the community. Last year, it brought in nearly 18,000 pounds of food and $12,000 in donations.
“Any support that folks can give, this is a time where we definitely need it, and our neighbors definitely need it,” says Morgan.
KCST will be broadcasting live from the event, urging everyone to join in this vital effort.
Whitmore Academy
Eighty seven students have submitted “intent to enroll” submissions to the Whiltmore Academy, said Heather Hammon, vice chair of the Siuslaw Valley Charter School Board of Directors at yesterday’s board meeting. The school will enroll students from kindergarten to fourth grade with enrollments per grade running from a high of 21 kindergarten submissions to 12 fourth grade submissions. The board also unanimously adopted a policy document that included procedures for board meetings, public notice of agendas, public comment and board member rights and responsibilities and training. The newly hired Head of Schools, Arturo Ruejas is slated to appear at the school’s December 5 fundraising event.