Julie Catala emailed me back this morning with a final date for the hearing. Here is her email:
Hi Ron and Denise, I hope you’re doing well. I wanted to let you know that the final date for the school board appeal hearing is:
Monday, June 11, 9:00-11:00 a.m., here in the District Office Board Room, 1555 SW 35th Street.
I’m not certain that the entire 2 hours will be needed, but I wanted to make sure you were able to plan for child care coverage just in case it ran long.
Please respond to this email to let me know that you have received this message. I’ll also send a formal letter via US Mail, and will send preparatory materials as the hearing date draws nearer.
Thanks very much.
Julie
Julie Catala
Executive Assistant to the Superintendent
Corvallis School District 509J
This was my reply:
Julie,
That looks like it will work well for us. Thank you for setting this up for us.
Ronald Bjarnason
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Monday, May 14, 2007
Reply from Julie Catala
Thank you very much, Ron.
J.
Julie Catala
Executive Assistant to the Superintendent
Corvallis School District 509J
J.
Julie Catala
Executive Assistant to the Superintendent
Corvallis School District 509J
Setting up the School Board Hearing
Julie Catala from the 509J District offices called last week (on May 9th). I've been really busy at school, so I have not yet talked to her. She called again this morning and talked to Denise. Together they realized that it will be a lot easier to set up a meeting during the daytime rather than at night, and that I will have more time after another deadline I have coming up on June 8th. So, Julie sent me an email requesting that I waive the 20 day response time required by district policy. This is a copy of her email and my reply:
Hello Ron, Denise and I just chatted again about dates, as a follow-up to our May 9th phone conversation about the same topic. As she and I brainstormed evening dates that would work for you, Denise realized that if we waited until after the June 8 deadline for a paper you’re working on, you would be available for a daytime hearing, and she would be better able to secure the services of a babysitter so she could attend the hearing with you.
To that end, she’s asked that I work to find a time between June 11 and June 19 for a hearing during the day (between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.) However, that will push the board’s required response beyond the 20-day deadline (per Board Policy KL). Denise felt that you would be amenable to waiving the timeline; if you are, please reply to this email with your answer, so that I may have a record for my file.
I’ll be in touch as soon as I’m able to connect with the board and determine what date will work best for the hearing.
Many thanks, Ron.
Julie
Julie Catala
Executive Assistant to the Superintendent
Corvallis School District 509J
My reply:
Julie,
I will waive the required 20 day deadline.
Thank you for working with us on this, Julie. I appreciate it.
Ron Bjarnason
Hello Ron, Denise and I just chatted again about dates, as a follow-up to our May 9th phone conversation about the same topic. As she and I brainstormed evening dates that would work for you, Denise realized that if we waited until after the June 8 deadline for a paper you’re working on, you would be available for a daytime hearing, and she would be better able to secure the services of a babysitter so she could attend the hearing with you.
To that end, she’s asked that I work to find a time between June 11 and June 19 for a hearing during the day (between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.) However, that will push the board’s required response beyond the 20-day deadline (per Board Policy KL). Denise felt that you would be amenable to waiving the timeline; if you are, please reply to this email with your answer, so that I may have a record for my file.
I’ll be in touch as soon as I’m able to connect with the board and determine what date will work best for the hearing.
Many thanks, Ron.
Julie
Julie Catala
Executive Assistant to the Superintendent
Corvallis School District 509J
My reply:
Julie,
I will waive the required 20 day deadline.
Thank you for working with us on this, Julie. I appreciate it.
Ron Bjarnason
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Requesting a Hearing
This was my response to Ms. Rieck:
Ms. Rieck,
Thank you for the clarification. Please ask Ms. Catala to schedule a hearing regarding this issue. I look forward to meeting with you and the other members of the school board in person.
Ronald Bjarnason
Corvallis, OR
And so it is. When I hear from the district, I suppose I'll try to drum up support, so that we can have a well attended and represented meeting.
Ms. Rieck,
Thank you for the clarification. Please ask Ms. Catala to schedule a hearing regarding this issue. I look forward to meeting with you and the other members of the school board in person.
Ronald Bjarnason
Corvallis, OR
And so it is. When I hear from the district, I suppose I'll try to drum up support, so that we can have a well attended and represented meeting.
