Kristy Tallman
At the School Board meeting held on Jan. 8, the high school wrestling coach, Steve Thorpe, spoke for the first time since his retirement as a teacher during the Academic Report portion of the meeting. He chose to speak to the Essentials of Learning (EL) test scores and their validity in students thriving and passing their classes. He also discussed the Department of Education’s decision to suspend these tests as graduation requirements for Oregon students.
The newest test scores revealed Sweet Home eleventh grade students only passed the math requirements at a rate of 29%. However Thorpe feels parents shouldn’t put too much stock in this score.
According to Thorpe, “We are one of the top ranking, highest ranking places when it comes to poverty, homelessness and students on Individualized Education Plans (IEP). Not one of the top; we are the top in those areas. As long as we can maybe find them [students] power, wifi, a warm bed and food – then we can get those test scores up.” He further stated “In my opinion, the test scores were useless.”
Thorpe agrees with the Department of Education’s decision to suspend the EL test scores as a requirement for graduation until the 2027-2028 school year; In fact he believes they should discontinue it all together.
“When the DOE suspended state testing, many said you’d only need to show up to graduate. That’s not true,” he reiterated. “That is totally not true. The students still need to meet the standards we set before them. They still need to go to class and pass those classes. If all they had to do was show up,” he continued, “we wouldn’t have students getting into OSU, University of Oregon or Southern Oregon.”
Thorpe went on to explain the struggles behind the poverty and homelessness the students face as well as how teachers are dealing with those students enduring those conditions. He commended the elementary school teachers for the various obstacles they have to deal with in their students who are not so able to navigate through the day to day of being poor or homeless.
The high school offers the students a clothes closet and a hygiene closet to pull from, whereas the elementary school students are facing their teachers and classmates sometimes with dirty clothes and the inability to bathe.
He explained Sweet Home’s schools are working diligently to improve conditions for these children to the best of their abilities but they continue to look for new ways to improve the lives of their students and find ways to ensure they get the education they deserve.
Several programs across all the schools in the Sweet Home district have been created to help students raise their grades, improve their opportunities at learning and sometimes just be someone there for the children when they need someone to talk to.
“The grade schools are doing math and reading nights, having one-on-one’s they’re evaluating students to find out what better serves them,” he stated.
They’ve also partnered with the Boys and Girls Club to create a homework base and after school support for the children. These programs are reflective of The Hive offered by Hawthorne Elementary and The Homework Hub offered by the high school.
School staff also help these children in many other ways such as offering them snack packs daily, clean clothing and safe places to stay after school hours when necessary. They also have special mentor programs where teachers are partnered with troubled children in an effort to be someone the children can come to when in need.
“There’s so many different programs with differentiating instruction, finding different ways to make it so these kids can be successful,” Thorpe said. “I’m pretty proud of that. One on one work, sending out food backpacks, how we help them academically.”
He also spoke about the mental health professionals that have been provided to the schools to assist children in all areas of need. “Do you know how many schools don’t have mental health professionals?” he questioned. “We stepped forward, this board stepped forward and set it up to have those people on hand to serve the needs of the children.”
As a continued part of the efforts to bring children up to par for graduation, those who attend Sweet Home High School are offered 13 college credit courses. These courses allow them to graduate with a year’s worth of college courses already completed. Thorpe says it is these programs and these classes that allow for students to thrive in the face of adversity.
“This is also just our first full school year out of covid. I think we’re making progress, and the students will too.”
Superintendent Terry Martin said there are currently 2,296 students enrolled in the Sweet Home School District. This is a decrease of 14 students which is expected during the transition between semesters, as it’s a time when students tend to move around more.
The Sweet Home Junior High School won this month’s attendance award beating out Hawthorne who tends to rule the roost. “That’s a big accomplishment for the junior high,” Board Chairman, Jason Reddick said. “Junior high age kids are tough to get to come to school. I’m not sure I remember junior high ever winning that award,”
Programs
Prove Successful
The Really Great Reading Program was reported on by Hawthorne Elementary kindergarten teacher Hailey Schilling and Amber Rosa. The program is a reading program for the kindergarten level. According to Schilling and Rosa the children are accepting the program well, learning quickly and the program itself is a success.
