Oregon Observer Thursday, February 27, 2020 • Vol. 135, No. 35 • Oregon, WI • ConnectOregonWI.com • $1.25
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Oregon School District
Board gets start time proposal Will vote on new school start, end times next month SCOTT DE LARUELLE Unified Newspaper Group
Photo by Justin Loewen
Isabel Portillo concentrates on delivering the violin portion of “Scotland’s Burning” during the Brooklyn Elementary School orchestra recital in the school cafeteria on Thursday, Feb. 20.
Budding musicians school cafeteria on Thursday, Feb. 20. Gathered around BKE orchestra teacher Elisabeth Deussen, the Brooklyn Elementary School young performers played several trastudents took on a setlist of simple ditional songs, nursery rhymes and tunes for their orchestra recital in the excerpts from classical pieces.
JUSTIN LOEWEN
Observer correspondent
On the Web To see more photos of the Brooklyn Elementary School orchestra recital, visit:
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Village of Oregon
A f ew m o n t h s a f t e r delaying a decision on new school start and end times until March to gather more information, Oregon school board members have plenty to sift through. The 20-member school start/end time work group presented its recommendations Monday night. The board will consider the recommendations, along with a parent/staff study due back this week, before an expected vote on Monday, March 12, to adjust start and end time at all district schools. The district’s initial plan
was to change elementary school start dates to coincide with the opening of Forest Edge Elementary School in fall 2020. All elementary schools would have started at 7:45 a.m. (from 8 a.m. in Brooklyn and 8:05 a.m. at Prairie View and Netherwood Knoll) to help sync up all K-6 students’ schedules and better line up timing for bus routes so rural students’ rides are shorter. But those changes, in turn, caused some unforeseen scheduling issues for some students, staff and parents. After hearing concerns about potential negative effects, board members decided they needed more information and commissioned the task force comprising parents, staff, administrators and the
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Oregon Area Fire/EMS District
Diversity council aims for solutions Fire chief welcomes EMILIE HEIDEMANN Unified Newspaper Group
More than 15 people – or voices, rather – attended the Village of Oregon’s inaugural Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Board meeting Thursday, Feb. 20. They told stories of uncomfortable encounters in the community, which is 90 percent white, according to U.S. Census estimates, and shared ideas for making it more inclusive. Voices included village residents who have struggled to feel they belong in Oregon, and employees of the Oregon Area Senior Center and Oregon School District. Also in attendance were Village Board Trustee Jenna
Jacobson and advisory board leader and University of Wisconsin Madison social work professor Alice Pearson Egan. Most attendees were Caucasian, but a few were of African American, Latin or Asian descent. Pearson Egan said the board was initially looking to hear perspectives from anyone who is a person of color, people who have immigrated from another country and/or people who identify with the LGBTQ+ community. In the future, advisory board members might expand the discussion into issues surrounding gender, sex, disabilities, age, mental health and how the village can better respond to those problems. The council will meet monthly, and leadership will communicate regularly with the Village Board through agenda reports, village administrator Mike Gracz said in January. From there, the village will address the problems and ideas the council brings to light,
new PFAS law
If You Go What: Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Board meeting When: 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 12 Where: Oregon Village Hall, 117 Spring St. Info: 575-3937
Department working on plan to phase out toxic firefighting foam RENEE HICKMAN Unified Newspaper Group
Jacobson said. Before discussion began, the group established meeting guidelines to ensure it would be a safe space for people to tell their stories. That included trusting the intent of participants – they are present to help make Oregon a better place – using respectful language, being mindful of privilege, listening to understand and not just respond,
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Oregon Area Fire/EMS District staff are working on a plan to phase out firefighting foam containing PFAS after a new law prohibiting its use was passed this month. PFAS, or perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances, can be found in products such as food packaging
and non-stick cookware. According to the EPA, it has been found to cause a variety of ill health effects, including cancer and thyroid hormone disruption. Recently, it has been found in Madison area water bodies. District chief Glenn Linzmeier told the Observer he welcomes the new law because it will protect his firefighters as well as the public. Linzmeier said this type of foam can be especially effective at extinguishing
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First meeting brings up mistreatment, suggestions for OSD, OPD