Teacher union survey rattles some
A “climate and working conditions survey” being conducted by the teachers’ union in the Battle Ground School District has raised concern among some district personnel and caused District superintendent Shonny Bria to issue a memo to all staff.
The District’s contracted public information officer, Kelly O’Brien, said the survey may damage her reputation and livelihood, and she may consider legal action.
Distribution of the survey began June 9 by the teachers’ union, the Battle Ground Education Association. Kym Alexander, who heads the teachers’ union, said the survey was “totally generic,” was created by the state union organization, was not biased, and was a common practice.
Alexander said survey questions should not be published in The Reflector because it is not a public document. She declined further comment or explanation and referred questions to John Brickell at the Washington Education Association.
Brickell did not return phone calls.
Ellen Joslin, who will take over as president of the teachers’ union in July, said the survey has “been blown way out of proportion.”
Joslin said the intent of the survey was to gather information for upcoming negotiations. She said her organization has been criticized for bringing up matters in negotiations that came only from a vocal few. “As I prepare to go into negotiations, I wanted to gather data,” said Joslin.
Joslin said another survey is planned for the fall to assess how members feel about the work of the union organization, and perhaps other topics.
Joslin said she regrets the upset the survey has caused within the District, particularly because she will be taking over in July in a more adversarial environment.
“We wanted to find out about morale and other non-monetary items,” said Joslin, noting that the District would not have levy money until April 2008. “There was no intent to create upset in the District.”
The survey asks 12 questions about the superintendent, seeking answers ranging from “virtually always” to “Frequently,” to “Seldom,” to “Not a characteristic” to “Don’t know/Not Sure/Not Applicable.”
Here are the questions asked about the superintendent:
Demonstrates the leadership and foresight necessary for the district to provide instructional and curriculum materials to meet current state and national requirements and teacher needs.
Demonstrates the leadership and foresight to oversee and manage the distinct’s finances appropriately.
Demonstrates the ability to set fiscal priorities that take into consideration the importance of the district’s teaching and learning functions.
Demonstrates the ability to set appropriate instructional priorities among the various competing instructional needs that exist throughout the district.
Respects the professional judgment of all staff in their areas of expertise.
Demonstrates, through behavior and written communications, the respect that district staff and administrators rightfully deserve.
Actively seeks, allows, and uses input from stakeholders to guide her decisions on running the district before those decisions are made.
Educates the Board on issues and district needs in an unbiased and easily understood way.
Demonstrates an awareness of the unique education challenges that staff members face and responds to staff needs appropriately.
Communicates information relating to the district openly and continuously with district teachers and staff.
Hires appropriately qualified administrators based on the district’s instructional and administrative needs and priorities.
Supports and advocates for adequate salaries and benefits for all employees.
The survey asks similar questions about building principals and about the school district’s board of directors.
The survey also asks 11 questions about O’Brien, identified in the survey as “our district communications person.”
Teachers question approach
Two people who identified themselves only as teachers in the school district contacted The Reflector about the survey.
One caller, who identified himself as a member of the Battle Ground Education Association, said the survey targets superintendent Bria and O’Brien. He said he is “concerned and upset” and “thinks they want to get the two fired.”
Another person wrote to The Reflector but did not sign the letter.
The letter writer stated, in part:
While I am not going to give you my name for fear of possible retribution, I will tell you I have been an active BGEA member, a former building rep., and a member of the WEA for over 15 years.
“My association leaders have missed the boat many times, taken embarrassing actions on several occasions, faked care for the community regularly, and outright lied to staff and the public too many times to count.
Their latest unveiled, blatant attempt to discredit District administrators and the Board is low even by their standards. It is no secret that I am no longer a supporter of the association leaders. I do not know if that is the reason I conveniently was not handed a survey.
The survey is a direct attack on the superintendent, Board, the communications person and principals. It completely ignores HR which many employees have had negative experiences with and is led by a former BGEA president.
The writer also questioned why the survey did not contain any questions about student achievement, putting students first, or engaging the public. The reason why is because that is not the interest of the BGEA.
Mr. Case, this is now in your hands, the writer concluded.
Joslin said the survey was distributed to all certificated members of the union, or about 700 people.
Ed Dawson, a teacher at Battle Ground High School and president of the Northwest Professional Educators, an alternative organization to the Washington Education Association, said he was not given a copy of the survey but found 20-30 copies in the recycle box at Battle Ground High School. Dawson said he is not a member of the Battle Ground teachers’ union.
