March-9-2020-Board-Meeting-Segment-1
[00:00:00] Good evening. We're going to go ahead and call this meeting of the West Linn, Wilsonville board of directors to order and, um, Ms. Douglas, would you please take roll? Galen Heights. Hasty Thompson here. Megan Malick's floor here. Ginger Fitch here. Chelsea Kane here. Thank you. And we will begin with our district communications and arts and technology high school.
Caitlin Finn? Yes. Okay.
Whoa. I'm back. I for a long time, I, me not being, yeah, my name's Kaitlin Finn. Um, and. Well at our school, we were excited to host our first ever art tech prom at the youth music project, April 25th. Um, the theme is black and white, and we'll include a candy bar, a DJ, [00:01:00] DJ, a silly photo booth. Um, a calm room with games, a swag bag full of art tech pier as a party gift.
Um, we're hoping to create an event with, uh, where the atmosphere is welcoming to everyone at our school. We want students to feel comfortable joining because they're part of the planning, decorating decision making. So far in the community meeting, we have voted on a theme painted pink, black and white stars for the formal photo booth and made an informational bulletin board.
Uh, the Saturday Kay is picking, uh, taking a group of students to Abby's closet at the convention center where students can pick out a prom dress and accessory item free of charge. Um, in some of our classes, students in the EMT class are practicing CPR with dummies in preparation for earning their CPR certification.
Um, and the automotive class has just started working on small engines, not the world's speed. Mmm. Oh, Roman. Is that an all time high art tech? We now have [00:02:00] over a hundred students and people are requesting to meet with Sauskia weekly about new Orleans. Mmm. I hope you enjoy the rest of your week and wash your hands.
Thank you, Katelyn. We are glad to have you back. Um, West Linn high school and Avery falls.
Good evening. Dr Ludwig and school remembers, my name is Avery fells, excuse the condition congestion. Um, I have been washing my hands, but it gets to the best of us. Right. So I appreciate the opportunity to speak with you again. Um, I can't believe that it's been so many times the years flying by. Um, but yet again, I have a super full and, um.
Amazing report to give you all. So with January's energy carrying over February at West Linn was exciting to say the least. After a rigorous three-pronged process, our 20 members century made core of which [00:03:00] I am proud to be a part of, um, was selected. We had our second dance rehearsal last night and we will continue to rehearse weekly until.
We perform on May 1st, our leadership ASB class has started to conceptualize and create the transformation. The main gym will soon undergo for the century Mayday, and as always, we invite you to join us and it's going to be extra special. This year. Our annual amazing race competition has just come to a close with 11 senior duos competing for charities of their choice.
The race took them back through time, each day surrounding a memorable area or time period. Seniors, Ethan lown and Spencer Edwards won the competition earning $537 for the Western food pantry, contributing to a grand total of $2,637 raise for the teams, charitable organizations. Um, it was an awesome time for seniors to bond, have fun, um, but also to remember why they're all playing.
Um, and got to do some good work for their charities. Well, Celine is currently hosting the crest Jane Goodall science symposium this week. All [00:04:00] students involved in ISF are presenting projects at the beginning months ago, and along with the awards ceremony. Tomorrow evening, there will be a discovery center and presentations by our primary school scientists.
In the comments or mock trial teams made history this year by taking the top three districts slots and advancing all three teams to state. Last weekend, the black team comprised entirely UB sophomores became, they became the state champions and will now advance to nationals. Um, we're so incredibly proud of them to have three teams.
It's unheard of. And I was so, so proud. Our girl's basketball team was tr champ. TRL champion for the first time in 35 years, but we're upset by McMinnville and the second round of state playoffs. Unified basketball ended their season and boys basketball has advanced the quarter final round and we'll be sending ruder buses to the child center on Thursday afternoon to support them in their game against Jesuit.
Our wrestling team ended their season first in TRL and fifth in state [00:05:00] with three state champions. Our swim team finished person TRL. And third in state. The Western ski team placed ninth in state last weekend and our snowboard team is continuing to grind towards their state competition. Their words, not mine.
The tabs have excelled in competition with their Island state and or cheer team placed in the top 10 at state and nationals. I wish I could say state one more time, but I'll spare you guys. We are extremely proud of our athletes as they work hard, um, and they put in their work all season and we're looking forward to the start of each spring athletic season.
