Sweet Home School Board members worked their way through an ambitious agenda Monday, March 9, including an on-and-off discussion of district travel costs that prompted some vigorous responses toward the end of the meeting.
The meeting began with public comments from Luke Augsburger, most recently a vice principal at Sweet Home High School, who resumed a line of questioning he began in the January board meeting and continued in February’s meeting, questioning what he described as increases over the last several years in the district’s travel spending, which is part of the superintendent’s budget.
In response to Augsburger’s comments in February, board members asked Business Manager Kevin Strong to give them comparisons of the district’s spending to comparable school districts, particularly Lebanon and Albany.
Augsburger complained that information Strong included in the March board agenda packet
“did not show direct correlation” but rather focused on “direct spending per student across the district, which is different from travel spending for the Office of the Superintendent.
He said he had researched the Greater Albany and Lebanon school districts, and had determined that Lebanon spent $6,100 on that particular budget line item and Albany spent $1,400 during the 2023-24 school year, noting that “these are much larger school districts and they choose to spend much smaller percentage of their overall budget on travel for the Office of the Superintendent.
He said Sweet Home spent $46,538 on the budget line item during that year.
Augsburger questioned how other school districts could meet “legal requirements” set down by the state with much smaller spending?
Augsburger complained that Supt. Terry Martin had “refused” to meet with him on the issue, and that he wanted to do so.
Board Chair Mike Adams cut Augsburger off after a few more sentences, saying that he had used up the three minutes Adams had stated he was allotting public comment speakers due to what he said was a full agenda.
When the item came up in the board’s agenda later in the meeting, Strong provided the board with data from the Oregon Department of Education’s Fiscal Transparency website, which, he said, allowed him to compare Sweet Home’s travel and professional development expenditures’ “full amounts” by fiscal year to all of the other school districts in Oregon.
“I would say that, comparing apples to apples, this is the way to go,” Strong said.
Districts can charge such expenses to “a variety of different departments, a variety of different funds, a variety of different grants,” he explained, adding, “This captures everything.”
Strong went over costs paid through the Superintendent’s Office during the 2023-24 year, the largest of which was $23,646 for Response to Intervention (RTI) training to help staff identify struggling students early and provide them with “targeted academic support,” particularly in reading and math. He noted that cost was paid with a federal grant.
Other costs listed were: $9,699 for the wrestling team’s overnight travel, particularly to the state championships; $7,196 for Transportation Department staff training and driver reimbursements for field trips and away games; $7,085 for High School Career Technical Education (CTE) staff professional development, which was funded by a federal Perkins grant; $6,534 for travel expenses to job fairs and other recruitment activities; $6,405 for Professional Learning Community (PLC) training to support collaborative data analysis and instructional improvement; $5,490 for Josai exchange program travel; $3,853 for travel expenses related to students experiencing homelessness; $3,800 for K-12 student threat assessment and investigation training; and $3,382 for swim team travel, including an overnight trip to the state championships.
Strong explained that some Sweet Home costs are charged to the Office of Superintendent because it handled registration in some cases, even though the personnel involved were not necessarily administrative.
“Budgeting it this way, we’re picking up all travel and professional development expenses, district-wide,” he said.
He said the most recent year listed by the state is 2023-24. Strong said that since district sizes vary widely throughout the state, and larger districts tend to spend more than smaller districts, he factored in district enrollment reports to make an “apples-to-apples comparison.”
He said, based on those calculations, 135 of the state’s school districts reported higher travel expenditures per student than Sweet Home, while 56 were lower.
That places Sweet Home in the lower third, statewide, in travel and professional development expenditures.
Strong noted that “many” district staff members choose not to submit reimbursement requests, describing that as “effectively contributing to the education of students.”
Addressing some of Augsburger’s comments directly, he pointed out that news reports have indicated that Greater Albany is facing a $10 million budget shortfall.
Lebanon is facing “critical facility issues,” he said, crediting Sweet Home’s School Board, two decades ago, with initiating setting aside of monies in the district’s long-term facilities fund, which has helped Sweet Home stay on top of many needed repairs that others are struggling to fund.
“We’ve been able to do a lot of good things and we have opportunities now to do more,” he said, referring to the opportunity Sweet Home has to receive a $12.25 million grant from the state if voters extend the bond they are currently paying.
“If you’re looking long-term and planning long-term, in the long term you’re saving this community money,” Strong said.
Board Member Mary Speck asked why travel and professional development were in the same budget line.
Strong responded that that is typical “because professional development usually involves travel.”
He also noted that the district’s contracts with its employee unions specify funding for such things.
Martin pointed out that the district’s accounting firm, Pauly Rogers of Tigard, in February gave the district a clean audit, which has continued for over 20 years and “which I know that Kevin strives for and which we expect.”
