November-4-2019-Regular-Board-Meeting-Segment-1
[00:00:00] Alright. We will call this board meeting to order this evening. And Ms. Douglas, would you please take roll Hillen Heights here. 50 Thompson here, reg and molecular here. Ginger Fitch here. Chelsea Kane here. Okay. Alright. Now we get to move on to district communications and we have from arts and technology high school.
Caitlin Finn,
welcome Kaitlin. Hello. It is nice to be back again. Um, I'm the student representative for art tech. Uh, last week. I know I enjoyed dressing as a parent for Halloween. Um, and I actually enjoyed all of the creative costumes I saw, so it was pretty fun. Um, I'd like to bring up an [00:01:00] issue that was, uh, happening in high school across the United States.
Um, I'm concerned with the vaping that's happening in the bathrooms, uh, as a teenager, I don't want to see my friend classmates end up in the hospital. Uh. I've been there and it's hard thing to go through. Um, currently our bathrooms are often filled with vape smoke, and it's frustrating as a student.
Um, our school is taking action to teach students about the risks of vaping and their health. Uh, and our first step is inviting a representative from Clackamas community health to teach, uh, our school about the risks. Um, in my mind, this is the first step towards the big problem and all of our schools.
And it definitely not our last. Um, on a lighter note, we had our first band concert at the end of the first nine weeks, and we'd like to thank, uh, dr Ludwig and, uh, the school board, uh, member Kristi Thompson, uh, for supporting us. It [00:02:00] was a great show, and the band is already practicing for their next set of songs.
Um, our lunch clubs have been going well. Katie is advising a pottery, your book and a painting club, and Alexis ebb Rams is advising a theater club and they're going to see a production of Macbeth at the Portland center stage next week. I'm Jennifer Puritan and the AP art class, or doing a gallery field trip later this month, uh, the automotive fundamentals class is going to close a completion and we will start with a general repair, which means we'll be in the shop working in cars.
Uh, let me look at you an oil change. So, uh, all right. So thank you. Thank you, Caitlin, and also, thank you for sharing your concerns around vaping as well. Like we're very cognizant of health related risks associated with that and certainly would like to curtail that with our students. So thank you.
Um, the next speaker [00:03:00] we have is Westland high school. Avery phones.
Hello. Hello. Printer broken at home. So we're going to be a little high tech today. Um, good evening, doctor Ludwig and school board members. I'm super excited to just be sharing with you a yet again, what's been happening this month at Westland. Um, so this past month has been very eventful as usual.
And during breast cancer awareness month, we are proud to have raised a total of $948 for breast friends, which is a local organization. The week of October 21st, we raised awareness about responsible driving during our teen drivers safety week, um, during which students learn the statistics on teen accidents.
We're reminded of safe transportation habits and signed safe driving pledges. During that week, we also hosted our annual powderpuff flag football tournament with four teams of Westland girls going head to head for the 2019 title. I'm all proceeds went to Oregon impact, which is another [00:04:00] local organization, um, surrounding teen driver safety.
And, um, it was a great afternoon full of lion pride. Westland fun. We've already moved on to our next big activity, which is planning for our annual canned food drive, which is November 13th to the 21st. Uh, we're working on creative ways to innovate and increase student participation so we can reach our goal of a hundred boxes of, um, food and non-perishables.
Um, the drive will include, um, collection for our partners at the Oregon city Elk's club and a dollar a day donation collection for the Western food pantry. Our powder tough volleyball. Tournament, we'll kick off the drive, which has always been a great way for students to show some line pride and contribute to a great cause.
Fall sports are moving into playoffs. This past week, varsity football hosted our 99th battle of the bridge against Oregon city, and we were happy to say that we won, um, this week, um, football hosts their first round game against Roosevelt this Friday. Yes, football [00:05:00] has been super successful and we're super proud of them, but we also wanna make sure that other sports feel represented.
Um, and we're super proud of their successes. Also, volleyball will be playing their quarter final game against Sheldon this Friday at Liberty high school. Boy's soccer ended a great season in their first round and girls soccer hosts grant tomorrow night for their second round playoff game. United unit unified.
Excuse me. Soccer ended their season with a terrific tournament and the cheer team is serving as a great support to all of the sports as always. And the Deb's dance team is rehearsing for upcoming competitions. Cross country recently participated in our district meet and we're proud to say that varsity girls placed first and our boys place third.
