For many residents in Yamhill County the tide has turned in the fight for the hearts and souls of Newberg’s school kids. The challenge to an education first majority on the school board, in the form of two recall efforts failed. The dismissal of a superintendent who would not remove politics from the classroom occurred. The hiring of a new superintendent to accomplish the task of returning academics to the classroom is underway. The resignation of one progressive school board member in March was followed by the recent resignations of two more like minded members who found their approach no longer in favor.

Progressive Yamhill is a group which describes itself as "made up of engaged residents and friends of Yamhill Valley who believe in developing a community that both respects and creates equity, inclusion, safety and freedom from fear and hate for all. Our purpose is to educate & inform, and to actively participate in the creation of a local climate in support of these beliefs." They are behind much of the left wing activity in Yamhill County and according to some, they are on their heels.

In March the Newberg City Council, with a progressive majority, was faced with a laundry list of generational projects with which to apply American Rescue Plan Act funds. Normally those would include projects that might justify 20-30 year bonds in conventional financing. The Council chose instead to spend the money to create a temporary camp site for homeless next to a school, ignoring other more suitable camp sites.

Parents have responded with a petition that bans public funding for homeless camps within 1500 feet of a school. Robyn Wheatley, Jenn Sahli and Bill Rosacker are chief petitioners and are actively collecting signatures. The petition is patterned after a similar petition crafted in Bend. Additionally, it would require any homeless camp, funded with tax dollars, to be approved only after a public vote. 2,500 signatures must be gathered in a little less than a month for this petition to be on the November ballot.

This is the latest in a series of contests pitting the anger of the entrenched left against the parents many of whom are fighting back. Progressives have not only quit the school board, progressive resignations from City Council bode well for community members who wish for what they regard as common sense, as the pendulum swings.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2022-07-05 09:17:20

Last Update: 2022-07-05 09:04:37