December 8, 2024 • 29 mins
The Oregon Charter Academy is offering education to children and options for families. Fall and winter storms are arriving, is your property protected? The State of Oregon is working to get out of the business of running the health insurance marketplace. How to avoid the utility scam.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:04):
Welcome to Local Voices. I'm brad for this week. What
the Oregon Charter Academy offers to children's education, fall and
winter storms are here? Is your property protected? The state
of Oregon is working to get out of the business
of running the health insurance marketplace and ways to identify
and avoid utility scams. Parents looking for educational opportunities for
(00:31):
their kids can consider the Oregon Charter Academy. Alison Galvin
is executive director and joins us on Local Voices. Alison
tell us about the Oregon Charter Academy.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Oregon Charter Academy is a public virtual charter school serving
students all throughout the state of Oregon, where students can
learn from their own home and have just a very interactive,
responsive educational environment, individualized for them.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
So what's the history. How did it start?
Speaker 2 (00:57):
Yeah, so, Orgon Charter Academy is actually the original public
virtual public charter school in the state. You know, we've
really adapted with time where we became Organ Charter Academy
in twenty twenty. Previously you might have known us as
Organ Connections Academy and we opened in two thousand and five.
And as we're working to be better for kids and
(01:21):
keep up with technology and the needs of our students
and our families. We became organ charter Academy and now
just really work hard to have this dynamic, responsive approach
to learning with students.
Speaker 1 (01:34):
So how does it work.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
Teachers work individually with students. Students log in, they need
to go to live class to really access you know,
the best learning environment. So where they meet with their teachers.
Teachers can give that individualized feedback so students can quickly
change paths if they need to. If a student needs
a little more time on something, a teacher can can
(01:58):
work with that student say all right, going to focus
on this this week and then adapt, you know, moving forward.
So can really accommodate what that student needs in that
you know, public educational environment.
Speaker 1 (02:10):
Sure is it? So you say a live class? Is
it like a group of students that are working with
the teacher all at the same time.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
It can be a group of students. You know, for example,
our elementary classes might have thirty kids in live class
and you know, just like you would see in a
traditional school, except in live class there's not you know,
the bells ringing and the kids needing to you know,
leave class. For whatever reason, they're just there together learning.
Sometimes it's small groups, so teachers might pull individual students
(02:39):
and you know for the small group learning, you know,
based on what that student needs. And also they might
even come together in that live class environment. But even
for fun things, you know, like they'll do like a
virtual recess together, or a talent show or an art
show or clubs. So so many options for students to
(02:59):
engage in that live class opportunity.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
Are there enrollment deadlines or costs?
Speaker 2 (03:04):
You know what's cool about public schools in Oregon, there
are no enrollment deadlines and there's no cost. So Orgon
Charter Academy is tuition free. Students can enroll at a
time that makes sense for them, anytime in the school year.
Speaker 1 (03:18):
Is it available for all age.
Speaker 2 (03:19):
Groups, all students in kindergarten through twelfth grade. So if
students are you know, qualify for that kindergarten through twelfth
grade public education, they are able to attend organ Charter Academy.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
This kind of like during the pandemic where the kids
are in front of the computer and learning. Is it
difficult for younger kids to remain focused with that kind
of learning or is it structured in a way so
that they are well.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
I want to clarify one thing you mentioned. This is
similar to during the pandemic. We were structured to know
how to engage students virtually, and of no fault of
anybody's during the pandemic, that distance learning is not that.
The online learning experience are students reach ours is engaging,
it's collaborative. There's a real sense of community built within
(04:06):
our virtuals.
Speaker 1 (04:07):
That's because you've been doing it for so many years exactly.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
We were set up and structured for this, and we've
learned from what hasn't worked, you know, and we're in
our twentieth year right now, so we've got this virtual
learning thing down and know how to engage these students. So,
you know, younger kids and even older kids, regardless of
the age, if students are here and engaging in the
school environment, we've got no problems. You know, they're going
(04:31):
to be just a great integral piece of that learning
puzzle and our school community.
Speaker 1 (04:38):
What would you say are the benefits of the Oregon
Charter Academy.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
You know, the benefits are you know, there's that safe
learning environment for students, there's just continuous learning. You know
that traditional school day has so many interruptions with fire
drills and you know all the different things that happened
during the traditional school day. So we just have that
continuous learning. You know what's going to happen on Monday
(05:03):
is going to happen on Monday. There's no unknown distractions. Again,
that safety factor. Students are in their own home, building
safe friendships and relationships with staff and students. And then
really one of the big things is that students again,
we can individualize and be dynamic based on what the
student needs. Meaning if this student needs one thing and
(05:25):
student B needs another thing, we can really work and
do that for each student.
Speaker 1 (05:30):
What about socialization? How can students socialize at Oregon Charter Academy.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
Organ Charter Academy offers so many socialization opportunities. We have
almost two hundred field trips every school year all around
the state. We have regional field trips and so students
really get to know the other students in their region.
We have virtual field trips. We have over forty student clubs.
There's student facilitated clubs, anything from chess club to Baker's
(05:58):
Club to music club. And they do a talent show
at the end of the year, just so many things
student government, we have in person prom you know, just
like students become accustomed to in their local schools. So
there's just so many whether it's virtual or in person,
opportunities for students to engage in and really really build
(06:21):
a special community around them.
Speaker 1 (06:23):
What about physical education is PE part of it?
Speaker 2 (06:27):
Yes? Of course, every student, every public school student in
the state does participate in PE. And within our school
we don't just say okay, go get your minutes. We
do that, but we also work with students on meeting
with them individually. How are you getting your PE me minutes?
Tell me what are your goals, how did you achieve
those goals? Learning more about you know, physical movements and
(06:49):
the body, and again that individualized approach where our PE
teachers do work with their students individually and walk through
how they can live that life of person fitness.
Speaker 1 (07:01):
What makes Oregon Charter Academy unique.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
Oregon Charter Academy has many unique programs that MANI schools
just don't have the opportunity to participate in. So we
have a strong career technical education program. In fact, we
have the only f f A Future Farmers of America.
We have the only virtual program in the state. In fact,
(07:25):
I just as I was driving here today, I learned
from our f FA advisor that our kids just took
third at a competition yesterday. And that's with you know,
all the students that are doing their FFA program in person.