As for the arts, our winter plays these shining lives and a number. We'll perform at 7:00 PM this Thursday through Saturday and orchestra, band and choir will perform at 7:00 PM on March 16th, 17th and 18th. Our choir band and orchestra students will out. We're also incredibly successful at their district 14 solo and ensemble contests with multiple soloists and groups advancing to the state competition.
In may, [00:06:00] we'll be welcoming our incoming freshmen to us and tomorrow with tours of the campus and forecasting guidance. And we're also deep in preparation for annual unity day, which is next Thursday, March 19th and are excited to have the opportunity to share and learn from our peers. And also a and March Weslyn century celebration will be taking place on the afternoon of Saturday, the 28th.
So the cards, if you haven't gotten them, those were the invitations, little handout. Um, and everyone here is invited. If you, um, want an invitation, there's a little bit of a stack over by the team. Um, but this event will serve as a time of reunion for alumni staff and the greater community as their lead on building tours, enjoy musical performances and just spend time together.
Tourists will start at 1:00 PM a hundred years of lion pride is something we at West Linn are extremely proud of and we can't wait for this opportunity to celebrate. We hope you'll be able to join us. Thank you for listening. That's all I have. Um, I guess I can second thought. Wash your hands and I will see you next month.
[00:07:00] Thank you, Avery. And, uh, Wilson old high school. Lindsey Hartford. Uh, she texted me and she's on her way. Okay. Well we'll call her back up when she gets here. Um, we'll move on to recognitions in the interim. And, um, Shiela did we have, Oh, all right. We can go to board reports then, and this is great. We can come back.
Um, Chelsea, would you like to start us off? I would. Let's make sure this sounds all right. I'm going to focus my board report on the superintendent evaluation process just to follow up with what we talked about last month. So hello everybody out there. I'm the vice chair, and so I'm in charge of coordinating the superintendent's evaluation.
It's one of the primary roles that the vice chair takes on. So [00:08:00] I'm, what I'm giving you are the documents that I emailed you, so some of them will look familiar. The list of dates you received last month also, but never hurts to see it again because a lot happens over the next few months. And so this is sort of your, the formal request to get me your next round of feedback.
For anybody in the audience who hasn't heard this before, we do formative. Feedback for the superintendent instead of just a once a year. Um, summative feedback. And so this is a process we engage in several times over the course of the academic year. Uh, the second handout are six tips that I compiled for us.
Because as you know, um, the re the employment of the superintendent is one of the most important things that we do. And I'm giving her a feedback and doing the evaluation as a primary function of our role. And so here are some learnings that I've [00:09:00] garnished after several years of serving as the vice chair and just working in the field.
And so hopefully you find those useful. Just a few tips to make the feedback, um, very effective. And then you have the, uh, 2020, um, proposed edits. Um, as well as the document that we've been working off of. So I highlighted in blue the edits that I made. And so, like I explained in the email, um, basically the, the main changes are a slight reduction in the number of standards and we're working with, cause, as you know, from doing this feedback, there's, you know, nine standards and if we're each giving feedback on four standards, four or five standards, that just.
Generates a huge amount of feedback, and so that becomes cumbersome. And so in an effort to, um, hit all nine standards, but also make the feedback manageable, there's just a slight reduction and just the quantity of standards we're working with in each cycle. And then there was an edition of [00:10:00] the executive session in April.
I'm just a chance for us as a board to touch in on how the process is going. Probably wouldn't need to be a lengthy discussion, but if there are any questions or concerns, just sort of closing that feedback loop there in April. Um. Those were the substantial difference. The other things were, uh, just some small, like I said, the numbers and the changing of the language to include formative feedback and summative feedback, including that language.
So I think that that is it for those. And I would say, um, if you have, um, if you think we need to have further discussion, we could certainly. Add it as an agenda item under new business for later tonight or potentially next month. Um, but if it looks good to you, um, then we'll just continue moving forward and I look forward to receiving from you.
Your feedback on whatever date was there. [00:11:00] March 17th. She's like in a week and a half. Alright. Yeah. I gave you a heads up about a month ago though, that it would be coming. So it seems like a short turnaround, but you've, I think you've had some warning for coming for a while, so thank you. Thank you, ginger.
I am Tincher Fitch and I'm a local attorney and sometimes represent parents and students who are in the district. A matter may come before us, uh, before the board. That materially benefits one of my clients. And if so, I'd abstain from participating in the discussion and any decision without revealing the identity of my client.