Dawson questioned the timing of the survey. “It seems to me it could have been before the recent successful levy election,” said Dawson. “It looks like Shonny was instrumental in getting the levy passed.”
Dawson characterized portions of the survey as containing “leading questions.” He said the use of bold print in some cases suggested what the answers should be.
Dawson said that, because the district’s communications person is an independent contractor and not a member of the administration, questions about her performance should be directed to the board or administration, not the teaching staff.
Dawson said he contacted his counterparts in other districts throughout the state and found no other surveys like this one that had taken place.
“The WEA has bragged that they can bring down any school board members or principal that displeases them,” said Dawson. He said the survey is an attempt to discredit one or two people addressed in the survey.
Dawson said the survey could be a prelude to a vote of no confidence in district administration.
Bria sends memo to staff
“It is most disheartening that our district’s climate would be evaluated during a time of financial crisis and end-of-year crunch,” wrote superintendent Shonny Bria in a June 13 email message to district staff.
Bria said the levy failures have caused the district to be “limping through with a reduced budget.”
Bria said that levy failures have caused some overloaded classrooms or extended hours. “Principals took on two or more jobs and the accompanying work load,” wrote Bria. “No one in the district has been immune to this plight.”
Bria defended the board. “I know the board respects and continually praises the performance and dedication of each employee,” continued Bria. “Some feel the board did not support employees through levy packages.” She noted that the board worked for 11 hours to prepare a third levy package, and voted unanimously to support it. The levy passed by a margin of just 342 votes, she said.
Bria said the district is considering a loan to provide support for high school programs, textbooks, new schools and safety issues to bridge the period until new levy revenues are realized in 2008.
Bria said the union leadership delivered a letter to the school board after passage of a new levy in February. That letter said the board had not honored teachers with the reduced levy package.
Bria said the public made it clear that a lower levy amount was desired, the board responded, and the measure passed. The union letter said the board should have challenged the voters to support a “quality education system and quality staff.” Bria said the union leadership did not agree with being responsive to the public in this matter.
O’Brien questions survey motives
Kelly O’Brien, public information officer for the District, said the survey might be a prelude to more overt actions by the union.
“This (survey) can be used as a first step in a vote of no confidence,” said O’Brien.
O’Brien said the portions of the survey dealing with her work are fostered by people who dislike her emphasis on public involvement and listening to the public on important issues.
“I’m accustomed to dealing with people who are upset,” said O’Brien. “It’s part of my work as a person who brings people together with differing opinions.”
“People who promote that divergent views be heard are at risk,” she said.
O’Brien said nine of the 11 questions about her in the survey have been taken verbatim from her contract with the District, and the other two questions pertain to items not in her contract.
“If they put things out that I’m not contracted to do or put out bad reviews of me, it could affect my work in other places,” said O’Brien. “It could have a definite impact on my livelihood. Someone who would go after a person’s livelihood with leading questions and inaccurate information--I don’t know what else they might do.”
Joslin said she did not know how questions taken verbatim from O’Brien’s contract were included in the survey. She referred that question to Alexander.
“We are not experts on writing surveys,” said Joslin. “WEA helps in writing surveys. This is not the first time this same survey has been used.”
Bria said she discussed the matter with the superintendents of all other districts in Clark County and none have experienced a similar survey. O’Brien said she had contracted school districts in the Seattle area and also found none where such surveys had taken place.
Bria said she has received 45 email responses to her June 13 message, 44 of which supported her and discounted the survey.
One teacher said she was “astonished” when the survey was handed out along with a statement that a vote of no confidence could be taken in the fall.
Joslin said comments about a vote of no confidence did not come from the teachers’ union executive board and could have been stated verbally by those distributing the survey document.
Both Bria and O’Brien questioned how teachers would have information or opinions on some of the survey questions.
“They would not know if I did any of these things except whether I had communicated levy and bond information to staff which is not in my contract,” said O’Brien. “It’s an overt attempt to discredit me and Shonny.”
Bria said the teachers’ union has a newsletter for its members but she does not receive a copy of that publication.
“Of course I support adequate salaries and benefit,” said Bria about one question in the survey.
Bria said the survey violates a Relationship Compact to which all district parties have agreed, including district administration and the teachers’ union. The Compact states that the parties will avoid surprises and “will always inform and consult before deciding, always check before doing.” She was not informed about the “surprise” survey before it was distributed, she said.