He reminded board members that budgets are approved through a series of steps, starting with the Budget Committee, then by the board, and that he personally signs off on staff reimbursement, and Adams, the board chair, signs off on reimbursements for Martin’s activities.
“We have processes in place and those processes are working,” Martin said. “A clean audit is the very top tier that you can receive.”
Districts “start looking for someone else” when they slip below that top tier, he said.
In response to a question from Martin, Strong said that Sweet Home has continued with Pauly Rogers, “probably since the 1980s.”
Speck asked why the travel budget had grown from the point it was at five years ago, which was noted by Augsburger in previous comments to the board.
Martin responded, “Let’s not kid ourselves. That’s not what the question was.”
“What happened five years ago?” he asked, with several “COVID” responses coming from around the room. “What did we go through? Did we travel during COVID? Did we get together as groups? Did we get together face-to-face? If you can’t do any of those things, what happens to your budget? You don’t use it.”
“So coming back from that, that builds.”
He urged the board to “keep in mind the totality of what we’re going through.”
During board comments, which followed the budget explanation, Speck complained about a lack of “respect” for Augsburger, who had been cut off by Adams during public comment, and told Martin she was surprised that when she asked the question, Martin had responded with “Let’s not kid ourselves.”
She said she wasn’t looking for “a ‘gotcha’” in asking the question.
“I was just seeking information and there was no ulterior motive. So when you made that comment, I was a little taken aback.”
Adams responded: “I take it that your ulterior motive is to support what I think is accurate and factual to describe as a former, disgruntled employee,” he said to Speck. “It’s using employee time by continually coming in and requesting information. And in my opinion, it’s a waste of time.
“There’s a public records process. There’s a difference between trying to get information for the purpose of trying to make things better and trying to swing an axe and take off somebody’s head. And I’m just going to leave it at that.”
Property Purchase Approved
Following an executive session, board members also approved the acquisition of a slice of property directly east of Sweet Home High School.
Board members agreed unanimously to purchase the property for $37,500, subject to the approval and completion of a required lot line adjustment.
– Sweet Home School District graphic
The 77.2-by-35-foot slice is located immediately south of a portion of the flag-shaped 12,214-square-foot property the board agreed in December to purchase for $90,000.
Strong said later that the district is considering two primary options for the property. One option is to use the property to expand career learning opportunities for students, such as developing the site for a greenhouse.
Another option is to use the property, along with adjoining property, to improve safety for students and community members by establishing a bus loop off 18th Avenue to help reduce bus traffic and traffic congestion on Long Street and in the high school’s west parking area before and after school.
Mental Health Counseling
District mental health counselors Josalyn Lawrence of Sweet Home High School and Brooklyn Giles of Sweet Home Junior High reported to the board on steps they are taking to help students be successful in school.
Lawrence noted that their positions were created about three years ago after the COVID shutdown and existing counselors were finding more demand than they were able to meet. After she was hired, she said, it became clear that there was too much demand for her services in both schools, so a second position was created, filled by Giles.
Giles said they provide one-on-one and group counseling for self-management, coping skills and group skills
“It varies, based on student needs,” she said, adding that they often address students’ “immediate needs that are not on our case loads” – students who are having “a difficult day” or otherwise having difficulty being “regulated” and for whom a school guidance counselor is not available.
“We love to include parents in the therapy process,” Giles said, adding that she and Lawrence also refer students to outside help when needed.
In response to a question from Speck later, Giles said that they do not work with students “on a regular basis” without involvement from parents.
They also regularly collaborate with other staff to “strengthen” the mental health program at the schools.
In response to a question on the topic from Board Member Rachel Maynard, Giles said that the counselors have challenges getting outside help, particularly from the county, at the end of the school year when they try to prepare students to cope with the summer break.
Transportation during the summer can be challenging and health insurance can also be tricky, she said, noting that counselors have to line up outside therapists and then determine whether a family’s health insurance is accepted by that therapist.
Telehealth options can also be challenging, Giles said, due to “confidentiality” issues.
Typically, Lawrence told the board, outside resources are located in Albany or Corvallis.
Giles said Breaking Free, a mental health counseling service located in Lebanon, has been helpful.
Giles said she meets weekly with individual students – about 60% female and 40% male, and also assists with the mental health sections in health classes. She also helps plan school events like the eighth-grade progression, and maintains a bulletin board near the cafeteria that posts “fun and engaging activities.”
Lawrence reported that she has had 46 referrals this year, with whom she meets as needed – usually anywhere from weekly to monthly. She also meets with students who aren’t in her caseload “if an urgent need comes up.”
She said efforts are made to connect with students on the first day of school with handouts, music and other goodies, and she participates in student meetings and classes in efforts to promote mental health and wellness.