Both teams will continue to train and participate in the state level. Meet. So that'll be super fun to see. As for the performing arts are fall musical, Chicago high school addition opens this Friday is super exciting. We're really excited for everyone to see the show. And I'm a sound technician in the show.
I've always helped [00:06:00] backstage. Um, so if you want to see me running around in all black. Maybe keep an eye out for that. Um, but we, um, invite you to come experience some good old razzle dazzle, which shows this weekend and next weekend, our band choir and orchestra fall concerts all went extremely well and will once again be hosting the TRL jazz band competition on the afternoon of November 19th.
So stay tuned for that. Lastly, this past weekend, 14 ASB officers traveled to seaside to participate in the Oregon association of student councils. Fall conference, OSC. We had the opportunity to listen to some great dynamic speakers, participate in workshops, and do some good old team bonding.
Engaging in conversation with other schools made us all even more proud to represent Westland and left us energized and ready to contribute and celebrate our century year. We're really grateful to be able to attend the conference this year and in years past. It's always such a great opportunity to continue building, um, our relationships as a team and then come back and bring it to our [00:07:00] greater leadership class.
Um, hearing ideas from other schools is honestly priceless. Thank you so much for your time. That's what's going on at and we hope you didn't see you at some of the events that we have for this month. Thank you so much. And next we have Wilsonville high school and Lindsey Hartford.
Good evening, dr Ludwig and school board members. My name is Lindsay and I'm very excited to be back to inform you about, um, all the fantastic events going on at Wilsonville this November. And also to highlight some of our successes from October. So to start off looking back at October, we'll smell hosted opportunities for students to take tests that will prepare them for their future, such as the PSA, T S a T and the stamp tests.
Pink week was very successful and raised a lot of money also to donate to breast friends and cancer research, and it really got students involved in cancer awareness. In addition, the Wildcat student [00:08:00] body continued to show school spirit by attending sporting events such as football, soccer, volleyball, unified, and other games.
Lastly, another great moment in October was the recent DIA de Los Muertos festival. We're over 700 people and attendance. Got to dig deeper into their culture or immerse themselves in something new. Looking ahead to November is very promising for the Wildcats. The second quarter is off to a great start academically.
Students have been having a ball rehearsing for Cinderella, um, Cinderella, the music, all our play. And, um, so we encourage you to slip on your glass slippers. And if the shoe fits, buy tickets on sale now and head out to our auditorium. November 7th, eighth, ninth and then again the 14th through the 16th at 7:00 PM.
I'm very excited to announce it. The Wilsonville volleyball team has finished first in league without dropping a single set, and we'll continue to our way to state in the quarter final game at [00:09:00] Liberty high school this Friday at three 15 than any after than any game after. That depends on the outcome.
Hopefully next month I will be able to report a very successful run at the state title. Football also one league and has a playoff game at home on Friday night at seven. So students will be cheering them on through their run at state Tuesday night. Our girl's soccer team league champions as well.
Um, we'll take the field for a playoff game at home at 7:00 PM then the following night, Wednesday, the boys soccer team has a game at seven o'clock, and I'm very excited to announce that boys and girls cross country also competed and both took first place in districts. And is on their way to Eugene on Saturday afternoon, November 8th for state.
We have many exciting events and the moment that a lot of people have been waiting for it to watch Cinderella this month, so I'd really encourage you to come out if you have some time to support. Then at the end of this month, on November 23rd we were hosting the annual Wilsonville high school [00:10:00] holiday Bazaar from nine to four there'll be lots of food activities and quality handcrafted items in our main gym.
All the proceeds go to Doernbecher children's hospital and we've already raised $4,000 just from selling tables for the event. We invite you to come out and enjoy it and of course bring your family and friends at the end of the month. We'll have Thanksgiving break, then come back to school, eager to learn and start up the winter season of sports and activities.
Thank you so much for your time and I hope to see you all at some of our events this month and I can't wait to report back next month. Thank you. We can't wait to have you guys all back next month as well. Um, next we'll move on to our recognitions portion of the evening and dr Ludwig, I just want to thank our student representatives again.
Thank you, Katelyn Avery, Lindsey for taking the time to be here. I know it's busy [00:11:00] evenings for all of you. We have two recognitions this evening. The first one we'd like to bring forward is, um, some partners in the work with us not far from this building. Just down the road. We want to recognize athe Creek Christian fellowship church.
A number of years ago when we were looking at, um. Doing some joint safety breakfast meetings with partners in the industry. First responders, law enforcement. We actually all crammed into this room, if you can believe it, Rachel. Um, and it was a small group and had our first joint safety meeting in this room and it became very clear after that that we were going to outgrow this room and outgrow the parking lot, and we needed a venue that was still felt central.
