General Room: School Board meeting. Welcome everyone, and I'm going to pass it to the director. Douglas, to please.
General Room: Thank you. Director shoemaker.
General Room: Here, director, sloop here. Chair, Taylor, here, Director Vidal here, and Vice Chair white will be joining us shortly.
General Room: Yep, thank you.
General Room: Well, welcome everyone. We have a busy evening tonight, and I hope you all are pretty patient, so we'll just hop right into it. We're going to start with celebration of retirement and years of service. I'm going to pass it to Dr. Ludwig Floor is yours.
General Room: Well, I think I'm still in denial that this is happening tonight. So maybe it's the series of events that need to happen. But we have 3 amazing outstanding educators that we would like to recognize tonight.
General Room: And I do want to let you know that we've got a series of recognitions that we have planned, one that we took place with leadership Forum in this room a few weeks ago, and a couple other things on the docket with colleagues. But tonight is your opportunity as a School board
General Room: to thank 3 of our leaders, who cumulatively
General Room: have served for 89 years
General Room: in this district between the 3 of them.
General Room: so I should say collectively, and so
General Room: These years of service need to be recognized. And so I'd like to
General Room: invite to stand Dr. David Pryor, Mr. Enrique Guillen, and Mr. Pat Mcguff.
General Room: and we're 1st going to applaud, and then we have some words for each of you, and some recognition. So 1st of all, to these 3 amazing educators we give our incredible gratitude and appreciation and thanks.
General Room: Now you get to awkwardly. Just listen for a while while your pictures are up on the screen.
General Room: I'm going to share a few words about each, and then invite the board to to say a few words, and I'm going to start with Pat Mcguff.
General Room: cause you're on the furthest on the left here.
General Room: Pat joined the school district in the year 2,000 same year as me.
General Room: and prior to joining Westland Wilsonville, he had been with anchorage school district in Alaska for 11 years as building foreman and project manager. Incredible resume even preceding that before he got to anchorage.
General Room: Pat was hired by Superintendent Dr. Roger Wool.
General Room: to oversee all of the district facilities, while his predecessor, Tim Woodley, shifted over full time to the Bond Office.
General Room: Pat is deeply committed to the mission of Public education
General Room: to removing barriers to learning and to the belief in building the expertise and capacity in others around him.
General Room: You'll hear this phrase frequently from those who have worked with Pat.
General Room: I've learned so much from him.
General Room: Pat's background in construction, supervision of facilities and bond projects and management of a myriad of systems and a diverse group of staff
General Room: electrical Hvac roofing grounds, nutrition, you name it.
General Room: Make him the guy who knows a lot about a lot of stuff
General Room: or knows how to find someone who knows a lot about the stuff.
General Room: When Pat took the lead as chief of operations in 2019, little did he know that pandemic preparedness would be his next assignment.
General Room: I would often turn to members of our executive team and comment, I don't know where we'd be without Pat.
General Room: He is the right leader for this work. At this right time.
General Room: Under Pat's leadership, our school district has up-to-date emergency operation plans, a renewed bus contract, successful outcomes with litigations. Another updated long range plan, a capital bond on the horizon and a very strong operations team ready for next year
General Room: to know Pat is to know that he is a parent.
General Room: His children went to the school district, a grandparent.
General Room: His grandchildren are enrolled in the district.
General Room: A husband, his wife, used to work in the district fan of baseball.
General Room: So the dodgers that little team
General Room: has stock and diet Dr. Pepper.
General Room: and enjoys spending time with his family like fishing with his brother.
General Room: We wish Pat all the best in this next chapter of his life. Pat congratulations. We're going to applaud you again, and if you'd like to come up and say a few words. You're welcome to do so.
General Room: Thank you very much for the kind words. 25 years been a lot of change.
General Room: but I can't think of a place that I've had.
General Room: Truly more fun working, solving problems. Moving everything forward.
General Room: But what you should be excited about is the future. The future is in this room, and the people that will lead this district are here now.
General Room: and the outlook is bright for the district. So thank you all very much.
General Room: Does the Board have any words for Pat before I read about?
General Room: I'll pass it to Director Shoemaker first.st
General Room: Thank you for all the work you've done. I I my. My 1st story about my only story tonight about Pat is I I when I was a teacher in this district. I contacted Pat because my daughter hit a stop sign at one of our primaries
General Room: don't know how she had it. She didn't anything else. She just hit a stop sign, and it was. It was a wooden one, and it was rotted.
General Room: and she hit it, and then it just kind of tipped onto the car.
General Room: and she was, of course, 16 years old and completely freaked out. And so I call Pat the next day.
General Room: and he just laughed and just, and just said, You know, we're replacing all of those with middle ones, anyway. So don't don't worry about it. And my daughter just said this, that guy must be wonderful. And and you are so. Thank you. Pat
General Room: director sloop.
General Room: Yes, I would like to give you a big thank you pat for always
General Room: making yourself available with my questions, and there you were always so informative and
General Room: dumb the construction talk down so I could understand what you were saying, so I appreciate all the
General Room: all the conversations we've had, and I wish you the best in your retirement. Thank you.
General Room: Director Vidal, would you like to say something? Sure. Thank you so much, Pat. I hope you have a wonderful and relaxing retirement. I I want to thank you so much for your dedication and your leadership, and, like Director Sloop, said, always being there to answer all of our questions, no matter what that question is. So thank you so much.
General Room: Thank you. And I want to thank you, too, Pat, for all the education that you've given me over the last 4 years on how this district actually is run behind the scenes and the buildings, and the facilities and the fields, and all the moving pieces that we don't think about. We just show up and it's done. And it's because of people like you and your team that allow us to have the experience that we have in these buildings and on these grounds. And so
General Room: I know a lot more about how this district is run because of the time that we've spent together, and I always appreciated your jovial spirit when
General Room: I know this is like hitting a routine single
General Room: for you. But you always were patient with us in our questions, and a lot of those questions are coming from, you know our community. And and they're asking us to come and push on you and your team. Why do we got all these weeds. Why do we got these potholes? You know, kids are going to get hurt, and it's like Pat. Why, we got all these weeds and potholes. So I just want to thank you for being patient with us and
General Room: and always being willing to laugh. And that's 1 thing I'm always. I'm always going to be appreciative about you. So I hope you really really enjoy your retirement. Have a good one. Thank you.
General Room: All right, Dr. Ludwig.
General Room: Okay,
General Room: Enrique.
General Room: Ricky has been with the district 24 years. He joined our district in 2,001,
General Room: and he has worked at at least 5 schools in our district, maybe more before becoming the custodial supervisor. When I met Enrique
General Room: we were both at Sunset Primary School. He had been there a few years before I arrived, and it was Enrique who helped orient me to what it means to be a new principal.
General Room: because we were both there, working in the summer alone building, and he would patiently answer all my questions about where to find things, and who was in what classroom and what the routines and rituals of the school were the traditions.
General Room: the elephants in the room, how to navigate things, what to pay attention to.
General Room: and it only took a few moments of working with Enrique for me to know that I had a colleague I could trust.
General Room: and I could count on, no matter what, and we became good friends.
General Room: and it's lasted all these years
General Room: Enrique has worked at sunset, primary school and Cedar Oak Park primary school, and through a series of well-deserved promotions, moved on to bigger schools in the district like Boone's Ferry and Inza Wood.
General Room: and when it was time to open Meridian Creek, we knew he was the right person to do that heavy lift.
General Room: It was clear that Enrique not only knew his work so well. He also knew all the key systems, all the colleagues across the district, and where we could get better as an organization.
General Room: In 2021 he was promoted to custodial supervisor, overseeing over 30 staff across the district, and all that is required for engineers and custodians to be successful in their work.
General Room: Enrique is one of those people and leaders in schools that is more popular with students than some of the favorite teachers.
General Room: He quickly earned the nickname Superman among young students, and that title has traveled with him.
General Room: Children know they know when someone truly cares about them and has their best interest in mind.
General Room: even though Enrique has a fast pace at work, he's never too busy to stop and talk with students, pay attention to what's needed in the moment.
General Room: Take care of a colleague, answer a question, and make someone's day better relationships are his superpower.
General Room: To know Enrique is to know that he is a parent. His son works in our school district.
General Room: A grandparent family are the most precious people in his life.
General Room: A husband, his wife, is an amazing cook
General Room: for tamales. We're going to miss those
General Room: loves to travel like taking his family to Hawaii several times
General Room: is committed to his faith community
General Room: and has. I didn't know this Enrique but 3 corgis at home that are going to keep you super busy.
General Room: We wish him well. In his next chapter of his life we're going to applaud you again, Enrique, and if you'd like to come forward and say any words we'd love to hear from you.
General Room: I I was watching the the my photo.
General Room: and I think to myself, Enrique, how handsome you were
General Room: over there. I have a little hair and moustaches, and look at that right now is is
General Room: funny. But thinking about about my job. I remember my 1st day working this school district like a study at Wilsonville High School.
General Room: And all the time my goal was okay. My job will be, try to have this school safer and clean for kids and stuff, and deserve, you know. And all the time it was my my goal until last working day here
General Room: this school district was my second home. To be honest.
General Room: I felt my second home, my second family.
General Room: and of course, behind me. I had to support a great team like Pat. Incredible person, Jeff.
General Room: Steve, Jeremy, I mean they may. They made easier my job here, because they are very, very dependable persons.
General Room: so I'm happy to be here and proud to be working for almost 24 years in school, and thank you for for everything. This time for me is a privilege, and I really appreciate it. Thank you very much.
General Room: director. Shoemaker.
General Room: Well, of course, a big thank you for for the work that you've done. But I'm reminded, as I look around at the at the
General Room: leaders in this room.
General Room: leaders in different roles, teachers, board members, former board members. There are a lot of ways to serve students and to lead, and some some do that
General Room: in the classroom. Some do do that in your role. But what all those people have in common, I think, is a real sense of mission, and you spoke about that a little bit. So thank you for being that kind of person, because that's what it takes. Thank you.
General Room: All right, Director Vidal.
General Room: thank you so much for all the years you've given to the school district. I think we all know that custodians are such an important team member in the school, and they're people that are students and teachers and and leaders in the building rely on every day. So thank you so much for leading our team. Thank you
General Room: anything.
General Room: Yes, I just wanted to thank you for your 24 years of overseeing
General Room: the schools in our school district and the kids and the staff, and I wish you the best in your retirement. So thank you so much.
General Room: And, Enrique, I wish I knew you the way that other people knew you, because I could only imagine
General Room: what
General Room: that must have been like for the faith that the district has had in you to put you in all those different roles around the school district. But I think back to what my Enrique meant to me when I was in those schools, and what I knew about my Enrique was.
General Room: They were a trusted source. They were a face that you felt comfortable around. They knew the pulse
General Room: than the heartbeat of every single school that they may have been within, and, in fact, I would. I would argue that I probably would bet that you know more about what's going on in the school than any other person in the school. And so I just know that
General Room: the role that you play is far.
General Room: How would I say this is far deeper than maybe you think about, and not that you haven't thought about that. And your role means a lot to little kiddos walking around and especially being a man of Hispanic culture and being a brown face within our school district. I mean, there's even more impact than that. So I just want to thank you for your service. Thank you for being to probably those students what my Enrique was to me, so I wish you a wonderful retirement.
General Room: So I just would like to add that Enrique was one of the very 1st hires that I had here. And we've worked together 24 years.
General Room: When Enrique let me know that he was thinking about retiring, I said, That's it. I'm out of here. I can't do this without him, so he is the catalyst for all of this. But throughout the years Enrique has has just galvanized our department to become
General Room: more of a team and more of a unit than it has ever been in the history of this district, and it's a testament to the person that he is
General Room: the knowledge that he brings and and the passion that he had for this job. And I just want to thank him personally for all of the effort that he had throughout the years. Thank you, Enrique.
General Room: Sure.
General Room: And so Dylan Robertson, 4, th 5th grade teacher at Cedar Oak Park. You have 3 min.
General Room: I'm joking. I'm joking. Settle down.
General Room: So I just want to say that I worked at Cedaro Park when Enrique was there. I've been teaching for 19 years in a lot of different schools, and I've never seen a custodial staff member more beloved by the staff and by the students, and just not only kept the school working like clockwork, but just a huge personality on the campus.
General Room: We even saw him dance one time at the end of the year, but just a real personality that everyone really cared about, and just a fantastic guy.
General Room: Go ahead. And
General Room: thank you so much, and I'm glad you could humor me a little bit on that, Dr. Ludwig.
General Room: And now I'd like to recognize David Prior 30 years
General Room: in the district. David began his career in the school district by student teaching at Willamette, primary school principal. Katie Mayer knew a brilliant teacher when she saw one offered him his 1st teaching job in 1995.
General Room: That's the late 19 hundreds.
General Room: Well, David moved from teaching at Willamette to then being the instruction instructional Coordinator coordinator there for a number of years, and after Katie retired he was hired as the principal there.
General Room: It's unusual for an educator to spend their entire professional career in one organization, but David would often tell me
General Room: this is the best place to work. I believe in the mission, and I love this district and the people. Why would I leave?
General Room: David became assistant superintendent 9 years ago, and has dedicated his time and talent to strengthening the district that he loves through his leadership, enhancing classroom learning, and producing outcomes in our primary schools well beyond where they were.
General Room: Our primary schools are truly at their best because of his leadership.
General Room: The core of David's strengths is his student-centered vision, and his ability to communicate complex systems and actions with clarity, thoughtfulness, positive presumption, and a spirit of collaboration.
General Room: David is humble beyond compare. There is no ego, no need to be the loudest voice or presence in the room.
General Room: the name on the design, or the one who gets credit for the idea. He works quietly, unassumingly, diligently, compassionately, selflessly, with others, best interests in mind.
General Room: He is a patient leader, and when the time is right, he adds
General Room: the wisdom integrity and clarity that is needed in the moment.
General Room: and because of that he has earned his colleagues deepest admiration, respect, trust, and friendship.
General Room: As assistant superintendent. David has helped usher in new primary schools.
General Room: mentor new principals, implement several curriculum renewals, strengthen language and literacy programs, assist with complex association negotiations and bring a listening ear to sensitive situations for our families, with young children.
General Room: To know David is to know that he is a husband to another amazing professional. Kim
General Room: cares for his parents and his sister takes pride in the accomplishments of his family members, is an avid consumer of knowledge and information, whether in books, podcasts, or movies.
General Room: loves to travel camp, bike, and run all at the same time some weekends.
General Room: and has several large, naughty cats at home that keep him busy.
General Room: We wish him. Well, in this next chapter of his life.
General Room: And, David, we're going to applaud you. If there's any words you'd like to share.
General Room: Thank you, Kathy. Yeah. It doesn't seem that long ago that I was being hired to teach. And I remember thinking someone made a mistake because everyone's smarter than me in the building and students included, and
General Room: you know that never changed. Like, regardless of what role I had, I felt like everyone around me, was brilliant and had such integrity, and that's what kept me in the organization. You know it's true that sometimes I would think maybe I do need to look somewhere else, and I would look around. And you know we're surrounded by amazing districts. But
General Room: no one can top this district, and you know it's the people.
General Room: the people who hold you accountable to be your very best. And you know I kept thinking at some point I'm going to move into a role where I'm going to need to be the smartest person in the room. But that's not how this organization operates. You know. We listen to all voices, we challenge each other. We
General Room: ask each other to do things differently when we're not serving students at our best. And you know the shift over the last 2 decades to really focus on ensuring all students. You know, even those that we may not have served as well are getting our very best, you know that's an inspiring mission, and it's hard work. But that's what every educator signs up for
General Room: really hard work to do our best by students and young adults. And so it's not a cliche to say it's been an incredible privilege, you know. I feel a lot of gratefulness that I've been able to serve in this district for 30 years. So thank you.
General Room: Well, Director Shoemaker, there's a lot of talent going out the door over here.
General Room: David, it's always seemed to me that your secret is that you believe so much in other people, whether it's believing in the children or their teachers, or their parents, or anyone who works with them in a building you just you so strongly believe in others.
General Room: I mentioned a little bit earlier about leadership, and I think
General Room: it must have been really hard for you to leave a building
General Room: to do this work at the district office, and we all very much appreciate that you did that. But I know how loved you were at Willamette as well, and for good reason, because of the great work you did so. I also know that there is
General Room: more service in your future, because you're that kind of person. And so thank you for all you've done, and for what more you have to give. Thank you.
General Room: director sloop.
General Room: Yes, I A sincere thank you for
General Room: not only the leadership and dedication that you've given to this district, but the time that you've spent with us board members when we do our primary school tours and ask about data assessment and and those results and what they mean and just scheduling extra meetings when we had questions
General Room: at the end of last year, so I appreciate your willingness and your openness, and then just your dedication, and I wish you the best in your retirement, and hope you get to do lots of camping and biking
General Room: Director Vidal.
General Room: So my son went to Lowry primary from kindergarten to 5th grade, and Dr. Pryor is a legend at Lowry Primary
General Room: he opened that school, and when my son started there in 2017, they were still talking about principal prior, even when he wasn't there anymore. And then Patrick Minor came to be our principal. I was the Pta President, and on Pta leadership, and I heard about Dr. Pryor a lot in my role there since he was a mentor.
General Room: Oh, Patrick, so I just want to thank you for your years of mentorship of our teachers and our leaders.
General Room: I really appreciate your your warmth and your kindness and your fun, and I hope that continues into your retirement, and thank you so much for your dedication. I really appreciate it.
General Room: Well, Dr. Pryor, I want to say thank you for again the education that you've given me the last 4 years, and I think when I think about you, I think about
General Room: the word patience comes to mind. You exemplify patience, and I also think about the word strength because you were responsible for a heavy lift.
General Room: I mean, you're the person who had to answer to parents who.
General Room: with our youngest and most fragile thinkers that we're trying to develop in this district. And we know that that the primary level is the level that gets a lot of attention.
General Room: It's good and bad, and so that falls
General Room: on your desk. And so I know that was a heavy lift, and the way that you were able to move
General Room: and continuously keep a smile on your face. I never once saw you rattled.
General Room: which is impressive. I don't have that kind of patience, so I can appreciate it. I pray for patients every year. It's my New Year's resolution. I'm still praying so. But I just want to say Thank you for being a model of what Patience looks like. You didn't just
General Room: talk about it. You lived it, you you were a leader in it, and you were an example as to even in the midst of in the throes of the fire, you just kind of kept a level head. And so I think about you. I think about the word neutral. You weren't ever high, you weren't ever low. You just did the work, and so I thank you for that. And the next person who has to fulfill that role at some point. I wish them the best of luck, and so in the next season of your life, I hope it is everything that you want it to be and have a wonderful retirement.