We just so our career Technical education program is unlike
any others we have, you know, a college career readiness
(07:47):
program called AVID. Again that those field trips are really unique,
those student clubs are really unique. And then again just
that way that teachers can be responsive to each student.
It is just it's just not possible in most learning environments,
and it is here and we embrace that.
Speaker 1 (08:07):
How is it How is the day structured? And I
imagine it's different for younger students than it is for
older student yes, but yeah, well.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
In general, hopefully they students wake up before noon at
some point, but you know, maybe they don't. And that's
part of the fun of virtual learning, right is what
works for your schedule. There's live classes for students each day,
whether it's forty five minutes slat or maybe there's a
couple in a day for our older students, you know,
based on their class schedule. And so going to that
(08:36):
live class really gets that you know, synchronous teacher experience
and with other students. There's you know, interactive work for
students to do on their own, So, you know, we
really think about that five to six hours of student work,
whether that's a combination of live class on their own work,
collaborative work.
Speaker 1 (08:56):
We have a collaborative.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
System where students can work together on projects or work
together with your teacher on what you're doing. So it
just depends on the grade and the classes the student
is in. But go to live class, participate in the
assignments for the day, and you know, engage in those
collaborative opportunities.
Speaker 1 (09:16):
Sure, if parents want to learn more about it, what's
the best way.
Speaker 2 (09:20):
You know, I always recommend to check out our website
Orgoncharter dot org. That's the best place the parents can
see a day in the life of a student. They
can check out you know, various programs that we have
and really get to know our school, and they can
always attend a virtual info session we have, you know,
usually two informational sessions each week, one during the day,
(09:43):
one in the evening. So whatever works best for the parents,
we're here to support that.
Speaker 1 (09:47):
So I hear that Oregon Charter Academy has been honored
with awards. Tell us about that.
Speaker 2 (09:52):
Oh, I am just so proud of our teaching staff. Again,
it's all based on how they can serve students. But
for four years in a row, Orgon Charter Academy has
been nominated as the Mid Valley's best public charter school.
That's of all charter schools. We actually through the accreditation process.
Every public school goes through accreditation. We were the only
(10:13):
school on the West Coast to receive an International School
of Distinction through that accreditation process, So we're really proud
of that. Our leadership team's been nominated Best Leadership Team
a few years in a row now, so that's really cool.
We have currently the Career Technical Education E Dynamics Teacher
(10:35):
the Year on our staff, Summer High Phil We're very
proud of her and all that she does with her students.
So National Teacher of the Year, that's pretty cool. So
lots of really cool things that our school has been
recognized for, and again it's all because of that individualized
approach to serving students.
Speaker 1 (10:53):
Alison, thanks for joining us as Alison Galvin, Executive director
of the Oregon Charter Academy, and again you can learn
more on their website Oregon Charter dot org. Fall and
winter brings storms to the Pacific Northwest and that can
lead to damage either to your house, apartment, or your vehicle.
(11:14):
Kenton Bryan, with a Northwest Insurance Council, joins us on
Local Voices to explain the types of insurance you might
need to protect your property. Kenton, what should homeowners consider
for insurance?
Speaker 3 (11:26):
Well, it's important to know what your policy covers and
what it doesn't. And the good news I think for
people who've suffered property damage due to the windstorm is
that you know windstorm damage, whether it's a tornado or
just regular old wind, is typically covered under your standard
homeowner's policy as well as business policies and renters policies.
(11:47):
So if a tree falls on your home, damages the roof,
crashes through some windows, that damage is going to be
covered by your insurance.
Speaker 1 (11:54):
Now, what if that tree is on my neighbor's property,
does that make a difference.
Speaker 3 (11:59):
It makes no difference where the tree came from. If
it lands on your house, it's your insurance that you
want to file acclaim with. And then if there are
expenses that the insurer incurs to repair damage to your property.
They're going to check in with your neighbor. If it
was your neighbor's tree, they're going to talk to your
neighbor's insurer and try to recover some of those costs.
Speaker 1 (12:20):
What about removal of the tree? Does it cover that?
Speaker 3 (12:24):
Typically a homeowner's policy cover tree and limb removal, particularly
if it's the structure. Sometimes if there's property damage where
a tree falls in the yard and no structure is it,
you might have some coverage for that, but you might not.
So that's one of those things to take a look
at your policy and find out what it covers.
Speaker 1 (12:43):
So what if a tree falls on my car? Is
that homeowners or auto insurance?
Speaker 3 (12:48):
If the car is in the garage and the tree
falls on the house and cause damage to the vehicle,
that's the damage to the house is going to be
on your homeowners. The damage to your vehicle is your
comprehensive insurance policy that covers that.
Speaker 1 (13:03):
Let's look at a couple of other scenarios. Ice dams
and gutters can cause damage to roofs. Is that something
homeowner's insurance would cover?
Speaker 3 (13:12):
In most cases, home owner's insurance is going to cover
an ice dam situation where the ice is built up
and cause separation and then thaws and water gets into
your home. That's typically a covered peril. But it's important
to do home maintenance. So if you've just ignored those
gutters for several years and you knew that there was
a potential risk for damage to occur, your insurance may
(13:35):
have a reason to deny that claim. So it's important
to do that those you know, typical home maintenance projects annually.
Speaker 1 (13:43):
So I know there's some issues with flood the need
for flood insurance. If there's a roof leak and the
water floods into my home, is that covered by homeowners
insurance or is that a flood insurance issue.
Speaker 3 (13:53):
If water comes into your home through a leak in
the structure, that's typically going to be covered. Or if
the water comes from inside the house, like if you
have a pipe burst or a refrigerator thaws and causes
damage to your floor, that's typically covered. What's not covered
is water that comes into the home from say a
(14:14):
rising river or groundwater or lake flooding and that sort
of thing, and that's you have to have flood insurance
to cover that risk specifically. Also, it's important to know
that there are companies that offer an add on coverage
that covers the sewer line and water lines that come
from the street to your home, because that may not
(14:34):
be covered under your standard home owners policy. Either a
good idea to ask your insurance agent about that and
make sure you know if you're covered in case that
parrel happens.
Speaker 1 (14:43):
What is your recommendation about flood insurance? Who needs it?
I mean, obviously living next to a river you might,
but should other people have it?