Response from Kari Rieck, District 509J School Board Chair
The responses I provided are my responses, as the board chair and reflect
the policy/procedures of the district. I am unable to speak on behalf of
the board regarding changes to our policy and procedures.
I really appreciate you asking for this clarification. In order for the
board to hear your concerns and to make a decision, as a board, a hearing
will need to be scheduled. At the hearing, you will have the opportunity to
address the board with your concerns and your requests. The district will
also have the opportunity to address the concerns you presented. The board
will then vote on the matter. This is the next step to appeal the decision
by the superintendent.
If you would like me to ask Julie Catala to schedule a hearing, please let
me know.
I am sorry that I had misinterpreted your e-mail and did not clarify the
next steps in an appeal. Please let me know if I can be of further
assistance.
Sincerely,
Kari Rieck
Chair, Corvallis School Board
the policy/procedures of the district. I am unable to speak on behalf of
the board regarding changes to our policy and procedures.
I really appreciate you asking for this clarification. In order for the
board to hear your concerns and to make a decision, as a board, a hearing
will need to be scheduled. At the hearing, you will have the opportunity to
address the board with your concerns and your requests. The district will
also have the opportunity to address the concerns you presented. The board
will then vote on the matter. This is the next step to appeal the decision
by the superintendent.
If you would like me to ask Julie Catala to schedule a hearing, please let
me know.
I am sorry that I had misinterpreted your e-mail and did not clarify the
next steps in an appeal. Please let me know if I can be of further
assistance.
Sincerely,
Kari Rieck
Chair, Corvallis School Board
My Reply to Kari Rieck
This was my reply to Ms. Rieck:
Ms. Reick,
I sincerely appreciate your response, especially the obvious time you took to acquaint yourself with the entire history of this issue.
Regarding issue 1: For the time being, I acknowledge that I disagree with the interpretation that the district has chosen.
Regarding issue 2: I am aware of the state's woefully underfunded education program. I can readily accept your claim that there simply are not funds for each low-income child to attend full-time kindergarten.
However, I refuse to accept an argument that the district cannot obey the law because it is short on funds.
Obviously every child has the option to attend half-time kindergarten at no charge. ORS 339.147 is limited in scope to "courses not part of the regular school program", and thus applies exclusively to the tuition-based kindergarten programs. Each child from a low income family in the 509J district should have an equal chance to attend full-time kindergarten as children from upper income families (by lottery or other method). If a child from a low income family is accepted to a full-time kindergarten program, ORS 339.147 states that "no district school board or public charter school ... shall require tuition" from these families for these extra courses.
If a child is accepted to a full-time kindergarten program, and that child qualifies for free or reduced lunch, you simply cannot charge them anything at all, regardless of the budgetary constraints of the district. This is how ORS 339.147 reads, and this is not being communicated to the families served by District 509J, nor is it being practiced by the district.
If your response is the official position held by the School Board of District 509J, I will submit an appeal to the Oregon Department of Education one week from today, on Tuesday May 17th. Should you indicate that this is not the official position held by the board, I shall withhold my appeal the required 20 working days as I await an official statement. Should I not recieve an official statement by June 5th, I will submit my appeal at that time.
Ronald Bjarnason
Corvallis, OR
Ms. Reick,
I sincerely appreciate your response, especially the obvious time you took to acquaint yourself with the entire history of this issue.
Regarding issue 1: For the time being, I acknowledge that I disagree with the interpretation that the district has chosen.
Regarding issue 2: I am aware of the state's woefully underfunded education program. I can readily accept your claim that there simply are not funds for each low-income child to attend full-time kindergarten.
However, I refuse to accept an argument that the district cannot obey the law because it is short on funds.
Obviously every child has the option to attend half-time kindergarten at no charge. ORS 339.147 is limited in scope to "courses not part of the regular school program", and thus applies exclusively to the tuition-based kindergarten programs. Each child from a low income family in the 509J district should have an equal chance to attend full-time kindergarten as children from upper income families (by lottery or other method). If a child from a low income family is accepted to a full-time kindergarten program, ORS 339.147 states that "no district school board or public charter school ... shall require tuition" from these families for these extra courses.