General Room: Yeah.
General Room: well, just want to let you know that on Monday, June 30, th we're having a. It's our traditional annual end of the year barbecue lunch to thank all of our engineers, custodians, groundskeeper, all all the people that we've mentioned that
General Room: take great pride in our school facilities, and all 3 of these gentlemen will be at that. So if you'd like to come by and again say Hello, or thank you. If your schedules are free. And then because David missed our leadership forum retirement celebration, we'll have a luncheon here so others can
General Room: recognize him at that, and we'll let you know that date as well if you'd like to swing by so a couple more opportunities that we get to
General Room: share our appreciation and tell stories that others don't know about and and thank you for your service. So at this time, if the Board, if we could come to the front. Take a picture with these 3 retirees, and we just have a very small token, but it represents our heartfelt thanks, and
General Room: alright, 3, 2, 1,
General Room: and I will wait. I guess this is the time where I will let all of our retirees exit if they choose. So just like we do with the students.
General Room: Okay, we have the next slide.
General Room: We have one more recognition. All right.
General Room: There we go.
General Room: Oh, you stinkers. Yeah.
General Room: So this is as we know chair. Taylor's
General Room: last long regular School Board meeting. We especially made it go till what? 9, 30, 10 o'clock! We could stretch it out for a long time.
General Room: and we just kept piling more into the agenda to make him work till the last few days in June.
General Room: This is an opportunity for board colleagues to recognize you and appreciate you, and I do have some words as well. But we'll start with board colleagues first.st
General Room: Recognizing Chair Taylor and his 4 years of service on the School board.
General Room: So I don't know if you want to start director, Shoemaker, or
General Room: yeah. So, Lewis.
General Room: I so appreciate how just honest. You are about everything, and there are times when you just I mean you always call it the way you see it, but it's so helpful.
General Room: for people to just know what they're dealing with, you know, to just know
General Room: who you are and and what you believe, and that what you believe coincides with what
General Room: we believe philosophically as a district. But it's just so.
General Room: It's so helpful to come onto a board as someone who came on just 2 years ago. And to just get that, you know, you're not playing games with anybody. You're just like this is, this is what what we're about. This is what we need to do. Let's go. So I've really appreciated that.
General Room: And then there's just the very human side of you, too, and I swear every year I learn new things about you that I did not know, and that I cannot repeat. But it's it's just been. It's been a pleasure working with you and a pleasure knowing you, man, so thank you.
General Room: Thank you. I appreciate it.
General Room: Okay.
General Room: Oh, gosh, now.
General Room: now, I teased Director Shoemaker about having to go first.st So now I have to go next. Okay, great. So, Louis, I know that you say you are logical and rational, and you're a numbers, guy, but I also know that you do have a big heart, and you do think with your heart.
General Room: because when I 1st met you, you said, Think with your mind and not your heart, and I want to say that I know you think with your heart so ha, ha!
General Room: And I have really enjoyed getting to know you over the last 2 years. It's funny that Director Shoemaker said you were honest, because that's like the 1st thing I wrote down is honest, and I appreciate that as well. And I also appreciate the care and respect you have for our kids and our teachers and our leaders. So thank you so much, Louis. I really enjoyed getting to know you
General Room: appreciate it.
General Room: so I just wanted to say that. It's been an honor serving with you on the Westland Wilsonville School Board for the last 4 years.
General Room: and thank you for your steadfast leadership as a chair.
General Room: But I also am so grateful for your encouragement and support throughout my many questions, whether it's from research or reading something or processing something.
General Room: And I'm a big fan of
General Room: Mr. Rogers. I got to watch him on TV when I was growing up as a kid.
General Room: and one of his words of wisdom that I wanted to share is that
General Room: imagining something may be the 1st step in making it happen. But it takes real people to learn things, make things, turn thoughts into deeds and visions into inventions.
General Room: So I appreciate you leading the Board into developing an anti-racism bias, nondiscrimination.
General Room: resolution, as well as clarifying more of the administrative rules, and
General Room: when your term ends June 30, th I hope you find the time that you'll have to play, because, as also Dr. Rogers said, play is often talked about as a relief from serious learning.
General Room: But to children play is serious. Learning.
General Room: work or play is the work of childhood. So I hope that you take the time and enjoy some of your hobbies. And so I have a small gift, because I just want you to always remember to take time to play.
General Room: Thank you so much. I appreciate it.
General Room: Thank you for your friendship. Yeah, thank you.
General Room: The.
General Room: And I think my colleagues have said really wonderful things very true things about you. And I was reflecting back that we ran for office at the same time, and kind of ran together. But that was my 1st opportunity to start working with you, and
General Room: even though I had to tell you to not drink wine on campaign zooms on camera, you have just impressed me so much with your professionalism and your preparation for this work, and that was evident back when you were running. And then over these last 4 years. And it's been just my absolute delight to serve as vice chair with you.
General Room: It's, you know, a lot more meetings, a lot of time, a lot more time on zoom together.
General Room: But through that all. I think that you have helped us really elevate the way that the School Board functions. And
General Room: I just really want to call out. You know it wasn't until 2 years ago that we were setting board goals, and you pushed us in a direction to really embrace the position we hold as policymakers to set some goals that complement and and support the superintendent and staff, and that type of leadership
General Room: is going to, I think, live on as we continue to think about the role that we play as elected officials, and you set that vision in place for us and just really grateful for that.
General Room: And then, through this all, all of this, you've just become a dear friend, and I'm going to really miss having you up here. But I also know that you will come and give public comment from time to time. You'll continue to serve our communities to serve our kids. And so it puts the saying, it's not goodbye. It's see you later. And so I know that we will cross paths as we continue to do this work.
General Room: and because of the foundation you've laid. I think we will be a more effective school board into the future. So just thank you for everything. Thank you.
General Room: I appreciate the kind words I am not going to respond until the end, because Director Vidal told the truth. I am a softie
General Room: and I will ball my head off up here, and so that I don't ugly cry on TV. I'm gonna wait to the end and get get us through the meeting. But
General Room: I'm so grateful for all one second.
General Room: Oh, yeah, okay, but I'm so grateful for all of you. And I did get in trouble for drinking wine, I will admit.
General Room: during our campaign, and probably other times. I love wine, but I just got to remember to drink it at the appropriate times, and thank you for reminding me
General Room: so I'll speak some more at at the end. But I'm I'm grateful for all of you. So
General Room: thank you.
General Room: So
General Room: I have a few words, and then we'll we'll get a picture, because we also have a couple of tokens for you. But there's nothing like serving in public and having all of your moments preserved in perpetuity. Right? So if you ever want to see those moments again, just watch the film. I remember you would often say to me in your 1st year or 2 of your tenure. I ran for school board because I just want to make a difference.
General Room: And I want you to know you have.
General Room: Thank you. And we are
General Room: completely a better school district because of what you have brought in your leadership. What you have pushed us to explore, to uncover, to be courageous, about, to speak boldly, to empower others, and I know you'll be able to point to things and say, you know I was there when the district made those moves, and whether it's policy or resolutions.
General Room: or challenging decisions that we had to make through litigations or things. You were the calm and the steadfast voice that believed in the district, and you'll always be able to point to those things tangibly as well as
General Room: constructively to look at.
General Room: You came on board, and we were coming out of Covid, and that steadfast leadership that you brought with a few other board members was so needed in the organization. People could feel your presence, they could feel your confidence and your belief in them. And that strengthens an organization
General Room: throughout budget challenges. You've been a steady voice around. What matters for kids and what level of risk we're willing to take for teachers to have what they need in the classroom and for our schools to be the places that we can continue to be proud of.
General Room: Throughout some challenging, sensitive
General Room: you know, very noteworthy community engagements. You were also keeping the ship right and helping us move with integrity and be our North Star.
General Room: And there were times when you'd read a response that I'd written. Then you'd say.
General Room: well, I think that was good therapy for you just to write it out. But here's what I would say instead.
General Room: And so we were. I trusted your voice and your reason, and I appreciate that you always wanted to make sure we put our best foot forward as a district.
General Room: You were the one that brought listening sessions really to a reality in our school district and listening sessions that involve student voice.
General Room: And we started with high school students. Then we had middle school students. Then we had high school students. We've had staff, we've had parents, and it's become now, you know, a guiding principle for School Boards to include voice which is one of our goals. Really, truly, as a school board into the practice of leadership. That's another thing you can point to.
General Room: You're incredibly student-centered. Like Enrique, you walk in a room and kids know who you are
General Room: and you are. You know, you make eye contact with students. You want to know their story, it matters to you, and they genuinely feel that to have a leader who is so student-centered is such a gift.
General Room: Relationships are also your superpower.
General Room: and what we wish for you is that now you have more time to devote to your family, your business. We know that you've made concessions to lead and give such an extraordinary amount of time to the school district. Hopefully, your golf game improves
General Room: and you have time with your friends and find other ways to serve. So thank you enormously for the gift of 4 years of service to the school district. We appreciate it.
General Room: Thank you.
General Room: Thank you. Okay, right.
General Room: Alright. 3, 2, 1 perfect. Thank you.
General Room: I just have to stand back
General Room: and back over to the agenda to you. Chair. Taylor.
General Room: Thank you. Everyone. I really appreciate the kind words. And
General Room: now we'll get back to business.
General Room: That takes us right into board member and superintendent reports, and as is tradition director, shoemaker.
General Room: I'll be kind of quick, because I know we have a lot on the agenda, and I just wanted to make a couple of comments about the end of the year. It was there was a lot this year, and I know that our our families
General Room: felt a weight to the year at times, but I have to say I was out for a walk on the last few, the last day of school, and to see the way people finished is kind of inspiring, not just obviously the
General Room: children pretty excited about the last day of school, but to watch their teachers with them, really finishing strong. And then the next day I was walking and watching those teachers. You could see them in their windows working, and I just know that people are still working, and they're doing their jobs, and they're committed to the work. And
General Room: there's a lot of stuff going on. But I think the focus from staff and students was where it
General Room: should be. So we want to thank our teachers for that.
General Room: All right, director sloop.
General Room: Yeah, I'm just going to piggyback on Director Shoemaker. But
General Room: this has happened to me twice in the last couple years. At the end of school. They get out like at 1040 or something, and I was driving down Rosemont.
General Room: And there's a group of boys, probably 5th graders, and they were walking
General Room: towards, you know Safeway, and they were doing this sign to me, and as cars walked by, I mean, as cars went by and nobody did so, I slowed down, really slow, unrolled my window, or well, push the button, I guess, not unrolling. And
General Room: and so I started honking, and I'm like schools out for summer, and they were just like, yes, like somebody. Listen to us. But then all the cars behind me started doing the same thing, and it was just like this is just so cool that you know everybody's excited. The end is the end of a great school year, and they're just all ready for summer. So it was fun to watch
General Room: Director Vidal.
General Room: I just want to talk about a little bit about our our board goals this year. So on our on the dais. We have these 2425 board goals, and don't worry. I'm not going to read them.
General Room: but when I look at them I'm just so proud of us this year because it was a really hard and difficult year. And so when people came up to me during the school year, you know, it's our culture. When someone says, Oh, wow! What you do is such hard work. It's our culture to say, oh, no, it's no problem. And I would say, yes, it is.
General Room: It is really, really, this is really challenging work. And because of our budget gap, we're facing
General Room: and you know, small schools.
General Room: It's
General Room: really tough in the advocacy that director Sloop and I did this year at the Capitol to get more funding. So public education is so important to our kids and our families and our industry. And so I just want everyone to recognize its importance.
General Room: And so that's just my reflection for this year. So thank you.
General Room: Vice chair, Wyatt.
General Room: I just wanted to briefly give some voice over to an agenda change that we had for this evening.
General Room: The superintendent contract. An annual evaluation is the responsibility of the vice chair to lead that for the School Board, and we have moved that item to a special online board meeting on Wednesday at 8 Am. And this is 100%. The Board's fault for falling behind with some of our work. It is not a reflection on
General Room: this agenda item on the superintendent's contract or the evaluation. We've had a really busy month. We've had a lot of meetings. There are a couple of loose ends for us to tie up as a board, so just wanted to make that clear that that's why that has been taken off of the agenda as a school board. We have one employee. It's the superintendent, and we take the evaluation very seriously, and so just wanted to speak to that and just make sure that the public is aware of that change. Thank you.
General Room: Thank you for that update. I'm glad you did that, and
General Room: I'll be the 1st to admit I was one of the culprits. I was late.
General Room: and so I, I will apologize to you because I know how much work goes into that, and it was given to us in a timely fashion, and the board has been extremely busy.
General Room: And that's not an excuse. It's just more of a. There's a lot going on in each board members life, whether it's running for something, whether it's owning several companies, whether it's being retired and having new grandbabies and traveling the world, or whether it's taking care of your own family and parents and whatnot. And so our schedules don't always align for us to meet deadlines, and
General Room: you know, and unfortunately we missed that one, and so when you miss it, you miss it.
General Room: and you got to own it, so we'll stand on it and we'll get it right. It's gonna be a couple of days behind. But and I want to apologize to you, too, Dr. Ludwig, because you know, this is your livelihood. This is your evaluation, and we owe you the respect of being on time. And so, as a board, you know I will apologize for not only my own negligence, but
General Room: we just didn't get it done, and we missed the beat on that. So it's important for the public to know that
General Room: some of us were a little busy and dropped the ball, and we'll make it right. And sometimes that's how it goes. So
General Room: thank you for bringing that to our attention. And you know, I just want to say I'm not gonna say too much. I just know that this year was was a long year.
General Room: I wouldn't be telling the truth if I wasn't honest. And say I'm looking forward to the next season
General Room: and doing some other work and trying to still be a part of the the process, and
General Room: moving on to to improve my golf game. So I will be drinking more wine in all of the appropriate places.
General Room: And I I just want to also say that. You know, I want to thank all of the staff who have sacrificed days of their
General Room: pay, and from their family to support their colleagues, and giving up 2 furlough days, and admin giving up furlough days, and I know we kind of gloss over it, and we call it a budget thing, but that's the equivalent of you taking money off of each one of your plates and saying, Here, I'm going to give it to a colleague, and they chose to do that on their own that had nothing to do with us. There's
General Room: that was something that they did. And I want to just make sure that Staff know that we appreciate that. I'm sure the recipients of that gift will be appreciative.
General Room: That means that they get to provide for their families or their or their children on the backs of you, and so I don't want it to go unsaid, that the board is highly highly grateful, and
General Room: and we see you. We hear you, and and thank you for that. All of this district, all these staff who've made sacrifices for other staff. So
General Room: I wish it didn't have to be that way, you know.
General Room: But here we are. And so for the people making those sacrifices, I just don't want it to go on, said we really appreciate and thank you so much, so
General Room: I will pass it to you. Dr. Ludwig.
General Room: Yeah, I just have a couple words, and then I'm going to yield my time to Director Elston to come up and talk about 3 Rivers Charter School, because we've invited her to share about the great year they had at 3 Rivers. But
General Room: You know I had the opportunity to to send message to the community and to the staff, and
General Room: probably the hardest messages to write it just felt
General Room: you know, I think I use the phrase just lacking in so many ways. And what a leader could say to
General Room: to a community about hard decisions and a lot that we navigated this year, and remorse that I feel about where we are with budget challenges and
General Room: And also I'm just incredibly grateful, as all of you have mentioned to our amazing staff classified licensed leaders in the in the school, who through a challenging year kept their focus on students.
General Room: and every day showing up and doing their best.
General Room: and focusing on what students needed and supporting each other and standing up for each other. And
General Room: you know I agree with with
General Room: with David. This is the best school district to be in.
General Room: It's why I stay. It's why so many people stay and want to stay. There are teachers who
General Room: try for many years to get in the school district. They consider this their destination, their dream job. And that's what makes it hard to when we have to.
General Room: Say goodbye sooner than we'd want to. Our our hope is that we can
General Room: bring as many folks back.
General Room: I want to just thank also our community for
General Room: hanging in there through a lot of difficult conversations, for sharing their feedback and
General Room: making us better, and asking us to always do better. And I think the hallmark of a really strong organization is a really strong community behind it that holds them to a high standard that wants them to succeed, and has the belief that they can.
General Room: And I think that's what I feel in this community is while the standards are high. There's also this tremendous belief that we can meet that standard. And so I appreciate our community believing in us. And they've demonstrated it through listening sessions, through emails that they've sent us supporting us.
General Room: showing up at
General Room: school board meetings and public comment wanting us to put kids first.st And it's a strength of this community
General Room: and want to thank all of you for a great year. I know it's been hard this year, has asked a lot of each of you that
General Room: doesn't ask that much. Typical Years board members don't have to deal with as many decisions as you had to this year, and you took each of those in stride and researched and took them seriously and asked a lot of questions. A lot of listening sessions listened to the community, listen to students, and always wanted to do what was right for students. So
General Room: thank you so much for a great year.
General Room: and at this time I would invite Dr. Megan Elston to come up and director Dr. Soon. She is in their program and
General Room: Every once in a while we get to have an amazing Update from 3 Rivers Charter School, and we would have been remiss if we had finished the year without one. So we're squeaking it in, and thank you so much for being here. Thank you for having me.
General Room: I'm Megan Elston, the administrator, director, principal it director, head custodian, etc, etc, of 3 Rivers Charter School, and it's always an honor to be able to be with you all and share a little bit about our little school off of Eck Road. Thank you to the West and Wilsonville School Board and District leadership for giving me time today during your busy meeting.
General Room: but especially to Director Vidal, who's our liaison this year, and has been in the building a couple times, and always not surprisingly, brings the energy when she visits
General Room: and chair Taylor, our paths don't cross that often, but when they do, I'm always impressed at just being around you and watching you navigate a room of diverse people, and I've just been impressed with your commitment to the community.
General Room: your ability to listen to all the voices. So good luck to you. I want to also just say that the the continual support by Superintendent Ludwig and Assistant superintendents Prior Soyson and Spencer imes it. It's thank you. All floating around here somewhere. Thank you so much.
General Room: So whether it be through, invites to important safety meetings, which I really do like being in the room with you, Dr. Ludwig. That's okay. I like it. It was great.
General Room: and I think it's probably Mr. Kilstrom up there who's always making that happen, but also to be invited to this year's Bond Summit at Riverside, and to lesser known details about, you know, building operations team helping us with some unexpected water issues or a helpful walkthrough during safety drills.