And that had an adequate place to meet and, um, and would be able to do an early morning meeting. And we headed down to 80 Creek and talk to Rachel and, and staff. And, um, [00:12:00] they were more than willing to open up their space for us and had been hosting us. We're now in our I think second year, almost second and a half years, and, um, they just have gone above and beyond.
It's not just unlocking the door and saying, good luck. And there's some tables and chairs in the corner. Um, their college group the night before sets up all the tables and chairs for us. They put out tablecloths. Rachel gets there, I think at like two in the morning pretty much. Um. And is there with the building warm and inviting and a friendly face for when, um, Kelly and staff arrive and the caterers.
And then we all fill in to that space. And you all have been a part of one of those safety meetings at some point. So, you know, the venue, you know, the atmosphere, um, how central and easy it is to get there and how generous they had been to host us free of charge, um, each of those times. And we have those safety meetings three [00:13:00] times a year.
So they set aside that room and space for us, and we just felt it was time for us in a small way to recognize this gesture on their part, a, not just of space, but just of, um, the graciousness in which they hosted. So we have Rachel here tonight, and I believe this is pastor Tom Moore also with her.
So if you could come up to the, um. Podium. We'd love for board members who had been at that venue and gone to some of those events to be able to say a couple words of thanks, and then we have a recognition for you and we'll take pictures. So I'm going to open up the floor now to board members who may like to say, um.
A word of gratitude or, or recognition. Well, well, Ginger's getting her microphone ready. I would just like to say thank you very much. I do recall on the first occasion when I attended one of our safety meetings, seeing Rachel, they're very warm and greeting and pointing the way. Cause I didn't know where I was going or what I was doing as a first time.
I had had the opportunity to visit your church as [00:14:00] well. So, um, thank you for that. And even more so, it's just by providing that space, the. Lessons and training that is taking place during that time. Um, it's just invaluable, uh, to our district as well as to the health and safety of our schools and students.
And so we're just grateful that you've opened your building to us, um, for that purpose. And, um, thank you.
I dream about communicating to our parents about our concern about their students. Safety's in their children's safety at our schools. It is something that I feel strongly about, obviously while I'm sleeping even, and to have a community partner. Who provides a conversation that makes world difference for our kids day in and day out and may one day in an emergency is just critical.
And I [00:15:00] would think dr Ludwig for really taking to heart our commitment and our board goal to incorporate community partners into the work that we're doing to serve our students. And thank you for being that partner for us.
And then also we will, um, we'd like to present you with just the small plaque that, um, expresses our appreciation. And I will bring it up to you. And then I'm hoping maybe you'll stay in pose for a picture with all of us. Could you read it out loud to your monitor? Thank you. It says, the Westland Wilsonville school district and board of directors recognizes.
Athe Creek Christian fellowship church with sincere thanks and appreciation for your service, support and care for the students of our district. Thank you for your partnership.
[00:17:00] [00:16:00] and
then we have a second recognition. This evening as well. So, and I appreciate your monetary that you mentioning. Um, that the purpose of those meetings, those joint safety meetings are, are really critical [00:18:00] around, um, practicing the protocols, the safety protocols as well as we often do, um, uh, uh, a tabletop exercise that helps us really think about all different safety situations.
So those, uh, meetings at athe Creek, um, Christian fellowship church are just critical to the work that we do. Um, the next recognition is to our business office. And I know that we have our CFO, Dr. Hughes here. And if we could have had the whole business office here tonight for you to personally thank, I think we invited them, but there's something like going home at the end of a long day that also means a lot to our staff.
Um, but they're with us in spirit. And so Dr. Hughes is going to share a little bit about what, um, the Capra award is a certificate of achievement for excellence in financial reporting and how significant it is. To receive that kind of award. It's no small matter. And what it represents in terms of financing, um, work that our staff is does on a regular [00:19:00] basis.
So I'll turn it over to you, Dr. Hughes, where do you fit in? So in or as in findings reporting? Um. This at the vacay, we receive it from then for government finance office. So actually and this is for the last in a row of 27 year, we received this certificate on the right hand side. You will see the staff picked at drew Fort soon as saw smalls I handed out to you to see.
You'll see on the bottom lie. The school district in the U S he taught didn't house and 267 school district and only 538 school in district of 4.64 per year or 6% abscond dictated, received this certificate age or the second highlight is like Oregon. So in Oregon, we have a, last year we have [00:20:00] 195 school districts.
