Board honors Lasken, Jacobsen

The Sisters School Board on Wednesday night celebrated outgoing board member Glen Lasken's 13 years of service to the board.

Retired 12-year board member Jeff Smith said, "One of the things that Glen has done is emphasize the significance of local option for our children. That $1 million dollars a year we get is a huge, huge part of what makes this district special. Glen has provided leadership (on the local option) from day one. Glen, the children of Sisters have been fortunate to have you on the school board for all these years."

Lasken said, "I am honored and flattered by all of this. The best way I could explain why I did it for as long as I did was that I came to view the district and all of the kids as part of my family. Next to raising my two boys, this is the most important thing I've done."

The district was also quite pleased to receive two "gifts" during the session. The first was a presentation made by Cory Stengel, a committee member of Boy Scout Troop 139, and a group of Troop 139 scouts in uniform. They presented the district with a large beautifully framed portrait of the late beloved Sisters Elementary School teacher Diane Jacobsen, affectionately known as "Mrs. J."

In the portrait, she is dressed in early Oregon period garb, as was her habit when teaching her students about the early days of Oregon. Mrs. J was a long-time scout leader.

The painting will be hung outside the library at Sisters Elementary School. The inscription reads "Diane Jacobson, a legend in her own time. Educating Sisters children form 1979 to 2008. Thank you from Boy Scouts of America Troop 139."

The second "gift" came from Jessica Curry of the Oregon Community Foundation in the form of a check for $38,100. These funds complete the third year of a $150,000 grant to the Sisters Community Schools program (see related story, page 13).

Superintendent Jim Golden submitted two new draft statements to the board on subjects that have drawn considerable parent interest and comment recently. The first was the draft of the "Wellness in the Sisters School District" statement. The second was draft of the "Type 20 (bus) guidelines."

The district will be retiring one of the big yellow busses next year, and instead of replacing it with a big bus, the district will be buying two smaller 14-passenger Type 20 buses.

These smaller yellow buses will be used for bus routes with fewer students during the school day, and will be available for coaches and volunteers to drive for school sporting events and other school-sponsored outings. Coaches and volunteers must complete training and other requirements as detailed in the guidelines.

Finally, the board approved a request by the Sisters Trails Alliance (STA) and the Deschutes Land Trust to pave the gravel trail between Tollgate and Sisters High School. The trail was originally built in 2004 by STA.