General Room: So when one person like me wears a lot of hats in a building, it's reassuring to know that there are people in the larger district that will help us out, Dr. Hughes. The other day it was a couple weeks ago I was.
General Room: There are so many emails in my inbox, and I'd say, like at least 15% of them are from ode
General Room: or yeah, right? Like, you know, it's just a lot. And I couldn't find the State School Fund document that I was so desperately searching for to help with our budget. And I just like you know what I bet you Dr. Hughes has it like on demand. And you did, and you shared it with me and my business manager. And so thank you like just those little things that sometimes get
General Room: lost in the weeds when you're
General Room: doing all of the things in a small school. Another big shout out to the West and Wilsonville it department. They hear from me frequently, but also the Communications Department. They they help us with many tech related questions, and Andrew was was very willing to help me write a quick water email. When our water was just a little. It was fine. It was all good
General Room: but we asked some questions, and they were really willing to help us. So that was great. And then also to Student Services Department. I know Lauren's here so, and Callie Owings, who I don't see here, but they've both stepped in to help us wrap up our final ieps of the season. As Stephanie Clausen, was on leave, and she, Stephanie's our district rep and helps us through everything. And the way Lauren and Callie just stepped in. And
General Room: it's been seamless and just very much appreciate that support for our special education students, and then, finally.
General Room: I would be remiss to not give a shout out to Kelly Douglas, who, when I call
General Room: simple or complex, the voice on that line that answers is just enough to like, calm my nerves and ask the question, and she almost always has the answer at her fingertips. So thank you. I appreciate that so much.
General Room: so over the last few years I've been here. Actually, Kelly, may I make a request to always be here in June?
General Room: Okay. I mean, I know you're busy. But for me today to go into work and and work on this.
General Room: and and not all of the other things. It was really nice to be able to look at the year without needing to put out any fires or answer the phone or answer emails. Or
General Room: my favorite thing, you know, interact with the students. So June is great for me in the future. But over the years I've shared a lot of just highlights in my voice. So this year I decided I would share the video that we made for a spring fundraiser this year, and also that will be going on our website.
General Room: we in the 2526 school year, we'll be celebrating our 25th year as a public charter school, which is pretty cool. So a silver anniversary, I think it's called. And so this this video is mostly all student voice, and I will let you all know that I also am a I am the video director, artistic and otherwise. So you know.
General Room: Take that with a grain of salt, please, because it's not maybe the most polished thing you've ever seen, and that's just a lovely photo of our 8th grade class just a couple of days ago, finishing their time at 3 Rivers.
General Room: Welcome to Trcm.
General Room: Puraces has helped me grow some that I care about
General Room: by showing me how to be a better leader and communicate better decisions and judgments.
General Room: and helped me realize that everybody is all in this together.
General Room: If I could use a couple words to describe 3 Rivers, I would use creative and very welcoming.
General Room: Ever since I've been going here my social anxiety has really improved, and now everything feels safer, and everything's better than before.
General Room: What makes Crca school special or different than most other schools is probably that it's community and its size.
General Room: One of the ways 3 Rivers makes me feel safe is through the community that the staff and administration have created in all of my years here. Never once have I been bullied, or even witnessed, or seen bullying, and I think, compared to other schools. That is a huge deal and accomplishment, as well as whenever mean comments occur here, they're quickly shut down. But you barely see mean comments here, and that's why 3 Rivers makes me feel safe.
General Room: The thing that makes Tlcs so awesome is because while there's so much to do, and everybody's really nice and kind.
General Room: You. It's really kind of easy to get friends here and the staff is really nice to you. Sometimes we do plays which I was recently in. And
General Room: yeah.
General Room: the newest tradition I like is the play, because you get to experience acting. And it's also really fun, because you also get to hang out with your friends and see how the play comes together in the end, and all the teachers are helping with putting it together, and you get to sing songs
General Room: at the end. There's like an art show, and you get to show your parents all your art that you did over the time that you had
General Room: winter.
General Room: if I could use one word to describe, Trcs would use amazing
General Room: trcs, helps me feel safe and supported because I have my friends, and then the community is just so awesome. And my teachers still.
General Room: my favorite thing about going to the school is is chilling with my friends.
General Room: What makes Trcs awesome is, it has super small classes, and I really like that because it's not overwhelming.
General Room: There you go.
General Room: My favorite thing about coming to school each day is being able to see my friends that don't go over my hair.
General Room: What makes Trcs specialer than other schools is that we all are deeply connected, and that you just feel this belonging and love from the teachers and other students.
General Room: My favorite traditions at Ercs is when the families are chosen. It's really fun. You don't know who you're going to be paired up with, but it's really exciting.
General Room: The most memorable experience would probably be 4th grade.
General Room: Walking into the school for the 1st time after coming from online learning.
General Room: mind, is why you pay.
General Room: Well, those are some of our students. I want to. Just I saw an Instagram post this year that was like, Decide your vibe. That was the like how to get through to the kids right.
General Room: and our slogan is, your life is what you make it. And I was like, Oh, my gosh, that is like, decide your vibe like. So we made this video, we decided to put that down there. And the kids all think they're like, Oh, yeah, okay, I get that. Yeah. Decide your vibe. These are just a couple of pictures. I'm not gonna talk you through them, but that just of some highlights, including you. You're in there
General Room: when your day when you came to visit us working with some students. There's some outdoor school pictures, our 4th and 5th graders going curling
General Room: and that's my dog Bingo on the bottom left. She comes to school once in a while and sits with kids as they read or greets them at the door. It's a pretty fun experience. So just to wrap it all up, I wouldn't
General Room: be able to do any of this amazing sharing without the amazing staff at 3 Rivers they are the glue that holds all the learning and fun together, and they are masters at what they do. And then, of course, a big thanks to our own board who support me and help me with events throughout the year. I got one board member here. She's in the back.
General Room: and then to our students and our families who continue to support us in the success of our school. Thank you for your time, thanks for listening, thanks for watching the video.
General Room: and I'm happy to to answer any questions if you have them. But
General Room: I also know you have a big, long night ahead of you.
General Room: Thank you.
General Room: Any of the directors have questions. No anything, director, slough.
General Room: anything, anything? Well, I'll just say, thank you. I was a liaison for your school for a couple of years, and
General Room: you guys are killing it over there. I don't know if you picked all your best students or what the heck that was. But those students so articulate, and they're so well spoken.
General Room: and you can see the confidence that they just exude coming through that camera. So that's a Testament to you and your staff, and whatever you're doing over there, keep doing it. So. Thank you. Yeah. Enjoy.
General Room: Sure. I just want to say, thanks so much for
General Room: being the Jill of all trades over at 3 Rivers. You're so efficient. But more than that, I just know the parents I know just love 3 Rivers like the. You know, they love it for the education it gives their kids and the environment it gives it, and the environment that it gives their kids. And that's what's the most important. So thank you so much. Yes, it's awesome. Thank you.
General Room: And Megan. I just want to thank you for the leadership that you bring to 3 Rivers, and there's no question, anybody's mind that your heart is not at that school. I mean you. You walk in that place. How you talk about the school, how you know every student.
General Room: how you care for every family is so evident.
General Room: and that's such a gift. It's not just a job. It truly is a place where you can see you're proud to work, and you're proud of your staff, and your heart is there.
General Room: and I just want the Board to know that
General Room: not every school district with their Charter school has a type of relationship and collaboration that we have. And that goes both ways. It's the leadership at
General Room: at 3 Rivers and the leadership team here, believing in what's best for the students of this community.
General Room: And what we want is for every student and family to find the school that works best for them, and sometimes it's a larger one. Sometimes it's a smaller one, and the niche that 3 Rivers has in this multi multi age 4 to 8 school.
General Room: It's started as an experiment. It's not that anymore. It's just really a proven community that fits a certain time in the lives of children with their families, and we're proud to have this Charter school in our district. We're proud of the team that you've developed there that you continue to develop. Thank you for your great work. Thank you for your leadership.
General Room: and have a restful summer.
General Room: You, too, all right. Thanks. Thank you.
General Room: Thank you.
General Room: All right. That will take us into the consent agenda, which requires board action. So
General Room: do I have a motion.
General Room: I move we approve the consent. Agenda, I second
General Room: pass it to Director Douglas to call the vote.
General Room: Thank you also consent. Agenda had 6 sets of minutes in it, so the board has been working really hard. Thank you for your work. Thank you for your volunteerism.
General Room: director, shoemaker. Aye, director, sloop. Aye, chair, Taylor. Aye, vice chair. White. Aye, Director Vidal. Aye, thank you.
General Room: Public comment! This was my second to last public comment session.
General Room: and I will give a little bit of the
General Room: etiquette expectations and guidelines, and so I don't normally read them. But since I'm on borrowed time I figured I'd give it one last good read.
General Room: So thank you guys for coming out to talk to us all and inform the School Board of whatever is on your mind. This is a time for us to just listen. We won't respond to you.
General Room: It is not a time word
General Room: grandstanding or addressing an audience or using it to
General Room: to address the crowd here if you'd like to make a public comment, and you missed signing up on the sheet, I will ask if you just didn't make the sheet, or maybe you didn't recognize that it needs to be, would you, Rachel? You want to put your name on here?
General Room: There you go. Thank you.
General Room: We ask that you refrain from singling out staff members, administration, or any sort of complaining about our staff. There is a process for that. We would be more than happy to respond to your email and give you all of those links and things. If you would like to share your concerns or place a complaint.
General Room: please keep your comments to 3 min. I will cut you off, and I will stop all public comment if it gets abused. I don't like to even go down that route, but just know we appreciate. If you be respectful of all the other people who are waiting to speak and who've traveled and would like to get back to their families, too.
General Room: The Board has set aside 45 min for public comment. There are times that we go over that depending on the situation. So I am a chair who likes to allow everybody to speak. So sometimes I get my eyes rolled at me and whatnot, but
General Room: you know it happens so.
General Room: We will start with 1st person on the list, and
General Room: a name that I know. Chelsea King.
General Room: Please come forward.
General Room: Hello, Chair, Taylor and directors on the School Board, superintendent Ludwig. Thank you for the time you've given me this evening. I am here to talk about your long range planning committee appointment and to give comment in support of one of the applicants. But I want to definitely take advantage of saying congratulations on your retirement, Pat, and also thank you for your 4 years of service congratulations on one of your last formal board meetings.
General Room: I'm here to speak to recommend Paramita, who's sitting back there, and I think will probably speak for herself when the time comes.
General Room: I worked with her on robotics. We were the Co. Mentors for the business team, and she really stepped into a leadership role at a time when the team needed someone who was able to step in in a really powerful way. I'll tell you I served 8 years on the school board, but being a mentor on the robotics team takes like just as much time and energy, if not more like we are there so much. And
General Room: Paramita was really consistent, like never missed a thing dove in, learned really fast, and just committed to to the students and to being present for them in all the ways.
General Room: She's definitely one of those people who comes up with good ideas, and then is also willing to do the ideas. So that is like a really lovely combination of characteristics.
General Room: You know, she's just all around as a human, thoughtful, smart, and kind. And I did just learn from Meg that she's on the board for 3 Rivers Charter, so I'm not sure what else she's got in her back pocket there, but I'm not surprised
General Room: by anything that she brings to the table. She also always has a pen in her purse, and that is something I have appreciated, so I know she's ready to be involved at a higher level. And so I just wanted to put my voice behind her appointment. Thanks for the time.
General Room: John Mccabe.
General Room: I guess I'll start off with the joke of I'm gonna make an awesome presentation here.
General Room: and what it is. It's the Austin Grant, the Austin Grant. They just finalized it today.
General Room: and you cannot vote through the Geo bond measure because
General Room: part of it that goes in that
General Room: what goes on the ballot is how much you're going to get from the Austin Grant. If your measure passes.
General Room: none of those numbers will be known until July.
General Room: and you have to apply with certain reports now, others very early in July, and you don't find out how much they're going to award you.
General Room: Well, they say the maximum that the school district can get is 6.1 million dollars, which
General Room: in today's things that's not nothing to sneeze at
General Room: in 2,019, some jerk. Oh, right me! Excuse me. Brought it up to the school district. Don't overlook the Austin Grant, and we ended up getting 7 million dollars because we waited until July.
General Room: And so, if you would please consider removing that, because if you don't remove it, approve the Geo bond to date to go on the ballot. You're out of the awesome grant 6.1 million dollars down the drain.
General Room: Not I. I.
General Room: I don't think people would be pleased to hear 6.1 million dollars down the drain, because you can't wait till next month.
General Room: which is the soonest it can be there. But they also told me
General Room: the 1st report that they need that is due no later than July first.st
General Room: They do not have it.
General Room: The reason they gave me so much information was they go? Was your school district have a tag, grant
General Room: and I said, What does this have to do with mixed martial arts
General Room: since tagging people, I mean tap. Grant and I go. Isn't that what tapping people out is? And they go? No, it's not, and I go. Oh, and so they gave me the information they need to report no later than July first, st
General Room: and they'll give you early next month.
General Room: And they said, everybody in the past 4 years has applied for an awesome grant. It's gotten their money.
General Room: So the school district is looking at 6.1 million dollars. Unless
General Room: you approve this measure today, then we're out, and that's that's big money and the people
General Room: the district would be coming up short by overlooking that. Thank you.
General Room: Athena Contreras.
General Room: I just wanted to go over a quick reminder of what I heard at the Budget meeting last time from John Mccabe. Actually, which was
General Room: that because we are an inclusive district, there may be some other options for using some of the Sia Grant money to keep paraeducators and class sizes small at the primary school level. We know that a lot of the grants have focused on high school success. We have a lot of extracurriculars that are actually.
General Room: we have about a $700,000 increase, not in the main salaries, but in the lower salaries. I believe that some of these
General Room: are because of the grants that are kind of a little bit top heavy right now. So I was hoping that maybe some more looking into
General Room: the Sia Grant usage as an inclusive district could help support our primary schools, and that's it. Thanks.
General Room: John Armstrong.
General Room: Hello! Thank you for letting us speak here. So just wanted to come and address the board about a couple of concerns. One, I'm John Armstrong, incoming co-president of the Pta for Bolton.
General Room: and one of the concerns that we wanted to raise was, we recently learned that there will be an 18 student cap on the Mandarin immersion program as we go into next year.
General Room: The reason for that, of course, is when it's resource related. But as we kind of all discussed at nauseam over the last year, enrollment's been an issue with Bolton, and this is a program that has students that are both on the waiting list as well as we've recently found out students that left the district to go to the Mandarin program in Lake Oswego.
General Room: So it's not really just an enrollment issue. Of course it's there's the funding pieces as well.
General Room: But obviously one of the other major issues is that is mandarin immersion looks to combine these classes blended classes all across the board, and that's the reason for the cap
General Room: we're now looking at. The second and 3rd grade class being the largest class in all of Bolton. Large classes blended classes and immersion classes all have varying challenges. And now we're looking at stacking all 3 of those against a high performing program without any of the added resources since the 1st year.
General Room: That's causing concerns, I think, for a lot of the parents as well as we see that kindergarten and 1st grade isn't far behind. I mean, we're at 33 for the second, 3, rd but they're not going to be far behind in kindergarten and 1st grade. And so the the cap itself is concerning, as we look to that, we just feel as though the program itself has been a
General Room: kind of a shining program. These students have done very well in the program. And now we hear that a lot of parents as they look at it, and they look at the potential resources there
General Room: they have to weigh. Is my child ready for those extra challenges that are going to present doubling of class size the same teacher for the 3rd year in a row which has been great, but it also gives them only a single perspective at times. And so those things are something that we hear. We've heard back from a number of the parents that they are having to weigh whether or not they are willing to put their child through those challenges next year.
General Room: So we just wanted to highlight that. We brought a a letter that we'd like to hand over if it's okay to pass them out. But
General Room: thank you so much for your time. And yeah.
General Room: Christy Lance.
General Room: Hi and thank you. I just wanted to elaborate a little bit on what John said about the Mandarin program and Bolton and
General Room: I also want to take a moment to celebrate, because our Pre K class is going to be happening. And I believe the requirement was 15 students for that. So I think that's pretty big, and the other thing is that both the kindergarten classes look like they are going to be full next year.
General Room: and we are at more than twice the enrollment than we were at last year at this time. So I think that's something really big to celebrate. There's been parents working really, really hard to get the word out about the mandarin program. And it is the one way that we are able to bring kids into our school.
General Room: And we can also bring kids in from outside of the district. And one thing that's really neat about that is generally other districts are required to release their students to us when they are coming to a language program, which means that we will receive the funding for those students if we bring them in. So our outgoing 5th grade class
General Room: is 52 students, which means that in order to maintain our current enrollment, we need 26 kids per class. So if you would consider lifting that cap to 26, then we can maintain our enrollment or grow it. If you just give us the opportunity to do that. I was Vp. Of membership at my son's Co-OP when he was in preschool.
General Room: and I did a lot of the enrollment, and I know that over the summer a lot of those enrollments come in. So we're not at the end of where we could be. And currently, we have
General Room: kids sitting on a waiting list
General Room: to join our under enrolled school and are not being allowed in. So if there's any way, we would consider lifting that cap, it would benefit, not just Bolton, but the entire district. Because that's what we're trying to do. We want more kids in our schools. So I'm hoping that that's something you guys would consider. And so thank you.
General Room: Jennifer. Zhao.
General Room: Hi, everyone! Thank you for your time. My name is Jennifer, and I moved to this district about a year and a half ago we were very pleasantly surprised that there was a Mandarin immersion program, and my kid had really thrived in that program. I was watching the 3 Rivers presentation was just wonderful, and all the kids
General Room: smiling faces. I was just thinking the same thing, you know, all of our kids really loved having the smaller classes at Bolton, and they would probably say the same thing, the belonging having more individual attention and then having friends, you know, I think that's just across the board. So I would love to have the opportunity for our mandarin program to also do a presentation to the board. If you guys
General Room: are open to that or do a video. I think that would be fantastic. And I just would like to echo what my co-president from Bolton Pta. Had mentioned, and also, Christy, that if we can lift the cap for enrollment, it just seems like it would be the right step
General Room: to to do, because it's like counterintuitive like, why are we trying to grow enrollment, but also having a cap on that class when there are families and parents who want to come? And then the money will follow. So if we have a larger class, then we can have more funding and then have more opportunities for the kids to have more direct contact with their staff members and teachers. So they're not having to learn 2 different languages.
