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As most of you know, Vernonia School District suffered a devastating flood on December 3, 2007. The purpose and focus of this site is to communicate with the greater Vernonia community and visitors to this site, the future direction of Vernonia Schools.
vernoniaschools.org also provides its patrons the opportunity to make online financial contributions to the school district to assist with the future development of its physical plant. (Look for "Donations" in the header menu of this page). Contributions can be made online via PayPal or directly via US Bank.
Photo Gallery | In the News | Recovery Model? | Rebuilding Vernonia (video)
| Vernonia senior trip |
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| Vernonia Search Results (Oregonian) |
| Most Recent Story on Vernonia: 4-28-08 Our Town (Recovery Model?) |
To rebuild schools at a higher level, the city badly needs a higher level of help from the feds
Cox (pictured right, on tour of flood damaged Vernonia HS with Governor Kulongoski and others) is thankful for the generosity of Oregonians and for Vernonia's resilience, but he also knows his school district has got to find a shortcut, and fast. It's urgently in need of state and federal assistance to relocate its elementary, middle and high schools to higher ground. What he has right now is a hollowed-out high school, a devastated gym and other damaged buildings; demoralized students, many occupying a fleet of portables; and distracted parents, dealing with flood damage in their own homes.
Fortunately, sites at higher ground are available. But the cost of rebuilding the schools is daunting, estimated at $40 million. The state would have to help by cutting through red tape and coming up with a portion of the money. Vernonia voters certainly would have to help, too, by approving a bond measure as a kind of local match.
Begin with what this community is most grateful for and can't live without-- Its schools.
Besides the PayPal function explained in the article below, a donation fund for Vernonia School District Flood Recovery has been set up with US Bank. Donations can be made at any US Bank location: Vernonia School District Flood Recovery Fund.
You can donate to the Vernonia Flood Recovery Fund (via PayPal) by clicking on the following button and following the directions.
Before clicking on the "Donate" button below read the following two steps.
Thank you for your contribution to Vernonia School District.
Rebuilding Vernonia from Oregonian News on Vimeo.
PLEASE NOTE: If you are trying to utilize this function on a School District 47J computer, PayPal is blocked on most computers, and your STAFF OVERIDE may not work.
| The following questions have been compiled to provide information for district staff and patrons. If you have additional questions please send them to ken.cox@vernonia.k12.or.us |
| How can we contact board members and the district? |
| How much has been spent on repairs so far? |
| Can the mods be insured? |
| Can we get flood insurance next year? |
| What about FEMA? |
| Current Situation |
| Is there a way to get drinking water out in the mods for students and what would the cost be? |
| Why are 2 schools being displaced (VMS and VHS) instead of just keeping the middle school students where they were instead of out in the mods? |
| Can the middle school be flood proofed – if so what is the cost and who pays what? |
| What is happening with the old middle school and high school mods? Can they be replaced? |
| Why is the high school still sitting there with no work done? |
| What would it cost to repair the high school? |
| What would it cost to just repair the gym? |
| Can the HS be raised structurally? What would the cost be and who pays? |
| Where is the school district getting money for the capital fund project manager position? |
| New Schools |
| When will the district buy some property and move the schools? |
| Isn't there someone who is going to donate land for new schools or will it need to be purchased? |
| Have you considered trading land with the city and using Spencer Park? |
| What are the specifics as to what will determine the final location to be chosen? |
| What time frame are we looking at before a decision is/has to be made? |
| Where will the district get the money for new schools? |
| Have there been any decisions made as far as going with a “green” school or another option? |
There could be a silver lining in the rain clouds that were the impetus for the flood devastation which hit our community in early December. That silver lining could be new schools for School District 47J. A new campus concept is under consideration for our schools (shown above). For a larger view of the above image and for an overhead view of the proposal check the two attachments below.
Please make every effort to attend Vernonia 2020 Meetings.
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