And only 21 is conducted, receive this certificate, eight or 10.77%. So you can see like not many people our school district received the high standing rock connection. Um, have very high standards for them. Evaluation, uh, the financial report. So each year when we have audits, they'll come and penis out a comprehensive annual financial report.
We send this information to the chair boy aid. They, um, do that assessment and review our, um, uh, uh, annual report based on 7,000. Nice guy. Like checklists. 79 pages of gay lie, where the win, how will mic desk expectation, how women spender. So I can pass it around. So you can see that, um, the guy like coming [00:21:00] from a gender on a Calton standard board and also coming from general and a separate accounting principle up people.
So in here, here are a checklist that they go through in order to review our comprehensive annual financial report. Um, from very basic light cover, the table of contents go down to fund financial statement. Um, go to the static, the session, and go to fund financial, um, management, uh, at well, at pension and, and poor bone.
People who review and it work is not only their staff, but also, uh, expertise in the, uh, community shut at review committee, uh, individual from government and public [00:22:00] accounting place CPA, the auditor and professionals in the career. On the right hand side, you see the business staff up. This hall look could not be done without the support and how, what can up our staff we have, including me, will be a total of seven staff member in the business office.
And, uh, what more than, um, of a thousand employees and a budget of 179 million. seven people to handle it. Um, to make sure that we make the guy light. We make Def the future. We make the death light up, uh, of the, um, uh, federal and state and local and shut that Oregon department of education is, um, this go through not only above and beyond, but they come much earlier in life into the district, uh, for the mission of the [00:23:00] students to serve the district and a student.
So what here we would like to recognize our staff member here in the spirit.
the question. Oh. Um, in the past we received, um, let's lock up there, but for the last 10 year, they only give for us. But then, so we've put it in here. So this year is 2018 we got it here. Were you more used to go and then they will send us another rock?
Thank you very much. If you have question, let me know. Thank you, dr he used for that. Um, I just want to share that, um, those who don't know, the government finance officers association started this award 74 years ago. And according to the website, the purpose of this is [00:24:00] to encourage governments to go beyond the minimum requirements, generally accepted for accounting principles and encourage.
Public bodies to go beyond that in the spirit of transparency and full disclosure to create comprehensive annual fancy reports. And so it's, it's, I mean, good government, so important. And this shows the public that we're doing, not the minimum, but far beyond that. And so in times like this, and we're going out to our community to say, Hey, we'd like money for schools and teachers.
It's very nice to build a point back at this office and say. You know, we, every dollar is accounted for. Every dollar is explained. We are entirely transparent. And so I want to thank you for making our jobs as board members easier. Um, and I'm really proud of this district and I, I'm sure everyone, this room feels the same way, that I'm really grateful for the work that you've done.
I mean, Doug Mitchell center did an amazing job for our district and to come in and just seamlessly pick up where he left off and, you know, even make improvements. It's really remarkable. [00:25:00] So I want to thank you for what you've done.
Just add a little bit to that. Um, that in the letter that that came with the award, it says the certificate of achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting. And its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by government and its management.
And what is also notable is not just the business. Department received the award, but Dr. Hughes as well was, um, a recipient of an award, which goes kind of to what you were saying about, um, you know. Doug had been here for many years and was established and, and, and also, you know, earned this word on behalf of the business office.
But you were, you were able to step in seamlessly and run with it as well as then be acknowledged personally, um, for that work. And I know it's not just you that it is the [00:26:00] entire office behind you supporting you, but congratulations.
I'd just like to add that, um, you know, for every superintendent out there having, um, a well oiled machine of a business office is so critical. I mean, every department is critical. And, um, in this day and age when there's such high scrutiny around finance, to have a team that works so well together, um, that looks out for each other.
There's also been some. Changes that Dr. Hughes has made in terms of, um. Folks in the business department training each other so that if one person is out, someone can pick up. So there's cross pollination of ideas, um, learning together. Um, as we grow as a district, we have to think about some systems also in our business office and she's been working on implementing those and looking for ways that we can make some [00:27:00] of our systems more efficient across the district.
Um, as well as hub her team, um, feel that they can keep up with things, um, and get home at night. Um, as a small office of seven people, it's incredible. We also are a district that passes capital bonds and has local options. And so it does mean additional funding, oversight, accountability. Um, and her team does a remarkable job with that.