General Room: 2 different levels of math. And just like 33 kids. So I think just thinking from an educator's perspective is just very challenging. The parents have stepped up and volunteer
General Room: have volunteered to say, like we are willing to come and help in those classes and bring small groups to the side and help the teachers in whatever way we can. Unfortunately, that's not always a sustainable practice. We've also heard feedback from the teachers that you know, while that's appreciated, the parents sometimes make the kids really excited, and then when they leave the kids get
General Room: really upset. So having parents who are willing to help is great. But it's not always the best solution. So we're hoping for extra fte to support that blended classes, the 2, 3 and the k. 1 for the Mandarin immersion, and also to lift the cap. So hope you consider those options.
General Room: Thank you.
General Room: Amy, fashion, par, hopefully, I didn't butcher your last name.
General Room: Yeah.
General Room: Good finding is for the next one long range planning committee. So no comment, okay, I can put you on that one. Then.
General Room: thank you.
General Room: Oh, yeah, okay, yeah.
General Room: And Rachel Beavers, please.
General Room: So I have heard several times, even as the Budget Committee member that the school boundaries and changing them does not save money.
General Room: and is therefore not relevant to the budget. But decreasing funding makes it harder to manage. Zoning
General Room: less funding means larger classroom sizes for some grades and for some classrooms
General Room: and size. Equality is a budget issue.
General Room: Some schools are overcrowded, while others are underutilized without zoning adjustments, students remain unevenly distributed
General Room: and overcrowded. Classrooms strain teachers and reduce individualized instruction.
General Room: Larger classroom sizes lead to increased behavioral challenges and lower academic outcomes
General Room: and contribute to teacher burnout, especially when compounded by fewer resources due to budget cuts for other supporting services. Large classrooms create more distractions and can overwhelm younger children who are still developing self-regulation skills
General Room: leading to more behavioral challenges and less emotional support.
General Room: and just to echo the thoughts about Bolton. So using the kindergarten from this year because I don't know what the enrollment is. Bolton would be. Stafford Bolton would be 40% smaller than Stafford, 70% smaller than cedar oak, 80% smaller than Willamette, and 90% smaller than sunset and 140% smaller than Trillium. I just, I really think this is an issue that needs to be addressed this year.
General Room: Is there anyone who may have missed signing up, and would like to speak
General Room: on a topic that is on the agenda today in this 1st session.
General Room: Okay, thank you.
General Room: That concludes public comment, and we will jump right into board business
General Room: and from the Department of Teaching and learning.
General Room: Dr. Barb. Soyson.
General Room: Good evening.
General Room: We are here this evening to present to you the process and the recommendation for the K. 5 math curriculum adoption.
General Room: and we're joined this evening. Those who are going to actually tell the story who did all the work on on this adoption. The 51 participants in the process are represented this evening by Jana Good, who's instructional coordinator at Trillium Creek Primary School, and who works extensively with the dual language program.
General Room: Rebecca Mcspadden, who's a grade 1, 2. Teacher at Sunset Primary School.
General Room: Debbie Pritchett, who is a multilingual specialist at Beckman Creek, primary school and Dylan Robertson, who teaches 4th and 5th grade at Cedaro, primary school Heather Centoni, who is a 1st grade teacher at Beckman Creek Primary school, was not able to join as her. She's out of town and didn't get back in time to join us. So with that, said
General Room: The wonderful teachers here were were again representing the 51 participants in the process or going to describe what we did and what we landed on
General Room: next slide.
General Room: Okay, how are you guys?
General Room: Oh.
General Room: so happy to be here. So we're just gonna talk you through a little bit through kind of the the process. And some of the things we considered, and just like the different ways things we discussed. And you know, constraints and kind of like criteria we use to make the selection.
General Room: So I'm not going to read this to you. There's a lot of slides and a lot of text, but just kind of like with your eyes, you know. Kind of scan over that, and I'll point out a couple of things as we go here. So the 1st thing is just.
General Room: there's a recommended list from ode of Math curriculums approved. You're also going to do an independent adoption if you use certain criteria as well. The the group in general thought, even though there's other programs that we know. Some of us have taught that are not on the approved list, that it would be
General Room: overall if there's a strong program from the approved list. That just kind of lends some confidence to the, to the program, to the decision, to public confidence, confidence among the staff, to kind of have one from the approved list. If there was a strong candidate, there's actually 3 strong candidates from the approved list, so we did not feel that that was an onerous burden at all.
General Room: The other thing is, it says we did. The math adoption was postponed one year. We hadn't postpone. It would be done with the literacy adoption, and I can just say I think I speak for every teacher in the district. That that was a good idea not to do them together, just trying to launch 2 new curriculums, even one year apart, is going to be a bit
General Room: of a lift. But and so that yeah. Postponing for a year. Ideally in the future, getting them at least 2 years apart would be a recommendation. I think that most teachers would appreciate. So
General Room: next slide.
General Room: Okay, as Barb mentioned, there's 51 teachers, specialists, instructional coordinators that were on the adoption team. It was a very committed group. Obviously, during the year we met, I think, 13 times, and that's not what most of us were hoping to do right after we get done with our schoolwork. And so people did. A I think, a really good job being faithful to the process. I'll also just give a shout out to. There's a couple teachers in that 51 that found out mid process that they don't have a job next year.
General Room: and they stuck with the process. And so again, a lot of integrity on some of those people's part to to do that. So
General Room: point bullet point 4. So examine grade level, Oregon math standards and look for any gaps in the current program. I think one thing that came up multiple times in the conversations, and I just heard it and personally experienced it is the current program, though it's solid. There was a lot of supplementing going on, supplementing to kind of support students that were struggling, supplementing, you know, to extend students who needed extra challenges, extra practice.
General Room: And so we definitely were looking for a program that would have the necessary kind of resources and breadth that, you know, there's kind of like the ideal is that there's no way you could use it all. But it had everything you needed, and so that was a big concern for us when we were thinking about this.
General Room: And then the last bullet point is, if you look through all those different kind of things we were considering it's a lot to look for and kind of wrap your head around to try to like. Get to. I also give a shout out to Dr. Soyson, and kind of shepherding us through the process. She was very responsive into kind of the pacing we needed to do the questions we had, and thought she did a nice job, balancing like actually getting a recommendation by the end of the year, and all but taking the time needed. So thank you, Dr. Soyson for that.
General Room: So next slide.
General Room: okay? And this one, I want to direct your attention to the second bullet point. Examine the materials provided by publishers. So we got after several meetings. We kind of had an initial thinking about the different curriculums that might be viable. So I think we got curriculum from at least 5 or 6 different publishers. And and that's really where things start kind of hit the road right? You actually have the materials in front of you start imagining yourself trying to teach you this. You look at the lessons you're going through it.
General Room: And it was impressive, pretty quickly. Different grade levels were kind of like noticing things are like, oh, that's a flag like the sequence that this is taught like doesn't make sense. That's not how I would do it. I don't like that, or you know what the student book for this grade level for you know, k. 1 like the student book is way, too wordy. And there's not enough room. And this doesn't look like a student friendly text.
General Room: or just just a lot of different things would pop up like that. So we kind of narrowed it down to 3 ones that we were most interested in. That were all strong programs from that 5 or 6,
General Room: and then bullet point number 5
General Room: participate in publisher presentations. So the publishers from I think it was 5 different publishers came to speak with us, and kind of do their sales pitch. They are businesses, right?
General Room: And so that was useful in the sense that you get to see some things you don't necessarily see, like some of the digital components. We ask questions. I definitely wouldn't say it was like a key thing, in a sense, because, though useful, we actually went with the the curriculum that had the least popular presenter, I mean
General Room: someone who really rubbed people the wrong way. And so in some ways it's kind of a tribute to the strength of the curriculum that we dislike the person who presented. Enough that one of the teachers said, Can we let the publisher know that we're picking it, not because of her, but in spite of her.
General Room: And so we did not go pick a curriculum based on the sales pitch alright next slide.
General Room: So, looking at the left hand side, says, Balance developing conceptual understanding and procedural fluency.
General Room: I think
General Room: a good analogy for you is when you think about those 2 things. Conceptual understanding procedural fluency is thinking about the reading adoption that was on last year. You definitely need a very strong program for the foundational skills. Kids are going to learn how to read, how to sound out words.
General Room: how to understand how to isolate certain sounds. There's these very specific technical foundational skills that kids need to learn to read. But they also need a program that's going to challenge them with deeper thinking. They're going to be able to think deeply, critically, use evidence. So you have both those things in math. It's not a perfect analogy, but there are some of the same things going on. You want a program that's going to balance things like counting, learning your facts.
General Room: understanding like how to quickly calculate things correctly with accuracy. So those are kind of these procedural things that are important for being able to do math.
General Room: We also need to think more deeply about things about, for example, conceptual understanding, multiplication. It's not just. I know how to multiply this by this. By this it's also repeated addition. You need to understand that you understand. It also represents area rectangles. It's counting groups which is the inverse of splitting up groups, which is division. So there's a lot more to multiplication than just knowing your math facts. And so a curriculum, that kind of balances both those things. The specific, accurate procedural stuff with the conceptual stuff was really important in our process.
General Room: And another thing, the idea that we have skill interventions, but also engaging rigorous tasks. One of the things that I think a lot of teachers struggle with is when you have students that really need extra practice and specific interventions because their skills are lagging, having necessary resources for that and not having to go other places to try to find something. And so that was a big one of the big criteria we had. And then also, though thinking about engaging rigorous tasks.
General Room: So where their students are building up to be able to perform on like state tests, where they're doing these performance tasks that they give them a context. They're multi-step. They have to do many different kinds of math within a problem. They have to be able to be patient, read through things kind of sort out, what do I need? What's the information, and how do I use it? And so you do need a curriculum that has that as well? So again, kind of that balance between the interventions, but also the rigorous tasks. And so
General Room: I think, think that's about it for my slide. So next slide.
General Room: okay, so our team gathered as much data as we could to take a look at our specific students and find out what they need. Specifically. So this slide shows you, we took information from the State Osas data, and we found that our students need more experience and practice applying math concepts. Using these math concepts in different contexts.
General Room: They needed an increased familiarity with math, language, and vocabulary, and we also noticed gaps with many of our students on ieps, and our multilingual learners also showed gaps in the vocabulary and the math language areas. We also looked at our map data
General Room: and second grade students across all 9 primary schools needed more different and differentiated learning, with numeric reasoning. Interestingly enough, in our 3, rd through 5th grade data, we showed
General Room: that students need more numeric reasoning and also a large number of students showed strength in this area. So it kind of shows you how tricky it is to really differentiate for those students and all the diverse needs that they have. So we were looking for a curriculum that had rigorous tasks
General Room: and also supported our students with numeric reasoning. We also looked at daily classroom data from our classrooms, and found that.
General Room: like Dylan was talking about, we needed students to have practice with procedural, numeric reasoning along with conceptual tasks that were meaningful for our students, and once again focusing on math vocabulary and giving kids an opportunity to to talk and grapple with the concepts and
General Room: have it integrated in meaningful tasks.
General Room: So next slide, please.
General Room: The findings were based on a close review of the Oregon math standards as well, although our standards are addressed in all of our classrooms.
General Room: We're feeling that we need an increased attention and and depth to developing students, academic math vocabulary.
General Room: We also need more attention to that data, reasoning in grades 4. Through 5, to prepare our students for middle school. And, like, I said, all of those standards are being taught currently. But we need increased time spent on academic vocabulary and data reasoning based on the data for our specific students.
General Room: Next slide, please.
General Room: So this is
General Room: Taking all of that information, the ode rubric, the math data, the standards, and several articles with research on the best math and instructional practices we created. Barb pulled all of this information together that we were all noticing and expressing and wondering about.
General Room: and we created priorities and look fors for the the math curriculum that was going to support our students the best.
General Room: So I think all of you have a copy of this already, and once again I won't read it to you, but I do want to call your attention to all the different columns, so that you know exactly what we were looking for
General Room: when we were reviewing the curriculum.
General Room: the 1st one, the conceptual understanding and procedural proficiency.
General Room: This is where we were noticing the numeric, the focus on numeric reasoning, making sure the programs were rigorous, allowing productive struggle collaboration, looking for open-ended questions so that students could really grapple with the content and and create understanding.
General Room: Secondly, an overall organization of the curriculum. So how?
General Room: How are the lessons laid out so that the students get a deep understanding of the concept? How does it connect to our map data. How is it aligned with those standards that we're teaching.
General Room: and how clear is the material presented, and how user friendly is it for the teachers.
General Room: Thirdly, tasks, problems and activities.
General Room: looking for that mathematical reasoning, looking for hands-on materials and manipulatives. And once again that math vocabulary comes up in this section as well.
General Room: Next is differentiation, intervention and extension. We want
General Room: to be able to measure progress, student progress and make sure that it is
General Room: specific enough, so that not only are we wanting children, of course, to get the correct answers, but also understand where their misconceptions are.
General Room: what kind of curriculum can help us dial down to exactly what each student needs. And how would we address those needs?
General Room: assessment, procedural fluency, conceptual understanding, embedding performance tasks, make sure that they're real world tasks
General Room: once again. How do we know what our students know and what they can do? And how can we help them grow?
General Room: We also looked at cultural, linguistic representation and approach. And this was the part that as a language specialist I was most interested in and looking for in a math curriculum, because you really need to pay attention to the language and the vocabulary. And how are you getting kids to understand the numbers that they're working with?
General Room: And is it culturally responsive? Is it visual? Are there scaffolds in place? Suggested scaffolds, so that you can help those kids grow
General Room: and and understand? I also looked very closely for opportunities for students to talk and
General Room: make make sense of what they're working with.
General Room: We also looked at whether or not the curriculum had an online platform and technology. Was it robust and user friendly? Are teachers going to get frustrated trying to log in what happens when we all log in at the same time. How do you find the resources that you need? Can you find them quickly and easily? So we did look at that. And then, lastly.
General Room: usability and quality of teacher, preparation, preparation, resources. What did the supports for teachers look like? Where can they go to get their questions answered? Are there language supports for multilingual students what kinds of strategies
General Room: are there, and supports for planning, for instruction, for the students who are who may not be at grade level, or even those who need an extension. So we looked at all of those areas. It was a big task.
General Room: he next slide.
General Room: So we invited 5 publishers to come and present to us, using that priorities and look fors. We had that with us for each presentation to record
General Room: to record. We had Eureka squared, iready stem scopes reveal math and envision.
General Room: There were 5 presentations and interviews with the publishers. Dr. Soyson asked them to teach a part of a 1st grade and 5th grade standards, and they were the same for each presentation. And and we got, as
General Room: you said, different different presentations, and the one that we we are recommending reveal did not have a presentation that we particularly enjoyed, but the scope and sequence and the strength that the curriculum itself speaks for itself.
General Room: so
General Room: personally I asked the same question of every publisher, and for me as a 1st and second grade teacher, if my students aren't engaged and having fun. Then that's really important. And so I asked each publisher the same question, what in your program engages students
General Room: and reveal talked a lot about discourse and creating discourse to start the lesson between students, and they also had new. They have new. The curriculum has new learning for each student. Every day. The exit tickets happen before the workshop and
General Room: then depending on how they do on that exit ticket. Then you're grouped based on. If you need extra practice on target or an extra challenge. So a student who maybe struggles in geometry but is rocking it in data and reasoning will have an opportunity to either be in the challenge group or get extra help every day. And that was really exciting to a lot of teachers. A number of teachers, including myself taught lessons from many of these curriculums.
General Room: and the students in those classrooms overwhelmingly chose, reveal without any. I asked my students, and I said, Here are the curriculums. I taught the same standards, and they all, across the different tiers of support, chose reveal
General Room: we all. There was also an opportunity for parents. Oh, sorry next slide.
General Room: I forgot to say that. Sorry. There's also an opportunity for parents to be a part of the process. You can see here from input as well as an in-person presentation. Next slide.
General Room: And out of that came the need for there to be challenge and ways to provide for students working beyond grade level, extra learning, and a good balance between paper, pencil and hands-on learning and online learning.
General Room: which we you see and reveal next slide.
General Room: So we took all of those things into consideration. Really, looking closely at that rubric criteria from the presentations, all of those initial priorities from the data and parent input and these were those most important considerations that we really used to make this really big decision of which program to recommend
General Room: again, strong conceptual understanding and proficiency skills. Really, some needing something that will provide resources and support for students at all different levels. We have a wide range of learners in our classrooms.
General Room: For our dual language, teachers who teach math and Spanish, making sure that we have materials that are available in Spanish, not just certain parts, but really all parts of the curriculum for both students and teachers.
General Room: activities to promote that vocabulary and support students to be able to explain their thinking
General Room: and having that balance of digital and hands on and print resources. We didn't want something that was only digital or only print. We wanted to have options and a balance for students and teachers.
General Room: And again, that high student interested engagement. And so when the team came together to decide which one, we ranked the highest. The top 3 were Eureka and vision, and reveal, but we were unanimously ranking, reveal as a top choice, which I think is quite remarkable, considering there was a large group of people with different lenses and priorities. We really agreed, and we we considered the second choice
General Room: carefully. We went back. We really looked back at all of those rubrics, and that was the unanimous choice next slide.
General Room: And these are just a list of all of the reasons why it really came to the top.
General Room: just to highlight a few. Again, we really like that. There was a fully developed digital component that comes in both Spanish and English, but that is not a necessary component to teach the program to giving flexibility and balance. The workbooks were, and I believe you have samples and kind of see. Some of these things. Teachers really appreciated that the workbooks and practice books included a lot of visuals.
General Room: and we're again in Spanish and in English and supported that development of vocabulary and kept kids interested. We also really liked the differentiation. That was a huge component that we appreciated to be able to support students who are needing additional support, or also students who are needing extension and challenge.
General Room: I, as an instructional coordinator, have been wanting a program where we have a really strong diagnostic assessment where we can really give that targeted intervention support to students.
General Room: And ongoing assessments. For every grade level.
General Room: The units open with some ignite activities is what they call them in reveal. And our committee really liked that. That was a way to gain students attention and interest. At the beginning of each unit. There were also career highlights in stem focused units with something unique to the program that our committee
General Room: really liked. And then just the routines and structures of the lessons are really helpful for all different kinds of learners.
General Room: Next slide.
