News
Budget cuts hit hard
By Meghan Zea
NCSD12 is faced with its fourth year of reduced state revenue and for the 2011-2012 school year, multiple changes have been made throughout the district to decrease financial pressures.
“The 2008-2009 school year was the highest revenue period in North Clackamas history and we have been in a decline ever since,” Tim Mills, superintendent, said. “The economic crisis could go on for another three years because it is so hard to maintain costs. But the quality of the schools has not gone down because we are trying to maintain as many programs as we can and we have outstanding teachers and principals.”
To compensate for the budget reduction this year, approximately 160 staff positions were cut district wide. Clackamas and Campbell elementary school were shut down, and Sojourner and Linwood are now run out of one building. Sixth grade has moved into the middle schools, adding 300 students across Aldercreek, Happy Valley, and Rowe.
At the high school level, Clackamas, Milwaukie, and Rex Putnam are experiencing similar changes. Students are required to earn 24 instead of 25 credits to graduate and to complete an Extended Application instead of a Senior Seminar Project. There is also a $25 fee charged to students involved in the music, drama and speech programs. Certain sports had to become self-funded. Underclassmen are required to take a study hall and upperclassmen are required one free period.
Matt Utterback, CHS principal, said that they are unable to offer certain AP classes this year, leaving students with fewer options. But Utterback has used the budget shortfall to implement positive changes in his high school.
The budget cuts “have forced us to look at the things we do and ask ourselves ‘can we do this differently?’” Utterback said. “We now utilize substitutes more efficiently by making them cover another class during their free periods and have created a makeup test center in the career center.”
According to Mark Pinder, MHS principal, the biggest change at his high school is they are not offering a business class because students can learn the same skills at the Sabin and Schellenberg Center. They are also not offering one choir and one PE option.
Kathleen Walsh, RPHS principal, said they have lost Sports and Society and are phasing out the German program.
SSC Principal Karen Phillips said they have also lost four programs: interior design, fashion design, information technology and building trades.
But according to some administrators, teachers and students at the three high schools, the most noticeable change is larger class sizes.
“It was common that teachers had 160 students and now it’s close to 200,” Walsh said. “Teachers get tired quicker and I’m worried about the load on them.”
Jack Reynolds, RPHS Physics teacher, said that “morale among faculty is low,” because of frozen pay, multiple years of staff cuts and the strain of larger classes. But Reynolds concludes the increased student to teacher ratio will only affect certain students.
“Bigger classes won’t affect motivated students because they take care of their business on their own and unmotivated students don’t care unless teachers get on them about doing homework,” Reynolds said. “It’s the kids on the fence who are easy to skip over and who will fall through the cracks because they won’t get the attention that they need.”
Less attention students receive from teachers will lead to more students earning poor grades and having negative behavior he said. Because of this, Reynolds expects a spike in both the amount of referrals given out and in the dropout rate.
Mills is hopeful the financial strain will not be as dramatic in upcoming years and is touched by support from the staff and the community this school year.
“North Clackamas School District employees and the community have pulled together in an incredible way to do everything they can for students,” Mills said. “Great things are happening with the students.”
He believes they’re performing very well through music, sports and academics while continuing to learn despite the budget shortfalls.
NCSD12 is faced with its fourth year of reduced state revenue and for the 2011-2012 school year, multiple changes have been made throughout the district to decrease financial pressures.
“The 2008-2009 school year was the highest revenue period in North Clackamas history and we have been in a decline ever since,” Tim Mills, superintendent, said. “The economic crisis could go on for another three years because it is so hard to maintain costs. But the quality of the schools has not gone down because we are trying to maintain as many programs as we can and we have outstanding teachers and principals.”
To compensate for the budget reduction this year, approximately 160 staff positions were cut district wide. Clackamas and Campbell elementary school were shut down, and Sojourner and Linwood are now run out of one building. Sixth grade has moved into the middle schools, adding 300 students across Aldercreek, Happy Valley, and Rowe.
