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3A STATE TOURNAMENT
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THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 2014
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South Coast schools stick with ESD Flex credits allow districts to efficiently spend every last dollar ■
BY CHELSEA DAVIS The World
COOS BAY — Given the choice, all South Coast school districts decided to stay with their education service district. South Coast ESD’s 10 school districts had until March 1 to decide whether to opt in to ESD’s services. They unanimously voted to approve
the 2014-2015 Local Service Plan. In total, the state allotted the South Coast ESD $4.7 million for next school year, of which 90 percent goes to the 10 school districts (10 percent goes toward ESD operations). Out of that $4.23 million, the districts pull from nearly $347,000 for “Tier 1” services. Tier 1 includes four core areas: administrative and support, technology, special education and school improvement. The approximately $3.88 million leftover is funneled into each district proportionately. Districts use that money to pick and choose programs
from a menu of Tier 2 services: adaptive life skills, special education, technology, school improvement and more. Any money leftover from this round of shopping slides into a district’s “flex credits.” Those dollars can be used to buy services the ESD doesn’t offer, but which still fall in line with the four core services. Senate Bill 529, passed during last year’s legislative session, gave school districts the opportunity to opt out of their ESD. Myrtle Point and Brookings-Harbor tossed the idea around last fall, but they ultimately decided to stick around.
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Brookings-Harbor’s consideration was based on location. The district is two hours from the ESD’s headquarters in Coos Bay. “We want to be as flexible as possible,” ESD Superintendent Tenneal Wetherell said. Brookings-Harbor negotiated an agreement with the rest of the districts, allowing Brookings-Harbor 65 percent — more than $300,000 — of its allotment up front in the form of flex credits. That means superintendent Brian Hodge and his board can purchase
All 10 South Coast school districts decided to opt in to the South Coast Education Service District for the 2014-2015 school year. Each district is allotted funds based on its weighted Average Daily Membership (ADMw), to spend on adaptive life skills, special education and more. (Figures rounded to nearest $1,000) North Bend: $1,125,000 Coos Bay: $968,000 Brookings-Harbor: $471,000 Coquille: $288,000 Bandon: $250,000 Myrtle Point: $223,000 Reedsport: $214,000 Central Curry: $173,000 Port Orford: $112,000 Powers: $61,000
SEE ESD | A8
Planners OK new Curry golf course
3A State Basketball Tournament
Banner year for games
BY JOHN GUNTHER The World
By Lou Sennick, The World
The Marshfield High School gym is getting ready for three days of basketball championship action Wednesday. Stacy McKenna, left, sorts through the many banners she and other volunteers were hanging early in the afternoon. Cindy Simmons, the basketball championships coordinator for the Oregon School Activities Association, talks about placement around the gym.The same thing was happening at North Bend High School for the many games that will take place there for the Class 3A basketball tournament. Games start at both gyms early Thursday afternoon.
GOLD BEACH — The Curry County Planning Commission gave unanimous approval last week for a proposed golf course near Port Orford. The planning commission approved the conditional use application for Pacific Gales with 23 conditions that the developers, Elk River Property Development LLC, must meet. The conditional use is required because the golf course is proposed for a portion of the Knapp Ranch that is zoned for exclusive farm use. “We’re pleased about the decision,” said Troy Russell, the project manager for Pacific Gales. “We’re pleased that the planning commission would see the overwhelming benefit that Pacific Gales will provide Curry County and Port Orford.” Work on the site could begin this spring, with the first nine holes being built this fall and a complete grand opening in the spring of 2016. There also is a chance the planning commission’s decision could be appealed to the Curry County Board of Commissioners. The deadline for an appeal is March 18. Two environmental groups submitted testimony against the conditional use permit. “We’re expecting them to (appeal),” Russell said. “We’re hoping they don’t.” The planning commission’s decision came after an outpouring of support for the project from residents in Port Orford and the surrounding areas, both at the public hearing for the project in January and by message to the Curry County planning department after the comment period was kept SEE COURSE | A8
Amazing dedication through blood donations
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the Red Cross, as they are urging every available donor to get to a local blood drive. Bergeron says there are a couple of pressing concerns for the national Red Cross levels, including the string of winter storms that have hit major cities in the east. They’ve caused the cancellation of numerous blood drives. “You’ve got that weather, but you’ve also got the flu season and it is super critical that you are healthy and well when you come in and donate,” Bergeron said. “So, that’s what we are fighting with, the weather, and then we’re fighting with the flu and the sicknesses. It’s hard, but you can still get a lot of people to donate during this season.” Bergeron says O-negative is particularly needed because it is a universal type, although all types of blood are always welcome. “That’s the one the hospital’s are going to grab in a trauma type
Kathryn Morgan, Coos Bay Hilda Richards, Coos Bay Paul Dickens, North Bend Joy Dow, North Bend
Obituaries | A5
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Helen Cruckshank was given a pin and a cake for donating another pint of blood, to increase her total donation to 35 gallons at the Red Lion Hotel in Coos Bay. of a situation. They are going to grab that O-negative right away. It’s also the lowest percentage of people, I believe it’s 6 percent of the population that has O-neg, so it’s the one that we really need.
Water deal Klamath Tribes, ranchers hammer out deal which could become part of Ron Wyden’s legislation.
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NORTH BEND — When Helen Cruckshank donated her first pint of blood to the American Red Cross, in 1951, they were still collecting donations in glass bottles. While much has changed over the past six decades, Cruckshank’s devotion to the cause has never wavered. Even when she had to stop donating blood for the rest of the ’50s, a time where you could only donate once a year — because she was unable to donate after having her children via Cesarean section — she started donating time and cookie-baking skills instead. After resuming her blood donations in 1961, she has been determined and fortunate to only miss one more opportunity over the past 53 years. The math is impressive. The Red Cross collects 1 pint of blood each time someone donates.
Up to three lives can be saved, they say, with every pint they collect. After eight donations they will honor your dedication by presenting you with a gold pin, signifying your donation of 1 gallon of blood. On Wednesday, Helen Cruckshank received her 35th gold pin. “It was something I could do, it didn’t cost anything,” she said after the most recent donation. “I encourage more people to come out and donate. I feel like I saved a lot of lives, or helped, when they were in the hospital.” Brian Bergeron, a Red Cross supervisor, says there is no doubt that she helped save lives. “That is an extremely high level (of donation),” he said of Cruckshank, who also serves as volunteer coordinator for the Red Cross in the Bay Area. “She’s a pretty phenomenal person.” Her most recent donation also comes at an important time for
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BY TIM NOVOTNY
But we want them all.” If you would like to schedule to donate blood at a Red Cross blood drive near you, you can check out their website at redcross.org, or call 1-800-RED-CROSS.
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