If a child is accepted to a full-time kindergarten program, and that child qualifies for free or reduced lunch, you simply cannot charge them anything at all, regardless of the budgetary constraints of the district. This is how ORS 339.147 reads, and this is not being communicated to the families served by District 509J, nor is it being practiced by the district.
If your response is the official position held by the School Board of District 509J, I will submit an appeal to the Oregon Department of Education one week from today, on Tuesday May 17th. Should you indicate that this is not the official position held by the board, I shall withhold my appeal the required 20 working days as I await an official statement. Should I not recieve an official statement by June 5th, I will submit my appeal at that time.
Ronald Bjarnason
Corvallis, OR
Response from School Board
I had three emails in my inbox this morning regarding the Kindergarten issue.
From Kari Reick (current Chair of 509J School Board):
Mr. Bjarnason:
Thank you for taking the time to inform the board of your concerns. We appreciate that you first talked with the principal and superintendent. Your willingness to bring issues forward has assisted the district in providing clearer communication this year regarding transportation for kindergarten students.
I have included my responses to each of your concerns in blue within your original e-mail. If you have any additional questions, please let me know.
Sincerely,
Kari Rieck
Chair, Corvallis School Board
-----Original Message-----
From: Ron Bjarnason [mailto:rbjarnason@gmail.com]
Sent: Friday, May 04, 2007 10:40 PM
To: schoolboard@corvallis.k12.or.us; md3045@yahoo.com; turmanfinancial@comcast.net; schustea@peak.org; lisa_corrigan@comcast.net; rieckk@comcast.net; kari.rieckk@comcast.net; btenpas@comcast.net
Cc: russ.sweet@state.or.us; rob.priewe@lee.net; Jennifer.Moody@lee.net
Subject: Kindergarten Fees
Members of the Board,
My name is Ronald Bjarnason. My daughter is in first grade at Adams
School. My oldest son will attend kindergarten this coming year.
For the past few months I have been engaged in a dialogue with various
administrators of the Corvallis 509J School District, discussing the issue
of kindergarten fees.
There are two issues that I feel have not yet been resolved.
1. While fees and tuition are prohibited for regular school classes (by
OAR 581-022-0803 and ORS 339.155), ORS 339.155(1)(a) and ORS 339.141(2)
provide that fees may be applied to "classes or courses of study ... which
are not a part of the regular school program" (quoted from ORS 339.141(2)).
Currently, children enrolled in 5-day full-day kindergarten programs are
assessed a fee. No distinction is made between the regular school program
and the extra class time. It seems clear in the literature printed by the
district that the fee is for the entire program.
I request that the district make a clear distinction in the daily school
schedule between the regular school program and the extra programs. This
distinction is already clear for the 3-day full-day programs (allowing
students to attend 2.5 days of the program at no charge), but not for the
5-day full-day program. Making such a distinction would facilitate open
and free enrollment of all kindergarten age children in the district to
all regular school kindergarten programs without any requirement (implied
or otherwise) to also attend extra programs that may be offered by each
school.
The literature provided to parents and available on the district website states that: “The State of Oregon provides funding for a free, half-time kindergarten program, which is available at all Corvallis Schools. In addition, we also provide two fee-based options: a full day, everyday program that adds 5 extra half days of kindergarten each week and a full-day, three-day program which adds 1 extra half day of kindergarten per week. These fee-based options, available in many of our schools, provide more time to extend the current kindergarten program for children whose parents feel they are ready for an all-day experience.”
The information is designed to provide the distinction of what is free education and what is fee based. Your request, as I understand it, is to clarify the actual structure of the day. The structure of an extended kindergarten program looks different than a half day program due to the fact that the teacher has the opportunity to provide additional instruction. The 3 and 5-day programs are not designed as a “second” part of the child’s day, but instead a structure that may be similar to other grades. For example, a lesson would be provided over an extended time period and not split between the “free” part of day and the “fee based” part of the day. Included in the packet for kindergarten parents is a letter that simply states that we also provide two fee-based options. There is no reference that would require or encourage parents to opt for a fee-based program.
2. ORS 339.155(1)(a) is very clear that the previously discussed fees are
subject to ORS 339.147, which states that no fees may be levied against
low-income families (defined in ORS 339.147(1)(b) as those who qualify for
free or reduced price lunch). Currently District 509J offers tuition
waivers to a pre-determined number of students based on a random lottery.
