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Bay Area Hospital Board votes to continue search for “strategic partner” Board Member Barbara Taylor called it a “go or no go step” and clarified that no Bay Area Hospital Board decisions are being made at at their Sept. 10 meeting this point. voted to continue discussions “This vote is just to say in pursuit of a “strategic we intend to go forward and partner.” look at potential partners ... The public meeting was and get more information,” attended by five members of she said. the community. One community member Board members were addressed the board during presented with three options: the meeting’s public input discontinue the process; session. verbalize acceptance of one Jennifer Briggs of Coos of the partners; or agree Bay called a potential to move all participating partnership “maybe the most partners ahead in the process. significant decision a hospital Vice Chair Tom board will ever make.” McAndrew motioned in favor Briggs argued the public of the third option, and was needs to be more involved seconded by Patrice Parrott. in the decision, describing The motion was approved unanimously. Please see PARTNER Page 5 BY BRANDON SUMMERS The World

Coos Bay, North Bend School Districts start new school year with student decrease

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BY BRANDON SUMMERS The World

Coos Bay and North Bend School Districts both start the 2024-25 school year with decreases in student enrollment. For CBSD, the decrease is

minor. This year starts with 3,044 students. At its start last year, CBSD had 3,045 students, Superintendent Justin Ainsworth told The World. This will likely increase, though, after the ﬁrst week of

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school. “Typically you have an increase in enrollment at the end of the week and even into next week,” he said. “By the time you’re out of the second week of school and into the third week, you’ve settled

into where your student numbers are going to be.” He added, “I anticipate we’ll jump up another 15 to 20 students.” The greatest concern for CBSD Please see DECREASE Page 8

SWOCC reveals updated ﬁve-year facilities master plan

BY BRANDON SUMMERS The World

Southwest Oregon Community College has unveiled its 2025-2030 facilities master plan.

At an inservice event held Sept. 9, SWOCC faculty members returning from summer break for professional development, along with members of the campus community, were given a

preview of future plans for the Coos County campus. “We’re trying to keep it fresh,” SWOCC President Patty Scott told The World. “We have it broken into ﬁve-year sections, so from ’20 to ’25 we have all

the projects either completed or started, and now we’re looking at making priorities from ’25 to ’30. We’ve done a process in Curry County this summer, and Please see SWOCC Page 3

Bay Area Chamber of Commerce announces 2024 candidate endorsements Bay Area Chamber of Commerce recently conducted endorsement reviews with the candidates for the State Senate SD5, SD1, and House seats, HD1 and HD9, and the Coos County Commissioners Position 1 office. As a service to its members, the local business community and the public at large, the BACC conducts a thorough assessment of each candidate from a business point of view. In this review, we look for a positive track record in four key areas to evaluate each candidate. Those criteria were: electability, leadership, support of BACC and our local business issues, Chamber and community involvement. All candidates participated in our entire process, and through the review were divided into one of three categories: 1. Endorsed: Candidate satisfies all the preferred candidate criteria outlined in this policy and in addition, shares a strong fundamental understanding of our key business issues and concerns, and participates fully in the process. 2. Not Endorsed: Candidate does not satisfy enough of the criteria of understanding our key business issues to earn endorsement. 3. Invited But Did Not Respond: Candidate chose not to participate in our process to the full degree of requirement. Endorsements by the BACC must be two-thirds approval of the voting directors. In some races, more than one candidate met the Chamber’s criteria. In those cases, the BACC is endorsing both candidates. At its August Board Meeting, the directors met the standard as they voted for the following recommendations to you for the 2024 General Election: Please see CHAMBER Page 9

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