Joslin said the survey was intended to be internal to the teachers’ organization. “My signature is not on the Compact,” said Joslin. “It will be on it next time.”
Since she became superintendent of the Battle Ground School District nine years ago, said Bria, groups have used “interest based negotiations” to resolve issues. “We haven’t had hard bargaining since I’ve been here,” said Bria.
A copy of the teachers’ union survey is available for review at The Reflector office, 20 NW 20th Ave., Battle Ground.

Larch facility inmates
celebrate graduation
Brandy Slagle
Staff reporter
It was a lot like any other graduation. The graduates congratulated each other in their caps and gowns and family members cheered while pomp and circumstance was pumped through the sound system.
Then, Shirley Moore, Clark College education director, gave graduates directions over the microphone following the ceremony.
“You can keep your tassels,” she said with a smile. “Everything else has to be returned. Just remember to put the tassel on your property list.”
A graduation ceremony was held June 15 for 62 inmates at Larch Corrections Center who had earned their general education degrees, a high-school equivalent degree. Other inmates were recognized for completing partners in parenting programs and computer coursework.
Moore’s comment was met with laughter from both family and inmates.
“This program provides offenders with an opportunity to go to community college, gain appropriate social skills, and be equipped to get a job which will be essential to have when they leave,” she said.
The small classes were well attended, she said. Class sizes were kept between 18-20 students, and when a vacant desk opened up in the classroom, it was quickly filled by a new student.
At 35, Longview resident Ronnie Chisolm said he looks at his GED as a chance to begin again.
Chisolm was arrested for theft. He was apprehended by police officers during a residential robbery, he said. While sitting in a holding cell, Chisolm said, he saw an opportunity to escape and took it.
“I ran out onto a three story parking garage and jumped,” he said. “It was a stupid thing to do.”
He waited at home, trying to figure out what his next move should be.
“I was just sitting there thinking ‘What am I doing? This is wrong,’” he said.
A neighbor called the police and his house was surrounded by officers.
Chisolm had been engaged. They had a daughter together and his fiancee had been pregnant with another baby. Then she miscarried and Chisolm lost his job.
“I began self-medicating rather than dealing with the issues in my life,” he said.
He became addicted to methamphetamines and heroin, which was when he began stealing. Since he has been incarcerated, he said, he has used the time to get sober and make a new plan for his life. He said he plans to attend culinary school and reconnect with his 8-year-old daughter who he has been exchanging letters with while he serves his sentence.
He is scheduled for an early release in October.
“I feel lucky to be here, I guess,” he said. “It has saved my life. I wouldn’t be alive today if I wasn’t here. Drugs are no life for anyone. It’s just like signing a death warrant.”
Debi Jenkins, Clark College professor of child and family services, said she was humbled by the opportunity to give a speech to the graduates at Larch Corrections Center.
“The world keeps you busy,” she told them in her speech. “Unless you make time for yourself, you don’t have the time to reflect and think.”
The offenders serving time at Larch were given a great opportunity to rethink themselves, she said. They have been given an opportunity to do something new, she said, and have successfully made the next step in creating a better life.
Jenkins also said that those of the graduates who had children were sending their families a powerful message about the importance of education.
Other speakers from Clark College addressed the crowd during the ceremony giving their congratulations to the graduates. Entertainment was provided by the Larch Corrections Center Band.

Photos by Pulitzer Prize winner hang in La Center
Alice Perry Linker
staff reporter
Three photographs by one of America’s best known photographers have been donated to La Center High School and hang in the school’s entrance hall.
Donated by Chris and Kay Crichton of La Center, the black and white photographs were shot by David Hume Kennerly, White House photographer during the Gerald Ford Administration and a Pulitzer Prize winner.
The three photographs show Robert Kennedy in a thoughtful moment during his presidential campaign, President Richard Nixon playing the piano at the Grand Ole Opry, and Gen. Colin Powell and then-Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney addressing the troops during the Gulf War.
The photos were given in 2003, the year the Crichtons’ son Cody graduated from La Center High School, said Kay Crichton.
“We donated the photographs to his class,” Kay Crichton said. “This was before the high school library was remodeled. The photos disappeared for a while, and finally I went back and said, ‘what happened?’”
Beth Marshall, high school library manager, and teacher Don Landes-McCullough took over, located the photos, and the district ordered archival mats and frames for the shots. Landes-McCullough designed the exhibit.
The Crichtons met Kennerly when the couple owned a professional photo laboratory in Portland.