I have been participating on the Wilsonville parks board, which is. I don't know, maybe it's not a board group that, um, is [00:12:00] a members of the community who are evaluating the potential projects for a potential, um, government issued bond by the city of Wilsonville. And it's been a really interesting to be a participant in that.
I've, we meet. I think we're meeting six or seven times and we're, this'll be the seventh one tomorrow. And then it will go before the city council and they'll decide based on the recommendations, um, and their own analysis whether to move forward. But one of the discussions I think is relevant to the board and to, um, the, the superintendent will be a lot of discussion around frog pond.
And the, the, the cost of that project to provide fields, um, adjacent to Meridian Creek middle [00:13:00] school is, from my recollection, the highest dollar amount. That was provided to us to evaluate, and there was a lot of discussion about the fields being something that would draw in outside  Hmm. Tournaments. And so not only would it be a location for.
A local play area for neighborhood kids, but also, um, the intent is really to have outside use and draw in a lot of outside use of those fields. And I just think. Again, that's important as board members, why we are on those different, we're asked to be a part of those is because the [00:14:00] things that they're talking about, um, certainly will be things we'll have to be thinking about.
Should that go forward, should the, I mean, we're really early in the process. Um, but there are a lot of, um, questions also coming up about who owns that land, who. What lands our school lands and, um, that kind of thing. And I think, um, it's something for the board to be thinking about is what does the community know about where are 30 stops and where it ends?
And, um. Who's able to use those? And are there agreements about the use of our different lands? Um, it's certainly been, um, part of the discussions as there. Um, although it's a Wilsonville, uh, group, you know, the, also [00:15:00] the . The different organizations that have teams like Willamette United, that may play in Wilsonville, but also play a different West Linn sites or athe Creek.
Um, certainly a lot of discussion about how does the school district fit in with lands and, um, fields. And I think. One of the things that's been apparent to me is there's not always great clarity among the community. Even if we provided it, there may not be, but on the other hand, there's a lot of questions that are like, I don't know that I'm always able to answer it.
And so it just might be an aspect of our, our, um, district goal four is, uh, um, I don't mean for, but three. Is maybe a way for us to be more transparent, [00:16:00] um, as we, um, are continuing to grow and be in communities that are growing to clarify how we use our land and I don't know, fields.
Yeah. I was kind of pause board reports if that's all right. We'll return to the agenda and come back. So, um, . We'd love to hear from Wilsonville high school and Lindsey Hartford.
Good evening, dr Ludwick in school board. First of all, I'd like to apologize for being late. There's a little bit of a situation, but I'm very excited to be here and excited to be back to share about what's going on in Wilsonville as it is a very exciting time to be a wild cat. February was full of highlights, including the boys basketball team, clenching the title of conference champions and the girls.
Our [00:17:00] coach eons. We kicked off the canned food drive and are excited to be able to give back and I'll have more on this later. Students also forecasted for AP classes and the incoming freshmen are getting ready to come over to the high school and get oriented with student led tours on Tuesday and Wednesday.
This week. March is a very busy time right now for sports academics, activities and arts. The winter play just finish up and students showed their talent with an amazing performance of the imaginary in bullet. There's not much time for us though, because this week, auditions for the spring play crush are already being held in addition to the first play auditions being today.
The ICF students are also presenting their hard work at West Linn high school this afternoon and many Wilson, most students are very passionate about their project, so we look forward to hearing the results. Monday is the induction ceremony for national honor society to reward those who volunteered in the community as well as showing excellence in the classroom.
[00:18:00] Next week is the spring band and choir concert, and we invite you all to come to any of these events. I really love seeing everyone around campus. Now, I've touched on this a little bit, but I'm excited to update you on the canned food drive currently going on at Wilsonville. The competitive side of teachers is certainly starting to show as they encourage their students to bring in cans and when the class competition for donuts, the food drive continues until the end of this week, and we have already collected over 7,600 cans to donate to the Oregon food bank.
There are many exciting things going on in the Willis involved politics department right now with spring sports, starting up and winter sports, wrapping up with their state competitions, but I won't go into every detail or else we'd be here all night. But to sum it up, the wrestling team competed at state with a couple members in the top five.