So I sleep better at night knowing that she's at the helm and that we've got a great, great team in that business office. So it's very well deserved. And I'm just so proud of the work that you and your team have done. So thank you. Thank you so much for member and dr Um, besides our staff, um, go be young and, uh, both.
Um, I also would like to recognize our Monday morning leadership team because they make themselves available. And assessable for us to do work with them. So we feel very [00:28:00] comfortable with your come to them and to come through any principal for question if we need to have verification or clarification.
So this, that the vacate is on behalf of their home electric staff and for member and support in hand. And, um, also for my first year received John support from board member and doctor is, um. Y'all what I can just find. So I truly appreciate it. Yes. I just wanted to say to not only congratulations to you personally for your award, but also to your staff, but also just thank you, um, from a new board member who comes in and looks at budgets I've, you know, have, don't have a lot, haven't had a lot to do with before, and, um, you've just been so great and willing to meet with me.
And. Let me ask the same questions week after week, um, and answer those things with a smile. So I just want to thank [00:29:00] you that amidst all of the things that you're doing and winning awards and keeping all of our budget on track, that you still take time to meet with us and I appreciate that. So.
All right. We'll move on to board reports and
you ready to start us off? Chelsea? I'm ready. Hi everyone. Um, hello out there. So let's see here. Um, this past month, uh, lots of activities, lots of activities related to a district. Goal number four, with the, um, campaign for the local option levy and capital bond, and just a lot of [00:30:00] opportunities to, um, speak with and listen to my community.
And, um. That's one thing I'd like to just slip my community know is that, um, just as much as my intent is to communicate to you all about our best thinking that landed us here, putting these two measures on the ballot. I also am listening to people on the doorstep and listening to things that they're excited about and concerns that they have.
So very excited for tomorrow to get a couple dubs is my 15 year old son would say, but I'm banking on a couple of wins there. Um. District. Goal number three brought me to the rotary joint luncheon. And, um, that was a nice event there at athe Creek middle school and, uh, Wilsonville in Westland rotary.
And well, it's a solid representation from the district. And, um. And I also took the opportunity to get to know president Tim cook from Clackamas community [00:31:00] college. I've heard good things about him and the work that he's doing, and so I thought it would be beneficial to stay, get to know him and, um, understand a little bit more about these, uh, pathways that we're trying to cultivate between K through 12 and, um, and our community colleges.
A district goal number one brought me to the multi-city equity summit. And that was a very inspiring, full day events. I'm super proud of our school district for the role we played in sponsoring co-sponsoring that event. And, um, I'd say a couple of my highlights were, um, the workshop I attended, uh, by bill de LA Cruz.
And, um, some of the information he presented really had us looking at Um, our identity and how our race and our cultural background has shaped like how we communicate and assumptions that we make about how people communicate based on their cultural background. So that was a really nice workshop.
That was one of my takeaways. And then I'm also had the honor of [00:32:00] sitting in a workshop with John Linson presented. And as you all know, John Linson does a lot of work with our district. And he was a really, just, um. Powerful facilitator. Um, my takeaway there was he had us reflect on times that we have spoken up, um, in an effort to stand alongside of, um, people of color and times that we have not.
And how did you know, what happened in those situations and how did that feel? So that was, um, those are really powerful conversations we had that day. And, um, district goal number two has me thinking about the superintendent evaluation and how that's coming up. We're in November, and so we'll start to do our first round of that, um, evaluation process.
And so I haven't sent the email yet to my fellow board members, but I drafted it like seven times in my head. So just know that that's coming. I'm going to be asking you to go through that first round of, um, looking at those nine standards and sending some comments so [00:33:00] that I can then meet with Dr Ludwig and to our formative assessment.
Thanks.
So I just want, I always enjoy knocking on doors and, and what I heard overwhelmingly is we've already voted yes and where you support our schools will be voting. Yes. So I just anticipate that's what we're going to see tomorrow. Um, in terms of, because of vaping in the bathroom came up. I have been following some news stories where school districts across the nation have actually sued, um, the companies have vaping products, um, geared towards students or youth, um, to recover the cost of monitoring, uh, the chemical monitoring that they, that they're putting in their bathrooms.
Um, so certainly at Uh, something that, uh, [00:34:00] might be something that we would think about, um, because those are costs that have more properly born on those responsible for causing the problem. Um, went to the rotary lunch as well. Um. Enjoyed band concert at Wilsonville high school, and to hear the enthusiasm of those students for new performance spaces and what it would mean both to their audience and to them to have that space was encouraging.