Some students who qualify under 339.147(1)(a,b) are currently paying
tuition for "courses not part of the regular school program".
I request that a new 509J policy be adopted allowing children of
low-income families open and free enrollment to all kindergarten programs,
including those classified as extra programs. I request that this new
policy be included in all kindergarten literature published by the
district where such fees are discussed, and that this policy be
communicated to those low-income families that are currently paying such
fees.
ORS339.147 When tuition authorized; waiver of tuition and fees:
Notwithstanding ORS 339.141, no district school board or public charter school as defined in ORS 338.005 shall require tuition for courses not part of the regular school program, except for traffic safety education, from a pupil who is a member of a low-income family in an amount in excess of what the low-income family may receive as money specifically to be used for payment of such tuition.
(b) As used in this subsection, “low-income family” means a family whose children qualify for free or reduced price school meals under a federal program, including but not limited to the National School Lunch Act and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966, and all their subsequent amendments.
The district does not require tuition or fees for low-income families. The admission for an extended kindergarten program is based on the number of openings available. If the number of students exceeds the spaces, a lottery system is used. In addition, the district makes available a specified number of full and partial scholarships. If the request for scholarships is greater than those available, a lottery system is used. A family who applied for and did not receive a scholarship has the choice to place their child in the 1/2 day “free” program or pay the fee. Because the extended programs are options and the funding for the teacher, materials, supplies and other costs are not covered using state funded dollars, the district is unable to provide an unlimited number of scholarships.
You may be interested in Senate Bill 213, which is before the State Legislature. This bill would allow full-day kindergartens to be state funded. The bill does not require districts to offer full-day kindergartens, but if they do, they will receive a full student allocation for full-day kindergartners, which will allow for free full-day kindergarten. Currently districts only receive 1/2 a student funding for any kindergartner, regardless of their 1/2 day or full day status.
For your reference, the Oregon statutes referenced above can be found at
the following websites:
ORS 339.141, ORS 339.147 and ORS 339.155:
http://www.leg.state.or.us/ors/339.html
OAR 581-022-0803:
http://arcweb.sos.state.or.us/rules/OARS_500/OAR_581/581_022.html
I have personally met with Patty Pearson (Principal of Adams School),
Kathy Rodeman (Director of Business Services) and Superintendent Dawn
Tarzian regarding this issue. I do not feel that this issue has been
resolved. By sending this email, I am formally appealing this issue to
the School Board of Corvallis School District 509J.
I have also sent this email to the following persons that have filed as
candidates (and provided emails on their public filings) in the coming
election for seats on the school board:
Marilyn Dilles - md3045@yahoo.com
John M. Turman - turmanfinancial@comcast.net
Anne M. Schuster - schustea@peak.org
Lisa Corrigan - lisa_corrigan@comcast.net
Kari Rieck - rieckk@comcast.net AND kari.rieckk@comcast.net (provided in
mailing)
William Scott Ten Pas - btenpas@comcast.net
Joshua A. Kvidt did not provide an email address in his filing, and has
not been included on this message.
As with all of my communications regarding this matter, I have copied this
email to Russ Sweet at the Oregon Department of Education.
I have also sent this email to Rob Priewe and Jennifer Moody at the
Corvallis Gazette Times and Lebanon Express.
I continue to blog my efforts at http://corvalliskindergarten.blogspot.com
Ronald Bjarnason
Corvallis, OR
From Lisa Corrigan:
Mr. Bjarnason,
I have no additional information regarding Kindergarten fee structures. Kari has covered it with a well–researched and thorough reply. I have also heard that full-day Kindergarten funding is a topic coming up at state level, and may possibly change (to full funding) in the future.
Best Regards,
Lisa Corrigan
Seat 6 Candidate
From Marilyn Dilles:
Hello! Our last forum (for May 15 election) is
Thurs-
day, May 10, at 7:00 p.m. at Westminster House, Monroe
St., near west OSU campus. If you're interested in
hearing what various opinions are, this would be a
good time to ask your q.
Keep in mind that, for the lst 10 years, this 509J
school district has closed schools, eliminating
teachers, and, with the latest closure of Inavale
School in June, 2006, caused Lincoln, Adams, and of
course Franklin with its wait-list, to become crowded
to over-crowded.