General Room: So reveal is published by Mcgraw-hill. It's a rather large company, and the copyright is 2022, and one of the things that we do all through the process is we early on when we narrowed it to 5, we do a what's everybody else using
General Room: in the State of Oregon, and share that with the teachers? Because teachers know teachers everywhere. And that's a way to get some. What are you experiencing and to decide who we should talk with? We also in our district, when we do adoptions like this? We want to look beyond the State of Oregon and look beyond the Oregon State list, and so we look for districts
General Room: similar to ours and districts that have made great growth in the areas that we're looking at. So that's something that we also compare and share and reveal. Right now, it's used in Woodburn. It was just adopted there. It's used, I think, in Hermiston. It's used in some other districts in Oregon. It's used more outside of Oregon than it is within Oregon.
General Room: and sometimes I know I personally learned in these processes that some of that has to do with what
General Room: companies make it on the State list and what is visible to people, and that varies very much. It's used in Scarsdale, New York. It's used in a number of districts in Pennsylvania and Connecticut and Texas, and so I. We found much more extensive list of where it was used there, and some of the districts do have similar demographics and
General Room: performance rates that we do. So. That was that was a real factor for us. And again, on your by each of your places you have some 1st grade and 5th grade materials. Because we look at, we're going to pick a standard. And we picked a more complicated standard
General Room: to see. Come in and do this, and give the directions to the publishers to share that, and then share their questions.
General Room: And then, lastly, with looking at Mcgraw-hill, we do investigate. We look at how much is this company going to support us? Because this is a 7 year investment? And so the contract that we have we have some print materials, but we also have licenses for 7 years. So we do look into that to see what that's going to be like. One of the things also with review
General Room: is they are aligned with Nwea map assessment wise. And it was interesting because in 2012, when we started working with Nwea map. There were very few districts in Oregon using that it was used a lot more west of the Mississippi, and so I've seen this trend where districts that are kind of map aligned. Map has now grown.
General Room: You know.
General Room: in the Western States, much, much more. It is the national assessment. And so I sort of see this trend? Where, then, in publication of materials, especially in literacy and mathematics, then districts kind of
General Room: jump on. We have talked recently with other districts who've interviewed us about using Nwea maps. So I think there's this trend of wanting to look at curriculum programs that align with instructional practices and that align with assessments before you wait for your state assessments. And that's an interim assessment. And that's what map is. So you can line those 3 things up. So that's that's a trend that we've seen.
General Room: And then we we just really want to clarify that this was budgeted for 2526
General Room: budget. It's coming from a capital fund, not the general fund. So when this was budgeted, Dr. Ludwig was made certain that this is not funding that would affect the hiring of teachers in any way, and of course we're required to.
General Room: you know, to have materials in place, but also that in looking at how we space our adoptions, and how we can do that. So we don't interfere with that was really important as well.
General Room: So now, if you have questions for any of us. What we are asking is that you would consider, and 1st look at our process
General Room: and see if that needs approval, and then the actual recommendation. And we're glad to answer questions about any of those things.
General Room: Alright. Thank you.
General Room: I can tell. You've all put a lot of work and effort and time into this. So we appreciate that. But I'm going to turn it to Director Shoemaker for questioning, especially with your math bath. Right?
General Room: Thank thank you for the the time and effort you put into this and barb. Thank you for the the process. Really happy to hear that you had so many teachers who are willing to take the time to be involved in this, because I know it's not easy to take that time out.
General Room: I want to just ask a couple questions about the parent component. So among the barb, the the number items that you put in the memo to us, there's a mention of a
General Room: roughly little over 2 week collecting questions and feedback from parents through a presentation
General Room: with a feedback form sent in parent view. And then an in-person parent session
General Room: on May 15.th Can you tell me a little bit about how those things went? I know not. All adoptions are equal in terms of capturing the attention of our parents. But just tell me a little bit about
General Room: about that. How that went. Well, we intentionally did 2. 1st of all, as we were narrowing. We didn't want to wait till the end of the process, and then have our parents hear about it and say, Well, do you like this sort of thing. But so when we initially had just a 2 week window that had, and it was meant for study with a feedback form that had an explanation of the process, and 5,
General Room: the 5 that you saw earlier, and it was left up for 2 weeks to, so we could use the information. Just as we were narrowing. One of the things that I think was in the there's a lot of text on these slides, was
General Room: the adoption team looked at the home component and looking at which programs had more resources for at home. So that was something that we were able to describe. In that 2 week period we got 18 responses
General Room: from families, and then what was described as we heard 2 things we heard from parents who wanted to make sure that if their child had an iep that there was going to be support and intervention. The word intervention was used, and then also we heard, we really want
General Room: challenge for our students and families were speaking about their particular children. The form did have, what grade level is your child? And the responses span grade levels. And then, finally, the the biggest thing to families at both the in-person
General Room: and the online one was, Are you going to balance so that they're not just online or on their chromebooks all the time. Are they going to have some good print materials? The student workbook component that you can see is something that then parents can see that as well, or something that they can use as well as an online component.
General Room: So that was, and that had we actually only had 2 people come to that that evening. Was a math coach from another district, who also has students in our schools. But again, we then put the form out and left it there for feedback. One thing I failed to mention here is
General Room: with this program comes the the acronym is Alex A. LEKS. And it's an online program that is also published by Mcgraw-hill. It came out previous to when the program that we were using from Stanford University. Redbird came about. It's highly computed
General Room: computer adaptable for students and teachers can choose. They can either align it with the core concepts they're using in class and have students work with
General Room: more interesting than, say, your math excel, or some of the programs that are really kind of drill and practice programs
General Room: or teachers can choose to just have students work and adapt at their own pace. It's K. 12. It goes up through calculus in terms of math
General Room: concept, sorts of things. And it's it's quite robust, and so want to be clear that this is a support. In addition, it will not be daily instruction, and we did some negotiating to look at. How could that be
General Room: part of the the package? And again, I think there was interest in
General Room: having the timing was good of having a district, a medium sized district, well reputed district in the State be interested in this program. So we were able to have that. So we have 7 year licenses for every
General Room: student with this program. Sometimes we talk in education about tiers tier. One is a foundation for all students. Tier 2 is what will the small group work be like that'll include students who need more support, and then tier 3 is more. Specific. Interventions reveal by itself
General Room: is very robust, with tier one and tier 2,
General Room: they said. They dip a little into tier 3. When you add in Alex you have all 3 tiers plus. We also have something that goes well beyond grade level, because we're seeing that we really need materials in our K 5 math classrooms that span about 4 grade levels in any single classroom, and that was another reason that we looked for that.
General Room: Any other questions. Director, shoemaker, all right, director, sloop.
General Room: so I have 2 questions. One is, how does this math curriculum align with the current curriculum that we recently adopted for middle school and high school like? Is there? Is it? Is it preparing is an alignment for a smooth transition of what they're learning in this curriculum to go on to middle school and high school.
General Room: And then my other question is
General Room: you mentioned that you checked with other school districts like Woodburn? What was their feedback? Did they show growth in in their adoption of their math did their scores increase, and I was just curious what other districts said about reveal.
General Room: as far as the alignment, for we did have one of the components. We did actually look at the middle school and high school curriculums, and I mean, we didn't go in depth into them. But yes, but that was one of that was definitely one of the factors is a strong basic launch for our students. And it's interesting because, comparing with our current curriculum, like I was. I mean, I've taught this curriculum for like
General Room: 14 years now, or something, and I thought it was fine, and I kind of supplement it sometimes. But it was. It was fine, you know, and then I saw the new curriculums, and like the the top 3, I was all like man. These are way better like way better and like I didn't even know some curriculums had these things. And then, like, this is stuff I've been trying to do on my own. I'm creating my own and stuff like that. So one compared to our own curriculum we're using
General Room: even the top 3. I was literally happy with all of them are great. But then this one was emerged as the top. But yeah, we definitely was one of the main factors, not main factors. One of the factors. We used to think about. What are we going to do to prepare students for? Especially that bridge to middle school? Are they going to feel confident, going up and being successful. And so, so yeah, we did look at it. And it was one of the one of the conversations we had
General Room: not sure if that answers your question, but
General Room: that, and about the district. I didn't talk to anyone from their districts. So for the second question, I think one of the things is
General Room: It's also too new to Woodburn for them to actually have anything conclusive we did see in. And there's some reports that have been published around Scarsdale, New York, in particular. Yes, but we want to be really careful to say, is it just what they bought, or what have they done with? You know the instruction and the way they used assessment results. But yes, they have seen an increase. One thing that we didn't mention.
General Room: This group looked extensively at some math research and best practices. We also, of course, used Ed reports and independent reviews, and
General Room: the reveal comes across very, very well in in Ed reports.
General Room: Okay?
General Room: Director Vidal, anything.
General Room: No question what?
General Room: And I have nothing also, except a huge thank you. Yeah. I mean, that's a lot of work. So
General Room: I know that this does require
General Room: board action. So we are going to
General Room: need a motion.
General Room: I move that we adopt the reveal with Alex curriculum be adopted as the K 5 curriculum program.
General Room: You have a second my second.
General Room: Alright any discussion that needs to.
General Room: Okay, Buster Wyatt.
General Room: I'll echo what was shared. But I just think it's so important for our community to know that when you all spend time on this.
General Room: it is in addition to your day jobs. And
General Room: it is such an important part of this adoption process to have the feedback from you and given your perspective and professionalism and expertise. That's what really, to me matters the most is hearing that.
General Room: You know, despite the presentation that you really are excited about this curriculum. And so just want to thank you. Thank all of the committee members, because we know it's extra time, and I'm hopeful that this just makes you even more excited to continue doing the great work that you do. So. Thank you very much.
General Room: I just want to say that a lot of times as board members. We get emails
General Room: that talk about transparency and transparency means something different to everyone. I've also learned that there's about probably 2 million definitions of what transparency is. But what I would definitely say is that by your inclusiveness of community students, other districts going outside of just what we're doing here. I hope that our community sees that as a transparent process
General Room: to come up with a solution for the kiddos and you know, maybe this is one of those board meetings that we could send them back to and say, Hey, no, no, no! Go watch the board meeting. I don't. You know my email is not going to give it justice. If you just go listen to the people who did the work, and I hope that you know our community trust in you. You're the
General Room: the boots on the ground, the front line handling their kids on a daily basis. And this selection comes from not just you, but your expertise and experience, and so thank you for all of that work, and I just
General Room: don't want it to go unsaid that this will be one that I'll mark down to be able to share with people. So thank you.
General Room: Director Vidal.
General Room: yeah, I just wanted to say that I will be supporting this curriculum. I really want to appreciate you all and your hard work, and your other 47 teachers that participated with you I want to support. I'm supporting this tonight because it was a unanimous choice amongst you all, and I really appreciate your thoughtfulness.
General Room: The extensive rigor you went through to evaluate these curriculums should be commended, and I.
General Room: I'm especially interested in this because my my son loves math so much. And so I'm I'm really happy that
General Room: that this specific curriculum
General Room: allows students to be challenged and supports those students that need it. And of course I'm super excited that the materials are in Spanish as well as English, and that it also encapsulates visuals along with improving their math vocabulary. So thank you so much for all your hard work. I really appreciate it.
General Room: All right.
General Room: Pass it to.
General Room: Oh, Dr. Ludwig!
General Room: Oh, you want to wait till after. Okay, I'll pass it to Director Douglas to call the vote, please. Thank you, Director Shoemaker. Aye, director, sloop. Aye, chair, Taylor. Aye, vice chair, Wyatt. Aye, Director Vidal. Aye, thank you, all right, thank you. Motion passes, and I will pass it to Dr. Ludwig.
General Room: Well, like all of the board, I just want to thank the 4 of you who came tonight. I know school is out, and here you are.
General Room: and I would hear often from from Barb just the tenacity with which your team showed up, studied hard, and required a lot of those presenters who were bringing the curriculum. But you have high expectations, and you wanted to find a curriculum that could help you meet that. And so thank you so much for your time. Your efforts.
General Room: and I know adopting the materials is just the 1st part. Now, it's also digging into it the professional development, I mean, I think that's what Dr. Soyson was trying to say. What is it that moves the dial?
General Room: You have great resources, but it's really the expertise of our teachers who implement it, who pay attention to their students, who know how to adjust in the moment.
General Room: who prepare and follow through and do the hard work. It's the teaching that matters, and so on our end. We want to make sure you have the best resources to do your best teaching. So thank you as a board for approving the curriculum that our teachers have
General Room: requested of you, and I know they're excited to get into it. This is a huge lift. They've also got their literacy curriculum that they're still getting acclimated to and implementing. So our primary team is extraordinary. And thank you.
General Room: Thank you.
General Room: All right, give me some chance. Who knows?
General Room: And I'll just get a quick 5 min break. Director shoemaker has asked for that. So I'm gonna grant that.
General Room: Thank you.
General Room: We are back to our regularly scheduled program.
General Room: All right.
General Room: Here we go from department of operations. Mr. Pat Mcguff.
General Room: Floor is yours.
General Room: You got to hit that button green. There we go. Thank you. Chair Taylor. We have a number of items tonight to bring before the board, but we will be passing back and forth
General Room: between Ramo and I, who's taken one item. And the 1st item is, Mr. Douglas.
General Room: Good evening, board. The 1st item we have this evening is the appointment of 2 long range planning committee positions.
General Room: as you received in your memo received 8 applications for those 2 positions. It's a wonderful sign, a lot of interest from the community, which is great.
General Room: And so you all opened the positions at a recent board meeting. Tonight's your night to
General Room: review and make motions to appoint those members. It has been typical that the Board would allow each applicant to speak for a moment during that process.
General Room: And so I think, we're at that point all right.
General Room: Appreciate you for that, Remo.
General Room: And
General Room: what we will do. Just so everyone's in the loop is, we will give each applicant the opportunity
General Room: to speak to the board.
General Room: and we would like to ask that you try to keep it to around a minute.
General Room: So so everybody gets a chance to speak. You know yourself better than we know you. We know you on paper. So if you want to give us a quick notes version. You can.
General Room: You can start, probably in your adult career, not from childhood. And
General Room: we can get through it. So
General Room: we're going to start with position number 4,
General Room: and what will happen is that each of the Board members have had the opportunity to look at your application and supporting documents that you may have sent in with them, and they have been able to generate their own thoughts and process. You know things that they think would be valuable to the committee.
General Room: It will take one of the Board members for to make a motion and propose a candidate.
General Room: And that will come from them. I don't.
General Room: I've only made one motion in 2 years, so so it'll come from one of the directors or the vice chair, and we're going to start with position number 4, which is a 3 year term.
General Room: And our applicants I'm just going to go in order that they are on our application, so they're in no particular order.
General Room: So the we have 8 we have. Nate Seymour, before you come up. Nate will be first, st and then
General Room: followed by the next 7. My name is in the hat for one of the positions, and so I will not be in the running for position number 4 or 6. So
General Room: I will be voting on those candidates that are
General Room: right before me. I have some people that I think also would be good candidates for those roles. So
General Room: when it comes to position 3, which is the position that I'll be applying for with the rest of you, I will not be included in that vote, and I will be
General Room: sitting at the podium pitching my pitch and shooting my shot. So
General Room: We'll start with Number 4, and the 1st applicant for Position number 4 is Nate Seymour
General Room: feel free to come forward and
General Room: thank you for your time, like I said, I'm Nate Seymour, my family and I. We live here in Westland. We have 3 boys starting next year. We'll have 2 at Westland High School and one at Rosemont Middle school, so we love it here in Westland have kind of chosen this place to to raise our kids and
General Room: I noticed this position, and I thought it would be a good opportunity to get involved, given my professional background. So I'm a business owner here in Westland for about the last 8 years. My firm specialty is risk management of construction and real estate, and so felt like that fit good with part of part of this committee. And so we look, we do a lot of feasibility studies, risk management
General Room: estimation. It leads into project management as well in certain situations. And so, yeah, I felt like that was quite complimentary with this type of position, so was excited to throw my name in the hat. So thank you for your time and consideration.
General Room: Thank you, Nate.
General Room: Do my best on your name, so don't, don't.
General Room: And I heard Chelsea say it earlier, is it?
General Room: Okay? Okay.
General Room: thank you for. And how do you say it. I want to learn. It's pretty simple, it's phonetic. So you split it up. Say, Paro, Mitha, so that's my 1st name, and the last is Mukherjee just break it up into muk, MUKH ER and JEE. So Mukherjee
General Room: gotcha, I'm sure you get tired of answering that. But thank you for.
General Room: So basically, people from the big West get my name right? So they say, like, Oh, we have tougher names, right?
General Room: Yeah. As you now know I'm Paramita Mukherjee, and I believe that strong schools build strong communities.
General Room: I'm a little nervous, so I wrote it out
General Room: so I'm a long time resident and a parent. So one of my children, they have already graduated from this district, and another is in currently at Westland High School.
General Room: you know. With this background. I deeply care about the future of our schools and the students they serve so a little bit about myself. So I trained and worked as a physician in India before moving to the Us.
General Room: But for the past 2 decades I focused on raising my family and contributing to the community through volunteer service.
General Room: I'm committed volunteer with Chinme Mission, Portland, a nonprofit religious organization. There I teach classes, coordinate community service initiatives and organize large cultural festivals, in partnership with Qualiton hills, Park and recreation.
General Room: I believe these experiences have strengthened my project coordination skills, especially in leading, you know, complex community-centered efforts.
General Room: Additionally, I stay closely connected to the needs and priorities of students and families. And I currently mentor the business sub team of the Wilsonville High School robotics team with Chelsea until she left this year. So you know.
General Room: on that team, I regularly interact with students and help them, you know, with their growth and collaboration. And I also serve on the boards of 3 Rivers Charter School and Wilsonville Robotic Stewardship Group.
General Room: In these roles I'm involved in budget planning and program development.
General Room: So I believe these responsibilities have deepened my understanding of long-term strategy, resource management and collaborative leadership. I think skills that align with the committee's work
General Room: in the facilities, planning and bond oversight.
General Room: Also, with my professional background in medicine, I bring data-informed analytical approach to decision making.
General Room: As a physician, I've learned to balance evidence with empathy, to weigh complex needs and determine what best serves the long-term well-being.
General Room: I'll bring the same mindset to this role, making thoughtful, data-driven and needs-based decisions that reflect the values and priorities of the community.
General Room: And I'm fully committed to contributing my time, energy, and perspective to help shape a bright and sustainable future for our schools. Thank you. Thank you.
General Room: Think I can tackle this next one.
General Room: Alexandra Alexandra Smith.
