TONASKET SCHOOLS IN THE
Veterans Day Assemblies
NEWS FOR FFA, GARDEN
Tonasket and Oroville High Schools to honor veterans on Tuesday, Nov. 10 at 9 a.m.
See B3
SERVING WASHINGTON’S
OKANOGAN VALLEY
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Tonasket council hears budget requests
ALL DRESSED UP
RR crossing, sidewalks and pedestrian bridge also discussed
Gary DeVon/staff photo
Above, Aaden McNaer, six, chugs down the street dressed as a locomotive and Ava Ozo, three, as Queen Elsa (from the Disney movie “Frozen”) for the Oroville Chamber of Commerce’s annual business Trick or Treat event, held last Friday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Oroville businesses reported giving away hundreds of treats to the many kids who dressed up for Halloween and participated. Left, Gru (Supt. Steve Quick) and his Minions, Shay Shaw, Betty Cole and Erin McKinney, from the movie “Despicable Me,” were the winners of Best Costume in the Business Halloween Costume and Decorations contest. The group at the Oroville School District Office have earned the title several times over the years Submitted photo
concerns is that in the event of an emergency along Railroad Avenue or within the industrial area which contains several buildings with atmospheres controlled by ammonia and other toxic chemicals, people using the park would be unable to evacuate. BY KATIE TEACHOUT The city gained permission from the KATHERINE@GAZETTE-TRIBUNE.COM Okanogan County Commissioners for Tonasket City Council met Thursday, the new access, then received permisOct. 29 and further discussed the bud- sion from Genesee & Wyoming Inc. get. At a budget workshop held Oct. 14, (G&W), the CSCD’s parent company, department heads submitted requests for for a new crossing. Mayor Patrick Plumb then asked the UTC in January 2015 needed items. for approval of a new Police Chief crossing. After meetDarren Curtis asked ing with the UTC in for Surface tab“More than ten people Tonasket along with let computers, new county maintenance chairs for the police told me they intend to personnel and one station, stop stick vote for the Tonasket county commisstrips and $7,000 to sioner, the decision $10,000 for a new car. Parks and Recreation was made to upgrade Superintendent Hugh a temporary crossJensen needs a paint District. ” ing constructed by striper, a vehicle and Clair Jeffko, Council Member the federal Bureau of a new mower. Mayor City of Tonasket Reclamation in the Patrick Plumb said he early 1990s, finding would like to increase this option to be the rates for water by five most cost effective and least damaging percent and sewer by two percent in 2016. City Clerk and Treasurer Alice to the wetland areas west of the railroad Attwood requested to have medical cov- tracks. G&W approved a basic crossing, ratherage continue, a new phone system for city hall, a maintenance agreement for er than a fully signalized crossing, due computer hardware, new front doors for to infrequency of trains on the track and expected limited, seasonal use of city hall and a cost of living increase. In the ongoing attempt to secure a new the crossing to be located at the southcrossing of the Cascade and Columbia ern boundary of the county’s shop land. River Railroad (CSCD), to provide sec- The UTC then informed the city that new crossings require fully signalized ondary access into Chief Tonasket Park, facilities. With further explanation of the the council discussed a traffic study of planned use of the crossing, UTC staff the area prepared by City Planner Kurt agreed to consider the option after being Danison at the request of the Washington provided the traffic study which details State Utilities and Transportation the Average Daily Trips expected to use Commission (UTC). the crossing. Chief Tonasket Park is located on In other city business, Councilwoman city-owned property adjoining the city’s Claire Jeffko asked who’s responsibilwastewater treatment plant, with the ity it was to fix a heaving sidewalk near Okanogan River as the opposing bound- the railroad tracks. Attwood said the ary. The park is accessed from Railroad abutting property owner is responsible. Avenue, so visitors to the park must Plumb said because the property was travel through a busy industrial area to located on the railroad it was probably access the baseball fields, soccer fields, the city’s responsibility, so Jensen said he skate park, Water Ranch, boat launch would look at it the next day. and other amenities. Jeffko also reported more than ten The city has been attempting to develop a second point of access into the park since the late 1980’s. One of the city’s SEE COUNCIL| PG A2
OEA says demands on teachers’ time too high Union president says demands increase, while time and pay do not BY GARY A. DE VON EDITOR@GAZETTE-TRIBUNE.COM