In my opinion, Oregon has been chronically under-
funded in WHAT SHOULD BE THE STATE'S #ONE PRIORITY--
funding for the public education of its citizens from
K through 20. Health, including mental and emotional
health, police, transportation, etc. etc. etc. all
have
conflicting agendas and want/demand their share of the
pot.
Some Caifornians visiting here mentioned that Ca.
has a statewide mandate to have no more that 20
children per Kindergarten class. I am certainly FOR
this, which means hiring moe teachers but gives them
breathing space to address individual child's
progress. The Chalkboard Project out of Portland has
had three bills in the House education Committee; one
speaks of funding K OR lst grade with a maximum of
15 to 17 children per class. Doing this statewide is
millions of dollars. Best practices, yes; affordable,
at this time, highly unlikely.
I hope that you can come to the NAACP forum at
Westminster House on Thursday. We do know that, what
with a local tax over-ride for public schools here,
and a promise of more funding from the State, 509J
should be better off than these "down" years. The
operative word is SHOULD!
Best, Marilyn Dilles
From Kari Reick (current Chair of 509J School Board):
Mr. Bjarnason:
Thank you for taking the time to inform the board of your concerns. We appreciate that you first talked with the principal and superintendent. Your willingness to bring issues forward has assisted the district in providing clearer communication this year regarding transportation for kindergarten students.
I have included my responses to each of your concerns in blue within your original e-mail. If you have any additional questions, please let me know.
Sincerely,
Kari Rieck
Chair, Corvallis School Board
-----Original Message-----
From: Ron Bjarnason [mailto:rbjarnason@gmail.com]
Sent: Friday, May 04, 2007 10:40 PM
To: schoolboard@corvallis.k12.or.us; md3045@yahoo.com; turmanfinancial@comcast.net; schustea@peak.org; lisa_corrigan@comcast.net; rieckk@comcast.net; kari.rieckk@comcast.net; btenpas@comcast.net
Cc: russ.sweet@state.or.us; rob.priewe@lee.net; Jennifer.Moody@lee.net
Subject: Kindergarten Fees
Members of the Board,
My name is Ronald Bjarnason. My daughter is in first grade at Adams
School. My oldest son will attend kindergarten this coming year.
For the past few months I have been engaged in a dialogue with various
administrators of the Corvallis 509J School District, discussing the issue
of kindergarten fees.
There are two issues that I feel have not yet been resolved.
1. While fees and tuition are prohibited for regular school classes (by
OAR 581-022-0803 and ORS 339.155), ORS 339.155(1)(a) and ORS 339.141(2)
provide that fees may be applied to "classes or courses of study ... which
are not a part of the regular school program" (quoted from ORS 339.141(2)).
Currently, children enrolled in 5-day full-day kindergarten programs are
assessed a fee. No distinction is made between the regular school program
and the extra class time. It seems clear in the literature printed by the
district that the fee is for the entire program.
I request that the district make a clear distinction in the daily school
schedule between the regular school program and the extra programs. This
distinction is already clear for the 3-day full-day programs (allowing
students to attend 2.5 days of the program at no charge), but not for the
5-day full-day program. Making such a distinction would facilitate open
and free enrollment of all kindergarten age children in the district to
all regular school kindergarten programs without any requirement (implied
or otherwise) to also attend extra programs that may be offered by each
school.
The literature provided to parents and available on the district website states that: “The State of Oregon provides funding for a free, half-time kindergarten program, which is available at all Corvallis Schools. In addition, we also provide two fee-based options: a full day, everyday program that adds 5 extra half days of kindergarten each week and a full-day, three-day program which adds 1 extra half day of kindergarten per week. These fee-based options, available in many of our schools, provide more time to extend the current kindergarten program for children whose parents feel they are ready for an all-day experience.”
The information is designed to provide the distinction of what is free education and what is fee based. Your request, as I understand it, is to clarify the actual structure of the day. The structure of an extended kindergarten program looks different than a half day program due to the fact that the teacher has the opportunity to provide additional instruction. The 3 and 5-day programs are not designed as a “second” part of the child’s day, but instead a structure that may be similar to other grades. For example, a lesson would be provided over an extended time period and not split between the “free” part of day and the “fee based” part of the day. Included in the packet for kindergarten parents is a letter that simply states that we also provide two fee-based options. There is no reference that would require or encourage parents to opt for a fee-based program.