Speaker 3 (14:51):
You know, if you saw any of the news coverage
about what happened in North Carolina where homes in the
mountains flooded, I think you get an idea that the
changing climate is having an impact on where floods occur.
And we're you know, now what they used to call
one hundred year flood, it might now be a ten
year flood. So whether you're living right next to a
(15:12):
river or a lake, or whether you've just seen a
lot of growth in the area and there's more surface level,
you know, asphalt and concrete than there used to be,
your flood risk is higher than it used to be,
So you know, it's good idea to check for local
flood map information and inquire with the National Flood Insurance
Program Because if you're not in a you know, super
(15:34):
flood prone area, but there's a chance that could be flooding,
that coverage is probably going to be pretty affordable for you,
and it's better than you know, only takes about three
inches of water to descroy your home.
Speaker 1 (15:44):
Right, Renters wouldn't have to pay for damage to their
apartment building, but is there insurance they could cover damage
to their personal property if a tree came through, or
maybe that you know, there's a leak in the roof
and they get everything gets wet.
Speaker 3 (15:58):
Yeah, it's really important for to look into having renters insurance,
and I think today a lot of renters are aware
of this, and many people who rent places out to
renters require those tenants to have renters insurance. It's affordable
because it only covers your possessions inside the space where
(16:20):
you live, in the space that you're renting, so and
it does cover doesn't cover flood, that's a separate policy
as well. But if you have any other kind of damage,
including water damage, if a tree falls on your apartment
building or on the home, that you're renting your property
inside that unit will be covered by your renter's policy.
Speaker 1 (16:40):
All right, So if something happens to our house, what's
the process in dealing with an insurance company for that
kind of acclaim? I would imagine we start with a
phone call.
Speaker 3 (16:49):
Absolutely, start with a phone call, call your agent, or
call the company directly. Their information about how to reach
them is on your policy, but you can also look
them up online if you have access to going online
and your powers not out. It's important to take pictures.
Some companies these days have apps that you can use
on your smartphone and start a claim process that way
(17:10):
and send pictures of the damage if you can prevent
the damage from getting worse without risking your own life
and limb. It's a good idea to throw a tarp
over a hole, that sort of thing to keep the
damage from getting worse. But start with a call to
your insurance company, because they won't just help you with
the claim filing process, but they'll also recommend how to
(17:32):
start the work on repairing the damage. And it's important
to have that knowledge before you start talking to contractors,
so you know what you're not spending a lot of
money for work that isn't effectively preventing further damage to
your homer property.
Speaker 1 (17:48):
Yeah, exactly what's covered what's not? Driving on snowy and
icy roads can involve a crash. What should we consider
for coverage on auto related incidents.
Speaker 3 (17:57):
There's basically a few kinds of coverage. The mandatory one
that all states require is liability insurance, and that's what happened.
That's the insurance that pays if you hit another vehicle
and you cause damage to them or injuries to the
people in the other car. But you also need to
think about injuries and damages to your own vehicle, so
you need to have collision coverage, comprehensive coverage. Comprehensive coverage
(18:21):
is important because if a tree limb falls on your car,
and or a whole tree crashes down on as we
have seen, that's the comprehensive insurance is the policy that
will pay to repair or replace your vehicle. Under Insured
motorist coverage critically important. We have high rates of people
driving around without insurance these days. If they hit your vehicle,
that's the coverage that is going to pay for injuries
(18:43):
and damages to your vehicle. PIP insurance, Personal entry protection.
Insurers are required to offer that to you in the
state of Oregon and in the state of Washington, and
you can decide whether to take it or not take
it in Washington. But it's a good idea to have
it because that provides it's specific sort of health insurance
coverage for you and the passengers in your vehicle if
(19:05):
they're engine in an accident. So all those coverages are
important for you to consider. Typically, liability is the biggest
chunk of cost for an auto insurance policy. These other
collision comprehensive pip in M and UIM are coverages that
cost significantly less to add to your policy, but they're
(19:26):
a really good idea. You don't want to be caught
without them.
Speaker 1 (19:28):
We're talking with Kat and Brian with a Northwest insurance council.
The holiday shopping season is here and online shopping is
a big part of it. Katin, what advice do you
have to protect against scams?
Speaker 4 (19:39):
Well?
Speaker 3 (19:39):
Before you go online and start shopping, which so many
people will be doing again this year, make sure your
software is up to date and your malware so that
if you do run into a sketchy site, that malware
will stop you from making a mistake. It's also a
good idea if you're going out and about and maybe
doing some shopping on your phone to not use the
(20:04):
free Wi Fi that's unsecured at the coffee shop, because
that may give cyber criminals access to the information that
you're sharing online.
Speaker 1 (20:15):
Does it help to use a credit card or even
a prepaid card when doing your shopping.
Speaker 3 (20:20):
It's very wise to use a credit card or a
prepaid credit card or one of the online payment services
that keeps people away from your bank account when you're
shopping online. A couple of reasons for that. One is
it can be more secure it doesn't attach to your
bank account, but also if you run into a problem
later and you need to get a refund, it may
(20:42):
be easier to get that from your credit card company
than from your bank.
Speaker 1 (20:46):
Is there any way to know whether a website is secure?
Speaker 3 (20:53):
Well, if you use the sites that are HTTPS in
a couple of forward slashes, then you're more like to
know that that website is a safe and real website.
But also generally if something looks off, if the language
that you use is a little different than you would
normally see, or if words are misspelled, and that can
(21:14):
be in the form of a website or a text,
be really cautious about clicking on the links in those
websites or texts.
Speaker 1 (21:22):
Is it important to use sites that are well known
versus one that you might see that you know is
new and just doesn't seem to be very well vetted.
Speaker 3 (21:34):
That's just the thing, you know. A lot of websites today,
they'll take pains to look like they're the real thing,
but there's always something that's a little bit off about them,
and you need to use your good sense and think
before you click. Is really a critical thing. If you're unsure,
don't go to that website, don't click on that link.
You can always look up a place that you're thinking
(21:56):
about shopping at online and find the authentic website if
you shop, if you look around for it yourself instead
of clicking on a link that someone else has sent
to you.
Speaker 1 (22:05):
This time, I hear a lot of people are giving
to charities any advice on how to not get scammed
doing that.