General Room: Good. Okay. Hi! I'm Alexandra Smith. I've met a few of you. I have 3 kids who currently attend Boone's Ferry and one more joining next year in the pre-k program, which I'm so thankful to say we have a pre-k program. It was a. It was a big project
General Room: that being said, the pre-k program has been wonderful. And I just want to keep contributing to programs that help this school district thrive. I'm also highly invested in the long term success and continued excellent of this district, because I have 4 really young kids who are all in the 1st half of elementary school. I'm a product of public education myself, and have seen the importance and value of it firsthand. I grew up in Lake Oswego. So I'm familiar with the Westland School district and the Lake Oswego School district, and now I'm seeing it in my children's education.
General Room: as my kids have entered school. I've gotten more involved because I've sent one each year to school, and I have a little bit more time. I started with coaching soccer and volunteering in the classroom. Then I was the Pss. Secretary. Now I'm the Pss. Treasury Pss is our Pta organization, and now I'm chairing our Jogathon, which I chaired last year, and get to do it again this year. I also got the opportunity this year to attend the K. 8 Pta. Meeting, as well as the bond summit.
General Room: and I found that really transformative and helpful to like you get really close minded in what you're doing for your school, and it's really empowering to see like, wow! There are so many schools in this district and so many great people trying to make a difference. The bond summit helps solidify how important community participation is, and in the success of public schools, and that we need representation from all schools and parts of the community. And that's why I applied for this committee. Thank you.
General Room: 2.
General Room: Next up Amy Bashim, par passion par
General Room: passion. Par. Okay, thank you for being patient with me.
General Room: Hi! My name is Amy. I'm a parent of 2 kids who attend Trillium Creek primary school. I was here at the Board meeting last year to express my interest, and I'm back again to express my continuing interest in the committee.
General Room: I'm interested in the committee because I want to support the education and the school district outside the classroom.
General Room: I
General Room: personally highly value educational buildings and their facilities because they support our learning environment and the community as a whole.
General Room: I'm an architect by profession. I'm licensed in Oregon and have experience designing educational facilities and construction. So I'd really welcome the opportunity to join the committee and help facilitate community outreach about what the committee is trying to do and support our upon programs
General Room: in any way I can thank you, thank you.
General Room: And my name is next. But I will go last.
General Room: Athena Contreras.
General Room: You guys know me pretty well. I've been in a lot of the meetings. I'm a parent of 2 kids in the district, one at primary school level and one entering middle school.
General Room: I've become pretty well versed in the bond and the bond process as well as the budget. Over the last year, during the consideration for the small schools closure process, I have been learning and studying our district's long range plan in detail, and I
General Room: believe I have a point of view that would offer some
General Room: some value to the planning process.
General Room: I have a strong sense of fairness, and I believe in doing what's right. And I do what I do. My homework.
General Room: I'm really. I care about ensuring that every student
General Room: now and 10 years in the future is, has, you know, an excellent educated education in the most equitable facilities.
General Room: and
General Room: If I was considered, I would be
General Room: excited to work with community members from Wilsonville to hear who care about the direction of our district.
General Room: Thank you, Garrett Pryor.
General Room: Welcome
General Room: evening, members of the board. My name is Garrett. Prior pronouns are he and him delighted to be here. I think my lived experience and career brings me at the intersection of planning, infrastructure, and education. I grew up in Ohio, and some of the poorest and richest, publicly funded schools, and I saw the very vastly different quality of education that I had.
General Room: I then became a high school history teacher in suburban Richmond, Virginia, where my school is the most racially diverse school in the district, was woefully underfunded as a girls basketball coach. I had games rained out in the ceiling for the last 15 years. Then I've been an urban planner. I was part of the American Planning Association's founding member of their schools chapter
General Room: and I've worked on schools facilities task force before leading Richmond public schools to an 8,800 million dollars, whole kind of reborn of their district that was doing there. And since I moved here in 2018 I've worked for City of Tualatin, Odot, Washington Clackamas County. So a lot of the underlying, housing and transportation community development. How that's going to affect our schools.
General Room: I've been on those front lines worked with that data worked with those governments there, so I'd be honored to serve like some of the other folks. One of the other candidates talked about. My daughter is now 2 years old, so I have a little bit more time. She is a force upon this earth, and I have a kindergartner as well, and I would just love to serve the community in this way. Thank you so much.
General Room: Thank you.
General Room: Kara Clark.
General Room: I am so sick of talking about myself from recently. I hope you guys know me. We have a little bit of a history. So it's a little complicated. But I do want to say, there's some some amazing talent in here. So I kind of just like.
General Room: I'm really grateful that we have so many community members who are willing to stand up, and I kind of go. Well, why would you ever want me? I think that really for me I am a voice for the community. I love to talk to people I love to learn. I'm continually learning and growing, and I have a passion for service, as you know, and I show up, and I will continually show up, and I will
General Room: try to constantly be a voice
General Room: to keep proceeding and pushing the district into the most positive direction, to make it what we all visualize, and that's where I live. And that's all I have to say. Thank you.
General Room: thank you.
General Room: And it is now my team time my turn, Lewis Taylor, so I will
General Room: common on the other side. Excuse me for a second.
General Room: You state your name again.
General Room: Andrew Lewis Taylor, long time. Westland Resident.
General Room: Well, you you know me a little bit, but
General Room: I've served in education for collectively 16 years in a board capacity, so I'm not serving in education boards as a stepping stone to anything other than a stepping stone for creating environments, for children to have the best opportunity to get an education as possible.
General Room: and I took that from the college level, and how we, you know, shape our leaders of the of the world. And now.
General Room: K. Through 12 to help shape our future leaders of the world. And so I've dealt with long range planning committees at the collegiate level. I've also dealt with them the past 4 years. Here at the K. 12 level, I've been a part of your team in shaping and championing capital bonds.
General Room: and also talking about plans that we have, for whether it be land or facilities, and
General Room: I think that I have an advantage over some of our candidates, and we do have some some brilliant candidates here, but just understanding how things actually work versus how I thought they worked before I became a board member, and so
General Room: my goal would be is to continue to be an olive branch from the community to the board in a different role or a different capacity to continue to support the school district and our district that I love so much. I still have the kids here at Westland High School.
General Room: My daughter is a rising junior, and I hope to one hold you all accountable for the things that we've
General Room: try to put in place, whether it's fields, whether it's buildings, whether it's
General Room: facilities, whether it's educational materials, whether it's planning for population, growth or lack thereof. I have an understanding of the vision of what the Board is trying to accomplish, and I hope that I can share that with existing long range planning committee members to give them some perspective and just share a voice that hopefully will allow them to be more productive. So if you find it within your ability to put me on that committee, I'd be more than happy to continue serving the district. So thank you.
General Room: Okay, Chair Taylor, back.
General Room: So we will start with position number 4, and
General Room: I know that you have all had opportunity to go through
General Room: the applications and supporting documents. We we got this some time ago. So what it takes is.
General Room: I'm sure we some of you have similar, probably candidates in mind, probably different candidates in mind, and it takes a motion to
General Room: put forth a person that you feel would be a good representation for our long range planning committee, and once we have that motion we will then need a second, and we can open it up for discussion, and at that point we will then get to cast a vote if you like that candidate that's being put forward. Obviously, yay, if you have someone that you think would be a better fit, then you can say no. So
General Room: this is an open process, and so do we have a motion to bring forward any of the 8 candidates that were
General Room: presented today.
General Room: Vice chair. Wyatt.
General Room: I move to appoint Amy Fashionpar to position number 4 for a three-year term to the long range planning committee.
General Room: Okay? And do we have a second.
General Room: No. Second.
General Room: Okay, do we have a motion for a different candidate?
General Room: If we don't have a second for Amy for position, 4
General Room: also important for all of us to inclusive of myself to realize there's there's 3 positions. So just because your name
General Room: I was not seconded, possibly for any position that does not mean that it may not be seconded for another position. So there's all 8 names are going for 3 positions. So I want to explain that before this process makes anyone kind of get a little
General Room: uneasy, so do. We have a different
General Room: motion for another candidate for position? 4. So can can I second the Amy fashion par now?
General Room: Yes, you can. Okay, okay, so we do, we can.
General Room: We didn't rescind the motion, so you still can. Had I rescinded the motion, you would not be able to. So we do have a second
General Room: for Amy. And now we can open it up for discussion.
General Room: Yeah, do you want to go? Or
General Room: well, I just want to make the comment that in, you know, in reading all of these in advance, these applications, I knew we were in trouble, that this is an impossible decision, and then, of course, then, meeting them.
General Room: it doesn't make it any easier, because these are really good people, you know, by my count, we have a specialist in construction, risk management, a doctor, a public architecture person, and an urban planner, and then additional people who are very active in our schools
General Room: and come to school board meetings. And I just don't know how we select this.
General Room: I'm seconding the motion for Amy. Because Amy applied
General Room: last year and showed that interest last year and is trying is showing that interest again this year. So that's that's why I seconded that.
General Room: Okay, any other comments or discussion around Amy, or
General Room: okay, I will pass it to Director Douglas for the vote. Thank you, director, Shoemaker, check your sloop.
General Room: Nay, Jared Taylor.
General Room: Vice chair. Why, Director Vidal, thank you. Motion passes.
General Room: Okay.
General Room: This moves us into position 6.
General Room: And as I mentioned in the beginning, I won't be making a motion for anyone. I'm part of the process. I don't want any bias, so you won't hear me
General Room: making a motion for any of you or me, and you will simply know what I think of all of the candidates
General Room: by my vote. So one of you will need to make a motion for Position 6.
General Room: I'm to nominate Clark for jeez. Position 6. I apologize for my mic issues.
General Room: I second, we can open up the floor for for discussion.
General Room: Okay, I will not be supporting this appointment, not because I don't
General Room: love Kara and appreciate the work that she's done. But
General Room: we just recently had an election. We have a colleague coming on who Kara ran against, and I think, out of respect for him. I know that elections can get emotional and
General Room: when people run and they have an opponent, there's just a fundamental difference. And so I think, out of respect for our incoming fellow board member. I would like to wait, and I would encourage in my mind I would encourage care to apply for a future position
General Room: if my opponent had been appointed back when I was 1st joining the board, I would have found that a little overwhelming.
General Room: Thank you.
General Room: Any other discussion any of you have.
General Room: Yeah, Director Vito, yeah, I just wanted to say I'm supporting Kara for this position because of her dedication to research her dedication to the school district.
General Room: Her depth and breadth of knowledge that she already has about our schools and facilities. And, as she said in her statement, she really does have a genuine passion for service, and I believe that she would bring that genuine passion to the long range planning committee
General Room: and I have a comment. I endorsed Kara for her campaign.
General Room: I feel that there might be bias in me voting on Kara.
General Room: So I'm going to abstain from voting simply based off of the fact that she was the candidate that I supported
General Room: any other discussion.
General Room: No, so I support Kara as well. She has been at almost
General Room: every board meeting, in person or online, and she brings a wealth of engagement and
General Room: has the students best interest at heart, and is, was at the bond summit and asked great questions, and so I will be voting in support of her
General Room: right. And if Director Shoemaker doesn't have
General Room: any comments, I'll pass it to Director Douglas.
General Room: The vote, and we will soon learn. Thank you. Director, shoemaker.
General Room: Nick, director, sloop. Aye, not sure. Why, no direct Vidal.
General Room: Yes, they have a tie.
General Room: Okay.
General Room: that creates a a unique situation
General Room: in the event of a tie.
General Room: We used to have a process
General Room: that would allow us to re cast a vote.
General Room: but we do not have that process any longer, if I if I understand, because all votes must be done
General Room: in public.
General Room: So with that being.
General Room: I am going to abstain from voting simply because I endorsed her as a candidate.
General Room: Where does that leave us from a procedural standpoint with a tie?
General Room: My understanding is you could
General Room: have some more discussion. See if a colleague has changed their mind. Do some discussion. Do the vote again. If you remain a tie
General Room: there is no majority. And so you would need to determine that.
General Room: That outcome wasn't met but or you could
General Room: move on and come back. So
General Room: what I. What I think I hear you saying is, is that
General Room: we can have some more discussion. So is there an appetite to have more discussion around Kara. If there isn't, then we would need a new motion, or we would need the motion withdrawn, and we can form a new motion for a new candidate. Kara.
General Room: Sure.
General Room: Yeah, I would be willing to remove my name.
General Room: I honor all of you.
General Room: and I honor everybody in this committee. But there are also some people who are so amazing, who are putting their names in
General Room: that I would be willing to just take my name out for this position, because I do know that this is not necessarily my strongest skill set, and I respect the Board and your work, and what we can do with some of these other candidates as well. And just so, you know, I met with Mike, we're good. So don't worry about that. So all that's good. I do believe in relationships and building relationships at all times. So thank you. I will remove my name. Thank you for all your support. I appreciate every single one of you.
General Room: Thank you
General Room: and I and I just want to say the last thing we ever want to do is deter you in any way from your continued service and leadership from the roles you've been leading.
General Room: Thank you. I will always be of service to the district. Thank you.
General Room: We'll find something for you to do, Kara.
General Room: Okay, so we will need to withdraw the previous motion.
General Room: please. I withdraw my previous motion to bring forward Kara Clark as a candidate for position. Number 6. Okay. And
General Room: now we need a new motion of our remaining.
General Room: 6 candidates. So do we have a motion for another candidate.
General Room: Sure, I have motion for parameter.
General Room: I apologize. Here I go. Mukherjee. Yes, for position number 6.
General Room: Okay, do we have a second?
General Room: I second that.
General Room: Okay, let's open it up for a discussion again.
General Room: Is there anything that any of you would like to
General Room: bring forth?
General Room: Well, I think you know all of these candidates are very, very qualified, and it's showing that we're in a difficult, difficult position here.
General Room: but I would support because we do have
General Room: representation. I would like to. We have a Wilsonville. She's a Wilsonville resident. So
General Room: I'd like to have more representation from Wilsonville.
General Room: Okay, any other comments.
General Room: I I if I'm understanding correctly. Paramita. You have some connection across the district.
General Room: right Wilsonville, 3 Rivers and Westland High School right? And I appreciate that I would also note that the current composition of the Board of the Long Rain Planning Committee is 3 Wilsonville and one Westland. The current.
General Room: So I do. I do like that representation. That which is broad, and I'll be voting for Aramita. But I also know that we have room for some for some more Westland folks on this
General Room: this planning committee
General Room: any other comments.
General Room: I will pass it to Director Douglas for the vote. Thank you. Director, shoemaker. Aye, director, sloop. Aye, chair, Taylor.
General Room: Pastor Wyatt, Director Vidal. Aye, motion passes.
General Room: and then we have.
General Room: The last position.
General Room: Well, sorry chair. Right? We have to!
General Room: Apologies. Sonorous
General Room: point of order, I think, is the point in our agenda where we would ask the Board to officially open position 3. In the light of recent resignation.
General Room: We're very grateful to that member for their role. This position would conclude in order to maintain the staggered calendar for the committee. This position 3 would conclude in June of 2027,
General Room: June of 2027.
General Room: Okay, I move the board declare position number 3, open for application to the long range planning committee.
General Room: A second.
General Room: Alright, Director Douglas, please cast the vote. Thank you, director, shoemaker, director, sloop. Aye, chair, Taylor.
General Room: Aye, Commissioner Wyatt. Aye, Director Vidal. Aye, thank you.
General Room: All right, fearless leader, am I able to thank you for being gracious about that? No problem. So now, of course, per that motion the Board is able to select from the remaining candidates to fill that final position.
General Room: All right. So you're you're remaining candidates. Now
General Room: we have Nate Seymour, we have Alexandra Smith. We have myself.
General Room: We have Athena Contreras, and we have Garrett, Pryor, and Kara
General Room: so graciously removed her name. So
General Room: so we have a motion for a candidate for position. 3.
General Room: I nominate Lewis Taylor.
General Room: One second.
General Room: Okay, I will be recused from the vote. I'll still go through the process and
General Room: we will open the floor up for discussion.
General Room: Okay.
General Room: Vice chair, Wyatt.
General Room: I think, as has been said,
General Room: we have so many incredibly qualified candidates, and the thing that I am most mindful of
General Room: is we do. Coming up later on our agenda tonight we have a bond campaign
General Room: coming up this November. And so ability to
General Room: to run a ballot measure, and for the long range planning committee to have, like a very strong connection to the Bond Campaign Committee, is going to be essential.
General Room: And so I am really excited and hopeful for what the future of this committee holds with all of these, this great talent that we have in our district. But I am supporting
General Room: having Lewis Taylor join, because of that, the critical nature of having a successful bond campaign in November, and his experience raising money during our levy campaign, and coordinating and being a strong campaigner is really essential. I have no doubt that anyone else that applied would jump in wholeheartedly to campaign.
General Room: But that is just top of mind for me as we think about what's to come on the November ballot.
General Room: Any other comments, discussion points.
General Room: Director Vito. I just wanted to comment about the
General Room: excellent candidates as well. Everyone is so qualified, and we are so lucky to have you all get involved. I will be supporting Chair Taylor, for position 3 as well. But I also encourage those of you who applied to the long range planning committee to please think about supporting us in our bond campaign and getting involved that way in that broader way. Please do that.
General Room: We will need all the support we can get, and given that you are all excellent candidates and all qualified, we would really appreciate your support that way. So thank you all so much.
General Room: All right.
General Room: If there is no other
General Room: looks like director schum. Nope, you're good.
General Room: I'll pass it to Director Douglas
General Room: for the vote. Thank you, director. Shoemaker. Aye, director, sloop. Aye, Mr. Wyatt, injective.
General Room: Thank you. Motion passes
General Room: anything else.
General Room: Mr. Remo.
General Room: Yeah. So we that concludes that item. So we're that's 3 of 5 for Pat and I. I believe Pat wants to introduce our 4th item.
General Room: All right.
General Room: So the 4th item is, of course, the moving forward of a potential capital bond. I wanted to take a moment to say that
General Room: this is my 5th bond.
General Room: This is a culmination of work that began actually in July of 2023, but official direction from the School Board in November of 2023.
General Room: This comes, of course, with the adoption of the long range plan.
General Room: And I originally wanted to
General Room: do a little history on our bonds.
General Room: But this bond is about the future, and this is the future of our district, and I can think of nobody better to carry the future of this district forward than Mr. Douglas, so I'm going to turn it over to him.
General Room: Oh, thank you for the kind words there, I'll be at the June 30th barbecue to embarrass Pat. Then.
General Room: rather than extending this meeting.
