At the recent school board meeting on Sept. 9, long-time educator Steve Thorpe emphasized the district’s continued success in supporting students, despite ongoing challenges such as the national teacher shortage. Thorpe praised the district’s resilience.
“I just keep seeing us find a way,” he said.
He also commended the success of recent open houses and highlighted that 92% of freshmen are currently on track to graduate.
Thorpe drew attention to the district’s Champions group, a program designed to provide one-on-one peer tutoring for struggling students. He underscored the importance of helping students stay on track through their freshmen and junior years.
“A little bit at a time gives them a diploma,” Thorpe said. “That’ll mean something when they’re in their 40s.”
He encouraged principals to recruit younger teachers while cautioning against burdening them with excessive policies and paperwork in order to retain them.
Thorpe also discussed the district’s integrated math and science classes, a model that has garnered attention from the Oregon Department of Education (ODE).
“We’re doing something that the ODE came in and said, ‘You guys just may be piloting a program the rest of the state follows,’” Thorpe said.
He noted the success of the program, particularly the role of peer tutors who assist students with special needs. Thorpe, who initially expressed concern about teaching 19 special needs students in one class, credited peer tutors with making the program work.
“To watch these kids, and the grace of these peer tutors, it has been incredible,” he said.
He added that the experience reminded him of his early days in education, but described the current program as even more effective.
Looking ahead, Thorpe expressed optimism for the school year, stating, “Our district is in good shape.”
In other business:
- Senior class representative Killan Boggs provided an update on the freshman class’ first day of school. Staff members and leadership students helped freshmen find their classrooms, ensuring a smooth transition. Boggs also reported that the back to school dance had similar attendance to homecoming, and noted that student participation in leadership has grown from 25 to nearly 40 students. Teachers Tomas Rosa and Ryan Adams are overseeing the leadership program, which is now preparing for the upcoming homecoming dance.
- The superintendent’s report indicated current enrollment at 2,322 students, although this number is expected to fluctuate. Supt. Terry Martin expressed concern over low enrollment in kindergarten and first grade, stating that the district would monitor the situation closely. Martin also announced that September has been officially proclaimed Attendance Awareness Month, emphasizing the importance of regular attendance for student success. Chronic absenteeism, he noted, disproportionately affects students of color and low income students, worsening achievement gaps and long term outcomes like dropout rates. “Collaboration between schools, families and communities is key,” he said.
- Staffing changes were approved under the consent agenda. The board approved the temporary hire of Bethanie Young as a fifth grade teacher at Oak Heights and the hire of Melissa Kruzel as a sixth grade teacher at Oak Heights for the 2024-25 school year. The board also accepted the retirement of Mark Holden, a junior high science teacher, effective Oct. 1, 2024, with the option to work through the remainder of the school year. Additionally, Alejandra Rua Rico was hired as a high school Spanish teacher.
- Budget update revealed that year-to-date spending is up by more than $82,000 compared to the same time last year. Higher labor costs, charter school payments, insurance premiums and software subscriptions contributed to the increase. However, the rise in costs was described as “nothing unexpected.” The district is also receiving several state grants, which are being used to fund integrated programs, the High School Success Program, and the Early Indicator and Intervention System Program. A spending report on these programs was presented to the board.
- Budget committee vacancies were also discussed. Six positions remain open, and the board is seeking interested community members to fill them. Candidates must live in the designated zones, be registered to vote and cannot be employed by the school district. Board member Jenna Northern asked if the vacancies had been advertised, and district staff confirmed they had been posted on the website at various times. The board stressed the importance of filling these positions to ensure the budget is approved by the July 1 deadline.
- The board reviewed several policies, including JHCCF and JHCCF-AR, both speaking about pediculosis (lice infestation). Keeping the original policy would allow the administration to exclude a child from class rather than keep them in the classroom. A vote to remove JHCCF from consideration passed unanimously. Board member Mary Massey raised concerns over additional policies, leading to a unanimous vote to reconsider 11 policies at the next meeting (EBBA, EBBA, EBBA-AR, EBBAA, EBBB, EBC, EBC/EBCA, EBCA, EBCB, GBEB, GBEB-AR).
- The annual Student Investment Account report was presented to the board and unanimously accepted. The report detailed spending on various state-funded programs aimed at improving student outcomes.