Vernonia Students Return To School In Town

EDUCATION 

By Andrew Theen

Portland, OR  January 31, 2008 8:06 a.m.

Vernonia's students are returning home.  As Andrew Theen reports, Thursday is the last day that sixth through twelfth graders from the flood-damaged town are being bused to Scappoose.

The early December floods swept through all the school buildings in the small town northwest of Portland.  The district arranged for middle and high-schoolers to ride buses to classrooms in Scappoose, 25 miles away.

Now 14 trailers are ready for the 420 students, so they can stay in their own town for school.

Nate Underwood is the principal of Vernonia High School.  He said the arrangement was difficult at times, but at least students were learning.

Nate Underwood: "We certainly appreciate all the help that's come in from outside sources you know, organizations and just individuals just trying to do what they can to help.  You know we need help.  We need new schools and we need them out of the flood plain."

District officials estimate the total cost of replacing the schools at $40 million.

Ironically, this week the flood-affected students didn't make it out to Scappoose for two days because of the snow storms.

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© 2008 OPB