At the high school level, Clackamas, Milwaukie, and Rex Putnam are experiencing similar changes. Students are required to earn 24 instead of 25 credits to graduate and to complete an Extended Application instead of a Senior Seminar Project. There is also a $25 fee charged to students involved in the music, drama and speech programs. Certain sports had to become self-funded. Underclassmen are required to take a study hall and upperclassmen are required one free period.
Matt Utterback, CHS principal, said that they are unable to offer certain AP classes this year, leaving students with fewer options. But Utterback has used the budget shortfall to implement positive changes in his high school.
The budget cuts “have forced us to look at the things we do and ask ourselves ‘can we do this differently?’” Utterback said. “We now utilize substitutes more efficiently by making them cover another class during their free periods and have created a makeup test center in the career center.”
According to Mark Pinder, MHS principal, the biggest change at his high school is they are not offering a business class because students can learn the same skills at the Sabin and Schellenberg Center. They are also not offering one choir and one PE option.
Kathleen Walsh, RPHS principal, said they have lost Sports and Society and are phasing out the German program.
SSC Principal Karen Phillips said they have also lost four programs: interior design, fashion design, information technology and building trades.
But according to some administrators, teachers and students at the three high schools, the most noticeable change is larger class sizes.
“It was common that teachers had 160 students and now it’s close to 200,” Walsh said. “Teachers get tired quicker and I’m worried about the load on them.”
Jack Reynolds, RPHS Physics teacher, said that “morale among faculty is low,” because of frozen pay, multiple years of staff cuts and the strain of larger classes. But Reynolds concludes the increased student to teacher ratio will only affect certain students.
“Bigger classes won’t affect motivated students because they take care of their business on their own and unmotivated students don’t care unless teachers get on them about doing homework,” Reynolds said. “It’s the kids on the fence who are easy to skip over and who will fall through the cracks because they won’t get the attention that they need.”
Less attention students receive from teachers will lead to more students earning poor grades and having negative behavior he said. Because of this, Reynolds expects a spike in both the amount of referrals given out and in the dropout rate.
Mills is hopeful the financial strain will not be as dramatic in upcoming years and is touched by support from the staff and the community this school year.
“North Clackamas School District employees and the community have pulled together in an incredible way to do everything they can for students,” Mills said. “Great things are happening with the students.”
He believes they’re performing very well through music, sports and academics while continuing to learn despite the budget shortfalls.
Student population down, class size up
Rex Putnam students fill classroom.
By Jesse Waian
Although student populations are down, class size increase in North Clackamas School District’s NCSD high schools is taking its toll on the 2011-2012 school year.
CHS stands as the largest school this year with an enrollment rate of 2,285 students, according to Aeylin Summers, Assistant Superintendent. This, however, is 20 students less than last years enrollment rate.
RPHS and MHS have had similar population reductions. RPHS lost 38 students and MHS lost 59 students.
Some believe families are moving out of the district and more students are leaving public schools for home schooling, lowering school populations.
Class sizes have increased due to staff reductions, lowering teachers per student in every school.
“The classes are so crowded. I have about 40 kids in every period,” Taylor Whitehead, CHS sophomore said.
Extra desks and tables have been added to many classrooms as the average class size grows — blocking off walkways and making it harder for students and teachers to maneuver around the classroom.
“Everyone is always asking questions in class,” Sheldon Hilton, CHS sophomore said. “The teacher never has enough time to spend with each student.”
This has been a common outcome district wide. With more kids packed into each class, the teachers’ time that they can spend with every student to answer questions is shortened. Dan Robinette, CHS physics and chemistry, has this very problem.
“I don’t have enough time to get to every kid,” Robinette said, “I have about 40 kids in one class and it can be really difficult to talk to everyone.”
This year, RPHS combined its Drama I and II classes due to budget cuts. Now the class is much larger and “the drama two kids basically work independently because our teacher needs to work with the acting one class,” Carina Quintanilla, RPHS junior said.
Hallway crowding is becoming an issue in NCSD12 schools as well.