Um, went to the Wilsonville football football game and sat there and again thought about, um, what a gift it is to have that space and, and to hope for that for, um, Westland as well. The first responder at breakfast says, as usual, is encouraging to see the things that are happening with the Tualatin Valley fire and rescue the reports made by the two [00:35:00] different, um, police departments.
Um, it's. Just to, um, Mr. Nelson provided information. Uh, so there's just an overwhelming amount of improvements going on every time and that are being reported there. Um, and I had personally a good conversation with the sheriff and hope so we can move forward with the servicing our students for mental health issues.
Um, in the Wilsonville area in particular.
Oh. And most importantly, I spent a good time with, um, director Thompson and, uh, Dr. Spencer AM's gave us considerable time to talk about special education services and as well as probably several layers of other services provided underneath her. And I. And I guess what I [00:36:00] want the board to know as well as our PO or.
Are parents is that the thinking is deep. There wasn't a question that we asked that she didn't have a graph for or a conversation for or to say, this is what we're doing to increase student voice in their individual education plans. This is a conversation we're already having. This is research we've done.
We know it can move the bar, we know it can affect the outcomes, and that's what we want. So in terms of district goal number one and, and district goal number two, boy, we're doing exciting things in that area and there's just a lot of support for the thinking going on the processes as well as this idea of continually improving how we're doing, what we're doing.
Um, excellent work. Um. There was so much that I can't even begin to comment on how [00:37:00] much we learned except for that. Um, I. Continue to respect that we're looking at outcomes for, for our students who are in special ed or who have a five Oh four accommodation plan, or for other reasons might be involved in our student services department and families and how they're engaged.
And I, um. Would encourage anyone else who might have questions about the processes that it takes or what it's like when a family becomes engaged. This packet, I'm, I'm, is what they give a parent. I mean, it's so much helpful information about those processes and, um, uh. Provided me, um, a lot of comfort about both the thinking, the level of expertise, um, and student services and the experiences that our families can [00:38:00] have when they go through those in our district.
So I got to attend my first first responders breakfast. Um. It was great to see members of the community getting out of their silos and collaborating. So, hearing from chief pool, chief of police rubber were ups of Wilsonville, Terry Kruger, who Westlynn, um, uh, fire departments. Um, and, um, hearing their updates.
We got into small groups and talked about, uh, the opportunities to, I mean, how to respond to a loss, to a lock down drill versus a lock in drill or lockout versus, um, um. Walk down because this is so confusing. And it was, there's a really a kind of a sense in the room that this is always the new work in process.
And so all ideas are welcome and to see the collaboration is pretty good. And we also ended the meeting by talking about vaping are some resources that PR provided that were helpful for their, um, had a chance to attend my own children's student [00:39:00] teacher conferences. Um, I've completed my walks at 80 Creek, Beckman Creek and Chilean Creek, which makes me one Meridian Creek short of all the Creek schools.
Not sure how that happened. Um, let's talk about, talk about that. And the next meeting I had the chance to sit down with leaders of our community, including, um, sit down with representative Rachel Prusick, who was very generous with her time, talking about education issues in front of our district.
Um, had a chance to spend considerable time with, um, our from former director Betty Reynolds, now at Clackamas community college. Um, the discussing if the bond passes, how to best, um, work with our resources so that we're not duplicating things, that things are working together seamlessly. I know dr Ludwig and Tim cook are both very closely aligned with that as well.
Um, doing a lot of bond work. Also going door to door. Uh, Rwanda remind the community to vote by tomorrow at 8:00 PM. And I also found out today that if you lose your ballot, you can get a new ballot by going to the elections office in Oregon city, it takes about two minutes. So if you've lost your ballot or if you didn't receive a ballot, you can get another one by tomorrow night at eight o'clock.
[00:40:00] All right. Um, so I too enjoyed both the first responders breakfast, um, at athe Creek, and then also the joint rotary luncheon with Westland in Wilsonville. And I guess what I came away, I think both those events were the same week, um, was just impressed with. The initiative that our district takes to be involved and to intertwine with our community, um, whether it's the rotary and, um, working to make those relationships so that we can further our internship program or with those first responders to make sure that we are prepared for whatever might happen and we have plans in place and such.
And, um, I was just impressed with that. Um, I've had a couple of stints in though. Wilsonville concession stand where we sell lots of healthy things to, um, make our fans super happy while they're cheering [00:41:00] on our teams. And, um, I love going and working in there and, um, just a great way to see parents and students and teachers and staff and, and such.
