By Jennifer Moody
Albany Democrat-Herald | Posted: Tuesday, August 5, 2008 12:00 am
LEBANON - Russell McUne received a unanimous vote Monday to become the fifth member of the Lebanon School Board.
McUne, an emergency room physician at Samaritan Albany General Hospital, succeeds Sherrie Sprenger as the representative for Zone 1, the Lacomb area. He was sworn in at the conclusion of Monday's board meeting.
Board member Debi Shimmin asked all candidates what they see as the three most important issues facing the district.
McUne's response: helping students meet the requirements of the federal No Child Left Behind act, preparing them for their futures and improving communication between board members, the district and the public.
In answer to a question from board member Chris Fisher, McUne said he sees school boards as "an oversight-type group" and that he would direct calls and complaints to the appropriate person in the chain of command.
Board members said they had a hard time deciding among McUne and his two competitors, P. Jay Jackson and Jeff Sneddon, but were particularly impressed that McUne has made a concerted effort to be at board meetings and study the basics of representation.
In other business Monday, the board:
* Unanimously approved the hiring of Rynda Gregory as principal of Riverview Elementary School. Gregory is an assistant principal at Corvallis High School and has taught English Language Learner classes at Crescent Valley and at the elementary level.
* Unanimously approved a plan to reduce enrollment pressure at Riverview Elementary School by shifting some of its attendance area to Cascades Elementary School. The boundary change mostly affects the new apartment complex at the site of the former Queen Anne School. Any students currently attending Riverview will not be affected. Younger siblings also will be allowed to enroll at Riverview. Families enrolling children for the first time will be assigned to Cascades.
* Tabled until September a request to transfer ownership of the former Reed School to Brian and Michelle O'Driscoll, who want to move the historic building to their farm on Berlin Road. The district has suggested paying the O'Driscoll's $17,500 - the approximate cost of demolition and abatement - to help with the move. As per board direction, a formal, written request with a firm dollar figure will be brought for action in September.
* Approved a contract for an alternative education program with the Insight School of Oregon, a statewide, online, private alternative high school. The contract does not obligate the district financially until and unless it is used, said Jan Zarate, director of student achievement. The district can be charged a per-class fee, which varies depending on the class, or up to 80 percent of the money received from the state per student for a four-class load, approximately $4,500.