By Anne Scheck

English language learners in the lower grades at Central School District indicate average levels on state testing in English proficiency, but middle school scores drop into the low-performing range. The pattern continues at Central High School.

That was part of the statewide data Superintendent Jennifer Kubista EdD shared at the last school board meeting. For English Language Proficiency Assessment (ELPA), students in kindergarten through 5thgrade appear “on track,” she said. However, beginning at 6thgrade and beyond, the ELPA tests show troubling trends, compared with elementary school results, she said. 

Absenteeism is associated with relatively low achievement, so special attention is being paid to students who “have struggled with attendance,” Dr. Kubista said. For example, a character called “Captain Attendance” at Independence Elementary School “flies through” frequently to acknowledge good attendance. 

Low attendance not only correlates with learning challenges, but “it’s actually tied to our funding,” she pointed out. State dollars are linked to the number of students present more than 90% of the days they are enrolled, she explained.

The top goal adopted by the district is student growth and achievement. But the second priority is family involvement. District-wide community chats that were held last year by Dr. Kubista -- and at the beginning of this academic year -- have provided a good foundation for families to connect, said Sharman Ensminger, director of equity, access and instructional technology for the district. Now, district staff are working on a formal plan to bring more family involvement into the schools, she said.

A pilot program in Polk County that will place 30 high school students in business internships is scheduled to kick off Dec. 1, with plans to go to different school districts when they’re also ready to start, said Brent DeMoe, the county’s family and community outreach director.  Mr. DeMoe announced the plan at the Board of Commissioners meeting last Tuesday. 

The inaugural effort, which will place 10 students per school-year term, begins at the Morrison Campus Alternative School in Dallas. “We want to give them the opportunity to be ‘job-ready’ when they graduate,” explained Morrison teacher Charlotte Vidrio.

Students get school credit for successful participation in the internships, and they are being offered the chance to receive dual community-college credit by Chemeketa, according to Roxanna Glang, a psychology professor at Chemeketa who is assisting with the program. 

Career and technical education (CTE) – internships, in particular – are a top objective of Central School District, said Julia Heilman, director of student services for the district. In a presentation at the recent school board meeting, she said the district is seeking to expand CTE.  “This is really to help support the success of students in school, career, college, work and community,” Ms. Heilman said.

As part of "Fight Crime: Invest in Kids," a group that's working to raise awareness of the role preschool can play in getting kids on a good educational pathway, Polk County Sheriff Mark Garton and Independence Police Chief Robert Mason, among other county law-enforcement officials, spent time recently at the Oregon Child Development Coalition in Independence. During their time there, the duo read a whimsical story to an audience of enraptured preschoolers. 

On behalf of the Lions Club, District Governor Steve Moser awarded Central School District 13J a sum of $10,500 for emergency preparedness this month at the Henry Hill building in Independence. The grant was received by Jason Clark, director of safety and security for the district; The school district contributed $500, bringing the total to $11,000. Mr. Clark was joined by Terry Cable, president of the Central Lions Club and Mike Ward, secretary of the Lions Club, and Rod Bach, also of the local Lions Club. Ben Stange, chief of Polk Fire District No. 1 and Kimber Townsend, were also present. Ms. Townsend will provide disaster instruction and expertise. Mr. Moser, former president of District 13J’s school board, represents Lions Club District MD-36R, that runs from Polk County westward to the Oregon Coast and south to Florence.

The incidence of sexually-transmitted disease is on the rise across the county -- repeating a pattern that’s been seen for the past few years, according to county medical reports. Gonorrhea, chlamydia and syphilis “continue to go up,” said Kristty Polanco, public health administrator for Polk County. The agency is attempting to pin down with more precision the most contributory factors, Ms. Polanco said. The findings were reported at a recent meeting of the Polk County Board of Commissioners. 

A 70-acre tract of land for mixed-use housing was annexed into the city of Independence last week, and a direct effect on the school district appears to be the potential increase in the number of families. The plan includes 100 new homes in southwest Independence; State estimates put typical population gains from new subdivisions at two-per-household in the Willamette Valley, over a range of ages. 

At the Independence City Council meeting, two of the councilors – Shannon Corr and Jennifer Ranstrom-Smith – asked if school administrators had been informed of the proposed expansion. Mayor John McArdle said he had spoken with former superintendent Buzz Brazeau about it before Mr. Brazeau left the district in 2017. Councilor Ranstrom-Smith then observed that local schools already are at capacity, adding that she found the issue “concerning.” She noted that in 2006 Henry Hill was an elementary school on the south side of Independence, but it no longer is open for students. Instead, it was converted to district offices.  

Later, when Superintendent Jennifer Kubista was asked privately at the meeting if she’d been contacted by the city about the annexation, she responded only: “I am here to learn.

Breakfast will be available for late-coming students at all three elementary schools and at Talmadge middle school, even if students enter the building after the morning bell has rung. “We want to offer them the opportunity to eat” even if they’re not on time, explained Alex Singer, head of food service for the school district. 
 
More funding for free school meals is part of the School Success Act, but money won’t kick in till 2020. Meanwhile, for students in the district, “we want to take away the worry of hunger,” he said. Independence Elementary School has the highest poverty rate of any district school, according to a report at the November school board meeting. 

An unusual weather pattern of windless fog that trapped poor-quality air across the region is making the days to come potentially unhealthy for some segments of the population with respiratory problems, despite sunny blue skies this week. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has said the air quality concerns will remain till Tuesday, Nov. 12.