Um, I attended the Meridian Creek PTA meeting and just thankful for our parents, Kelly Miller runs that. Just thankful for our parents that. Spend so much of their volunteer time to make all these amazing events that happen. I know over this past month there were fall festivals and trick or treat nights and such, and I'm, I'm just thankful that we have such an amazing parent base that's willing and generous with their time to put.
These great things together. Uh, that same day I got to go attend the fall concert at Meridian Creek. Um, thank you to Carly baits and Barb Fontana for their work with, um, I believe it was orchestra, band, and choir, and some of those kids had been only had only been playing their instruments. I think they started at the beginning of the year.
So here they were [00:42:00] six weeks later. Performing. So that was super impressive. And I played the flute and I know the learning curve. And so I was that much more impressed. Um, attended. Will primaries fall festival will say my favorite part was the trunk or treats. Um, some parents were very creative with what they did out of the trunk of their car.
Um, so that kids could come around and, and trick or treat their, uh, attended the equity training at the Clackamas ESD, um, with dr Ludwig. And, um, unfortunately didn't get to stay the whole time cause I had to rush back to my daughter's senior volleyball night, um, for that. But, um, today I actually just on my own, kind of listened to a podcast from Robin.
Yeah. Thank you. Yeah. Just something she was speaking with someone, um, was a tolerance, someone who was speaking [00:43:00] about tolerance and it was just a kind of a half an hour session that she had done. So, um, and just continue to learning there. Um, Wilsonville high school, I had the privilege to attend their band and orchestra concert and thanks to Chad Davies.
It was just a blessing to sit there. And listen and just enjoy music that I haven't done for a long time and made me want to go home and play my flute. I didn't, but made me want to. Um, also at Wilsonville high school, and I know I'm going to say this wrong, so I'm, is it the festival of the, I know it's day.
Yeah, that because I don't think I say it right, but I'm just thankful for those teachers. Um, and Janette Escobar, Christopher Spatola, Hart, Lucilia Meza, who am I missing the leadership class? Did I get everybody? Um, what a great event. And not just for the students at that high school, but for the community to come, even if you didn't have a [00:44:00] student, um, to come see the dancers of all ages.
Um. The mariachi band, and then there was art, and then there were food trucks. So I'm just sort of an all inclusive night. Um, let's see. Uh, Boones ferry, tricker treat. I don't know if you've had, had the opportunity to be there, but, um, The teachers. So in each teacher corner, like, so the first grade teachers and then the second grade teachers, they actually do, um, a little competition and they dress up in themes.
So there was snow white and they were the dwarves, and then there was the baby shark, mama shark. And anyway, um, I, again, I just continued to be impressed with our staff who is at school. On a Friday night dressed up in these costumes. Um, making sure that our community has a great time. Uh, AP Creek rock band was a highlight.
Matt Whitehead does a great job with those [00:45:00] kids, and music is such a great way to draw in our students. And, um, just to see the students on their different instruments. And boy, they're good, really good. And the vocalists are really good. Uh, I had a budget session with Dr. Hughes, so I don't know.
Thank you again for that. Um, and just continuing to pull me along. Um. As I learned more and more about the budget, I'm door to door canvassing. I always dread it. I'm going to be honest, and it's always a blessing. Um, just as we meet with people who are behind our schools. So, um, I know that we've all worked hard and we hope that we can bring home the victory.
Um, meeting with Dr. Spencer IMEs. Thank you for just your time with ginger and I, and again, so impressed with. Just the breadth and the width and the depth of what we provide our students, but that we're not just satisfied that I, there's just [00:46:00] this constant push to do even more for our students.
Um, so just impressed with that. Lots and lots of volleyball. Come watch this Friday at three 15 if you want to at Hillsboro. And then the last thing, I apologize for taking so much time, but I just want to make sure I highlight some of these amazing people who I'm just appreciative of what they do for our district.
Um. It all kind of all this work that all of you do and our teachers do. And, and superintendent and, um, school board came home for me today. I have a friend whose son has been trying to get into med school and he, um, was educated in the Westland Wilsonville school district, and he's had a dream of becoming a doctor.
And today his dream came true and he was accepted into med school. And so. Just that further. Thank you. That what you do makes a difference in the lives of our kids who come into school with dreams and you all make it happen. So make it reachable.
[00:47:00] Thank you. Um, I just want them to use my board report time tonight just to share my appreciation for the many volunteers who over the course of actually many years have made, um, having the bond and local option that is on this November's ballot possible. Um, as I reflect this evening, I wrote this all out, so hope.
