Document text
3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories SOU launches arts institute for high school students Emergency services Bacteria plague parts of Bear, Neil creeks Metal thieves ordered to pay $206,394 Highway 140 crash victim identified Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency services Metal thieves ordered to pay $206,394 Police arrest repeat offender after 90-minute chase Report of shooting in Jacksonville was a hoax, police say Missing Ashland woman found dead Politics and Elections Case, Salmon leading in Central Point School Board race Lundberg, Mannenbach leading Eagle Point races Jackson County district election turnout under 17 percent Arthur I. Cyr: Camp David summit will not help Mideast stability Ashland water bills could go up to fund watershed protection Education SOU launches arts institute for high school students SOU names new development, foundation leader Rogue River Chieftains not ready yet to drop team name Education Board again says tribal mascots must go Sen. Merkley talks 'Big Idea' with McLoughlin students Environment Bacteria plague parts of Bear, Neil creeks Drought may drop Lost Creek to near-record lows Mace Family Watchable Wildlife Area is a legacy project ODFW seeks big drawdown on Lost Creek Lake to protect chinook Crews will open hiking trails rarely explored off lower Rogue River State News Senate backs bill allowing Oregon workers to talk about pay Fifth Oregon marine reserve begins in January, off North Coast Rules aim to protect sage grouse habitat in 10 states Gary Goins takes deal, avoids death penalty in exchange for true life sentence Oregon Senate backs new regulations for medical marijuana Nation - World Uh oh .... Apple Watch demand is weak Obituaries Betty Deffley John Allen Anderson Dixie Delores (Stout-Brown) Hanley Lathan Carsee Brinkley Polly Bingham Arnold Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable Check out top import and export for every U.S. state Patriots fan sets up GoFundMe page to help pay for team's Deflategate fine Sports Latest Stories UCLA stuns Oregon in WCWS American Pharoah faces tough test in Belmont Tebow off to so-so start for Eagles Bowditch shoots 62 to lead at Nelson And now, we wait: Cavs, Warriors get time to rest Varsity 541 College Sports UCLA stuns Oregon in WCWS SOU athletes earn academic honors Beavers overcome youth to reach regional Patience pays off for Ducks’ Heineman Rogues slide into action Pro Sports American Pharoah faces tough test in Belmont Tebow off to so-so start for Eagles Bowditch shoots 62 to lead at Nelson And now, we wait: Cavs, Warriors get time to rest Lightning, Rangers vie for trip to Cup finals Community Sports Adrenaline boys, 96G Red girls off to hot starts Business Latest Stories One shopper at a time: Peach Street Market aims to offer organic produce for weekly pickup Erickson readies for severe fire season Willingness to spend means more local jobs The Beanery customers remember the better times Cars We Remember: More from a MOPAR enthusiast Real Estate News Single-family home sales take off Never enough: New Starbucks proposed on Barnett Road in Medford People In Business People in Business Transportation Erickson readies for severe fire season Allegiant Air resumes flights to Arizona Tourism stronger than ever in Southern Oregon Medford airport still flying high with record passenger counts Agriculture One shopper at a time: Peach Street Market aims to offer organic produce for weekly pickup Opinion Latest Our View: State needs to speed up retail pot timeline Letters to the Editor, May 29 Michael Gerson: Religious conservatives' shifting role Granlund cartoon: FIFA corruption charges Arthur I. Cyr: U.S. Senate trade vote reflects long-term history Editorials Our View: State needs to speed up retail pot timeline Our View: A fitting legacy for a wildlife champion Our View: Wine growers take note of climate change Our View: Don't siphon off prison savings just yet Other Views: PERS ruling leaves little room to maneuver Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, May 29 Letters to the Editor, May 28 Letters to the Editor, May 27 Letters to the Editor, May 26 Letters to the Editor, May 25 Columns Michael Gerson: Religious conservatives' shifting role George Will: The separation of campaign and state Dana Milbank: The decline of Rand Paul Kathleen Parker: It must not be easy being Bill Kristol We can reduce greenhouse gas emissions Guest Opinions We can reduce greenhouse gas emissions Guest Opinion: BLM management plans fail people and forests Guest Opinion: Medford needs SkyPark more than it needs parking Guest Opinion: Ample water? Think again Guest Opinion: Oregon mothers need much more than flowers Lifestyle Latest stories Atkinson film on Klamath Basin water wars to play at Varsity Cocktail Hour Get Out: Friday, May 29 Health Watch: Taking action, with skin cancer on the rise An abundance of jays Food Community blog: Raise your glass to rhubarb before it's toast Community blog: Scallions, scapes bring more savor to rhubarb Lavender in your larder Traveling in time with Grandma Skinner's Scottish Shortbread Andrea Honaker: Getting to know rhubarb Home and Garden Betty Montgomery: Clematis is a lovely, versatile flowering vine Make herbs part of your plant world Homeowner’s insurance: What it covers, what it excludes Monarchs are disappearing, but you can help with a wildflower garden Linda Cobb: Time to make a list of spring garden chores Health Health Watch: Taking action, with skin cancer on the rise It Is What It Is: Come on body, stay with me! Community blog: It�s a Shame: How to Understand and Manage It Health Watch: How to avoid the diet rut Donna Knight: How to lessen your risk Hiking Biking Faith Religion Briefs: Friday, May 22 Religion Briefs: Friday, May 15 Religion Briefs: Friday, May 8 Religion Briefs: Friday, May 1 Milestones and Achievements New rec program targets park events Prefontaine-style running trail proposed in south Medford Bukair-Hinkle Wedding: Stephanie Anne Obad and Mark Douglass Schmor Ashland water bills could go up to fund watershed protection Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Cast