Speaker 3 (22:12):
There are ways to double check, and there are websites available,
such as one called charity Watch that will help you
learn about the charities, how much they take in each year,
and how they spend the money they received a lot
of charities. They may be legitimate, but they spend a
great deal of money on administration and less on the
charities you're trying to support, so check that out. You
(22:34):
might also check your own state's secretary of state website.
Sometimes their corporation's divisions keep an eye on charities as well.
Speaker 1 (22:42):
Any advice on using passwords that work that really provide security.
Speaker 3 (22:49):
So you really need to use strong passwords, and you
can practice good password management by changing your passwords frequently.
There are apps available that will help you automatically change
passwords and or keep track of the passwords that you
use for the various accounts that you have. So make
sure that you're using a password that has more than
(23:10):
six digits, uses special characters if possible, and maybe substitutes
letters for numbers in some cases. And then you know,
the other key is to keep track of those passwords
after you set them.
Speaker 1 (23:23):
What is multi factor authentication?
Speaker 3 (23:27):
Multi factor authentication is a great way to help secure
your accounts. It's a security protocol that uses a secondary
device to verify that you really are who you say
you are. So you log into a website and you
use your password and user name, and then it sends
a text to your phone to confirm that it's really you.
Speaker 1 (23:47):
So besides the computers that we have at home, you know,
our phones or a computer, and we might carry a
laptop or a netbook. Any advice on the actual physical
device on ways to kind of keep those secure.
Speaker 3 (23:59):
Well, these days, most people can do most of the
things they need to do, particularly with shopping on their smartphone.
But if you are taking your tablet with you or
your laptop, make sure that you store them in a
secure place and buy a secure place. I don't mean
the backseat of your car, because these days there are
a lot of thefts that occur in store, parking lots
(24:21):
and that sort of thing. So you try to keep
it with you if possible. And if you're using a
desktop computer, make sure you lock your screen unless you're
desktop computers in your home somewhere and no one can
access it.
Speaker 1 (24:34):
That's Katon Bryan with a Northwest Insurance Council with tips
on how to be insured against winter disasters and holiday
shopping scams. The Oregon Health Authority needs to get out
of the business of running the health insurance marketplace. That's
where people who don't get insurance from their employer, can
(24:54):
go to buy insurance and potentially get a discount. Amy
covin where the Oregon Health Authority joins us on local
voices to explain the process of essentially privatizing the health
insurance marketplace. What is Oregan doing with the health insurance marketplace?
Speaker 4 (25:09):
So Senate Bill nine seventy two was passed in twenty
twenty three which requires the Oregon Health Authority to transition
the marketplace from a state based marketplace that uses the
federal platform of healthcare dot gov to a full state
based marketplace with its own technology and its own call
center as well.
Speaker 1 (25:27):
So I remember Cover Oregon. Is this different from Cover
Oregon when the Affordable Care Act initially started?
Speaker 4 (25:35):
Yes? Absolutely, So this transition will not include building a
new system from the ground up. We're actually only soliciting
for proposals from vendors who have successfully implemented an SBM
platform with other states, and we're interested in procuring a
software as a service system which can just be modified
to Oregon's needs.
Speaker 1 (25:54):
Got it, So something that already exists and not being
built from scratch. That makes sense exactly. This is the
request for proposals part of the process. You mentioned that,
but what's that mean?
Speaker 4 (26:06):
Yeah, a request for proposals for a technology project is
basically putting out a document that outlines the requirements and
the objectives of the project and invites potential vendors to
submit a detailed proposal on how they would approach and
deliver the solution, which allows the state to compare options
and then select the best needs for their fit or
(26:26):
fit for their needs. Excuse me?
Speaker 1 (26:28):
And there are certain requirements that have to be met
by these companies.
Speaker 4 (26:32):
Yeah, So as part of this RFP, we're asking that
proposers have at least three years of experience configuring and
implementing a cloud based state based marketplace in another state.
We're also asking for someone to have experience working with
the government entity and also to have a knowledge and
experience with the Affordable Care Act and regulations related to
(26:54):
state based marketplaces.
Speaker 1 (26:56):
And is there a deadline for when the new vendor
needs to be an operation.
Speaker 4 (27:01):
We're working towards a go live date of November one,
twenty twenty six, which would be for the twenty twenty
seven plan year.
Speaker 1 (27:07):
Anything else you want to add, just a reminder.
Speaker 4 (27:10):
That it's open enrollment right now and we still are
using healthcare dot gov, so if anyone needs health insurance
for next year for twenty twenty five, they can still
visit Oregon healthcare dot gov to get started and they
can still complete applications on healthcare dot gov.
Speaker 1 (27:26):
Amy, thanks for joining us on local Voices. That's Amy
Covin with the Oregon Health Authority and details in the
state's process to select a new business to run the
health insurance marketplace. The scammer's worth overtime this time of year,
often posing as major utility providers. Pacific Power gets hundreds
(27:47):
of reports every year about scammers demanding payments from their customers.
Simon Gutierrez has Pacific Power season uptick in scam reports
during the holidays.
Speaker 5 (27:56):
We are contacted by customers pretty much on an annual
basis alerting us to what they consider suspicious activity someone
trying to pose as a specific power representative and obtain
some sort of payment.
Speaker 1 (28:09):
Go Tierras says there are a few red flags that
you should listen for if you get a call from
someone claiming to be from your power company.
Speaker 5 (28:16):
One indication that they should not continue that call and
to report this call is if you have the caller
asking to state your account number. Our customer service employees
will always have your correct account number.
Speaker 1 (28:28):
Go Tier says Fronster is trying to create a sense
of urgency, saying that if you don't pay up right away,
you'll lose service within the hour.
Speaker 5 (28:35):
That threat of an immediate disconnection, that's a good sign
that you're talking to a scammer.
Speaker 1 (28:40):
Go to Aras says that they may get hostile on
the phone and use threatening language.
Speaker 5 (28:44):
Our customer service representatives are professionals, and they know how
to speak to customers in a polite and professional manner.
Speaker 1 (28:50):
If you get a suspicious call, you're encouraged to hang
up and call the utility back at the number that's
printed on your bill and check your account and report
the scam. Thanks for listening to Local Voices. I'm brad Ford.
