Dinosaurs coming to Pleasant Hill with a little help

By DEAN REA/The Herald — Dinosaurs are coming to Pleasant Hill and may be confused when they discover that students in the school district are zooming, hybriding and aren’t spending full time in the classroom.

News that dinosaurs are coming in kits courtesy of the Museum of Natural and Cultural History at the University of Oregon was reported during Monday night’s school board meeting by elementary school Principal Devery Stoneberg.

“The kits will contain everything the student and family needs to complete the activities,” she reported

Elementary students were unable to visit the museum this year, she said, so the kits that describe the history of dinosaurs are being sent to area schools.

Meanwhile, while class schedules are being juggled to afford students as much at-school time as possible during the COVID-19 pandemic, Supt. Scott Linenberger told the board that “nothing is going to change for us” when new state guidelines are announced on March 19.

“Our classrooms aren’t large enough to bring all of our students back to campus,” he said. They could attend school, however, if the recommended 6-foot rule were reduced by half, he added.

The cooperation of teachers in helping the district deal with COVID-19 was praised by board member Steve Hammond, whose comment was applauded by other board members and school officials in attendance.

“When we have to teach our own kids, we realize how important teachers are,” Hammond said.

The pending retirement of Tom Harris, district health clerk, was announced.

In addition to Hammond, all board members were present: Chair Jeff Bernado, Wylda Cafferata, Curt Offenbacher and John Oldham.