Four vie for two seats on Jewell School Board in hopes of overseeing school projectFour Jewell School Board candidates are vying in this election for the opportunity to oversee construction of a multi-million dollar school building project. The board approved the project’s cost this month.

Teri Bellingham Greenwood, branch manager of the West Coast Bank in North Plains, and Carolyn Eady, a retired hospital administrator, are running for the Position 2 seat.

With Dave Samuelson giving up the Position 4 seat, his wife, Ann Samuelson, owner of Astoria Plumbing and Tile, and Bonnie Uerling, a former sales representative, are vying to take over.

Position 2Teri Bellingham GreenwoodTeri Bellingham GreenwoodAge: 44

Address: 86298 Northrup Creek Road, Birkenfeld

Occupation: Vice President/Branch Manager West Coast Bank, North Plains Branch

Education: U.S. Air Force Certificate, Vernonia High School diploma, Jewell Grade School

Affiliations: North Plains Area Chamber of Commerce current president

Length of time in Clatsop County: 19 years

Prior public service: Jewell School budget committee since 2001, appointed to Jewell School Board May 2004

Issues/Goals: Follow up with continued support to the school district; priorities include a quality education for every child that attends Jewell School, providing guidance to the whole staff by following policy and procedures, leading by example for the continued professional environment that Jewell school has to offer

Greenwood is the only incumbent; she was appointed to the board in May 2004.

She said one of her priorities as a board member is to ensure a quality education for every child at Jewell School.

Greenwood, who has a sophomore attending Jewell, called the school construction project “well deserved,” and said it will be nice to be finished with the dark, drab halls of the old building and the asbestos hot spots.

“The new building is going to be more efficient with the heating and lighting,” she said.

Carolyn EadyCarolyn EadyAge: 69

Address: 79380 Oregon Highway 202, Seaside

Occupation: Retired Hospital Administrator

Education: Masters in Health Services Administration; B.S. in chemistry

Affiliation: Our Lady of Victory Church, member Pastoral Council

Length of Time in Clatsop County: 16 years

Public Service: State Forests Advisory Committee, appointed Feb. 2005; Clatsop County’s Recreational Lands Planning and Advisory Committee, Vice Chairwoman, appointed January 2004; Clatsop County Recreational Lands Master Plan Task Force, Chairwoman, appointed December 2004; North Coast Senior Services Advisory Committee, Chairwoman, 1996-1999; Jewell School Board, 1996-2000

Issues/Goals: Insure the board and administration work together to provide effective leadership for the district, encourage excellence among students and staff, and encourage parental and community involvement in school improvements

Eady, who served on the school board from 1996 to 2000, said she is running for the board because she wants to be more directly involved in the district.

She said that having been involved in numerous projects as a hospital administrator, she knows some of the construction pitfalls to look out for.

Eady said she wants to help provide the best possible education for students, and believes that providing art, music and cultural experiences is important.

Eady said she would like to see more of an outreach to community members.

“I think we should be encouraging of parents, their involvement as both volunteers and participants in the school board meeting,” Eady said. “I think you can send signals that you welcome them.”

Bonnie UerlingBonnie UerlingAge: 50

Address: 46976 Old Vesper Lane

Occupation: Self-employed business owner/operator

Education: High school diploma

Affiliations: None

Length of time in Clatsop County: 21 years

Prior public service: Long-range Building Committee, Jewell School District

Issues/Goals: “Do what is best for the children of Jewell School.”

Uerling, who has sent seven children through the district, said she has time to volunteer for the school board now that she has an empty next.

“I have had children enrolled in Jewell School for 21 consecutive years,” she said. “This has given me a long-range perspective and an ability to look at the big picture, which I believe is very important when making decisions as a school board member.”

Uerling said she can hardly wait for the new school, which will feature larger classrooms and a better separation between the grade school and high school.

Uerling said her only goal is to do what’s best for Jewell School kids.

“I say their education, the teaching is getting better and better,” Uerling said. “These children don’t lack for anything at this school. It’s a wonderful place and they take care of them.”

Ann SamuelsonAnn SamuelsonAge: 46

Address: 80672 Oregon Highway 202, Seaside

Occupation: Owner of Astoria Plumbing & Tile Inc., plumbing and tile contractor

Education: Astoria High School, 1977; attended Portland State University and Clatsop Community College

Affiliations: Plumbing Mechanical Contractors Association, First Lutheran Church

Prior Public Service: Citizens Review Board, Diversity Action Committee, authored Senate Bill 304 (2005), Jewell School District Budget Committee, Smorgasbord volunteer

Issues/Goals: Domestic violence and substance abuse prevention and awareness; explore educational opportunities for students, such as apprenticeship programs, women in trades network; facilitate understanding regarding how important the timber industry is to families, community, funding base; support the building program, and work to assure it is done safely in the best interest of students and community.

Samuelson, whose daughter graduated from Jewell, said one of her strengths as a candidate is her background in plumbing and tile industry. She said she knows what a construction contract should look like, and believes it is important to make sure the expectations of the district are met.

“When you’re dealing with public money you need to be really respectful of that, and I want to see the district get all it can for what it’s spending,” she said,.

Samuelson said she would like to see the board explore additional educational opportunities for students. As a woman plumbing contractor, Samuelson said she wants others to know that women and people of different races can be in the trades, as long as they can do the job.

“I think we can empower people to look at different options they can do,” she said.

If elected, Samuelson said domestic violence and substance abuse education would be another priority.

“We’re rural, we might think we’re living in a safe place. I don’t think that’s true,” she said.

Samuelson said it’s important that women and men who leave Jewell are aware of abuse, and know the warning signs.

“I think we have a lot of great things going on a Jewell school, but you can always do more,” she said.