“He was one of our main customers,” Kay Crichton said. “We did gallery prints for some of his shows. He was an extremely loyal customer.”
Chris Crichton was asked to develop the prints that went into a show on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., Kay Crichton said.
A couple of years ago, Chris Crichton and Kennerly worked together on an exhibit for the Hotel Lucia in Portland.
Kennerly, who continues his photographic career, began taking pictures in Roseburg, OR, according to an online biography. He was staff photographer for The Oregonian before joining United Press International. He has been contributing photographer for national magazines, including Newsweek and Time.
He won the Pulitzer Prize for feature photography in 1972 for his photos of the Vietnam War.

Skate park delays explained
Alice Perry Linker
staff reporter
For two years, Woodland skateboarders have been waiting for the new park to be finished, as the completion date has been postponed several times.
The latest date promised to the Woodland City Council on June 18 is the end of July.
“Nobody wants it done as much as I do,” said Blayden Wall, who has spearheaded the effort to build the park beside Horseshoe Lake.
“I can assure you that it will get done,” he said. “But we want it done right. If it takes a little longer to make sure it’s a quality project, it takes a little longer.”
Liability concerns and the dispute between supporters and opponents of a swimming pool in Horseshoe Lake Park, have contributed to the delays, Wall said.
Steve Herz of River Country Construction has volunteered as the general contractor, and he has had concerns about long-term liability after the skate park is turned over to the city, Wall said. The Woodland Rotary is the project sponsor, but after the park is built, the city will assume ownership.
The city council authorized a contribution of $16,500 on March 19, and Wall said the skate park would be finished by the end of May. Wall, who asked the city for the contribution, said at that time that the funds would allow the park to be finished.
The city’s share of the completed park is $36,200, and Wall said that when finished the “final worth would be more than $300,000,”
All labor has been donated, Wall said June 18.
Council member Jim Tone said that he is concerned about the delays and he chastised Wall for not notifying council members.
“We appreciate the volunteer work, but you’re the one who gave us the dates,” Tone said. “Nobody knows what is going on. It doesn’t take much to get in touch.”
Council members Marilee McCall and John J. Burke echoed Tone’s concerns.
“We’ve had no communication. We don’t know why there are delays,” McCall said.
She and Burke asked for regular updates until the project is finished.
Tone also said that he has safety concerns with the unfinished park.
“What do we need to do?” he said. “People are going to get hurt the way it is.”
Forms for a portion of the skate park have been in place since early spring.
“The forms that are out there now are the most difficult,” Wall said. “We’re ready to pour now.”
Wall agreed to provide the council with updates every two weeks until the park is finished.
The completed park will include “urban street features,” such as steps, ramps, raised boxes, in addition to the “bowl” that was the first phase.

Council orders second probe
Alice Perry Linker
staff reporter
A second investigation in less than a year into the operation of the Woodland Fire Department was ordered by the city council June 18.
The matter, which was not on the agenda, was brought to the council’s attention by council member Jim Tone at the end of the regular meeting, following an executive or closed session on personnel matters and possible litigation.
The Insurance Association of Washington most recently researched conditions at the fire department. In a Feb. 7 letter, the association’s investigator John Young wrote that he found no wrongdoing, and he recommended that unhappy fire department employees take their concerns to Fire Chief Tony Brentin and Mayor Doug Monge.
He suggested that regular staff meetings involving the mayor and fire chief take place. He also suggested workshops for council members.
According to city records, Tone said that an outside investigator should interview between 90 percent and 95 percent of past and present firefighters who were members in 2006. The council approved an investigation 3-2, with council members Marilee McCall and Darwin Rounds opposing the motion.
The council also voted to spend up to $10,000 on an investigation.
Monge said after the meeting that he disagrees with the investigation.
“We’re spending $10,000 on another investigation. That’s a serious amount to spend,” he said. “There isn’t a problem.”
Monge said he has “every confidence in the chief.”
The issue of fire department management was brought into the public eye in May when business owners, residents and former volunteer fire fighters told the city council that they were unhappy with the fire department management. They complained about nepotism and favoritism; lack of volunteer experience, and careless driving.
Supporters of the current fire department administration fired back during the regular meeting June 4. Volunteers testified that they are well trained and respond quickly to emergencies. They expressed confidence in the current leadership. They also said that they were concerned about the public’s losing confidence in the department’s ability to respond to emergencies, and they stressed that volunteers are well trained.
About 15 volunteers have resigned in the past year, with less than a half-dozen citing differences with the administration as a reason for their resignations, Monge said.
