By ESTHER K. SMITH
News staff writer
February 19, 2008

The Hood River County School District board of directors met Wednesday evening at Hood River Valley High School, where it received good news about one of Hood River Middle School’s teachers.

“We received notice about three days ago that Michael Becker has been named Oregon Middle Level Association’s Teacher of the Year,” Bob Dais, HRMS principal, told the board. He will receive the David Putnam Award in March. (A complete story will appear in a coming issue of the News.)

Superintendent Pat Evenson-Brady also announced that Wy’east Middle School had been named a “Closing the Gap Achievement Award School” by State Superintendent Susan Castillo.

One of the action items on the agenda was a resolution to authorize the Hood River Valley High School Earth Club to receive a $25,000 grant from the Energy Trust to install a small wind turbine to offset the school’s electrical costs and provide HRVHS students with educational opportunities in renewable energy.

At its first consideration of the resolution, in January, the board decided it needed more information about potential problems or risks, so it was tabled until the Earth Club members could research it further and answer questions. The board was satisfied with the information and the resolution passed unanimously.

Representatives from the Energy Trust also attended the meeting Wednesday to answer questions. Alan Cowan said that typically the Energy Trust provides smaller grants to residences and businesses as incentives, expecting them to make up the rest with tax savings, etc.

“In this case we see it as of such value to education that we’re willing to cover the whole expense,” he said.

In other business, the board decided to meet Feb. 20 for a work session on the potential ballot measure.

The next board meeting is Feb. 27 at Wy’east Middle School.