District News

Duniway Middle School students got an in-school visit from Oregon Archivist Mary Beth Herkert today. Herkert dropped in to Jeremy Hurl’s eighth grade Social Studies class to talk about the Oregon Constitution Challenge, a year-long effort to restore the state’s founding document and make it more accessible to the public. Currently, the Constitution is only…

The McMinnville School District’s career pathway the Engineering & Aerospace Sciences Academy (EASA) was highlighted in “Enterprise,” a quarterly publication that covers economic development in the Mid-Willamette Valley. The article, which outlines the economic engine of area airports, also includes a photo and coverage of EASA and the various career paths that students are prepared…

Tony Vicknair has been selected as McMinnville High School principal, replacing Kris Olsen who plans to retire at the end of this school year. Vicknair has provided district leadership in pathway and dual high school/college credit development at McMinnville High School. He coordinated K-12 STEM and EASA  program development. Vicknair has been recognized through the…

Six middle school students competed in the final round of the annual 4-Way Speech contest hosted by the Rotary Club of McMinnville and coordinated by Pattie Waltz, director of Human Resources for the McMinnville School District. Students (from left) Annie Clayton, Kaylani Kam, Ailie Johnson, Laura Denney, Tara Vogel and Ben Sparrow first competed at…

The district Spelling Bee has produced three district champions who will move forward to the Yamhill Regional Spelling Bee on April 11. Winners include (from left) Tom Scholer, fifth grade, Memorial Elementary; Scott Winkenweder, seventh grade, Duniway Middle School; and Jason Kiff, senior, McMinnville High School.  The contest started at the classroom level in district…

The McMinnville School Board adopted the 2016-2017 academic calendar at last night’s business meeting.  The calendar committee had proposed two options and submitted them for a vote by staff and parents in February.   The more popular option included fall conferences during Thanksgiving week and was approved.  Key dates for the year include: September 6…

Lisa Heatherly, Title 1 reading assistant for Memorial Elementary has been honored with the “Live Your Dream” award from McMinnville’s Soroptimist International chapter. Heatherly won $2,000 to help with tuition at George Fox, where she is studying to become a certified teacher.   The award noted Heatherly’s optimism, volunteer spirit, problem-solving skills and passion for…

The Town Hall held Thursday, March 10, was a chance for the community to hear an update on McMinnville High School’s dual college credit program and the career pathway programs. Several students who have earned a significant number of college credits were on hand to talk about the credits and their pathway experiences.   Pathways…

Tonight is a community meeting that will provide an update on college/career readiness programs at McMinnville High School, plans to invest in technical/career education, and information on what the upcoming bond measure would mean for facilities across the school district.The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. at Duniway Middle School, 575 NW Michelbook Lane.

Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Nathan Knottingham hosted a cyber forum on Friday, March 4 to discuss the upcoming bond measure with McMinnville High School Principal Kris Olsen. Knottingham posed several questions from the community to Dr. Olsen and solicited an in-depth discussion on how the school board decided to renovate the current high school instead…