This one team had a fantastic season and the pride dance team continues to perform. Also, our bowling team members, our state champs. Yes. [00:19:00] This week is big for the girls and boys basketball teams as they play for the state title in Corvallis. We are very excited to go cheer them on as we hope for great results from both teams.
Thank you so much for your time tonight and I will see you all next month.
Thank you so much and we will now move to the recognitions portion. Shiela.
Good evening school board. Um, I'm honored to work in a school district with the committed professional costs, bide staff that we have here at West Linn Wilsonville. We are grateful for the opportunity to show our appreciation for the hard work they do each day. Mary Hank serves as the president of OSTA, which is a volunteer [00:20:00] position.
She's a great advocate for our classified staff here at the district and a wonderful partner in the work to best support our classified staff for the human resources and district. Um, during my transition into the role of director of human resources, I've, it's been very smooth in large part to the great partnership we have with our association and the positive and collaborative relationships that we continue to build and maintain going forward.
And I just want to thank Mary and all of our classified staff for all the hard work they do every day. Thank you.
You want me to? Okay. Usually there's like proclamation. Yeah. I was going to say, why don't I do that first, if you don't mind, and then I. All right. And, uh, and just as a precursor to that, you know, Mary, thank you for being here on behalf of our classified employees and staff. Um, [00:21:00] classified employee appreciation week gives us the opportunity to thank not just you, but your peers as well for their roles that they play in making.
Um. Our students successful in our district successful. Um, just for those who are here in the audience. Our classified staff are involved in nearly every aspect of education. Um, they help maintain buildings and grounds. Uh, they prepare and serve meals. They keep our facilities clean and orderly. They assist in the classroom.
Uh, they. Provide support in our special education, uh, to our English language learners. And, um, they're essential in helping us, uh, in our, our goal number one to, uh, bridge, not just bridge, but eliminate opportunity gaps. Uh, they help assist in the performing and conducting of research activities. They provide information, technology and media services.
Um. Uh, administrative support functions. [00:22:00] Uh, they assist us in maintaining a secure and healthy school environments and a whole lot more. Um, so, uh. Our school board is very grateful for our classified employees. And we definitely encourage our community, uh, to join us in celebrating them and the work that they do and everything that they bring to our schools.
And so with that, we have a proclamation, uh, it says, whereas the education of youth is essential to the future of our community, state, country, and world. And whereas classified employees are the background back bone of our public education system. And we're as classified employees work directly with students, educators, parents, volunteers, business partners, and community leaders.
And whereas classified employees. Support the smooth operation of offices, the safety and maintenance of buildings and property, the safe [00:23:00] transportation, healthy nutrition, and direct instruction of students. And whereas our company community depends upon and trusts classified employees to serve students and whereas classified employees with their diverse talents and true dedication nurture students throughout their school years now, therefore be it resolved.
That the West Linn Wilsonville school district board of directors proclaims March 2nd through sixth of 2020 to be classified employee appreciation week and be it further resolved that the West Linn, Wilsonville board of directors strongly encourages all members, every community to join in this observance, in recognizing the dedication and hard work of these individuals.
So thank you. Thank you.
Yeah, no, no, no. Usually somebody turns the mic on and there's a procession and I just don't want to, and [00:24:00] the first year we did this. I thought it was my turn and then I'd cut you off and then I thought it was my turn and I'd cut you off. So I'm just making sure I'm not cutting somebody off. It gets easier each year actually, that we do this.
Okay. I'll stay on. And on behalf of the classified employees, I would like to thank you back for this recognition. It means a lot to us. Um, I think I said this last year, but I will say it again. Um. We all know that we are not doing this job to get rich. We're doing it for the love and education of children, so thank you.
Might be, and this is where I'm going to say something. Yeah. Just echoing what was already said. And we just have to get my voice in here on just the role that classified staff play in the schools. As, you know, we could not do what we do without all of you. And there's so many, so many of you, um, [00:25:00] unseen heroes in a lot of ways and, and some very visible heroes as well that, um, keep, keep.
The school's running. So thank you so much and share our appreciation with, um, all of your members. Thank you.
Okay. Um, yeah, I just want to say that as the former booster club president at Wilsonville high school, the classified staff was so helpful in so many ways to, um, just all the different things that we did around the school. If I ever had a question, Julie , um, was the person who had the answer, and I'm not just Julie, but BJ and just, um.