of Clowns pays tribute to Grateful Dead at Brickroom in Ashland YSSO showcases Mozart, Jerry Su and Mark Jacobs 'Night Train to Memphis' Unleash your inner cowboy at the Wild Rogue Pro Rodeo May 28-30 in Central Point Oregon Cabaret Theatre stages gritty 'Cabaret' Theater Oregon Cabaret Theatre stages gritty 'Cabaret' SOU presents Shakespeare's 'The Winter's Tale' OSF commissioned plays tour throughout country 'Cuckoo's Nest' is a big play, well presented 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest' Music Cast of Clowns pays tribute to Grateful Dead at Brickroom in Ashland YSSO showcases Mozart, Jerry Su and Mark Jacobs The Farr Side: ‘American Idol’ could have continued much longer 'Night Train to Memphis' Oldtime Fiddlers keep the old tunes — and their stories — alive Community Events Backstage tours give insider's look at Oregon Shakespeare Festival It's a family affair for these trick riders at the Expo Unleash your inner cowboy at the Wild Rogue Pro Rodeo May 28-30 in Central Point Memorial Day celebrates veterans Third Friday: 'Into the Woods' is a must-see Movies Movie review: ‘San Andreas’ has its faults, but it’s a fantastic-looking disaster film What the ‘Entourage’ gang has to say about the film The ‘Entourage’ movie: Catching up with Vince, E, Drama, Turtle and Ari Interview: ‘Good Kill’ offers blistering look at ‘battlefields and blackjack’ of drone warfare Review: ‘Tomorrowland’ feels like another Disneyland staple — Dopey Dining Teapot on Wheels an outpost for Anglophiles Lavender in your larder Upscale pub fare at The Point Wine by the keg, growler, box and ammo can 6 stars of the Rogue Valley food universe Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obits Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Special Sections Business Services NEWS NOW Our View: State needs to speed up retail pot timeline ... SOU launches arts institute for high school students ... Get Out: Friday, May 29 ... Our View: State needs to speed up retail pot timeline ... SOU launches arts institute for high school students ... Get Out: Friday, May 29 ... EDUCATION Sen. Merkley talks 'Big Idea' with McLoughlin students By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Posted May. 26, 2015 @ 2:21 pm Updated May 27, 2015 at 8:13 AM Sen. Jeff Merkley speaks to students about the Big Idea program. By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Posted May. 26, 2015 @ 2:21 pm Updated May 27, 2015 at 8:13 AM » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley started his visit with hundreds of area seventh-graders Tuesday with two questions: How many students are planning to graduate high school? How many are planning to go to college?  Most of the students in McLoughlin Middle School's packed auditorium — students who are part of the United Way of Jackson County's Big Idea education program — answered with raised hands.  "That's tremendous," Merkley said.  United Way's Big Idea program has been working toward one goal: a perfect graduation rate for the class of 2020's 1,000-plus students in the Medford and Illinois Valley school districts. Merkley  visited with the students as the program's second year draws closer, giving a short talk on the importance of staying in school and encouraging them to keep working toward that diploma.  "There are a couple things about the Big Idea program that make a lot of sense to me," Merkley said to students. "One is that it's conveying the notion that there is a way for every one of you to take your lifetime, take your time on this planet, and do great things with it. My dad would say to me when I was in elementary school, he'd say, 'If you go through those doors of that grade school, and you work hard, you can do almost anything here in America.'"  But the numbers show many district students — more than one-third, according to recent data released by the Oregon Department of Education — haven't been taking that notion to heart. In 2014, Medford's four-year graduation rate was 65.2 percent, down from 2013's 67.3 percent and below the reported state average of about 72 percent.   "A lot of kids aren't motivated to work in high school because they can't see a pathway after high school," Merkley said. "This is providing that vision."  Big Idea founder and United Way of Jackson County Executive Director Dee Anne Everson wants to change that to a perfect score for the class of 2020. She acknowledges it will be a challenge, as many students involved come from financially distressed homes. Data from the Medford School District show close to 69 percent of McLoughlin students were on the free and reduced lunch program during the 2013-14 school year. "Some kids have everything thrown at them, and some kids don't have access to much," Everson said. "So for us, if we can help them individually, and collectively, as a whole group, we have a better shot." Everson added that the program hopes to achieve that by keeping students appraised of what opportunities are available. Program officials have taken students to Southern Oregon University for educational visits, held career fairs and helped individual students pay for a variety of equipment and services: eyeglasses, choir outfits, shoes and books, for example.  "We've paid for physical therapy for a kid," Everson said. "For us it's about, 'What do you do to make sure that a kid can actually learn when they're at school?'"  Everson said making sure the expectations for students are clear is another important facet.  "When you look at other communities that have dramatically higher graduation rates and completion rates, often it's that there is a community expectation and people talk about it," Everson said. "And in Medford, we have the opportunity to talk a lot more about high school completion. "We didn't get down in the 60th percentile by paying attention to them."  Reach reporter Ryan Pfeil at 541-776-4468 or [email protected] . Follow him at www.twitter.com/ryanpfeil . By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Posted May. 26, 2015 @ 2:21 pm Updated May 27, 2015 at 8:13 AM » Comment or view comments /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501