You can hear past episodes on the iHeartRadio app under
the podcast tab. Local Voices is a public affairs presentation
(29:13):
from iHeartRadio.
Welcome to Local Voices. I'm brad for this week. What
the Oregon Charter Academy offers to children's education, fall and
winter storms are here? Is your property protected? The state
of Oregon is working to get out of the business
of running the health insurance marketplace and ways to identify
and avoid utility scams. Parents looking for educational opportunities for
(00:31):
their kids can consider the Oregon Charter Academy. Alison Galvin
is executive director and joins us on Local Voices. Alison
tell us about the Oregon Charter Academy.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Oregon Charter Academy is a public virtual charter school serving
students all throughout the state of Oregon, where students can
learn from their own home and have just a very interactive,
responsive educational environment, individualized for them.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
So what's the history. How did it start?
Speaker 2 (00:57):
Yeah, so, Orgon Charter Academy is actually the original public
virtual public charter school in the state. You know, we've
really adapted with time where we became Organ Charter Academy
in twenty twenty. Previously you might have known us as
Organ Connections Academy and we opened in two thousand and five.
And as we're working to be better for kids and
(01:21):
keep up with technology and the needs of our students
and our families. We became organ charter Academy and now
just really work hard to have this dynamic, responsive approach
to learning with students.
Speaker 1 (01:34):
So how does it work.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
Teachers work individually with students. Students log in, they need
to go to live class to really access you know,
the best learning environment. So where they meet with their teachers.
Teachers can give that individualized feedback so students can quickly
change paths if they need to. If a student needs
a little more time on something, a teacher can can
(01:58):
work with that student say all right, going to focus
on this this week and then adapt, you know, moving forward.
So can really accommodate what that student needs in that
you know, public educational environment.
Speaker 1 (02:10):
Sure is it? So you say a live class? Is
it like a group of students that are working with
the teacher all at the same time.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
It can be a group of students. You know, for example,
our elementary classes might have thirty kids in live class
and you know, just like you would see in a
traditional school, except in live class there's not you know,
the bells ringing and the kids needing to you know,
leave class. For whatever reason, they're just there together learning.
Sometimes it's small groups, so teachers might pull individual students
(02:39):
and you know for the small group learning, you know,
based on what that student needs. And also they might
even come together in that live class environment. But even
for fun things, you know, like they'll do like a
virtual recess together, or a talent show or an art
show or clubs. So so many options for students to
(02:59):
engage in that live class opportunity.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
Are there enrollment deadlines or costs?
Speaker 2 (03:04):
You know what's cool about public schools in Oregon, there
are no enrollment deadlines and there's no cost. So Orgon
Charter Academy is tuition free. Students can enroll at a
time that makes sense for them, anytime in the school year.
Speaker 1 (03:18):
Is it available for all age.
Speaker 2 (03:19):
Groups, all students in kindergarten through twelfth grade. So if
students are you know, qualify for that kindergarten through twelfth
grade public education, they are able to attend organ Charter Academy.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
This kind of like during the pandemic where the kids
are in front of the computer and learning. Is it
difficult for younger kids to remain focused with that kind
of learning or is it structured in a way so
that they are well.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
I want to clarify one thing you mentioned. This is
similar to during the pandemic. We were structured to know
how to engage students virtually, and of no fault of
anybody's during the pandemic, that distance learning is not that.
The online learning experience are students reach ours is engaging,
it's collaborative. There's a real sense of community built within
(04:06):
our virtuals.
Speaker 1 (04:07):
That's because you've been doing it for so many years exactly.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
We were set up and structured for this, and we've
learned from what hasn't worked, you know, and we're in
our twentieth year right now, so we've got this virtual
learning thing down and know how to engage these students. So,
you know, younger kids and even older kids, regardless of
the age, if students are here and engaging in the
school environment, we've got no problems. You know, they're going
(04:31):
to be just a great integral piece of that learning
puzzle and our school community.
Speaker 1 (04:38):
What would you say are the benefits of the Oregon
Charter Academy.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
You know, the benefits are you know, there's that safe
learning environment for students, there's just continuous learning. You know
that traditional school day has so many interruptions with fire
drills and you know all the different things that happened
during the traditional school day. So we just have that
continuous learning. You know what's going to happen on Monday
(05:03):
is going to happen on Monday. There's no unknown distractions. Again,
that safety factor. Students are in their own home, building
safe friendships and relationships with staff and students. And then
really one of the big things is that students again,
we can individualize and be dynamic based on what the
student needs. Meaning if this student needs one thing and
(05:25):
student B needs another thing, we can really work and
do that for each student.
Speaker 1 (05:30):
What about socialization? How can students socialize at Oregon Charter Academy.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
Organ Charter Academy offers so many socialization opportunities. We have
almost two hundred field trips every school year all around
the state. We have regional field trips and so students
really get to know the other students in their region.
We have virtual field trips. We have over forty student clubs.
There's student facilitated clubs, anything from chess club to Baker's
(05:58):
Club to music club. And they do a talent show
at the end of the year, just so many things
student government, we have in person prom you know, just
like students become accustomed to in their local schools. So
there's just so many whether it's virtual or in person,
opportunities for students to engage in and really really build
(06:21):
a special community around them.
Speaker 1 (06:23):
What about physical education is PE part of it?
Speaker 2 (06:27):
Yes? Of course, every student, every public school student in
the state does participate in PE. And within our school
we don't just say okay, go get your minutes. We
do that, but we also work with students on meeting
with them individually. How are you getting your PE me minutes?
Tell me what are your goals, how did you achieve
those goals? Learning more about you know, physical movements and
(06:49):
the body, and again that individualized approach where our PE
teachers do work with their students individually and walk through
how they can live that life of person fitness.
Speaker 1 (07:01):
What makes Oregon Charter Academy unique.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
Oregon Charter Academy has many unique programs that MANI schools
just don't have the opportunity to participate in. So we
have a strong career technical education program. In fact, we
have the only f f A Future Farmers of America.
We have the only virtual program in the state. In fact,
(07:25):
I just as I was driving here today, I learned
from our f FA advisor that our kids just took
third at a competition yesterday. And that's with you know,
all the students that are doing their FFA program in person.