Anyway, it was, I enjoyed the relationships that I got to develop with many of the classified staff in that position. Um, and I still just appreciate how helpful they were always word to me when I was in that role.
Yes, we do.
Nope. [00:26:00] So I just want to say, Mary, on behalf of, um, principals who couldn't be here and district leaders, that it's, it's very clear, um, how fortunate we are with the talent in our, in our classified association. And I know that there's these formal times when we say classified and certified, but really day to day we just talk about we're all educators.
And when we talked with the educators working with our children, there aren't those distinctions. It's all of these wonderful adults who do come to work every day because they love kids and they want to be of service and they're helping contribute to raise, so to speak, help raise other people's children.
I'm in a very genuine and supportive way and with extreme patience and love and kindness, and whether it's in the kitchen or on the grounds, or in a classroom, every person who invests in our children by showing up to work in this district as an educator. And so we're just so grateful for the talent.
Our classified [00:27:00] staff are their commitment, and I'm just so lucky to have all of you and I wanna. Thank you. Shiela mentioned this is a volunteer position, so unlike some other association leadership positions, Mary works full time all day. And then serves as president and support to her constituents in her outside of the day time.
So evenings and weekends, she's connecting with folks and um, and it's not a paid position and it's not compensated. It's just cause she once again wants to make sure that everyone is supported. And that includes the adults in the organization too. So thank you. How many years have you been president Mary?
So sure too. But you've been in leadership roles with the association before. Yeah. Other leadership roles and worked my way up. Yeah. So thank you tremendously. And, and, and besides where we're just good friends too, so it makes it fun. So appreciate it. And thank you for acknowledging that, but we're all [00:28:00] educators.
Yeah. That's important. So thank you. And I'll add that, um, Shiloh's smooth transition into her role wasn't because we're so, um, helpful and, and work so well. She was well prepared for the job and ready for it. And that's her smooth transition. So thank you.
All right. So now we'll return again to board reports and Berlin. Yeah. So this past month, I have the opportunity to chaperone a fourth grade class to see the Oregon symphony at Arlene Schnitzer concert hall with approximately 2000 other fourth graders. Um, Oh, as far as chaperoning goes, this is a pretty plum assignment getting into the Oregon symphony.
Um, I attended the limit. Primary science fair. Um, which was, I was worried that it wouldn't be well attended with the coronavirus fears, but it was actually very well attended. So that was great to see. Um, I had the chance to see two plays at Wilsonville high school, [00:29:00] um, that ms yeah, ms fel was talked about.
Um, there was a number and the shining lives, the shining lives, I thought especially good. It's the story of. Um, female factory workers in 1920s experienced radium poisoning. So based on a true story, so if you wanted to see that Thursday, Friday, Saturday of the last two nights of that production. So I have encouraged you to check that at check it out if he can.
Um, also with respect to our first board goal of disrupting systems of racism, I had the chance to read. So you want to talk about race, which was a book recommended by dr Ludwig, and later dr Pryor. Um, a really good book, and it was written by, um, an African American woman who grew up impoverished with a single mother and was also a lesbian.
So it was a firsthand account of what it's like to be in a public school system from certainly not the default perspective, which is what we normally hear. She also talks about the macro. Um, effects of systemic racism and talks about what P, what everyone can do, but especially school boards, what they can do and just some of the tips she had for what we can do, a lot of which we're already doing, [00:30:00] but we can always do better.
Was asking, um, about inclusion practices always, um, looking at our disciplinary practices to determine if we're treating children of color differently or disciplining them more often than even white students. I'm looking to achievement gaps and addressing them. And then in all of our decisions, always inquiring.
How is this going to impact, um, different communities and not just race, but also socioeconomic status, um, LGBTQ and the disabled and trying to see things from those perspectives. Um, and from a board of people that are pretty homogeneous in a lot of ways. I think that's really an important lesson for us.
So if you haven't read it, I think it was a good recommendation. So thank you to dr Leadwood and dr Pryor for recommending it.
All right. Um, hold on. Glasses first. Um, so I attended a couple of community events this last month. One was the Matt de  lecture, um, which was amazing. And I [00:31:00] was there with, um, some of my other, um, board members. And, um. It was so enjoyable. That's, I mean, that's all I can say. I just really enjoyed hearing about his life, um, caring about how, um, the family that he came from and how he ended up being a writer and, um, just a truly enjoyable light.