Hoping, I wouldn't forget people. But, um, I, as I reflect on this evening on all the work that got us to tomorrow's election, I recall at our board retreat that as we made the decision to place the bond on the ballot, having already done so at the levy, it was important to ginger that we list a good handful of the processes and stakeholders, um, over the past couple of years who are involved in creating, refining, and prioritizing the projects.
That are on our 2019 bond and that was such a good call. But yeah, I, there's so many times this process where I'm like, I'm really glad we took [00:48:00] that extra time. So thank you. I want to reiterate our appreciation to those groups, organizations and committees and individuals who helped determine which projects were on the bond, the nature of those projects, as well as the individuals who helped get the vote out.
And so I tried to create a list, and I know I have. Inevitably left one or many people off just because it's been such a widespread community effort. But I did my best to capture them. So, um, I would like to thank the following groups, the rotaries of both Westland and Wilsonville, the safety committee that this board established.
Our local city governments and in particular the mayors for their joint support and partnership and knowing that good schools and good communities go hand in hand to OEA and WWL EA for their support of our teachers, schools and students. We would not be the Westland, Wilsonville school districts with how our teachers.
They [00:49:00] are a vital part of our identity and our success, and we are grateful for them, uh, to city councilors, Jules Walters and Kristen Aquavella for their support, whether it be by endorsement, going door to door, or adding their name to literature, supporting our measures. The Wilsonville chamber of commerce, the Oregon home builders association, the superintendent's high school study group who helped answer the call of the question, what can we do to prepare our students for the workplace of the future?
And then I want to thank the following individuals, Mark and Julie Hansen. For the efforts to create a logo, mainly Hitler and yard signs to our students and, and Kayla and Casey and send their students, I'm not gonna mention their last names, but for their support and wise words, shared through social media, supporting the measures to Kristin Keswick and Gail Greenman for organizing volunteers across The district to submit letters of support to the editor and to our community members who actually [00:50:00] authored and submitted those letters to our local paper.
Thank you to Shannon ELAs. I. L. I. K. I probably not pronouncing that right, but ask Samantha Ray and Wendy crim. Thank you for wanting to learn more so that you can share more with your community about the value of the bond and local option of these three women. We're all willing to mobilize and their local community for the benefit of our students.
I want to thank SoCo lamb and Kishore Calu for creating a social media campaign and a social media presence to inform citizens. Um, I also want to thank the Calu family, the mall to our family, Katie ham and family, Trisha Borgen and Chelsea and Brennan Martin, uh, for giving of their family time to record short videos and essays in court.
Couraging citizens to vote, uh, Nicole Case. Jake foster, Karen Speese, Jacob Reavis. And Pressa Chan Ramey for giving Sage advice on how to reach voters, [00:51:00] which methods resonate most with voters and how to turn out the vote. So Sean O'Neil, Grady Nelson, Kim Jordan, Kelly Miller, and Deanna Crocker for keeping a pulse in our community throughout this election cycle for engaging and interacting with our community and thoughtful and positive manner and for working to correct information that was not always being shared accurately.
Uh, to Dylan. And Nicole Wheeler, uh, for overseeing the finances and record keeping and reporting. This is actually a very skilled job and you both are individuals who already had full time day jobs. So thank you. Um, I thank you to Julie Miller and Karen Grano for overseeing campaign contributions and raising monies to help get out the vote.
And, uh, my fellow board members, I want to thank you for your volunteer hours. But sharing with our community, correcting misinformation, answering emails from patrons who seek more information for going door to door and for asking, what else can I do? And [00:52:00] for being in remaining present throughout this process.
A special thank you to Chelsea. A, for always being able to bring the focus back to our kids in schools when I may have been attempted on occasion to lose sight of these things. And I was grateful to be able to tap you in when I needed to catch my breath. Um, also, thank you so much to our administration.
Um, each and every one of you have done. So much. Uh, Andrew Kihlstrom in particular, I know you just with your communication engine up and going and just sharing accurate information on behalf of the district has been a tremendous new, um, support that we've had. Um, so thank you and thank you, dr Ludwig.
Tomorrow is election day. So, uh, if you hadn't already done so, get your ballots in. There are drop sites at city hall in both West. Lynn and Wilsonville, as well as the local libraries. And I do enjoy our government and the process of checks and balances. Election day as another part of [00:53:00] the checks and balances system, uh, where our best work, best thinking and best planning will be decided by the voters who will serve as a check on the work that we engaged in on their behalf.
So I look forward to finding out what happens next.