June 2016
The school year is coming to a close, and we have been busy! We received the initial report for the first of our community phone surveys. I am pleased to share that initial sentiment is favorable of a $104 million bond question. Coming up this week, we will host the public open house for Fieldstone #2, the second of our student-built homes, and our 2016 will cross the stage Saturday during Commencement. You will also find information below about the district’s summer school plans, contract ratification with OSEA, summer safety plans, modular building placement, and kick-off dates for the 2016-17 school year.
These monthly messages are intended to keep key stakeholders informed about the happenings in Hermiston School District and to provide an opportunity to give the district timely feedback about its initiatives. If you have suggestions for other topics you believe should be addressed in a future Key Communicators message, please let us know!
With regards,
Dr. Fred Maiocco
Superintendent of Schools
Community favors $104 million bond question – Superintendent of Schools Dr. Fred Maiocco shared results of the first community attitude survey with the Board of Education at its May special meeting/work session. Between April 25 and April 30, 363 registered voters were surveyed by The Nelson Report, in order to gauge community sentiment for the proposed bond, project priorities, key messages, and tax rate.
According to an executive summary, 47 percent of voters were initially favorable to the $104 million question. That level of support grew to 63 percent favorable when voters learned that the bond would include substantial safety and security upgrades and bring relief to overcrowding in schools.
The survey also confirmed the most urgent priorities for the district: replacement of Rocky Heights Elementary School, constructing an additional elementary school, expanding Hermiston High School, other district wide improvements, and replacement of Highland Hills Elementary School.
In a side-by-side comparison, voters were asked to consider a smaller package recommendation of $84 million, which would eliminate the replacement of Highland Hills Elementary School. The $104 million bond measure was 11 points more favorable than the smaller package, with the strongest support coming from 35-44 and 18-24 year olds.
In a statement, Dr. Fred Maiocco said, “This initial survey result is very favorable and indicates the community recognizes the challenges that come with student enrollment growth. We will continue to share more about these challenges with the community throughout the summer and fall.”
Hermiston School District is considering a proposed bond program totaling $104 million for consideration by voters in May 2017.
The survey, conducted in late April, is part of the district’s community outreach effort. Previous phases involved focus groups and technical analysis, including committee work by the Citizens’ Review Committee and the Facility Master Planning Committee.
CBSHP Fieldstone #2 For Sale by Realtor – The second home of the Columbia Basin Student Homebuilders Program – Fieldstone #2 – is nearly complete and is open by appointment for viewing and sale by realtor.
Hermiston School District is partnering with Natallee Turner of Universal Realty to sell the second home in the Fieldstone Crossing cul-de-sac. Turner is available by mobile phone (541-922-8861) to schedule a home tour.
The grand opening of Fieldstone #2 is set for Friday, June 3, from 1 pm to 6 pm at the home site, on West Angus Court.
With substantial completion of the home slated for that week, the house will be set for show to the community. A contractor/supporter appreciation lunch is scheduled from 11 am to 1 pm, and media representatives are welcome to attend and interview the professionals who have worked side-by-side the students in building the home.
“We hope people will be able to visit the site on June 3rd, whether they are interested in purchasing the home or not,” said Deputy Superintendent Wade Smith. “I am confident that everyone who attends will be overwhelmed by the outstanding craftsmanship and quality of the house.”
Fieldstone #2 is the second of 11 homes from the CBSHP to be built. It is a custom 2295 sq ft home with many upgraded amenities:
- 3 bedroom 2 bath energy efficient home
- Two car garage, 676 sq ft
- Office/den, fourth bedroom
- Vaulted great room
- Vault in entryway with tongue and groove ceiling
- Coffered ceiling in dining room and kitchen
- 9 ft ceilings thru out
- Above code standards with Energy Trust of Oregon; enhanced insulation, energy efficient windows, sealed ductwork, energy efficient heating, cooling and ventilation systems, envelope tightness measures, energy efficient lights, and appliances
- Central Vacuum system
- Security system
- High speed fiber optics
- Water softener
- Built-in surround sound entertainment system, and whole-house audio with speakers in the garage, back porch, master bedroom, kitchen, dining room, den/office.
- Large modern kitchen, double ovens, 5 burner gas top, center inland, pot filler, instant hot water, beverage cooler, 30 cubic inch door in door refrigerator.
