Employees to punch in

FINN ROCK: Staff on the McKenzie Community School campus will be punching in and out soon, thanks to a plan approved at the district's November 15th board meeting. With a unanimous vote, the district board approved the purchase of software that will be used to operate timeclocks that are already installed in all the site’s buildings and are to be used by all employees to both check in and check out each workday. The costs of the system will be reimbursed by the state.

In other business, Lacey Joy, the district’s special programs coordinator, gave an update on a new grant that will provide $86,424 per year for the next five years. The funding will underpin a 21st Century Community Learning Center that some district patrons may remember operating locally from 2008 to 2013.

Joy said a joint application was made with the Crow, Mapleton, and Siuslaw school districts under the “Wellness from the Cascades to the Coast.”

From 45 to 60 third to eighth-grade students could be involved in after-school enrichment programs as well as a Friday offering that would include breakfast and lunch.

Joy said key four elements would be stressed - including support for an academic “power hour,” academically enriching projects, monthly family engagement activities, and an advisory board overseen by the Lane Education Service District.

The monthly programs should begin in early January and will also include field trips with the other participating school districts.

Three more people will be hired to oversee the program, which should break out to 15 students per adult. In addition, high school students can also function in paid supervisory roles that could be beneficial parts of their resumes if they apply for college admission, Joy said.