We just so our career Technical education program is unlike
any others we have, you know, a college career readiness
(07:47):
program called AVID. Again that those field trips are really unique,
those student clubs are really unique. And then again just
that way that teachers can be responsive to each student.
It is just it's just not possible in most learning environments,
and it is here and we embrace that.
Speaker 1 (08:07):
How is it How is the day structured? And I
imagine it's different for younger students than it is for
older student yes, but yeah, well.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
In general, hopefully they students wake up before noon at
some point, but you know, maybe they don't. And that's
part of the fun of virtual learning, right is what
works for your schedule. There's live classes for students each day,
whether it's forty five minutes slat or maybe there's a
couple in a day for our older students, you know,
based on their class schedule. And so going to that
(08:36):
live class really gets that you know, synchronous teacher experience
and with other students. There's you know, interactive work for
students to do on their own, So, you know, we
really think about that five to six hours of student work,
whether that's a combination of live class on their own work,
collaborative work.
Speaker 1 (08:56):
We have a collaborative.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
System where students can work together on projects or work
together with your teacher on what you're doing. So it
just depends on the grade and the classes the student
is in. But go to live class, participate in the
assignments for the day, and you know, engage in those
collaborative opportunities.
Speaker 1 (09:16):
Sure, if parents want to learn more about it, what's
the best way.
Speaker 2 (09:20):
You know, I always recommend to check out our website
Orgoncharter dot org. That's the best place the parents can
see a day in the life of a student. They
can check out you know, various programs that we have
and really get to know our school, and they can
always attend a virtual info session we have, you know,
usually two informational sessions each week, one during the day,
(09:43):
one in the evening. So whatever works best for the parents,
we're here to support that.
Speaker 1 (09:47):
So I hear that Oregon Charter Academy has been honored
with awards. Tell us about that.
Speaker 2 (09:52):
Oh, I am just so proud of our teaching staff. Again,
it's all based on how they can serve students. But
for four years in a row, Orgon Charter Academy has
been nominated as the Mid Valley's best public charter school.
That's of all charter schools. We actually through the accreditation process.
Every public school goes through accreditation. We were the only
(10:13):
school on the West Coast to receive an International School
of Distinction through that accreditation process, So we're really proud
of that. Our leadership team's been nominated Best Leadership Team
a few years in a row now, so that's really cool.
We have currently the Career Technical Education E Dynamics Teacher
(10:35):
the Year on our staff, Summer High Phil We're very
proud of her and all that she does with her students.
So National Teacher of the Year, that's pretty cool. So
lots of really cool things that our school has been
recognized for, and again it's all because of that individualized
approach to serving students.
Speaker 1 (10:53):
Alison, thanks for joining us as Alison Galvin, Executive director
of the Oregon Charter Academy, and again you can learn
more on their website Oregon Charter dot org. Fall and
winter brings storms to the Pacific Northwest and that can
lead to damage either to your house, apartment, or your vehicle.
(11:14):
Kenton Bryan, with a Northwest Insurance Council, joins us on
Local Voices to explain the types of insurance you might
need to protect your property. Kenton, what should homeowners consider
for insurance?
Speaker 3 (11:26):
Well, it's important to know what your policy covers and
what it doesn't. And the good news I think for
people who've suffered property damage due to the windstorm is
that you know windstorm damage, whether it's a tornado or
just regular old wind, is typically covered under your standard
homeowner's policy as well as business policies and renters policies.
(11:47):
So if a tree falls on your home, damages the roof,
crashes through some windows, that damage is going to be
covered by your insurance.
Speaker 1 (11:54):
Now, what if that tree is on my neighbor's property,
does that make a difference.
Speaker 3 (11:59):
It makes no difference where the tree came from. If
it lands on your house, it's your insurance that you
want to file acclaim with. And then if there are
expenses that the insurer incurs to repair damage to your property.
They're going to check in with your neighbor. If it
was your neighbor's tree, they're going to talk to your
neighbor's insurer and try to recover some of those costs.
Speaker 1 (12:20):
What about removal of the tree? Does it cover that?
Speaker 3 (12:24):
Typically a homeowner's policy cover tree and limb removal, particularly
if it's the structure. Sometimes if there's property damage where
a tree falls in the yard and no structure is it,
you might have some coverage for that, but you might not.
So that's one of those things to take a look
at your policy and find out what it covers.
Speaker 1 (12:43):
So what if a tree falls on my car? Is
that homeowners or auto insurance?
Speaker 3 (12:48):
If the car is in the garage and the tree
falls on the house and cause damage to the vehicle,
that's the damage to the house is going to be
on your homeowners. The damage to your vehicle is your
comprehensive insurance policy that covers that.
Speaker 1 (13:03):
Let's look at a couple of other scenarios. Ice dams
and gutters can cause damage to roofs. Is that something
homeowner's insurance would cover?
Speaker 3 (13:12):
In most cases, home owner's insurance is going to cover
an ice dam situation where the ice is built up
and cause separation and then thaws and water gets into
your home. That's typically a covered peril. But it's important
to do home maintenance. So if you've just ignored those
gutters for several years and you knew that there was
a potential risk for damage to occur, your insurance may
(13:35):
have a reason to deny that claim. So it's important
to do that those you know, typical home maintenance projects annually.
Speaker 1 (13:43):
So I know there's some issues with flood the need
for flood insurance. If there's a roof leak and the
water floods into my home, is that covered by homeowners
insurance or is that a flood insurance issue.
Speaker 3 (13:53):
If water comes into your home through a leak in
the structure, that's typically going to be covered. Or if
the water comes from inside the house, like if you
have a pipe burst or a refrigerator thaws and causes
damage to your floor, that's typically covered. What's not covered
is water that comes into the home from say a
(14:14):
rising river or groundwater or lake flooding and that sort
of thing, and that's you have to have flood insurance
to cover that risk specifically. Also, it's important to know
that there are companies that offer an add on coverage
that covers the sewer line and water lines that come
from the street to your home, because that may not
(14:34):
be covered under your standard home owners policy. Either a
good idea to ask your insurance agent about that and
make sure you know if you're covered in case that
parrel happens.
Speaker 1 (14:43):
What is your recommendation about flood insurance? Who needs it?
I mean, obviously living next to a river you might,
but should other people have it?