Um, this last Tuesday I attended a leader lunch and learn with Latasha Morrison, who is the author of a book that I meant to bring, but I didn't, it's called be the bridge. And so her, um, her message was about race reconciliation and that is what her book is about as well. Um, and I look forward to reading that book.
Uh, and then. Saturday night. Is that just this last Saturday night? Um, I was at the heart of gold rotary in Wilsonville. Uh, auction, which was always really fun. Um, let's see. I was at the Beckman PTA couple of weeks ago in my [00:32:00] continuing pursuit of trying to make it around to all of our PTs before the end of the year.
Um, I had the opportunity to attend the teen advisory board meeting at West Linn high school, saw 80 plus. I don't know if it was 80 to 90 that day. Um, Greg, I dunno how many, let's, the room was full. Um, now I know pizza. Helped get people their pizza and cookies, but it was a Friday lunch. And, um, all of these students were there.
And for those of you who don't know what the teen advisory board is, um, those students were all there to learn, support, and bring awareness to others about substance use, misuse, abuse, and mental health facts. And it was pretty on spiring to sit there and listen to these kids who were courageous enough.
Um, and willing to give up a lunch period and then to talk in front of each other and share honest opinions at the table, but then also with each other. So what a great [00:33:00] program. Um, they meet, I believe, a third. Is that the third Friday of every month? Is that correct? Okay. Um, and that is read by Pam Pierce.
Um, let's see. I, um, attended, or I spoke at Willamette primaries. They had a read to me week, a couple of weeks ago. And so I spoke to a third grade class and a fourth grade class. And they had asked people from the community to come in and speak about their careers and talk about how reading was important in each of their careers.
How, you know, what kind of reading they did. So I had the opportunity to talk about. The three or four careers that I've had in science, and talk about how reading was important in that in pharmaceutical sales, and then as a biology teacher and still as an exercise instructor. And then we did a little workout together with them.
Um, it was a little awkward when one of the girls asked if I would show her my muscles and, and I. And I wasn't sure [00:34:00] what to do. So I'm just gonna move on and I'm, I just looked awkwardly at the teacher, like I'm looking awkwardly at all of you right now. Um, let's see. Meridian Creek had their first ever, I believe it was community night.
Um, the rotary served breakfast to help raise money for scholarships. And, um, what just, um, what I was in awe about is first of all, just the broad range of families and students that were there. Um. And not only that, but the offerings that they had. So for the sports minded kids, you could play badminton with your family or your friends in the gym.
For the science kids, they were shooting off rockets. Oh. With the science teacher, there were dance performances, there were music performances. So that brought a lot of families in to watch their kids perform. Um, there was an art room. So anyway, just a great first event. And I'm assuming they'll probably continue with that.
Um, just something for everybody there. Um, as far as the arts, I've seen Beckman creeks, [00:35:00] Stafford primaries, and Lowry's fifth grade music performances, um, which were all great. And one thing I love that they're incorporating that I don't remember when I did music is it's not just singing, but kids have the opportunity to dance and play musical instruments as well, which I'm going to assume is really good for those kids that like to be a little bit more active.
Um. So it's fun to see the kids perform, not just the singing, but also everything. And even some of the music performance, they have lines and there's choreography and, um, pretty entertaining. And then on the arts line, um, board chair Mala tar and our husbands had a night out and attended an imaginary invalid.
Um, I continue to be blown away by our, um, our theater students. And just, um, a couple of them when I talked to them afterwards, they have full ride scholarships to, um, North or [00:36:00] Northern Arizona university. And, um, it's amazing what they do. My mouth was dropped open most of the time, just, and, and just the ability not only to memorize all of that in addition to the school work that they do, um, but their facial expressions.
Are so funny that they could not talk and I could watch some of them and just enjoy their facial expressions. Um, let's see. Science fairs. So, um, I was at sunset science fair, Cedar Oak park, and will laminates. And, um, a couple of things I want to say just as far as our district. Um, one of our goals, number one, um, to generate equitable outcomes for all students while eliminating opportunity and achievement gaps.
And I heard this when I attended some of the PTA meetings is the PTA is actually providing boards for students. So that. If that, you know, there isn't any problem having the, the necessary supplies that a student needs in order to [00:37:00] present a science fair project that they have that. So, um, I liked seeing that.