General Room: So this item, as Pat said, is around the potential for a new bond program. The last time we were together on this topic, the Board asked staff to prepare, prepare a resolution and a request for ballot title for this November
General Room: that that would include all mission critical category, a projects as well as Select Mission important category B projects for a total of 185 million dollars.
General Room: and finally directed staff to apply for the Oregon School capital improvement matching or awesome grant for up to 6 million dollars in matching funds. And so the ask of the Board this evening is to discuss that you've received the resolution and proposed ballot language.
General Room: And if if there's any questions, you know, particularly if there's any questions around the awesome Grant staff are very familiar with that process?
General Room: yeah, I I do have a question around the awesome grant. I mean, we had one of our community members bring up the fact that
General Room: the process or procedure for the awesome grant is somewhat different in that it possibly should not be included in the capital bond language going on the on the ballot. Can you help, maybe clarify or walk us through
General Room: what that looks like? Sure, I think what we heard earlier this evening is that there's a requirement that this bond ballot language specifically address the awesome grant. We have reviewed this language very specifically and at great length with our bond council.
General Room: And we have confirmed with them that it is not required. In, though in this text
General Room: there is an additional explanatory statement, which is the longer part a little later in the voters pamphlet, and we will have confirmation of whether or not we're eligible, or we receive funds for the awesome grant. By the time we put that document together. And so, if successful, on July 15th for awesome Grant funds, we would look to.
General Room: you know. Go ahead and include that language there.
General Room: Sorry. Okay.
General Room: a few notes on that. Yes, the district is potentially eligible for 6 million. Even that funding is contingent on 2 dates. July first, st for the submission of a long range facilities plan as well as a facility condition assessment for the impacted schools.
General Room: As the Board knows, we recently adopted a new long range facilities plan. It's compliant with state code. So we have this ready to go. And then, prior to having the board confirm which projects you wanted to be part of the awesome grant funding, we would have had a
General Room: produce, a facility, condition, assessment for all of our facilities, not knowing which one and so, for a matter of cost efficiency, we waited for the Board to make that determination. So now we need to do only one at one school, and we have that scheduled well in advance of the July 1st deadline. So we will successfully
General Room: apply for that deadline, as well as provide the appropriate information. On July 15.th So staff are confident that we will apply for the awesome grant. It is notable in a few ways.
General Room: In that two-thirds of the grant funding are based on prioritization.
General Room: This district is 187 out of 197 and the other 3rd is for sort of 1st in time, and we will be in that 1st block
General Room: so that could sound, you know, not as optimistic. But the other particular item is that you can only be successful in applying for the awesome grant every 6 years, and by you apologies I mean a district. So any district that has received the awesome grant after November of 2019 cannot apply. And if you go through the last 5 years, and you think about all of the big area districts that have been successful
General Room: that limits the field and competition. So staff have some confidence that we stand a good chance of receiving that grant.
General Room: and if I may. This follows the template of the 2019 bond. We were eligible for the awesome grant. In the 2019 bond we were successful in receiving that Grant. We were one of the 1st districts to get the awesome grant.
General Room: as Remo said in subsequent years, other districts applied for it, but they're limited and cannot reapply until their 6 year window opens again. And so we're highly confident that the district will be eligible and will receive the awesome grant. Should a bond be presented and passed by the voters.
General Room: Thank you. For answering that.
General Room: Any other questions from any other.
General Room: Okay, no more questions point.
General Room: So the awesome grant is listed in the explanatory part of this ballot measure.
General Room: It will be yes, but and not in that little statement, not in the ballot title correct.
General Room: and that's in addition to the 185 million.
General Room: That is correct. So it's a matching fund. So as long as the district has a bond of 6 million or more. We're able for a maximum matching Grant from the state of 6 million, and we will, of course, be
General Room: providing that broadly to the community to make sure they're aware of that as information, factual information. Make sure the community knows that staff have gone to that effort, and that there's a bonus 6 million dollars that does not come from their property taxes.
General Room: Thank you.
General Room: Anything else.
General Room: Alright. Well, are you sure what?
General Room: So I know that.
General Room: You know we're very limited in our word, Count, and I know that obviously, whenever we're asking voters questions, it's it's been
General Room: you know, there's a we've had our attorneys. Look at this.
General Room: But might there be a little wiggle room to make that question
General Room: more of an active statement? Rather than kind of putting that issuance kind of in the middle. And
General Room: because I'm wondering if that just might make it even clearer to voters that
General Room: if the dish. Shall the district
General Room: issue 1 point or 185 million general obligation bonds to increase safety, repair and update schools? I don't know if we need to say school facilities, but I'm just one. And if you want to just say, please don't, wordsmith this. It's too complicated. But I just wondering if that
General Room: if we're we're really trying to explain to voters what this would do if there could just maybe be like a little like reorganization to to get us there. But again, if you would prefer that we not wordsmith from the dais, I completely understand that, too. I might jump in on this one.
General Room: This bond language has been reviewed by bond counsel, reviewed by internal district staff. We have sent it back and forth, counting words literally, we are limited to a maximum of 175 word
General Room: words on the ballot. Language, and words were chosen deliberately and with great thought. I would encourage the board to not
General Room: rearrange any of the wording.
General Room: So you're open to changes. Yeah, yeah, I'm as flexible as a
General Room: We. We serve at the pleasure of the board.
General Room: the, you know, the especially in those those 1st couple items where those word counts are very small. It's that 20 word question. All of this language goes up on a state state website. There's a protest period. And so particularly those really short ones. The attorneys are very strong in their assurance that they know how to word it. So. But thank you for the question.
General Room: and I would just add,
General Room: remember also the voter pamphlet, there'll be the explanatory statement that will go with it. People will also
General Room: write comments, you know. Play the campaign and there's something about
General Room: bond language jargon that goes into these documents. So the attorneys write them a specific way, and if you look at other ones that were maybe in the May ballot.
General Room: you'll see very similar language. I know it's not the way we might write it, but it it has an order to it that
General Room: is really about a a bond vernacular so, or ballad vernacular, let me just tell him.
General Room: under the summary again, like, just because this is kind of our legal record
General Room: for the science, technology, engineering, art, math, steam, could could you format that? So it bumps in? So it looks like the other sections. So it again, I just thinking about this as a communications tool. It just would be nice to have that consistency, because it's kind of a dangling absolutely. The the resolution states that it generally conforms
General Room: and so we would, of course, make sure. I I was actually noticing that while sitting here going, oh, man! So absolutely! The formatting will be consistent, and that's well within the tolerances of generally conforming.
General Room: I knew you were open to changes and director sloop.
General Room: So I'm asking. So with the bond being a hundred 85 million.
General Room: I'm still struggling with that amount because it just seems
General Room: like a lot, even though it's just maintaining and repairing and upgrading.
General Room: Can you? For the record? Talk about that survey that was done
General Room: to show that there was support for that amount? Because I like, I said. I'm struggling with that, especially with feedback from the community.
General Room: Sure. Yes, polling was completed by Patinkin research. They are sort of the polling group in the region.
General Room: And they they are who everyone goes to and so andrew Kilstrom, our Communications director, worked with them at great length in developing those questions and providing very specific wording. And we had to pick a number for for the poll questions. And that number was 195 million.
General Room: and we received 59%
General Room: favorable. A and I. I don't have the exact number of the undecided, but a fair portion, and then a small, you know, a smaller portion of
General Room: opposed, and so that sent a pretty strong signal to the staff, additionally in in meeting with that group and talking it through.
General Room: They said that that is a very favorable outcome, and that a little a little one way or the other on that total dollar value is less of a mover for votes than the messaging around maintaining the current tax rate. They said that that is what voters want to hear. They want to hear you're taking care of the things you have.
General Room: and that you're not raising taxes which are both true in this case.
General Room: Did that help with the question.
General Room: and at the the risk of repeating some things.
General Room: that I have been said previous at previous meetings, having been at the long range planning committee meetings and and been involved in sort of the building of this from the ground up. I absolutely feel like our community is looking for a stewardship bond, and I really believe this is that I, too, was concerned about that price tag. But I also think milk is really expensive, and eggs and everything else, and
General Room: tiger Tualatin is 12,000 students, 12,
General Room: 5, or something to our 9. But their bond was over 400
General Room: 1 million at the same, you know economic time. And I and I,
General Room: I think as expensive as 185 million feels. Given that I really believe it's a stewardship bond, and that things are just frankly expensive for us to take care of.
General Room: to take care of our facilities.
General Room: I'm I'm still supportive of it.
General Room: all right.
General Room: Anything else.
General Room: This doesn't require board action. So
General Room: so if there's no other questions, thank you both. Or Oh, you still have more.
General Room: If you, if you have more I want to hear.
General Room: No, it felt like you were saying there was no motion at all, so we need to adopt the resolution, of course, but that was your next words, I think. Oh, okay, I thought it didn't require action. Maybe I looked at it the wrong way.
General Room: I move to adopt resolution 2024 to 0 8 for a general obligation. Bond measure for November 2025, not to exceed the amount of 185 million dollars. I second.
General Room: there was no more discussion, so I'll pass the vote to Director Douglas. Thank you. Director, shoemaker. Aye, director, sloop. Aye, chair, Taylor. Aye, vice chair, Wyatt.
General Room: Objective at all. Thank you. Motion passes. I got a little further down the line to the Quarterly Bond report. We're there. So final item from us, and then you won't have to talk to us any further tonight. We provided to the Board the quarterly report from the 1st quarter of this year. Of course, some time has passed. The board has had a few items on the agenda in recent months.
General Room: So I I thought, if it's all right. I provide a brief summary of sort of the last, the most recent couple of months, just some brief notes that may be helpful.
General Room: so, as the Board will recall. The general contractor for our 2 largest projects was terminated over the course of the last 6 months.
General Room: and we have been working closely with the surety on both of those we now have a new general contractor in place and actively working at the Frog Pond Primary school site. That work is going very well. Essentially. All of the subcontractors that have been working on the project are working on the project again. They've gotten paid for those past payments that didn't occur. They're happy to come back.
General Room: and they know exactly where they left off, and they're just picking right up like it's the next day. So a lot of great work is happening there on Athe Creek. It's a much smaller amount of work that outstanding. It's a lot of landscaping along Willamette falls. Drive
General Room: and we expect the landscapers to return to the site tomorrow.
General Room: And so we're coming around to the point now where things are back on the rails from where they ought to have been about 10 months ago. Okay.
General Room: awesome. So just a note on the frog pond as well. The substantial completion. Date for the project is now the 1st week of November. The final completion. Date is the 1st week of January of 2026. Just so.
General Room: You know what the target dates are for the project.
General Room: Thank you.
General Room: Any questions, comments. Yeah. Buster White.
General Room: I just encourage the community to look at the documentation and the program summary that you provide in these reports I've definitely heard in the past year. Some concerns about, you know, like, you know, having oversight and having, you know, citizen eyes on this work, and our long range planning committee also serves as our Bond oversight Committee, and the reporting that you do, showing the expense of our current funds that were allocated as our last bond issuance.
General Room: and how you track that, and how that committee engages in making sure that our forecasts and our expenditures are accurately reported, is.
General Room: it's it's a masterclass in reporting on capital projects. And.
General Room: as we, you know, as you saw us stressing out about appointments to the long range planning committee. It's because this committee is so important at showing to our community this oversight that exists when we are entrusted with millions of dollars for facilities. So just really appreciate how clearly you are able to report. I still am in awe that we were able to come in and fund all of our projects from the 2019 bond.
General Room: and you know, really make that that money in our estimates work, especially in this economic climate. So thank you. And again, if folks are interested in our capital planning, going into these quarterly reports just an amazing way to see where the money is going and how we are making great big projects happen. So thank you.
General Room: Okay, director sloop. So I have a question for clarification.
General Room: we're in. It says over 90%, 95% of current funding, or just under 2, 28 million has been committed. And then the amount that's uncommitted is 11 million. Where does that go?
General Room: Sure, I'm sorry you wanted to. Yeah. So the commitment
General Room: term in our world, it means
General Room: truly contracted work. So we have a construction contract, or we've got a proposal to buy the laptops or whatever it is. So it's true. Contracts that have been executed, the paid to date, the spent value is effectively what portion of those contracts have been paid out to vendors for successful work?
General Room: I think, director soup. What your question is about is, well, what's that uncommitted value, then? So that doesn't mean that that funding doesn't have a specific purpose. It just means it's not in a contract at this point
General Room: so largely the funding that's still available and uncommitted, we are holding in contingency. We fully expect, as previously reported, to the board, that this process of termination of contractors and working with the surety will not cause the projects to go over budget that we will stay within the bounds. But professional construction management is
General Room: perhaps 1st and foremost a profession of risk management.
General Room: and until we get through, probably October.
General Room: staff would be very reluctant to release contingencies, to go and do other things. There are other things that we would like to do, but we are going to hold on those until we know that those 2 major projects are settled.
General Room: But does that help answer the question? Thank you. Yes, thank you.
General Room: We're right.
General Room: I don't see anything else.
General Room: So this one does not require board action.
General Room: All right. Well, thank you.
General Room: And Remo.
General Room: for that knowledge, we appreciate it. And we appreciate all your hard work. Yeah, thank you. Board. And I do have
General Room: the real copies of the long range plan. So as you get going on the next one, I'll pass those out to you
General Room: movement as my last word tonight. I just want to say that the last 20 months of work
General Room: has been substantially done by Remo and Amy, and I say that with Director Shoemaker having witnessed it firsthand
General Room: again, the district is on the right path. It has a great future.
General Room: and this bond I have. Every confidence will be as successful as every other bond we've had. So
General Room: with that, those are my final words. Thank you all right. Thank you, Pat.
General Room: He spent as an 8 months.
General Room: I thank you.
General Room: Alright.
General Room: I I still have your cell phone number pat, so
General Room: we'll have to meet at an establishment.
General Room: Thank you.
General Room: Okay, slightly behind. But we're gonna see how we do to catch this thing up.
General Room: that'll move us right into the business office with Dr. Hughes, and
General Room: we have a budget hearing coming up. So do you want me to go ahead and close the Western Wilsonville School District meeting.
General Room: and now we will open the budget. Hearing meeting Dr. Hughes get evening School board.
General Room: Oh, yes, you know what
General Room: I was trying to speed it up a little bit too much, wasn't I?
General Room: We have one community member who would like to speak during the public comment session, and that is John Mccabe.
General Room: Income need for the Geo. Bond. Interest was told. I was a liar department of revenue, said, No, John keeps telling the truth.
General Room: If you look at Page.
General Room: I'm having problems. I got bad cataracts. They have to have surgery on this year. So I read with one eye.
General Room: 3 Rowan renewals, dash c point 4. There was no interest income last year, but there's been an interest income earned in this year, even though it wasn't in the budget
General Room: which is going to increase the ending of fund balance for the 20, for the
General Room: 2424, 25 year
General Room: which is not reflected in the in the budget. In addition to that when the bonds were
General Room: refunded earlier this year, you see in the budget for the
General Room: 2425 year. That's 31,320,000, and that was decreased to
General Room: 30,379,000
General Room: per. The official statement that you can see online on the Mrsb site.
General Room: So basically, the gist of it is.
General Room: the community needs a million dollars less in taxes
General Room: because of these 2 issues that were not addressed in the budget were not addressed last year.
General Room: The school district has gotten more than a million dollars of less expense, which, according to the
General Room: Oregon Department revenue, is supposed to be passed on to the taxpayers.
General Room: And so essentially, we need to have the Geo bond motion.
General Room: And again, there's no need for public hearing, because it is less than 10%,
General Room: but it should be lowered by a minimum 1 million dollars because of the additional funds
General Room: that have been received in the 2425 year that we're not in the budget for 2425 year, one being the refunding of the bond and the other being interest income. That did occur in 2425, even though
General Room: I was told last year. No, you can't do it, or department of revenue, said just the opposite, and
General Room: we need to pass these savings on to the community.
General Room: Thank you.
General Room: Alright. Is there anyone who
General Room: may have wanted to speak during the budget, hearing who did not get the opportunity to sign up, and
General Room: may want to share some budget words.
General Room: No, all right, Dr. Hughes. Floor is yours.
General Room: You need to close. Oh, I'm sorry.
General Room: Let me close this thing up.
General Room: I will now officially close the budget hearing
General Room: and reopen the Weston Wilsonville School Board School District meeting.
General Room: Good evening School Board tonight. I'm here to present resolution 2, 0 2, 4, 0 6.
General Room: So this resolution will mark the final step in the 2526 budget process.
General Room: This resolution is necessary for the School Board to formally adopt the budget, make appropriation and impose the tax levies all in compliance with Oregon budget law, ois 2 9 4.4 5 6.
General Room: As you recall, the Budget Committee met on May 19th and approved the proposed budget for the district in the total amount of $265,991,820
General Room: of the budget served at the basis for the public notice, and the form 81, which will issue in advance up to my public meeting
General Room: at that time. The note that we published
General Room: some anticipated updates to the budget have not been finalized. So that's why we use that original version.
General Room: to to finalize our Ed form.
General Room: So now I would like to walk you through the 3 key updates that we have
General Room: After the Budget Committee had approved our budget on May May 19.th So, first, st on June second, the School Board had approved to follow day for teacher and supervising license supervising Administrator for school year 2526
General Room: in the same action. The School Board also direct the district to reinvest that result, saving into classroom by acting 6.5 fte. The teaching position. So you can see in the Budget
General Room: document for the column of the adopted. You will see 6 ftes under function, 1 1 1 1 for primary and 0 point 5 ftes in function, 1 1 3, 1 for the high school.
General Room: This adjustment, allied with our ongoing commitment to prioritize student support while balancing the fiscal responsibility.
General Room: The second updates. If the district received a new subracial of the open lender property a sufficient of fair market values of 7.8 7 5 million. If the pop, if the properties is sold, the Board had directed district to return 6.5 million to the land Fund 4, 7, 0 and
General Room: allocate 1.2 million to support the baseball and softball field project and the remaining 175,000 will be transferred from Fund 470 into general fund to support one additional Fte.
General Room: 1st one. Was it the minor discrepancy. That we have in one
General Room: to your mother, that one. So all of the detail information under 300 from 3, 2321. They all correct.
General Room: but under the graph it add up a little bit. The typo for $2,500. So we just want to be included in this report for transparency. And you will see the corrected under the adopted column to have the right amount.