Speaker 3 (14:51):
You know, if you saw any of the news coverage
about what happened in North Carolina where homes in the
mountains flooded, I think you get an idea that the
changing climate is having an impact on where floods occur.
And we're you know, now what they used to call
one hundred year flood, it might now be a ten
year flood. So whether you're living right next to a
(15:12):
river or a lake, or whether you've just seen a
lot of growth in the area and there's more surface level,
you know, asphalt and concrete than there used to be,
your flood risk is higher than it used to be,
So you know, it's good idea to check for local
flood map information and inquire with the National Flood Insurance
Program Because if you're not in a you know, super
(15:34):
flood prone area, but there's a chance that could be flooding,
that coverage is probably going to be pretty affordable for you,
and it's better than you know, only takes about three
inches of water to descroy your home.
Speaker 1 (15:44):
Right, Renters wouldn't have to pay for damage to their
apartment building, but is there insurance they could cover damage
to their personal property if a tree came through, or
maybe that you know, there's a leak in the roof
and they get everything gets wet.
Speaker 3 (15:58):
Yeah, it's really important for to look into having renters insurance,
and I think today a lot of renters are aware
of this, and many people who rent places out to
renters require those tenants to have renters insurance. It's affordable
because it only covers your possessions inside the space where
(16:20):
you live, in the space that you're renting, so and
it does cover doesn't cover flood, that's a separate policy
as well. But if you have any other kind of damage,
including water damage, if a tree falls on your apartment
building or on the home, that you're renting your property
inside that unit will be covered by your renter's policy.
Speaker 1 (16:40):
All right, So if something happens to our house, what's
the process in dealing with an insurance company for that
kind of acclaim? I would imagine we start with a
phone call.
Speaker 3 (16:49):
Absolutely, start with a phone call, call your agent, or
call the company directly. Their information about how to reach
them is on your policy, but you can also look
them up online if you have access to going online
and your powers not out. It's important to take pictures.
Some companies these days have apps that you can use
on your smartphone and start a claim process that way
(17:10):
and send pictures of the damage if you can prevent
the damage from getting worse without risking your own life
and limb. It's a good idea to throw a tarp
over a hole, that sort of thing to keep the
damage from getting worse. But start with a call to
your insurance company, because they won't just help you with
the claim filing process, but they'll also recommend how to
(17:32):
start the work on repairing the damage. And it's important
to have that knowledge before you start talking to contractors,
so you know what you're not spending a lot of
money for work that isn't effectively preventing further damage to
your homer property.
Speaker 1 (17:48):
Yeah, exactly what's covered what's not? Driving on snowy and
icy roads can involve a crash. What should we consider
for coverage on auto related incidents.
Speaker 3 (17:57):
There's basically a few kinds of coverage. The mandatory one
that all states require is liability insurance, and that's what happened.
That's the insurance that pays if you hit another vehicle
and you cause damage to them or injuries to the
people in the other car. But you also need to
think about injuries and damages to your own vehicle, so
you need to have collision coverage, comprehensive coverage. Comprehensive coverage
(18:21):
is important because if a tree limb falls on your car,
and or a whole tree crashes down on as we
have seen, that's the comprehensive insurance is the policy that
will pay to repair or replace your vehicle. Under Insured
motorist coverage critically important. We have high rates of people
driving around without insurance these days. If they hit your vehicle,
that's the coverage that is going to pay for injuries
(18:43):
and damages to your vehicle. PIP insurance, Personal entry protection.
Insurers are required to offer that to you in the
state of Oregon and in the state of Washington, and
you can decide whether to take it or not take
it in Washington. But it's a good idea to have
it because that provides it's specific sort of health insurance
coverage for you and the passengers in your vehicle if
(19:05):
they're engine in an accident. So all those coverages are
important for you to consider. Typically, liability is the biggest
chunk of cost for an auto insurance policy. These other
collision comprehensive pip in M and UIM are coverages that
cost significantly less to add to your policy, but they're
(19:26):
a really good idea. You don't want to be caught
without them.
Speaker 1 (19:28):
We're talking with Kat and Brian with a Northwest insurance council.
The holiday shopping season is here and online shopping is
a big part of it. Katin, what advice do you
have to protect against scams?
Speaker 4 (19:39):
Well?
Speaker 3 (19:39):
Before you go online and start shopping, which so many
people will be doing again this year, make sure your
software is up to date and your malware so that
if you do run into a sketchy site, that malware
will stop you from making a mistake. It's also a
good idea if you're going out and about and maybe
doing some shopping on your phone to not use the
(20:04):
free Wi Fi that's unsecured at the coffee shop, because
that may give cyber criminals access to the information that
you're sharing online.
Speaker 1 (20:15):
Does it help to use a credit card or even
a prepaid card when doing your shopping.
Speaker 3 (20:20):
It's very wise to use a credit card or a
prepaid credit card or one of the online payment services
that keeps people away from your bank account when you're
shopping online. A couple of reasons for that. One is
it can be more secure it doesn't attach to your
bank account, but also if you run into a problem
later and you need to get a refund, it may
(20:42):
be easier to get that from your credit card company
than from your bank.
Speaker 1 (20:46):
Is there any way to know whether a website is secure?
Speaker 3 (20:53):
Well, if you use the sites that are HTTPS in
a couple of forward slashes, then you're more like to
know that that website is a safe and real website.
But also generally if something looks off, if the language
that you use is a little different than you would
normally see, or if words are misspelled, and that can
(21:14):
be in the form of a website or a text,
be really cautious about clicking on the links in those
websites or texts.
Speaker 1 (21:22):
Is it important to use sites that are well known
versus one that you might see that you know is
new and just doesn't seem to be very well vetted.
Speaker 3 (21:34):
That's just the thing, you know. A lot of websites today,
they'll take pains to look like they're the real thing,
but there's always something that's a little bit off about them,
and you need to use your good sense and think
before you click. Is really a critical thing. If you're unsure,
don't go to that website, don't click on that link.
You can always look up a place that you're thinking
(21:56):
about shopping at online and find the authentic website if
you shop, if you look around for it yourself instead
of clicking on a link that someone else has sent
to you.
Speaker 1 (22:05):
This time, I hear a lot of people are giving
to charities any advice on how to not get scammed
doing that.