“It sure makes things more stressed in the hallway. Kids just stand in the middle of the hallway expecting everyone to get around them,” Hannah Holman, RPHS junior said.
This is a problem because its slowing down those students trying to get to their next class and is making them late. At CHS a few teachers teaching on the East Campus have extended their classroom starting times by two minutes because it takes students so long to travel from campus to campus because of slow walkers and hallway overcrowding.
Although student populations are down, class size increase in North Clackamas School District’s NCSD high schools is taking its toll on the 2011-2012 school year.
CHS stands as the largest school this year with an enrollment rate of 2,285 students, according to Aeylin Summers, Assistant Superintendent. This, however, is 20 students less than last years enrollment rate.
RPHS and MHS have had similar population reductions. RPHS lost 38 students and MHS lost 59 students.
Some believe families are moving out of the district and more students are leaving public schools for home schooling, lowering school populations.
Class sizes have increased due to staff reductions, lowering teachers per student in every school.
“The classes are so crowded. I have about 40 kids in every period,” Taylor Whitehead, CHS sophomore said.
Extra desks and tables have been added to many classrooms as the average class size grows — blocking off walkways and making it harder for students and teachers to maneuver around the classroom.
“Everyone is always asking questions in class,” Sheldon Hilton, CHS sophomore said. “The teacher never has enough time to spend with each student.”
This has been a common outcome district wide. With more kids packed into each class, the teachers’ time that they can spend with every student to answer questions is shortened. Dan Robinette, CHS physics and chemistry, has this very problem.
“I don’t have enough time to get to every kid,” Robinette said, “I have about 40 kids in one class and it can be really difficult to talk to everyone.”
This year, RPHS combined its Drama I and II classes due to budget cuts. Now the class is much larger and “the drama two kids basically work independently because our teacher needs to work with the acting one class,” Carina Quintanilla, RPHS junior said.
Hallway crowding is becoming an issue in NCSD12 schools as well.
“It sure makes things more stressed in the hallway. Kids just stand in the middle of the hallway expecting everyone to get around them,” Hannah Holman, RPHS junior said.
This is a problem because its slowing down those students trying to get to their next class and is making them late. At CHS a few teachers teaching on the East Campus have extended their classroom starting times by two minutes because it takes students so long to travel from campus to campus because of slow walkers and hallway overcrowding.
Lip-sync disqualifications mar "best" MHS Homecoming
By Conner Nielsen
This year, MHS celebrated what Mark Pinder, principal, described as “the best homecoming I’ve seen.” But Milwaukie’s Homecoming wasn’t without controversy.
There were numerous disqualifications throughout Homecoming week, but the debated was in the lip-sync. The junior and senior classes were both disqualified for “performing inappropriate and sexually suggestive dances that were snuck in without the judges approval,” Pinder said.
The senior class lip-sync didn’t last 30 seconds before the music was silenced. The opening of the lip-sync featured two senior class students going under a sheet while Madona’s “Like A Virgin” began playing. Next, two other students got into a pop-up tent and shook it rapidly while firing cap guns to B52’s “Love Shack.” Finally, the male members of the lip-sync got down on all fours while the female members of the lip-sync mounted them to Def Leopard’s “Pour Some Sugar On Me.”
The junior class lip-sync featured a student taking off his shirt during Aqua’s “Barbie Girl” while the entire lip-sync cast stood in a line where each person’s rear was in the following person’s frontal area.
“I’m disappointed in the juniors and seniors,” Barbara Castle, homecoming judge, said. “They lied during their dance preview by hiding the content. I think they deserved to be disqualified.”
“Homecoming was fun, but I felt it was very disorganized this year,” Ryah Dennis, senior, said. “Some people went under the radar. Like lip-syncs with the juniors and seniors getting disqualified, that was completely right.” She disagreed to the point she quit the lip-sync because “I didn’t want to do those things.”
Despite the controversy “no homecoming activities will be canceled next year that I know of,” Pinder said. “I think future classes can learn from their mistakes and stay within the district code of conduct,.”
