Cannon Beach parents go back to school – this time to Seaside Heights Elementary

Published 5:00 pm Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Overwhelmed, was how one parent described her feelings about the proposed closure of Cannon Beach Elementary school and the subsequent move of students to Seaside Heights Elementary.

That parent, who asked not be named, was among more than 20 Cannon Beach Elementary parents who recently toured Seaside Heights Elementary, the school their children likely will attend next year. Parents were also able to ask questions of outgoing Principal Dan Gaffney and incoming Principal Sande Brown.

If youre not happy, Im not happy, Gaffney told the parents.

Brown, the current principal of Gearhart Elementary and a past principal at Cannon Beach Elementary, said she was glad to be back with the Cannon Beach families, many of whom she knows.

As children ran around the playground, played with the basketballs in the gym and explored new classrooms, Gaffney led parents through the various spaces that their children would soon occupy.

In the classrooms pods he explained why few of the rooms had doors; in the cafeteria he told the parents about the breakfast and lunch programs; on the playground he smiled as he recalled the familiarity the kids had with much of the equipment.

Throughout the tour parents had few questions.

Parents Jessica Brien and Stephanie Snyder, co-vice presidents of the Cannon Beach Elementary Parent Teacher Organization, attended the open house and said they were trying to remain positive about the move.

You cant change it, so you just accept it, Brien said.

Both complimented the work that the district has done to make them and their children feel comfortable with the move. One of the things they said made the move easier was that the teachers from Cannon Beach would accompany the kids to Seaside Heights.

Ultimately though, Brien and Snyder said, what the kids were feeling was the most important thing in the move. Both said it seemed positive so far.

Kids are resilient, Snyder said. And thats really what matters is how the kids feel.

Both Brien and Snyder said they will consider the proposed charter school if it opens in Cannon Beach.

Facing a $1.5 million shortfall, Seaside School District Superintendent Doug Dougherty proposed the closure of Cannon Beach Elementary as well as cuts in full-time positions throughout the district in the budget for the new fiscal year.

The closure affects about 80 students and their teachers who will make the move to Seaside Heights.

The proposed budget passed the districts budget committee on May 21. The budget goes to the full school board for approval June 18.

A visibly emotional Gaffney told the parents that had he known when they started the year that this transition would be occurring, he likely would not have retired.

I wish I had the opportunity to see this through the whole thing, Gaffney said, noting he had overseen schools going through similar transitions in the past. I know this is going to work.