2. ORS 339.155(1)(a) is very clear that the previously discussed fees are
subject to ORS 339.147, which states that no fees may be levied against
low-income families (defined in ORS 339.147(1)(b) as those who qualify for
free or reduced price lunch). Currently District 509J offers tuition
waivers to a pre-determined number of students based on a random lottery.
Some students who qualify under 339.147(1)(a,b) are currently paying
tuition for "courses not part of the regular school program".
I request that a new 509J policy be adopted allowing children of
low-income families open and free enrollment to all kindergarten programs,
including those classified as extra programs. I request that this new
policy be included in all kindergarten literature published by the
district where such fees are discussed, and that this policy be
communicated to those low-income families that are currently paying such
fees.
ORS339.147 When tuition authorized; waiver of tuition and fees:
Notwithstanding ORS 339.141, no district school board or public charter school as defined in ORS 338.005 shall require tuition for courses not part of the regular school program, except for traffic safety education, from a pupil who is a member of a low-income family in an amount in excess of what the low-income family may receive as money specifically to be used for payment of such tuition.
(b) As used in this subsection, “low-income family” means a family whose children qualify for free or reduced price school meals under a federal program, including but not limited to the National School Lunch Act and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966, and all their subsequent amendments.
The district does not require tuition or fees for low-income families. The admission for an extended kindergarten program is based on the number of openings available. If the number of students exceeds the spaces, a lottery system is used. In addition, the district makes available a specified number of full and partial scholarships. If the request for scholarships is greater than those available, a lottery system is used. A family who applied for and did not receive a scholarship has the choice to place their child in the 1/2 day “free” program or pay the fee. Because the extended programs are options and the funding for the teacher, materials, supplies and other costs are not covered using state funded dollars, the district is unable to provide an unlimited number of scholarships.
You may be interested in Senate Bill 213, which is before the State Legislature. This bill would allow full-day kindergartens to be state funded. The bill does not require districts to offer full-day kindergartens, but if they do, they will receive a full student allocation for full-day kindergartners, which will allow for free full-day kindergarten. Currently districts only receive 1/2 a student funding for any kindergartner, regardless of their 1/2 day or full day status.
For your reference, the Oregon statutes referenced above can be found at
the following websites:
ORS 339.141, ORS 339.147 and ORS 339.155:
http://www.leg.state.or.us/ors/339.html
OAR 581-022-0803:
http://arcweb.sos.state.or.us/rules/OARS_500/OAR_581/581_022.html
I have personally met with Patty Pearson (Principal of Adams School),
Kathy Rodeman (Director of Business Services) and Superintendent Dawn
Tarzian regarding this issue. I do not feel that this issue has been
resolved. By sending this email, I am formally appealing this issue to
the School Board of Corvallis School District 509J.
I have also sent this email to the following persons that have filed as
candidates (and provided emails on their public filings) in the coming
election for seats on the school board:
Marilyn Dilles - md3045@yahoo.com
John M. Turman - turmanfinancial@comcast.net
Anne M. Schuster - schustea@peak.org
Lisa Corrigan - lisa_corrigan@comcast.net
Kari Rieck - rieckk@comcast.net AND kari.rieckk@comcast.net (provided in
mailing)
William Scott Ten Pas - btenpas@comcast.net
Joshua A. Kvidt did not provide an email address in his filing, and has
not been included on this message.
As with all of my communications regarding this matter, I have copied this
email to Russ Sweet at the Oregon Department of Education.
I have also sent this email to Rob Priewe and Jennifer Moody at the
Corvallis Gazette Times and Lebanon Express.
I continue to blog my efforts at http://corvalliskindergarten.blogspot.com
Ronald Bjarnason
Corvallis, OR
From Lisa Corrigan:
Mr. Bjarnason,
I have no additional information regarding Kindergarten fee structures. Kari has covered it with a well–researched and thorough reply. I have also heard that full-day Kindergarten funding is a topic coming up at state level, and may possibly change (to full funding) in the future.
