Vernonia, along with other communities, suffered losses during the December 2007 flood. The flood devastated much of Vernonia's infrastructure, and the recovery requires the assistance of Oregonians with expertise and resources. The schools are located in the flood zone and must be relocated and rebuilt. Governor Kulongoski designated an Oregon Solutions project to initiate a formal collaborative process to draw together a wide range of agency representatives, community leaders, and citizens with resources to ensure that Vernonia's school children have safe, healthy, and educationally sound school facilities.

Project Documents and Materials

• Governor Kulongoski Project Designation Letter April 15, 2008 [pdf]
• April 22, 2008 Team Meeting Notes [pdf]
• May 27, 2008 Team Meeting Notes [pdf]
• Vernonia Schools Site Map [pdf]
• June 23, 2009 Team Meeting Notes [pdf]
• August 8, 2008 Team Meeting Notes [pdf]
• December 3, 2008 Town Hall Meeting Notes [pdf]
• February 20, 2009 Meeting Notes [pdf]
• Declaration of Cooperation (current version) June 2009 [pdf]
• September 17, 2009 Meeting Notes [pdf]
• October 13, 2009 Meeting Notes [pdf]
• Vernonia School District Bond Measure Fact Sheet [pdf]
• November 19, 2009 Steering Committee meeting notes [pdf]
• January 26, 2010 Steering Committee meeting notes [pdf]
• Catalyst: The Campaign for Vernonia's Schools [pdf]
• February 23, 2010 Steering Committee meeting notes [pdf]

Media and Press Releases

• Oregonian Editorial, Vernonia Needs an Oregon Solution, March 9, 2008 [pdf]
• Oregonian Editorial, Finding Answers for Our Town, April 28, 2008 [pdf]
• The Oregonian Funding for Vernonia's schools gets initial OK, June 25, 2008 [pdf]
• Oregon Solutions Press Release, Verizon Foundation donates $20,000 for Oregon Solutions - Vernonia Schools Project, June 30, 2008 [pdf]
• Oregon Public Broadcasting, Money for Vernonia schools part of Senate appropriations bill, July 17, 2008 [pdf]
• OregonLive.com, Kulongoski Aims for Stimulus Cash, February 11, 2009 [pdf]
• The Oregonian, Vernonia moves out of FEMA trailers, October 8, 2009 [pdf]
• The Oregonian, Oregon's New Orleans reaches out for help, October 17, 2009 [pdf]
• The Daily Journal of Commerce, Taking Voters to School in Vernonia, October 29, 2009 [pdf]
• Vernonia Celebrates funding for new schools Oregonian Public Broadcasting, November 4, 2009 [pdf]
• Link to Vernonia's Voice, Special Elections Bond Edition [link]
• Link to Vernonia's Voice January 2010 [link]
• Link to South County Spotlight November 11, 2009, Vernonia school officials cheer bond passage [link]
• Link Northwest Natural Press Release, Gas company helps Vernonia rebuild; encourages others [link]

US Department of Education Vernonia Schools video..

Vernonia Schools video from Oregonlive..

Rebuilding Vernonia from Oregonian News on Vimeo.

Additional Information

• Vernonia School District website

Project Contacts

• Project Co-conveners: Commissioner Tony Hyde and Tom Kelly, President of Neil Kelly Remodelers
• Project Manager: Alissa Keny-Guyer, phone: 503-539-5055

November 4th, 2009, in celebration of the $13 million bond measure passing with 61% of the vote with a 68% voter turnout, the community placed balloons all the way from the current school site..

..through the neighborhood..

..to the new school site, where Mayor Sally Harrison, Columbia County Commissioner Tony Hyde and students planted the three flags representing the Grade, Middle and High School.

Renee Willer (in red), presenting a check for $5,000 to (from L to R) Vernonia School Board Chair Jim Krahn, Sen. Betsy Johnson and VSD Superintendent Dr. Ken Cox, for the Oregon Solutions Vernonia Schools Project on Dec 15, 2009. This brings Verizon's support for Vernonia to $35,000 over the past two years.