I like seeing the fact that it will, it if you participated in the science fair, you also got a shirt that said science rocks, which it does. And, um, and as I talked to principal minor, you know, he said, we started talking about the fact that when kids participate in sports. They always get a tee shirt or a sweatshirt.
And so why not when kids participate in a science fair that they get a tee shirt as well? So I love that and I want to get a shout out, um, to director hides son Dexter, who had a genius idea, um, which required his dad buy 48 bags of peanut M and M's for his science fair project. Um, and his idea was to survey the community, find out.
What colors they thought would show up the most in those peanut M and M bags. And then they counted through, I think it ended up being 46, cause possibly a family [00:38:00] member ate three, two bags, but 46 bags of M and ms. Correct. Um, and the survey was correct. They, people predicted yellow. There were the most yellow, but I mean, how smart of a fourth grade kid to come up with an idea that.
Makes you have to open a bunch of 48, 46 bags of M and, M's, and then they're just sitting there. And what else are you going to do with them? Right. So, yeah, I thought that was pretty genius. Um, and then finally sports. Um, I watched the Wilsonville boys basketball team and, um, I'm hoping to watch them this week as well, down at Oregon state.
Um. And just enjoyed some time meeting with some of our parents, either face to face or, um, just on the phone, having conversations.
No. Um, I, this month I'll kind of go quickly. Um, I've had the ability to attend my local [00:39:00] PTA meetings. Um, I also attended the community night out at Meridian Creek middle school, and I found like it was a really, it was. Geared up to be family night. And of course, as I'm going, I have a sixth grader there, he's like, Hey mom, I might not hang out with you tonight.
I might have to go hang out with my friends. And I was like, okay, well I might have to follow you around, but okay. And uh,  however it was set up that, you know, even he was not able to ditch his mom and didn't want to like, you know, cause we could go and do things together. So I, I found him to be exceptionally successful cause I got to hang out with my kid.
But I saw, you know, all my, all my child's friends were hanging out with their parents too, so it was pretty cool. Um, and I had an opportunity to, uh, attend a dance competition. Tish in and see our dance teams. Um, I attended the round table that, uh, Congressman, uh, Kirk trader had come to a West Linn and it was for like Clackamas County and in particular people who had been local [00:40:00] elected officials and stuff.
And so it's always interesting whenever you sit in those sorts of groups, um, you can't help but kind of compare and contrast. Um, it's an opportunity where you essentially get to share some of your asks, um, of your federal representative and what you would like to see him be able to accomplish, um, in his role in our federal government.
And, um, it was just interesting cause there's some communities who are like, well, we're just now starting on our safe routes to school, but we really don't have the money to do it. And you know, we're very fortunate in that this is. Ben ongoing work that we've been engaging with both of city of West Linn and the city of Wilsonville.
And we are, um. Significantly far down the road at creating safe, safe routes for our students to get to school. And there are some communities that haven't even started that work. And so it's just, while I know we always have work to do, it's just, it was a, it's interesting to sit there because more often than not, I it, I walk away feeling very good.
Increased confidence in the good work [00:41:00] that our schools are doing, um, in a variety of different areas. Um, I also had the opportunity to attend the, um, when, uh, Matt de LA Pena came, uh, to town, essentially. And again, that was a fun opportunity with our joint partnerships with our libraries in both the cities of West Linn and Wilsonville, along with our school district to bring an author in to come and speak to, um, our students about how.
How he found his, his way to becoming an author as well as, um, what he tries to reflect and show in his writing. Um, as Christie mentioned, I got the opportunity to go see the imaginary invalid at Wilsonville high school. And then I've also just had the opportunity to meet with a variety of community members, you know, as well as answer when we get those communications asking or a question, you know, we periodically get received communications.
I've been responding to those and I would just ask, continue to ask. Most of you are really great at this as if you are, if you [00:42:00] receive a correspondence. To to forward it onto me just for my information. And, or, um, if you have community members reaching out to you wanting to meet with them, if you'll just share that with me.
Um, you don't have to share necessarily content of conversations, but it just helps me, cause I'm, when I meet with dr Ludwig, he has, sometimes she'll say, you know, is there anything going on that I need to be aware of? And, and that just helps me get a pulse for, you know, who's reaching out to us and maybe on what topics.
So, um, that, that is it. And then dr Ludwig.