Best Regards,
Lisa Corrigan
Seat 6 Candidate
From Marilyn Dilles:
Hello! Our last forum (for May 15 election) is
Thurs-
day, May 10, at 7:00 p.m. at Westminster House, Monroe
St., near west OSU campus. If you're interested in
hearing what various opinions are, this would be a
good time to ask your q.
Keep in mind that, for the lst 10 years, this 509J
school district has closed schools, eliminating
teachers, and, with the latest closure of Inavale
School in June, 2006, caused Lincoln, Adams, and of
course Franklin with its wait-list, to become crowded
to over-crowded.
In my opinion, Oregon has been chronically under-
funded in WHAT SHOULD BE THE STATE'S #ONE PRIORITY--
funding for the public education of its citizens from
K through 20. Health, including mental and emotional
health, police, transportation, etc. etc. etc. all
have
conflicting agendas and want/demand their share of the
pot.
Some Caifornians visiting here mentioned that Ca.
has a statewide mandate to have no more that 20
children per Kindergarten class. I am certainly FOR
this, which means hiring moe teachers but gives them
breathing space to address individual child's
progress. The Chalkboard Project out of Portland has
had three bills in the House education Committee; one
speaks of funding K OR lst grade with a maximum of
15 to 17 children per class. Doing this statewide is
millions of dollars. Best practices, yes; affordable,
at this time, highly unlikely.
I hope that you can come to the NAACP forum at
Westminster House on Thursday. We do know that, what
with a local tax over-ride for public schools here,
and a promise of more funding from the State, 509J
should be better off than these "down" years. The
operative word is SHOULD!
Best, Marilyn Dilles
Friday, May 4, 2007
Appeal to School Board
I finally made a formal appeal to the School Board of the Corvallis 509J School District.
Following is the text of the email:
Members of the Board,
My name is Ronald Bjarnason. My daughter is in first grade at Adams School. My oldest son will attend kindergarten this coming year.
For the past few months I have been engaged in a dialogue with various administrators of the Corvallis 509J School District, discussing the issue of kindergarten fees.
There are two issues that I feel have not yet been resolved.
1. While fees and tuition are prohibited for regular school classes (by OAR 581-022-0803 and ORS 339.155), ORS 339.155(1)(a) and ORS 339.141(2) provide that fees may be applied to "classes or courses of study ... which are not a part of the regular school program" (quoted from ORS 339.141(2)).
Currently, children enrolled in 5-day full-day kindergarten programs are assessed a fee. No distinction is made between the regular school program and the extra class time. It seems clear in the literature printed by the district that the fee is for the entire program.
I request that the district make a clear distinction in the daily school schedule between the regular school program and the extra programs. This distinction is already clear for the 3-day full-day programs (allowing students to attend 2.5 days of the program at no charge), but not for the 5-day full-day program. Making such a distinction would facilitate open and free enrollment of all kindergarten age children in the district to all regular school kindergarten programs without any requirement (implied or otherwise) to also attend extra programs that may be offered by each school.
2. ORS 339.155(1)(a) is very clear that the previously discussed fees are subject to ORS 339.147, which states that no fees may be levied against low-income families (defined in ORS 339.147(1)(b) as those who qualify for free or reduced price lunch). Currently District 509J offers tuition waivers to a pre-determined number of students based on a random lottery. Some students who qualify under 339.147(1)(a,b) are currently paying tuition for "courses not part of the regular school program".
I request that a new 509J policy be adopted allowing children of low-income families open and free enrollment to all kindergarten programs, including those classified as extra programs. I request that this new policy be included in all kindergarten literature published by the district where such fees are discussed, and that this policy be communicated to those low-income families that are currently paying such fees.
For your reference, the Oregon statutes referenced above can be found at the following websites:
ORS 339.141, ORS 339.147 and ORS 339.155: http://www.leg.state.or.us/ors/339.html
OAR 581-022-0803: http://arcweb.sos.state.or.us/rules/OARS_500/OAR_581/581_022.html
I have personally met with Patty Pearson (Principal of Adams School), Kathy Rodeman (Director of Business Services) and Superintendent Dawn Tarzian regarding this issue. I do not feel that this issue has been resolved. By sending this email, I am formally appealing this issue to the School Board of Corvallis School District 509J.