Oak Height’s principal Todd Barrett spoke about the Thriving Citizen’s program which was set up to teach the children to be good citizens. Each of the elementary schools are doing a similar if not identical program so all students can benefit.
The core principles of the program are “Be Safe, Be Responsible, Be Respectful, Be Kind.” When a child is caught doing something good they are rewarded for their behaviors by receiving Mustang Pride tickets. Children who earn these tickets use them in the Mustang Pride Store where they can purchase physical items or fun experiences for the children. The store is funded by various fundraisers throughout the year.
Barrett further detailed the extensive steps taken by the students and teachers to reinforce these good behaviors through continued efforts by all to support one another and the program’s core principles.
Reddick told Barrett upon speaking to business owners and what they wanted to see from educators that business owners continuously ask for “soft skills” to be taught in schools more. “Across the board it’s soft skills, it’s showing up on time, be ready to go, all of these things. This [program] is laying the foundation for that. This is the start of teaching those soft skills,” Reddick stated.
Reddick further complimented Barrett on the program’s success in starting these teachings early in childhood, especially for the children who aren’t always exposed to the soft skills he spoke of.
Other Board Actions
Terry Martin announced the Thriving Community update would be provided at the next board meeting.
The board voted to approve the minutes from the Dec. 11, 2023 meeting.
They also voted to approve the out-of-state cheerleading competition in Anaheim, Calif. Feb. 14-20, 2024.
During the budget update, board member Kevin Strong spoke to board members informing them of the current year-to-date spending. Currently it is up almost $850,000 from last year’s fiscal spending. The primary reasons for this overage are due to higher labor expenses, somewhat higher utility costs, higher charter school payments and also higher property and liability insurance premiums. He stated they are however on target with what they had budgeted for the year.
“We are still on track to be within our overall budget,” Strong told board members.
The total percentage of increase for this year’s budget is 6% over last year’s with the cost of labor being the major factor in this year’s spending.
The board gave an update on the ESSER (Elementary and Secondary Schools Emergency Relief) funds, a program that is commonly referred to as covid funds. The money was distributed in three phases. Sweet Home is in phase three of the program. Those funds need to be spent by Sept. 30, 2024.
A packet entailing the program’s intended spending was presented for the board for review.
Strong explained this was the finish line for the funding. He also conceded that some jobs funded by ESSER would require the costs to be returned back to the general fund in order to save the positions created by the ESSER program. Currently they are trying to build up their general fund to absorb this coming cost but feel certain with coming grants they can also cover the cost.
The board also gave a swimming pool update. They are currently seeking proposals by contractors to replace the filtration system at the pool. They are also seeking proposals to replaster the pool. They wish to have these two projects completed by summer.
All action items were approved by the board for the board policies.
Next on the agenda was a vote on the Early Literacy Grant Program (ELGP).
Board Member Barbie Riggs discussed the ELGP funded by the state, which can be used on primary students grades K-3 with the opportunity to support fourth and fifth grade as well. For the first year they have the opportunity to receive $163,459.31 and they have chosen to place an importance on their Really Great Reading program already implemented in Hawthorne Elementary.
The budget for this year’s monies would include additional student kits, the playground (technology) portion of the program. It also includes funding for two more certified teachers per elementary school to do an after school tutoring club. They also proposed a small amount of funding for each of the administrators to use to buy books or other needs that promote early literacy.
The budget for year two they proposed to use the funds for a literacy coach since the ESSER funds would be ending. This person would be able to be utilized at all four elementary schools to provide support and training along with group instruction allowing the Really Great Reading program to thrive.
The board unanimously voted to approve the budget for the ELGP.
There were no public/board comments and there were no late items.
The next school board meeting will be held Feb. 12, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. in the district office.