“We appreciate the senior’s apology letter,” Michael Rahls, homecoming judge said, “I can’t wait for next year!”
This year, MHS celebrated what Mark Pinder, principal, described as “the best homecoming I’ve seen.” But Milwaukie’s Homecoming wasn’t without controversy.
There were numerous disqualifications throughout Homecoming week, but the debated was in the lip-sync. The junior and senior classes were both disqualified for “performing inappropriate and sexually suggestive dances that were snuck in without the judges approval,” Pinder said.
The senior class lip-sync didn’t last 30 seconds before the music was silenced. The opening of the lip-sync featured two senior class students going under a sheet while Madona’s “Like A Virgin” began playing. Next, two other students got into a pop-up tent and shook it rapidly while firing cap guns to B52’s “Love Shack.” Finally, the male members of the lip-sync got down on all fours while the female members of the lip-sync mounted them to Def Leopard’s “Pour Some Sugar On Me.”
The junior class lip-sync featured a student taking off his shirt during Aqua’s “Barbie Girl” while the entire lip-sync cast stood in a line where each person’s rear was in the following person’s frontal area.
“I’m disappointed in the juniors and seniors,” Barbara Castle, homecoming judge, said. “They lied during their dance preview by hiding the content. I think they deserved to be disqualified.”
“Homecoming was fun, but I felt it was very disorganized this year,” Ryah Dennis, senior, said. “Some people went under the radar. Like lip-syncs with the juniors and seniors getting disqualified, that was completely right.” She disagreed to the point she quit the lip-sync because “I didn’t want to do those things.”
Despite the controversy “no homecoming activities will be canceled next year that I know of,” Pinder said. “I think future classes can learn from their mistakes and stay within the district code of conduct,.”
“We appreciate the senior’s apology letter,” Michael Rahls, homecoming judge said, “I can’t wait for next year!”
A gift to broadcasting
By Becky Lauer
Many class funds have been drastically cut in the last several years and teachers are looking for extra money through district funding, donations or grants. SSC Broadcasting classes can continue projects thanks to a grant from the City of Milwaukie of $11,000.
“Since the inception of the program we have received funding from the district, Deborah Barnes, SSC broadcasting, said. “In addition, we have been lucky enough to receive additional funds from many grantors.
Barnes writes at least three grant applications a year for the broadcasting programs to purchase equipment similar universities and broadcast facilities.
"I took a grant workshop class which enabled me to learn how to write effective grants and it gave me additional resources to submit requests for funding," Barnes said.
"Grant funding in this economic environment is a crucial part of keeping our programs alive,” Barnes said, “We can no longer just expect state funding to keep our programs operational. We will need to find new ways to find funding so our students have the options they so richly deserve."
“The extra funding has led to better equipment, which makes learning easier. I feel like it lets us manage class time more effectively, so we get more work done in class,” Tanner Harryman, RPHS sophomore, said.
Students in the broadcasting classes will be able to use some of the same technology used at the University of Oregon.
This technology “gives our students a jump start on preparing for their future education," Barnes said.
Many class funds have been drastically cut in the last several years and teachers are looking for extra money through district funding, donations or grants. SSC Broadcasting classes can continue projects thanks to a grant from the City of Milwaukie of $11,000.
“Since the inception of the program we have received funding from the district, Deborah Barnes, SSC broadcasting, said. “In addition, we have been lucky enough to receive additional funds from many grantors.
Barnes writes at least three grant applications a year for the broadcasting programs to purchase equipment similar universities and broadcast facilities.
"I took a grant workshop class which enabled me to learn how to write effective grants and it gave me additional resources to submit requests for funding," Barnes said.
"Grant funding in this economic environment is a crucial part of keeping our programs alive,” Barnes said, “We can no longer just expect state funding to keep our programs operational. We will need to find new ways to find funding so our students have the options they so richly deserve."
“The extra funding has led to better equipment, which makes learning easier. I feel like it lets us manage class time more effectively, so we get more work done in class,” Tanner Harryman, RPHS sophomore, said.