Speaker 3 (22:12):
There are ways to double check, and there are websites available,
such as one called charity Watch that will help you
learn about the charities, how much they take in each year,
and how they spend the money they received a lot
of charities. They may be legitimate, but they spend a
great deal of money on administration and less on the
charities you're trying to support, so check that out. You
(22:34):
might also check your own state's secretary of state website.
Sometimes their corporation's divisions keep an eye on charities as well.
Speaker 1 (22:42):
Any advice on using passwords that work that really provide security.
Speaker 3 (22:49):
So you really need to use strong passwords, and you
can practice good password management by changing your passwords frequently.
There are apps available that will help you automatically change
passwords and or keep track of the passwords that you
use for the various accounts that you have. So make
sure that you're using a password that has more than
(23:10):
six digits, uses special characters if possible, and maybe substitutes
letters for numbers in some cases. And then you know,
the other key is to keep track of those passwords
after you set them.
Speaker 1 (23:23):
What is multi factor authentication?
Speaker 3 (23:27):
Multi factor authentication is a great way to help secure
your accounts. It's a security protocol that uses a secondary
device to verify that you really are who you say
you are. So you log into a website and you
use your password and user name, and then it sends
a text to your phone to confirm that it's really you.
Speaker 1 (23:47):
So besides the computers that we have at home, you know,
our phones or a computer, and we might carry a
laptop or a netbook. Any advice on the actual physical
device on ways to kind of keep those secure.
Speaker 3 (23:59):
Well, these days, most people can do most of the
things they need to do, particularly with shopping on their smartphone.
But if you are taking your tablet with you or
your laptop, make sure that you store them in a
secure place and buy a secure place. I don't mean
the backseat of your car, because these days there are
a lot of thefts that occur in store, parking lots
(24:21):
and that sort of thing. So you try to keep
it with you if possible. And if you're using a
desktop computer, make sure you lock your screen unless you're
desktop computers in your home somewhere and no one can
access it.
Speaker 1 (24:34):
That's Katon Bryan with a Northwest Insurance Council with tips
on how to be insured against winter disasters and holiday
shopping scams. The Oregon Health Authority needs to get out
of the business of running the health insurance marketplace. That's
where people who don't get insurance from their employer, can
(24:54):
go to buy insurance and potentially get a discount. Amy
covin where the Oregon Health Authority joins us on local
voices to explain the process of essentially privatizing the health
insurance marketplace. What is Oregan doing with the health insurance marketplace?
Speaker 4 (25:09):
So Senate Bill nine seventy two was passed in twenty
twenty three which requires the Oregon Health Authority to transition
the marketplace from a state based marketplace that uses the
federal platform of healthcare dot gov to a full state
based marketplace with its own technology and its own call
center as well.
Speaker 1 (25:27):
So I remember Cover Oregon. Is this different from Cover
Oregon when the Affordable Care Act initially started?
Speaker 4 (25:35):
Yes? Absolutely, So this transition will not include building a
new system from the ground up. We're actually only soliciting
for proposals from vendors who have successfully implemented an SBM
platform with other states, and we're interested in procuring a
software as a service system which can just be modified
to Oregon's needs.
Speaker 1 (25:54):
Got it, So something that already exists and not being
built from scratch. That makes sense exactly. This is the
request for proposals part of the process. You mentioned that,
but what's that mean?
Speaker 4 (26:06):
Yeah, a request for proposals for a technology project is
basically putting out a document that outlines the requirements and
the objectives of the project and invites potential vendors to
submit a detailed proposal on how they would approach and
deliver the solution, which allows the state to compare options
and then select the best needs for their fit or
(26:26):
fit for their needs. Excuse me?
Speaker 1 (26:28):
And there are certain requirements that have to be met
by these companies.
Speaker 4 (26:32):
Yeah, So as part of this RFP, we're asking that
proposers have at least three years of experience configuring and
implementing a cloud based state based marketplace in another state.
We're also asking for someone to have experience working with
the government entity and also to have a knowledge and
experience with the Affordable Care Act and regulations related to
(26:54):
state based marketplaces.
Speaker 1 (26:56):
And is there a deadline for when the new vendor
needs to be an operation.
Speaker 4 (27:01):
We're working towards a go live date of November one,
twenty twenty six, which would be for the twenty twenty
seven plan year.
Speaker 1 (27:07):
Anything else you want to add, just a reminder.
Speaker 4 (27:10):
That it's open enrollment right now and we still are
using healthcare dot gov, so if anyone needs health insurance
for next year for twenty twenty five, they can still
visit Oregon healthcare dot gov to get started and they
can still complete applications on healthcare dot gov.
Speaker 1 (27:26):
Amy, thanks for joining us on local Voices. That's Amy
Covin with the Oregon Health Authority and details in the
state's process to select a new business to run the
health insurance marketplace. The scammer's worth overtime this time of year,
often posing as major utility providers. Pacific Power gets hundreds
(27:47):
of reports every year about scammers demanding payments from their customers.
Simon Gutierrez has Pacific Power season uptick in scam reports
during the holidays.
Speaker 5 (27:56):
We are contacted by customers pretty much on an annual
basis alerting us to what they consider suspicious activity someone
trying to pose as a specific power representative and obtain
some sort of payment.
Speaker 1 (28:09):
Go Tierras says there are a few red flags that
you should listen for if you get a call from
someone claiming to be from your power company.
Speaker 5 (28:16):
One indication that they should not continue that call and
to report this call is if you have the caller
asking to state your account number. Our customer service employees
will always have your correct account number.
Speaker 1 (28:28):
Go Tier says Fronster is trying to create a sense
of urgency, saying that if you don't pay up right away,
you'll lose service within the hour.
Speaker 5 (28:35):
That threat of an immediate disconnection, that's a good sign
that you're talking to a scammer.
Speaker 1 (28:40):
Go to Aras says that they may get hostile on
the phone and use threatening language.
Speaker 5 (28:44):
Our customer service representatives are professionals, and they know how
to speak to customers in a polite and professional manner.
Speaker 1 (28:50):
If you get a suspicious call, you're encouraged to hang
up and call the utility back at the number that's
printed on your bill and check your account and report
the scam. Thanks for listening to Local Voices. I'm brad Ford.
You can hear past episodes on the iHeartRadio app under
the podcast tab. Local Voices is a public affairs presentation
(29:13):
from iHeartRadio.
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