I have also sent this email to the following persons that have filed as candidates (and provided emails on their public filings) in the coming election for seats on the school board:
Marilyn Dilles - md3045@yahoo.com
John M. Turman - turmanfinancial@comcast.net
Anne M. Schuster - schustea@peak.org
Lisa Corrigan - lisa_corrigan@comcast.net
Kari Rieck - rieckk@comcast.net AND kari.rieckk@comcast.net (provided in mailing)
William Scott Ten Pas - btenpas@comcast.net
Joshua A. Kvidt did not provide an email address in his filing, and has not been included on this message.
As with all of my communications regarding this matter, I have copied this email to Russ Sweet at the Oregon Department of Education.
I have also sent this email to Rob Priewe and Jennifer Moody at the Corvallis Gazette Times and Lebanon Express.
I continue to blog my efforts at http://corvalliskindergarten.blogspot.com
Ronald Bjarnason
Corvallis, OR
Following is the text of the email:
Members of the Board,
My name is Ronald Bjarnason. My daughter is in first grade at Adams School. My oldest son will attend kindergarten this coming year.
For the past few months I have been engaged in a dialogue with various administrators of the Corvallis 509J School District, discussing the issue of kindergarten fees.
There are two issues that I feel have not yet been resolved.
1. While fees and tuition are prohibited for regular school classes (by OAR 581-022-0803 and ORS 339.155), ORS 339.155(1)(a) and ORS 339.141(2) provide that fees may be applied to "classes or courses of study ... which are not a part of the regular school program" (quoted from ORS 339.141(2)).
Currently, children enrolled in 5-day full-day kindergarten programs are assessed a fee. No distinction is made between the regular school program and the extra class time. It seems clear in the literature printed by the district that the fee is for the entire program.
I request that the district make a clear distinction in the daily school schedule between the regular school program and the extra programs. This distinction is already clear for the 3-day full-day programs (allowing students to attend 2.5 days of the program at no charge), but not for the 5-day full-day program. Making such a distinction would facilitate open and free enrollment of all kindergarten age children in the district to all regular school kindergarten programs without any requirement (implied or otherwise) to also attend extra programs that may be offered by each school.
2. ORS 339.155(1)(a) is very clear that the previously discussed fees are subject to ORS 339.147, which states that no fees may be levied against low-income families (defined in ORS 339.147(1)(b) as those who qualify for free or reduced price lunch). Currently District 509J offers tuition waivers to a pre-determined number of students based on a random lottery. Some students who qualify under 339.147(1)(a,b) are currently paying tuition for "courses not part of the regular school program".
I request that a new 509J policy be adopted allowing children of low-income families open and free enrollment to all kindergarten programs, including those classified as extra programs. I request that this new policy be included in all kindergarten literature published by the district where such fees are discussed, and that this policy be communicated to those low-income families that are currently paying such fees.
For your reference, the Oregon statutes referenced above can be found at the following websites:
ORS 339.141, ORS 339.147 and ORS 339.155: http://www.leg.state.or.us/ors/339.html
OAR 581-022-0803: http://arcweb.sos.state.or.us/rules/OARS_500/OAR_581/581_022.html
I have personally met with Patty Pearson (Principal of Adams School), Kathy Rodeman (Director of Business Services) and Superintendent Dawn Tarzian regarding this issue. I do not feel that this issue has been resolved. By sending this email, I am formally appealing this issue to the School Board of Corvallis School District 509J.
I have also sent this email to the following persons that have filed as candidates (and provided emails on their public filings) in the coming election for seats on the school board:
Marilyn Dilles - md3045@yahoo.com
John M. Turman - turmanfinancial@comcast.net
Anne M. Schuster - schustea@peak.org
Lisa Corrigan - lisa_corrigan@comcast.net
Kari Rieck - rieckk@comcast.net AND kari.rieckk@comcast.net (provided in mailing)
William Scott Ten Pas - btenpas@comcast.net
Joshua A. Kvidt did not provide an email address in his filing, and has not been included on this message.
As with all of my communications regarding this matter, I have copied this email to Russ Sweet at the Oregon Department of Education.
I have also sent this email to Rob Priewe and Jennifer Moody at the Corvallis Gazette Times and Lebanon Express.
I continue to blog my efforts at http://corvalliskindergarten.blogspot.com
Ronald Bjarnason
Corvallis, OR
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