BRAVES BEAT BULLDOGS
FORT HOOD SHOOTING
Reedsport tops North Bend in softball, B1
Three killed on military base, A6
THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 2014
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Special education on the right track BY CHELSEA DAVIS The World
Special education students are getting the help they need as they go through school, but a new state report shows they may lack support as they near graduation. The Oregon Department of Education released Wednesday the Oregon School District Special Education and Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Education programs report cards for the 2012-2013 school year.
The report cards are mandated by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. They don’t really grade the special education students; the report card looks at the providers and how well they’re serving their students and families. The department wants each school district to make sure its special education students meet certain benchmarks: spending as much time in a regular classroom as possible, participating in statewide assessments, graduating with regular diplomas, and finding
employment or enrolling in higher education after high school. Overall, the South Coast’s 10 school districts are making the grade: Most special education students are spending at least 80 percent of their day in a regular classroom. Education officials say special education students need to learn in the “least restrictive environment” possible. And nearly every single South Coast student with an Individualized Education Program, or IEP, participated in state assess-
ments. When it comes to what happens to these students after high school, it’s a mixed bag. Either data couldn’t be released to protect student privacy or a school district didn’t provide data in six of the South Coast’s 10 school districts. Bandon surpassed all benchmarks: all of its students with IEPs either enrolled in higher education; started working; or began training for employment after high school. Nearly 89 percent of Coos Bay’s IEP students and 80 percent of
North Bend’s fell into one of the three categories after high school. Brookings-Harbor barely missed the state target of 69 percent, with 62.5 percent of its IEP students falling into one of the three categories. State education officials thank the Response to Intervention program for special education students’ success. The initiative, now in its ninth year in Oregon, provides overarching instruction to SEE EDUCATION | A8
Sinking library puts city in a bind
Spring in her step
BY TIM NOVOTNY AND CHELSEA DAVIS The World
rulings was the 2010 decision in the Citizens United case that lifted restrictions on independent spending by corporations and labor unions. In particular, Wednesday’s decision voided the overall federal limit on individuals’ contributions — $123,200 in 2013 and 2014, broken down as $48,600 to all candidates combined and $74,600 to all party committees and political action committees in total. Limitations on the amounts a donor may give an individual candidate or committee remain in effect. Republicans and Democrats alike said that on its own, the deci-
COOS BAY — The Coos Bay Public Library is safe, but it is also slowly sinking. That was the gist of the message delivered to the Coos Bay City Council on Tuesday night by Steve Donovan of SHN Consulting. The agency was brought in to examine the library building, located on Anderson Avenue in downtown Coos Bay, and the ground beneath it, after signs of settling had been showing up in recent years. The basic facts are that the building was constructed on top of pilings in old Marshfield back in 1967, with an addition built-on in 1998. However, the pilings only go about halfway into a soft “bay mud,” which contributes to inadequate pile support. With the additional weight of the books inside the expanded building, the library has experienced some superficial and structural damage. The fact that it is not set on firm ground, within this mud, makes it questionable whether or not it can hold-up when the area experiences an earthquake/tsunami event. There would be lateral forces from the amplified shaking in the organic silts and, with water mixed in amongst the shaking, it creates further sinking. Documents presented to the City Council show that repairs will likely run over $6 million. A new library would likely run just about the same amount. Mayor Crystal Shoji says the city is going to have to do further research into the cost, and really take a closer look at what options they have. It is a process, she says, that will include the library foundation, board and city council. “We’re going to have a lot of decisions to make,” she said.
SEE CAMPAIGN | A8
SEE LIBRARY | A8
By Alysha Beck, The World
Andrea Cotell skates down the Coos Bay Boardwalk after getting off work Wednesday afternoon. Cotell said she lost over 40 pounds after changing her lifestyle by eating healthier and exercising. She hopes others in the community will be motivated to live healthier too.
Republicans like campaign money ruling BY DAVID ESPO The Associated Press WASHINGTON — Republicans call the Supreme Court’s latest ruling on campaign donations a victory for free speech. Democrats say it’s more like a win for the wealthy. Either way, it’s likely to benefit the two major political parties and their candidates for Congress, who are now able to seek donations from deep-pocketed contributors who can give more without running afoul of the law. The court “has once again that Congress reminded Americans have a constitutional First Amendment right to speak
and associate with political candidates and parties of their choice,” Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said Wednesday after the court struck down a limit on the amount donors may give to candidates, party committees and political action committees combined. He added that the court’s ruling makes it clear that it is the “right of the individual, and not the prerogative of Congress, to determine how many candidates and parties to support.” Yet two Senate Democrats told a news conference the ruling was another in a string of decisions by a conservative court majority that strengthens the ability of wealthy
Crim named state’s top youth volunteer BY AMY MOSS STRONG The World
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DEATHS
COQUILLE — Coquille teen Grant Crim has been named state Youth Volunteer of the Year by Gov. John Kitzhaber for his ongoing work with the American Cancer Society,raising cancer awareness and speaking about his own experience battling cancer. A team of judges awarded eight state-level awards and 24 regional awards this year,
Terry Johnson, Coos Bay George Wasson Jr., Eugene John McRae, Reedsport William Mueller, Coos Bay Dorothy Shinabery, Reedsport
for a total of 32 awards. They went to 22 individuals or duos and 10 volunteer programs. Presenting sponsor Wells Fargo will make a cash grant to a nonprofit organization selected by each winner. Grants of $600 will be made on behalf of state-level winners, and grants of $425 will be made on behalf of regional winners. Award winners and nominees will be recognized at the annual Governor’s Volunteer Luncheon on Awards
Thursday, April 24, at the Salem Conference Center.
Grant’s drive to help Diagnosed with a brain tumor at the age of 22 months, Crim has devoted himself to supporting the American Cancer Society, especially through his support of the Relay for Life fundraiser. A past relay participant, Crim in August 2012 joined his local Relay for Life of South Coos County event
James Peck, Reedsport Michael Jackson Sr., North Bend Lyle Fisher, North Bend
Obituaries | A5
FORECAST
From left, barber Josh Frasier, Mike Crim and Grant Crim pose after Mike’s head was shaved when his son reached his $10,000 goal for Relay for Life.
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donors to have an impact on politics. “It advantages wealthy people over everybody else,” Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said. Said Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., “We see the Supreme Court behaving in a way that would be matched if the five conservative judges made it a strategy to go off and sit in a room by themselves and decide how best to implement the Republican agenda and then came out and did it.” The court’s 5-4 ruling was a fresh declaration that many limits on big-money contributions violate the givers’ free-speech rights, continuing a steady erosion of the restrictions under Chief Justice John Roberts. The biggest of those
Rain likely 57/44 Weather | A8
planning committee as the team development chair. He recruited new teams, mentored existing teams, prepared monthly meeting agendas, facilitated monthly team captain meetings and served as spokesman for his local event. Averaging 15-20 hours per week in Relay for Life volunteer service, Crim has put in about 1,560 hours since 2012. He shares his personal SEE CRIM | A8