OROVILLE – Dr. Lynn Johnson, president of the Oroville Education Association, says more is being asked of Oroville teachers, while time to accomplish tasks and compensation remain the same or less. Johnson made a presentation to the Oroville School Board at their Monday, Oct. 26 meeting. “I’m here as a representative of the OEA to let you know about legislative actions that have impacted the Oroville School District. I know you are aware that teachers all over the state have walked out or gone on strike,” said Johnson, assuring the board that wasn’t her group’s intention, but that they should be aware of how these new demands and their impact on the district. Johnson, a teacher at Oroville, is a member of the certified contract negotiating team for the teacher’s association. She has 29 years in education as a teacher
and as an administrator, she said. At one pay the costs to renew certifications, but time she was the Oroville Elementary the salaries continue to decrease.” School principal. The information she Johnson said the school hours have presented came from UniServe and increased for students as well. the Washington Education Association “There are longer student days and (WEA), according to Johnson. teachers have lost up to 15 minutes of Johnson said there was a long list preparation time each day, added up over of requirements for a school year they’ve teachers in Washington lost over six days of State, including the time to prepare and “The bottom line is we get ready for school,” Washington State Te a c h e r / P r i n c i p a l have to attract teachers Johnson said. Evaluation Project. She then addressed to our district and we the online planner. (TPEP). “TPEP is time conare already remote. I’m “It’s great for adminsuming, for princiistrators and teachers asking you to keep that like it, but it takes more pals and teachers and teachers are not proin mind when you are time than a planner on vided additional time a desk. The concern is negotiating” or pay for all of this an unreasonable workwork. There are 53 difload continues to grow Dr. Lynn Johnson, President ferent items that have without pay,” she said. Oroville Education Association to be observed or the Like many of the teacher has to pronew state requirevide evidence of,” said ments of teachers Johnson. Johnson said, “Again, it’s not that it is a Then there are changes to teacher bad thing, in just takes more time.” certification requirements, according to Johnson said altogether teachers were Johnson. averaging about 50 days of work that “They are super, super tough on new wasn’t compensated for. teachers. They’re putting in double duty,” “Students are suffering, there are less she said. “Seasoned teachers continue to breaks to revitalize, too much testing and
OKANOGAN VALLEY GAZETTE-TRIBUNE Volume 111 No. 45
teachers can’t/won’t do it all. Students are feeling the pressure,” Johnson said. She warned that there is a shortage of teachers in the state and fewer people are choosing to go into teaching as a career. She said if Oroville doesn’t compensate for the extra time being asked of teachers like other districts in the state are having to do, then the few teachers that are looking for jobs will look elsewhere. “College students are not choosing teaching, there are less and less that are interested. The bottom line is we have to attract teachers to our district and we are already remote. I’m asking you to keep that in mind when you are negotiating,” she said. For the teachers here I am not saying things are all bad, we just have to take care of our people.” To make the district more attractive to teachers she suggested providing an attractive contract that is comparable or better than other districts. She said there were disparities between the Oroville and Tonasket school districts. “One teacher was approached (by Tonasket) and said that they’ve got a better contract. We want to be professionals,” she said. Chuck Ricevuto, a veteran teacher at Oroville High School addressed the situation to School Director Rocky DeVon,
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the president of the school board. “Rocky you were one of my students and I think you know we took the time to personalize our instruction to students... that time to do that is gone,” said Ricevuto. “I want to compliment you for the time you took to personalize what you taught,” said DeVon. “It has been a big message that the school directors and myself have been taking to the state, no more programs without the money to pay for them.” DeVon said he was also worried about the closure of the Buckhorn Gold Mine, which is about 25 percent of the district’s property evaluation. He said he appreciated what teachers do, but he had to see a way to make it all balance out. “I appreciate the comparison you gave us between Oroville and Tonasket,” added School Director Todd Hill. “I’m not against Mr. Quick, but look at the number of administrators we have and only 550 students. He was hired as a part time superintendent and you moved him to full time. Do we really need a full time superintendent,” asked Johnson, reminding the board the district had the same number of administrators it had when the district had twice the students.
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