Students in the broadcasting classes will be able to use some of the same technology used at the University of Oregon.
This technology “gives our students a jump start on preparing for their future education," Barnes said.
New monitors replace CHS daily announcements
By Joelene Carroll
The new monitor’s at CHS have replaced last year’s intercom announcements have students questioning the priorities towards the school and whether they are effective or not. Students wonder where they came from, how they were funded and why they are there?
Matt Utterback, CHS principal, claimed, the old announcement form was ineffective. Students were led astray with dates and time, because the intercom couldn’t be heard. Teachers complained announcements were a big interruption and it took time away from class.
A student fund committee decided to change up the announcements for 2011-2012 school year. Secretaries and Utterback also added to the decision.
“The other two (high) schools in the district have them also. RPHS installed them first, then CHS and MHS followed,” Utterback said.
The common question with the new monitors is where did the money come from to purchase and install these new monitors?
“Student funds were used, like parking fees, parking fines, ASB fees,” Utterback said. “Clubs also donated money. We saved and planned for 2-3 years.”
The controversy on the effectiveness is also challenged.
“I had students and staff tell me they are more informed this year than last year,” Utterback said. “We have also seen a increase in participation with school events” like Homecoming.
But not all agree. “(The monitors) suck. I was more updated last year,” Giovanni Dabud, CHS senior, said.
Still students do side with Utterback believeing the moniters “have helped me know upcoming important dates.,” Katarina Kinden CHS senior, said.
Yet she admits there are sometimes she’s “too busy to notice the monitors, and watch the upcoming dates. They are good because its less of a distraction (opposed to the old announcements) but bad because I don’t notice them.”
The new monitor’s at CHS have replaced last year’s intercom announcements have students questioning the priorities towards the school and whether they are effective or not. Students wonder where they came from, how they were funded and why they are there?
Matt Utterback, CHS principal, claimed, the old announcement form was ineffective. Students were led astray with dates and time, because the intercom couldn’t be heard. Teachers complained announcements were a big interruption and it took time away from class.
A student fund committee decided to change up the announcements for 2011-2012 school year. Secretaries and Utterback also added to the decision.
“The other two (high) schools in the district have them also. RPHS installed them first, then CHS and MHS followed,” Utterback said.
The common question with the new monitors is where did the money come from to purchase and install these new monitors?
“Student funds were used, like parking fees, parking fines, ASB fees,” Utterback said. “Clubs also donated money. We saved and planned for 2-3 years.”
The controversy on the effectiveness is also challenged.
“I had students and staff tell me they are more informed this year than last year,” Utterback said. “We have also seen a increase in participation with school events” like Homecoming.
But not all agree. “(The monitors) suck. I was more updated last year,” Giovanni Dabud, CHS senior, said.
Still students do side with Utterback believeing the moniters “have helped me know upcoming important dates.,” Katarina Kinden CHS senior, said.
Yet she admits there are sometimes she’s “too busy to notice the monitors, and watch the upcoming dates. They are good because its less of a distraction (opposed to the old announcements) but bad because I don’t notice them.”
District time change to 10 minutes earlier
By Lindsey Schaefer
This year, high school classes now start at 8:35 A.M., instead of 8:45, which had been the bell for more than 10 years. The change began as a proposal last spring, and was approved by the North Clackamas School District (NCSD) during the summer.
“We had hoped for an 8:15 A.M. or 8:30 A.M. starting time,” Cindy Quintanilla, executive director of secondary programs, said.
Having school start 10 minutes earlier ensured it ended 10 minutes earlier, so students enrolled in sports would miss less class time. In previous years, students could miss an entire class all week because of early releases for out of school activities.
“Any amount of time we can keep students in school is beneficial,” Lina Moraga, director of the Board of Directors in the NCSD, said.
In contrast, Matt Utterback, CHS principal had a different view.
“However longer a student can be in school makes an impact, but I don’t believe 10 minutes has changed anything, or is of a huge significance,” Utterback said.