Early in the June 18 meeting, Brentin reported that the department has received $112,048 in grants this year, including $71,484 Fire Act grant. Since 2004, the city has received $443,520 in grants. Depending on the grant, the city’s share has ranged from 5 percent of the total to 10 percent, he reported.
The Fire Act grant will go to diesel exhaust removal systems for the vehicles and a special washer-dryer for turnouts. Other grant funds are earmarked for medical supplies and equipment and pre-hospital care training.

Saturday night parade to feature motorcycles
Lighted and decorated motorcycles will parade through downtown Woodland Sat., June 30, beginning at 9 p.m.
The Gold Wing Touring Association will visit Woodland for the second consecutive year, providing a show and shine, a drill team demonstration and the lighted night parade will follow the Planter’s Day parade route.
Riders will begin to gather Thursday evening, but the main events begin Saturday morning with a 10 a.m. precision drill team show at the Woodland Intermediate School, 2250 Lewis River Road.
After the drill team show, the motorcycles will gather in front of Woodland High School, 757 Park St., for the Saturday afternoon show and shine event set for 1:30-3 p.m.
“Everybody is welcome to come,” said William Nicholas, Washington state director of the Gold Wing Touring Association. “They can even vote on their favorite.”
Gold Wing motorcycles, made by Honda, are one of the last large touring motorcycles, said Nicholas, who lives in Covington. Riders come from all over Washington, as well as California and Oregon, he said. Although most bikes are Gold Wings, “we have all kinds of motorcycles,” Nicholas said.
The Association will celebrate its 20th anniversary with the Woodland rally. This year the theme of the rally is “American Pride,” with red, white and blue on display.
Scott Peabody, a Woodland resident, is past director of the Gold Wing Touring Association of Oregon and now the assistant director of the regional organization. He has three Gold Wing motorcycles.
Peabody said Gold Wing motorcycles offer more comfort that other makes, primarily because they don’t vibrate as much. “Their motors are pretty smooth,” said Peabody. In addition, he said, Gold Wings have am/fm stereo players and other features.
Peabody said the Gold Wing Touring Association got its start in Washington and is now an international organization.
More information about the Association is available by calling William Nicholas, (253) 631-6994, or Peabody, 859-1956.

City of Woodland agrees to pay new planner’s fees
After a search for several months, Woodland has hired a community development planner, but the city council recently learned that one more hurdle stood in the way of his employment.
Keiichiro Zushi of Japan is in the United States on a special work visa for professionals. Before he can start his job in Woodland, he must transfer his visa from Grants Pass, OR, and the transfer is accompanied by fees.
Mari E. Ripp, city clerk-treasurer, said the city is required by the federal government to pay a $190 filing fee, a $500 fraud fee and a $1,500 training fee, bringing the city’s costs of hiring Zushi to $2,190. The council voted 3-2 on June 18 to pay the fees. Council members John J. Burke and Jim Tone opposed the payment.
Zushi was scheduled to begin his job on June 18, the day the council approved the fees. He is now scheduled to begin his job on July 2.

Council considers ending fire fees
Annual fire inspection fees may be a thing of the past for Woodland businesses.
The city council has asked attorney Paul Brachvogel to draft an ordinance eliminating annual inspection fees. The ordinance would not affect fees for new construction but would apply only to annual fire inspections.
The city now charges a minimum $45 inspection fee, said Woodland Fire Chief Tony Brentin, but the fees are based on a number of factors involved in the inspections.
During the June 4 council meeting, members discussed at length the issues surrounding fire inspections.
The council developed a preliminary plan during a workshop May 14. The plan charges nothing for the first inspection. If a business is given a corrective notice, the business has a certain amount of time to make the correction, and if the correction has not been made when the second inspection occurs, a penalty will be charged.
Council member Jim Tone said that only the first inspection should be free. If corrections need to be made, subsequent inspections should have a fee.
Council members discussed whether to charge an inspection fee and assess a penalty if violations are found, but they decided to look first at assessing a penalty for failure to correct a violation. Council members agreed that the ordinance should be specific about the penalties.
The ordinance is expected to go to the council Mon., June 18.
Annual fire inspections are required for commercial and industrial buildings and for apartment buildings. Single-family homes are not inspected. Fire department personnel conduct the inspections that began two years ago. Buildings that have not been inspected during the first round will be charged fees equal to those now in place so that all buildings are treated equally, Brentin said.