- Custom master bathroom, walk in shower, with Jacuzzi tub
- Large walk in master closet
- Double sinks both bathrooms, granite counter tops
- Gas fire place, TV over top, book shelving on both sides
- RV parking
- Fully landscaped and fenced yard, water fixture in front
- Front porch stamped concrete
- Outdoor kitchen, with framed in barbeque and TV, live sink, refrigerator, tongue and groove ceiling,
- Solar ready
- 6’ x 8’ storage shed
- Great location, quiet neighborhood, and amenable CC&Rs to ensure well-maintained homes, yards, and upscale homes.
Keown to be graduation keynote speaker – Alan Keown, a 1975 Hermiston High School graduate, is the 2016 Hermiston High School Distinguished Alumnus. He was introduced by Superintendent of Schools Dr. Fred Maiocco during the HHS Evening of Excellence celebration. As part of being named distinguished alumnus, Keown committed to the role of graduation keynote speaker. He will also return to HHS in the fall to offer mentoring and support for students.
Keown is a well-known percussion teacher and arranger throughout the Pacific Northwest. In 1989 he founded the Alan Keown Marching Percussion Camp, held in Eugene, Ore., and he has instructed for entities such as University of Oregon, Oregon State University and various high school programs, along with Ted Turner’s Goodwill Games Ceremonies and the competitive tour sponsored by Drum Corps International.
The Distinguished Alumnus award is intended to recognize former HHS graduates who went on to serve in critical roles within business, industry, academia, and government throughout the United States and the world and who will inspire current students to pursue excellence and achievement in their own endeavors.
Keown is a 1980 graduate of University of Oregon, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Percussion Performance. He publishes marching band music with Matrix Publishing Company, concert percussion literature with Alfred Publishing and Tapspace Publications, and indoor drumline shows with Marching Show Concepts. Keown is married to Denise, and they have two sons, Matt and Chris.
Hermiston School District summer school programs – The district is hosting a summer school for students in grades 1-5, to be held at West Park Elementary School, and grades 6-8 at Armand Larive Middle School. Hermiston High School is also hosting summer sessions. These are ‘invite only’ summer programs, because it is the district’s intent to help students get the “one last push” to achieve benchmarking scores or recover credit.
The summer school with begin June 13th and conclude July 1st. The students will be in class from 8 am to 12:30 pm. The focus of the classes will be Math and Reading interventions in a block type schedule. Students will receive breakfast and lunch.
The district is not only excited about the opportunity to conduct summer school but also looking forward to implementing new district wide initiatives. The reading intervention Fast Forward will be coming on-line district wide next fall for select students, but summer school students will get a sneak peek. This computer aided intervention is designed to tailor support to the student’s pace and level of need.
District reaches agreement with OSEA – On Monday, May 9, the Board of Education approved the tentative agreement with Oregon School Employees Association Chapter 10, reached during a preceding collaborative bargaining session. The agreement is valid for two years and provides for modest insurance increases, cost of living adjustments, longevity stipends to long-term employees, and minor “housekeeping” language modifications primarily centered around improved collaboration and professional development opportunities for the district’s near-250 classified support staff.
Modular placement at Desert View and Sunset – Over spring break, the district installed three modular facilities at Hermiston High School. Click here for more information about the HHS modulars. The addition of six classrooms was necessary to absorb the increased growth at the high school, as larger classes enter than graduated the previous year.
Over the summer, HSD will also add modular buildings to the Desert View and Sunset elementary school campuses to provide additional classroom space for the growing elementary population. Mid-July is the anticipated project completion date.
Summer safety plans – This summer the district will conduct another roundtable discussion with local emergency responders, with the plan to continue improvement of our emergency response procedures. The roundtable exercises are annual events focusing on district processes and procedures to ensure the district is continuing to improve its ability to respond in the event of an emergency. The operations department is currently reviewing facility projects, to improve building safety, as well as standard preventative maintenance programs.
2016-17 school year – The first day of school next fall will be Monday, August 29, for grades 1-12. Incoming kindergarten students will have a parent-teacher conference either that Monday or Tuesday, and officially start as a whole class on Wednesday, August 31.
Registration for the 16-17 school year will be the first week of August (1st – 5th) for elementary and middle school students. High school students will have the opportunity to register the week of August 15, on an assigned grade-level day: Monday – Seniors, Juniors; Tuesday – Sophomores; Wednesday – Freshman; Thursday and Friday – open to all students.