Another factor was the multiple middle school students who are bussed to the high schools for second-year language and Geometry classes. The middle schools changed to a seven period day this year, which conflicted with the high schools’ block schedules. Students were arriving back at their home middle school almost halfway into class last year. The change this year makes it so students are arriving back at the start of the period.
This year, four elementary schools closed in the district alone, forcing sixth graders to enroll in middle school a year early. Since the bus schedules were changed to accommodate where students lived, the amount of time on a route had to be calculated in accordance to what time school started.
“The bus configuration is a huge system,” Quintanilla said. “Elementary kids get picked up first for school, then the high school students, then the middle school students,”
However, starting 10 minutes earlier posed as a challenge for some students. “The teenager’s brain functions better at a later start time,” Mark Pinder, MHS principal, said. “In contrast, younger kids’ brains function better at an earlier time.”
Whether or not the student was a morning person, adjustment had to take place in order to get to school on time.
“Of course one disadvantage to students is waking up earlier. But they also get out earlier, so it depends on the student,” Utterback said.
Shifting schools’ starting time had nothing to do with the budget cuts this year. No money is being saved because of it.
“It was a side component driven by the middle school changes and amount of class time students missed because of early releases for activities,” Pinder said. The district felt along with the amount of cut days, students were missing much more school than an average student should.
“I’m very glad the board decided to finalize this proposal,” Kathleen Walsh, RPHS principal, said. “Kids miss less class, and it isn’t such a drastic time change.”
For the rest of the year, high schools in the North Clackamas School District will continue to start at 8:35 A.M.[ND1] [ND2]
This year, high school classes now start at 8:35 A.M., instead of 8:45, which had been the bell for more than 10 years. The change began as a proposal last spring, and was approved by the North Clackamas School District (NCSD) during the summer.
“We had hoped for an 8:15 A.M. or 8:30 A.M. starting time,” Cindy Quintanilla, executive director of secondary programs, said.
Having school start 10 minutes earlier ensured it ended 10 minutes earlier, so students enrolled in sports would miss less class time. In previous years, students could miss an entire class all week because of early releases for out of school activities.
“Any amount of time we can keep students in school is beneficial,” Lina Moraga, director of the Board of Directors in the NCSD, said.
In contrast, Matt Utterback, CHS principal had a different view.
“However longer a student can be in school makes an impact, but I don’t believe 10 minutes has changed anything, or is of a huge significance,” Utterback said.
Another factor was the multiple middle school students who are bussed to the high schools for second-year language and Geometry classes. The middle schools changed to a seven period day this year, which conflicted with the high schools’ block schedules. Students were arriving back at their home middle school almost halfway into class last year. The change this year makes it so students are arriving back at the start of the period.
This year, four elementary schools closed in the district alone, forcing sixth graders to enroll in middle school a year early. Since the bus schedules were changed to accommodate where students lived, the amount of time on a route had to be calculated in accordance to what time school started.
“The bus configuration is a huge system,” Quintanilla said. “Elementary kids get picked up first for school, then the high school students, then the middle school students,”
However, starting 10 minutes earlier posed as a challenge for some students. “The teenager’s brain functions better at a later start time,” Mark Pinder, MHS principal, said. “In contrast, younger kids’ brains function better at an earlier time.”
Whether or not the student was a morning person, adjustment had to take place in order to get to school on time.
“Of course one disadvantage to students is waking up earlier. But they also get out earlier, so it depends on the student,” Utterback said.
Shifting schools’ starting time had nothing to do with the budget cuts this year. No money is being saved because of it.
“It was a side component driven by the middle school changes and amount of class time students missed because of early releases for activities,” Pinder said. The district felt along with the amount of cut days, students were missing much more school than an average student should.
“I’m very glad the board decided to finalize this proposal,” Kathleen Walsh, RPHS principal, said. “Kids miss less class, and it isn’t such a drastic time change.”
For the rest of the year, high schools in the North Clackamas School District will continue to start at 8:35 A.M.[ND1] [ND2]