Dortmund to serve on Black Butte School board

Erhard Dortmund has been tapped to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of board member Glen Corbett at Black Butte School.

Corbett resigned at last month's meeting, expressing her regrets at leaving.

Dortmund was greeted with interview questions from each of the current board members at the September 9 school board meeting.

When asked what is important for a board member, Dortmund responded: "It is important that this board has successfully addressed transparency. The board has maintained open communication, as much as possible, with the community members and parents. It is also important to maintain staff continuity.

"The greatest priority for the school district," Dortmund responded to another question, "is survival since we don't know what is coming down the pike in the nation as well as the state. We must have a school that is spirited. Encourage a group of volunteers. The school will be very much what the head teacher makes it."

When asked how to handle a parent's complaint about curriculum: "As a parent, I would hope to be heard. As a board, the Board should support the teacher."

Dortmund was himself an American History teacher for 34 years at the Oregon College of Education, which is now known as Western Oregon University at Monmouth. He was also the Inspector of all the student teachers in Salem to assess not only if they could teach, but also how the teachers were handled.

From 1972 to 1974 Dortmund organized the first faculty union collective bargaining units.

"It was a rough haul," he said, "because unions were frowned upon by academia in those days."

Unions are now standard in educational institutions across America.

Oregon College was also progressive in that they could develop their own curriculum, so he started teaching German History focusing on the Nazi era and the Holocaust.

Of all the classes he taught, his favorite was History through the Novels. He chose novels that examine ideas behind historical events. Using books like Graham Greene's "The Quiet American," "The Call" by John Hershey, and Herman Wouk's "The Caine Mutiny," they would begin by studying the historical events and end by reviewing the novel.

Dortmund moved to Camp Sherman 10 years ago and has been working with History Day students during that time. His wife Elke is a volunteer Spanish teacher.

Dortmund also spent one year as the Chief Editorial Writer for the Longview Daily News in Vancouver, Washington. It was time absorbing and he found he never had time to read. So he returned to teaching.

The school hit the ground running with new management in place, new K-3 teacher Ethan Barrons on staff, and enrollments at an all-time high.

Bussing issues have been resolved and happy parents on the road to Wizard Falls Fish Hatchery asked for the floor during the Hearing of Citizens and Delegations to express their thanks to the board for their decision to bus students from the hatchery area to the school.

Teacher Carol Dixon presented the Teacher Report announcing their first overnight wilderness experience staying in teepees at Camp Caldera. Older students of grades 4, 5 and 6 will be spending the night on day one followed by the younger K through 3rd-grade students joining them the following day. The students will be presented with an environmental program lead by the Camp Caldera staff.

Business Manager Scott Pillar presented the enrollment report. This year 17 students are attending at the Black Butte School; nine students are in grades K through 3 and eight students are in grades 4, 5 and 6. There are 15 district students attending in Sisters.