Giles said students have been removed from “challenging” class situations and placed in classes that better meet “their academic needs.”
She said she works with other staffers, including Rich Guzman, the district’s family support liaison who works on a contract with the Linn-Benton-Lincoln Educational Services District, and Christy Walker, Sweet Home’s homeless liaison staffer, to provide clothing or shelter or other resources for students in need.
She said she’s “proud” of being able to help students learn to manage their thoughts and anxiety and how to “express their emotions in a way that felt better to them while also connecting with their peers, and helping them to decrease their worries and having a safe place to be able to express themselves” – “providing a safe place for them.”
Lawrence said it was hard to describe how much is happening at the high school because “there’s so much that has happened.”
She said many students show marked improvement after meeting with her and other counselors or being helped by other resources the school provides.
She said a big emphasis is “healthy self-care,” teaching students what that involves.
“A lot of people have an idea of what self-care is, but we talk about what it actually is and how it’s taking care of yourself” through adequate sleep, connections with others and eating.
“Sometimes, doing your homework is self-care,” she said.
She said those efforts, often conducted in concert with other staffers, often result in improved attendance and academic performance.
“Overall, I think it’s just a success that we get to be present in the building because I think we’re able to meet the students that otherwise wouldn’t be met” or that otherwise would be engaged in time-consuming and costly trips out of town for help, she said.
Also, she said, her presence in the building provides support for other staff and coaches who can rely on her help if “something comes up” that is out of the ordinary for them.
“It sounds like you’ve built up a good team inside and outside,” Martin said, adding, “I’m very proud of our counselors and counseling program. This is a very conscious budget decision that we made to help our students.”
“Mental health in our society is heavily stigmatized and it’s very important,” Martin said. “It’s cliche to say ‘hurt people hurt people,’ but as people work through the issues that they have, they can do better.
“And when people know better, they do better.”
Martin added that in his 30 years in education “I’ve never had so many parents talk about anxiety, so many students talk about anxiety, and so we’re removing barriers to helping our students come to school and be successful.”
PET Program Report
The board also heard a report from Robin Lindsey, who has created a Pre-Employment Transition Services program at the high school to, as Martin put it, “help our students be successful after high school.”
The program, Lindsey told the board, is funded by a federal grant and is available to “all students with a documented disability,” including students on 504 accommodation plans, as well as those served by Lawrence and Giles, who are struggling with anxiety and depression.
Her program includes job exploration help, work-based learning experience, post-secondary counseling for those who need help exploring schooling and transition options, workplace readiness training and self-advocacy.
Activities can include job shadowing, volunteering at local businesses, resume workshops, mock interviews, driver’s education and more.
She said she has 37 students currently enrolled in the program, four of whom are working in vocational rehabilitation programs. Students are volunteering at Hand in Hand Farm, SafeHaven, Wiley Creek, and on campus in the high school cafeteria, the Snack Shack and Cookie House.
“We are always looking for local small businesses to volunteer with and gain employment skills,” Lindsey said.
She noted that the program brings grant revenue to the district and previous graduates have received on-the-job training right out of high school. She also helps students find college scholarships and fill out paperwork for financial aid and school applications.
Lindsey said she hopes to grow the program and add locations, including opportunities for students to get paid through work-based learning.
Also, she said, like last year, a unified CTE day is being planned for Wednesday of May Week this year.
In other action, the board:
- Approved wording for an application for exceptions to the governor-mandated ban on personal electronic devices for students who have health or other needs that are deemed by school officials to qualify for an exemption to the rule.
- Agreed to postpone further consideration and approval of proposed changes to wording for the district’s drug testing program for students involved in extracurricular sports after multiple board members pointed out what they deemed to be unclear wording in the policy. District staff will work on the wording before the policy is considered by the board. The policy defines illegal drugs and testing procedures, as well as disciplinary and appeals processes for alleged violations.
- Heard a report from Holley School Principal Josh Dargis on his school’s “Hawks Times” school newspaper, newly revived by some “ambitious third-graders” after a year’s hiatus, which is in its second month being put out monthly by students ranging from third to sixth grades.
- Accepted the resignation of Kristin Adams, High School Success Coordinator at the high school, effective March 31.
- Accepted the resignation of Hailey Schilling, kindergarten teacher at Hawthorne, effective at the end of the 2025-26 school year.
- Accepted the resignation of Kaley Schneider, fourth grade teacher at Foster Elementary, effective June 13.
- Accepted the resignation of Hailey Miller, second grade teacher at Foster Elementary, effective June 12.
- Accepted the donation of a Noble B flat clarinet, a LeBlanc saxophone, an Evette Schaefer alto saxophone, a tenor saxophone and a set of piano tuning tools, and $1,000 from Janice Horner.