General Room: So the most important list is, according to Ors, 294.4 5 6 1. These chain do not require supplemental budget, because the adjustment within the allowable background. They did not exceed 10% of the fund token expenditure that approved by the Budget Committee. Therefore the district is not required to Republic the budget, or hold an additional public hearing
General Room: so imposing. Resolution 2 0 2, 4. That euro sit, allow the board to adopt the budget, make appropriation, impose tax at required before the start of the fiscal year of July one. With that I respectfully request the Board to approve resolution 2, 0 2, 4, that euro. Sit
General Room: okay questions for many of you.
General Room: Oh, vice chair, Wyatt.
General Room: I'm just seeking some clarification on on the sale of the opalander property.
General Room: I can see how you you got to these numbers. So they sum up to the the fair market value from the reappraisal.
General Room: But could I feel like when we were talking about this and the potential use of the proceeds?
General Room: we we were specific in the land fund, and then the baseball softball fields. And then we said, and then anything else to support Fte. So are we limiting ourselves by backing into that number? Okay, I just wanted to make sure, in case we
General Room: receive more than the appraised amount, we would still have that flexibility to transfer more funds in. Yes, yeah, thank you so much for bringing this up. So because up to to
General Room: get the math number, because the pressure we have 7.8 7 5. So that's why the remaining so so right now, at this number, the remaining of 1, 75. But if we sell for more, then whatever remaining will be transferred to the general fund. Thank you.
General Room: We're kind of caught in that place. Of
General Room: what's the information that we know today, and we we don't know what the property is going to sell
General Room: in the middle of July, when the bids open. But we have to pass a budget at the end of this month. And so you because you set that minimum threshold of no less than this we're going to. We're going to put this in the appropriate categories and record it as such.
General Room: Any other questions.
General Room: The board!
General Room: Oh, wow!
General Room: I feel like we might have one.
General Room: so we'll we'll pause for a sec.
General Room: Do you want? Do you want a motion?
General Room: Yeah, you can make? Yeah, we can still do the motion in in a second, and then we can still come back to further discussion.
General Room: I move that the Board adopt the 2025, 2026 budget for the Westland Wilsonville School district as presented in resolution 2024, 6, and the total amount of $266,164,320.
General Room: I suck it.
General Room: Now we'll open it up for discussion, and if you need to
General Room: couple more minutes, take your time. Don't feel rushed.
General Room: Let's fine.
General Room: Is that your passing.
General Room: My question was for resolution 2024, 0, 7.
General Room: Okay.
General Room: So I will now pass it to Director Douglas
General Room: to call the vote. Please. Thank you, director, shoemaker. Aye, director, sloop. Aye, chair, Taylor.
General Room: vice chair, Wyatt. Aye, Director Vidal.
General Room: Aye, thank you.
General Room: Thank you so much. I would like to take the opportunity to arrest the public comment about the Geo bond. So you don't have the book with you, but in front of you, not in front of you and in the doc in the budget. Document page 3. This is a summary page for the Geo bond.
General Room: and it lists out the total principal interest. So the total principal for 2526, that the district obligate to pay the 23.9 million, and the total interest is about 8 million. So the total is 22 million. So with based on that
General Room: when we, when the county send rost of monies in that 32 million. The estimate interest earns on that investment is about 320,000,
General Room: and then we also estimate the remaining fund balance from the prior year carry forward into 2526, a 1.6 million. So with that, we subtract out the interest and 1.6 million.
General Room: we had a total of 30 million.
General Room: but because of the collection rate that the Oregon Department revenue advisor to apply. That's a 94%, because we cannot assume 100% of community member will take that. So therefore, we applied a rate of 94%.
General Room: So with 94%, the district will send the form to the county, asking the tax to be levied for us will be 31.9 million.
General Room: and we we do share this information with Oregon department of Revenue before the Budget document goes to the Budget Committee for approval. We also share this information with Department of Education.
General Room: so that that interest was subtracted.
General Room: Okay.
General Room: okay, I move that the Board approve. Resolution 2024, 0, 7 is presented a second.
General Room: Any questions, Kelly, you had for this particular topic. I was just trying to follow the
General Room: paying for the mats that weren't anticipated. So where did that come from? Is it from the Capitol bomb? So this.
General Room: this the resolution 2024, dash 0, 6 0.
General Room: Are we moving? Okay? Yes. So I will come back to your question, director loop. So this one is resolution 2, 0 2, 4, 7, we see our year end appropriation transfer for the 2425 fiscal year. So this is a standard year end procedure to ensure we remain in compliant with Oregon local budget law.
General Room: This is not increase any overall spending. It's simply just the budget authority between catalog.
General Room: So in this instance under general fund.
General Room: early in the year, when we put the budget together, we did not anticipate to spend any. We did not anticipate to have any expenditure under Fund 4,000 was in a facility. So no fund waste budget in that function.
General Room: So throughout the year we have an urgent need to replace the wrestling mat and a high jump pit for the high school, and that total up about 50,000.
General Room: So to cover this, we are proposed to transfer 50,000 from function 2,000,
General Room: which is the support services to function 4,000. So this is general open fund. This is just simply realignment.
General Room: And to answer your question, Director Luke, the wrestling mat. This is the operational expenditure. It's not a capital project. So, therefore it did not. Coming out of the capital fund. This is the operational expenditure that relate to running the athletic
General Room: because the items.
General Room: the value of the items is not a long term access, but it costs more than 5,000, so we have to record it under function 4,000.
General Room: The next one is the capital Project Fund adjustment.
General Room: So in the Capital Project fund we have an anticipated fees. It's about 57,000
General Room: that char into function. 5,000 which we did not
General Room: anticipated. Fees happen when we put the budget together. So, to arrest this one, we propose to Jennifer about 100,000 from function 4,000 to function 5,000, because we don't know if from now until June 30, th any additional fees might occur. So, to be safe, we would like to propose that
General Room: the recommendation is Dj. Are in line with the board policy, dbk, and are a common part of closing out our fiscal year.
General Room: So resolution 2 0 2, 4, 0 7, though not authorize new spending is simply reallocate a significant fund for compliant purposes.
General Room: So with that, I respectfully recommend that the board approve. Resolution 2 0 2 4.7 have presented
General Room: going back
General Room: wherever that was.
General Room: Thank you, Jack.
General Room: We have a phone.
General Room: I know I'm on same issue.
General Room: Director, shoemaker. Aye, director, sloop, chair, Taylor. Aye, vice chair, Wyatt. Aye, Director Vidal, thank you. Motion passes.
General Room: Thank you so much.
General Room: I I forgot. We moved to discussion and we'd already done it. So just tracking, trying to track.
General Room: I'm a director.
General Room: What's up, guys?
General Room: So it was mentioned earlier, my database directors, we don't.
General Room: Is this better?
General Room: Oh, Hi! There, everybody!
General Room: It was.
General Room: So I'll repeat. We're in School Board of Directors section, so I'll pass it to myself.
General Room: Can you hear me? Okay, up there? All right.
General Room: Well, it was mentioned earlier by Director Vida. I believe.
General Room: that at the beginning every year the the School board sets a number of
General Room: School Board goals that we would like to achieve, and
General Room: again. I won't read them to you because they're on the site, and you can read them for yourself. But the last goal
General Room: that we've worked really diligent on for the whole entire year was
General Room: together. We will research, develop, and adopt an anti-racism policy.
General Room: And this is something that took quite a bit of time.
General Room: It was also something that
General Room: people in our community that don't deal with racism or don't have to face it believe was needed or or existed within the district. And I, personally, I'll give you a little history. I started this journey to create this policy 4 years ago.
General Room: So this not hasn't been a policy that we just showed up in 2,024 and was like, Hey, let's just
General Room: put a racism policy together. It's been a 4 year process. It was something that was near and dear to me, coming in because I am a family of color.
General Room: and we've had some unique experiences, and we'll leave it at that.
General Room: And over that time period we got to
General Room: see, and other board members. This board and previous board got to see some of the things that the district was being faced with from
General Room: community members, our bipoc families and some of the emails, and so on and so forth. Just the experiences. But, more importantly, what we did is we set out to to have listening sessions that was brought up by Dr. Ludwig earlier.
General Room: and we had listening sessions with our children. We had them with our parents. We've had them with staff, and there was just a world of learning that we ended up experiencing. We brought in professionals who do this work across the Us. We've brought in some of the best
General Room: and most qualified individuals that we know within our own State, who also were in partnerships together doing this work. So it was interesting as we went down and found speakers, or found people to help us with this task.
General Room: and how those professionals were all connected in some way, shape or form, doing this work together and independently in their own unique spaces. So
General Room: I think this is just something up on the on the projector that gives you a little bit of of
General Room: background about it. We started this in 2024. We identified the goal together. That goal was that we would research develop and adopt that policy, an anti-racism policy.
General Room: And in September 23rd of 2,024, we had our 1st work, session
General Room: and I provided some context for the goal that we were trying to create, to be in alignment with the district values and case law.
General Room: and we tasked the district to provide an overview of what was currently in place and what changes the staff
General Room: would propose. So
General Room: our eeoc also played a role in reviewing everything that we've put together. I've met with attorneys to take a look at other school district policies that were written by those law firms. How did that compare to what we had, what risks were associated with it, and having an anti-racism policy is not just this simple thing.
General Room: There is this thing called freedom of speech. But freedom of speech does not apply to school districts when you disrupt the learning environment of someone else sitting next to you.
General Room: So freedom of speech does not apply in those situations, and that is law.
General Room: So you can't show up with an inappropriate shirt that is disrupting her learning environment and say, Well, it's my freedom of speech. I can do what I want to do. You can't do that in public school districts. So that was a learning for me. I didn't know that.
General Room: And so throughout this process I got to learn a lot about what was allowed, what wasn't allowed, especially when dealing with the community, because we all think that because we pay taxes because we can say and do what we want, you will just show up and be a havoc in public school systems. Well, that's not the case. So I'm excited about this.
General Room: And
General Room: the I want to say thank you to all of your staff and all of the teachers who contributed to this the learnings that we were able to discover as teachers were just, not not equipped
General Room: to be able to disrupt systems of racism, or know how they fit in without taking a risk with our with our kids? Because you know.
General Room: how do you disrupt racism? What do you do. What do you say if you don't know yourself? And so Dr. Ludwig and her staff have done a good job of creating opportunities for training, bringing in professionals and doing district wide events. And that's all. The way from the teaching staff down to your custodian. Everyone participated in
General Room: the feedback on that was tremendous, and, Dr. Ludwig, if you want to say anything about that, I'm more than happy for you to share that experience around that work. But
General Room: as a board, we collectively got to see what was needed, what was missing, how we could equip our staff to have what we refer to as a roadmap, and we created a roadmap to give teachers the confidence that this is where you start.
General Room: You start at step one and step one is clearly defined, and we created a 5 step process which will be up on the website for people to review. So if you are a family who's experiencing some of these different things that might be categorized as racism. You will now know how to follow those steps. And it's very, very clear.
General Room: There's also a discipline matrix. What happens when something is done to your child.
General Room: and it happens to be through the lens of racism. You know. What do you do? There's a clear, defined process that discipline matrix is actually.
General Room: I say, it's a reflection of student voice, because the kids are the ones who are experiencing this. And the kids input is what we took to heart the most. And
General Room: what kids were telling us was that they didn't want
General Room: kids to be canceled. They didn't want kids to be sent home and miss class instruction. They didn't want that.
General Room: What they wanted was education.
General Room: and they did want a chance for a restorative pathway to still have a relationship with someone
General Room: who maybe did a bad thing, but is not a bad person.
General Room: but just needs a little bit of help or some education and and learning what's okay and what's not okay? And then there's a step for repeat offenders. So things get a little more severe
General Room: going all the way down to expulsion if it if it gets to that
General Room: and so we're excited about this
General Room: and introducing this into our district and having a pathway for teachers, parents, and kids to follow. And so it's it's really exciting. I'm just kind of giving you an overview of that. And we do have
General Room: resolution. But, Dr. Ludwig oh, I thought you made a hand signal.
General Room: Well, I was gonna say before you it. I wasn't sure if you were trying to transition to the resolution, because you had asked me to show some visuals so that community members could see at the work session. You know you had them in your binders. So I do have that prepared for you. If you'd like me to do that next, and that's what I thought you were putting your hands up for. So yes, okay, good. We're on the same page. Then. Yep.
General Room: okay. So can you go back to the previous slide? So as Chair Taylor mentioned. The the goal was set in August. That 1st work session was really important, direction to staff
General Room: from the School Board to say what's already in place? And is there something lacking? And what are the gaps in terms of policy and implementation?
General Room: So next slide?
General Room: So then, in November we brought forward
General Room: 2 documents to the board. They have them in their their binders, their large 11 by 17. They're kind of organizer charts. The 1st table was a blue table, and it was 3 columns that explained what are the policies the district has and procedures in place? What's the proactive work we're already doing with students around lessons to teach about discrimination or anti-racism, and what is currently in place for staff around professional development.
General Room: And then on the back of that we proposed, we we see some gaps. We see gaps in our work, in our lessons with students, in our professional development, in the implementation of some policies. And so we numerated a number of steps that we wanted to take during the year. In response to what we had also noticed
General Room: concurrently, the Board that evening also decided to shift their board goal number 3 to listening sessions, to hear more from bipoc students, parents, and staff about their experiences as added information alongside that work.
General Room: So next slide.
General Room: That's a
General Room: bigger view of what that blue table looked like. And so folks at home can then see it. This is also being recorded again. This was an organizer chart. You won't find this on the website, but because now it's in a public meeting, it's available. But this was what we had in place at the time.
General Room: Next
General Room: this is that green, then organizer chart for the board to say, here are some things we're going to do. We'd like to develop a roadmap. We'd like to be more clear about our processes in response to what you've also noticed. And so the year was spent going through and making those additions or revisions next.
General Room: This is just describing the listening sessions that Chair Taylor mentioned. There were 4 of them in February, with high school students representing all 3 high schools.
General Room: also in February, with our Educational Equity Advisory Committee. This is a 13 member committee that is representative of parents, community members, staff and students.
General Room: And then in April, back to back, we had 2 sessions, one with actually staff was 1st and then parents facilitated as Chair Taylor, mentioned by Equity Consultant, who's an expert in the field nationally, Dr. Johnny Lake
General Room: Board members attended all of those. They took notes. We also took notes as staff, and provided those to the board, and they had those in their binders to keep also as evidence of what came forward in the work
General Room: next.
General Room: This culminated then in June 9, th with a report back to the board
General Room: of what did we do then with those additions or revisions that we had noticed were gaps in the work and provided to the board going through each of those numerated items. What changes we had made
General Room: next.
General Room: So one of our items was to improve our complaint process so that community members, whether they were going through policy Kl.
General Room: Or policy A/C could fill out a form and is translatable. It's also easy, more easily accessible, and was streamlined, and then a separate one also for staff. This allows us to collect them and identify what the complaints are about, and also to track to see if they were identified under the category of discrimination or bias. So there were improvements made there.
General Room: Next
General Room: in terms of policy. Acb. Every student belongs which does speak to anti-racism, and is an adopted policy of the Board. There is an AR that define that describes what do we do when a bias incident occurs, and we saw some gaps in that AR in terms of explaining to our community more in detail how we would implement that policy. So we made some additions
General Room: right there in the AR, and one of them was also that table, the chalk, the like chalkboard, dark gray kind of table there.
General Room: Board members in front of you is an orange folder. Tonight. You had asked for some more revisions to that AR at the June 9th work session and those have been included so you could replace the one in your binder with this new Updated one.
General Room: And if you'll notice in the updated one. You asked the AR to also speak to the trainings for staff. That would be expected. The lessons for students that would be expected monitoring and tracking the data, and those have now been
General Room: added into that AR per your additional feedback on the 9th next.
General Room: This is that chart that chair. Taylor was mentioning what happens when there's an incident of bias. We wanted it real clear to families sometimes because of confidentiality. We can't give specifics about students, but we can describe what would happen, possibly around discipline, the importance of educating the students that perpetuated the harm and then also restoring relationship and community.
General Room: Okay, next.
General Room: we have a document called The Student Rights and Responsibility Guide or Handbook, that's given to families and students every year to read. It just describes our expectations in the district. We felt that in in that document we could add some more components
General Room: that spoke to discrimination, that that spoke to examples of where possibly derogatory language or racist language could emerge. Chair Taylor mentioned attire. What happens if something said on the bus? So we went back and added more specifics in that guide as one of our areas of gaps.
General Room: In addition, we also added.
General Room: That section around discipline, educate, restore, and the steps that the district would take in response to an incident. So that has been updated next.
General Room: And this is that roadmap. So often when we, when staff are talking to students or to family members or administrators are talking to family members. We want to in a more succinct way describe the process that we would take, and the language that we used in here was very intentional. A lot of it came from odes bias, incident, response guide. So we knew we know we're using some similar language that other districts around the State might be using.
General Room: It also shows up in that student rights and responsibility handbook for parents that we're going to use these 6 steps, and then we can do some staff meetings and some administrative meetings to really make this a very usable
General Room: a process.
General Room: You'll notice in step one the speak up and report, and I'll talk about later. But it talks about the strategies of interrupt question, educate and echo. When either students or staff hear a bias, comment or racist comment, and those are then mirrored also in the lessons and the strategies that Staff will use. So we're doing a lot of tightening up on alignment.
General Room: Next.
General Room: while the roadmap is kind of this, the skinny kind of you know, this is how we walk through something behind each of those steps our administrators are doing a lot of additional moves. A lot of investigating phone calls, conversations with the students involved follow up with the families, and often they need more information about how to process through that
General Room: that's not needed by the classroom teacher, but definitely is needed by the administrator. So we have an internal document called an Administrator's Guide to serious student Incidents, and there they can get some more how to's around, navigating through often an emotional and sensitive
General Room: process around bias incidents. So we have updated that one as well to also mirror the language. The strategies of speak up at school, and also that table discipline, educate, restore. So again, all of our documents are now getting very similar language in there, as well as the tools and the resources. Next.
General Room: we felt there was a gap around a a really helpful training module or professional development that could really connect K. 12. Of course, staff have gone to different conferences, read texts, done their own kind of work.
General Room: and we've we've shared strategies. But we recently partnered with the Clackamas, Esd. To use the professional development tool called, Speak up at school.
General Room: and brought in trainers to then train all of the administrators and several key teachers. At each of their schools. They went back and then trained all of their staff.
General Room: and then we also held 2 in-person trainings for all of our classified and administrative staff, with 2 other executive consultants using these same strategies, interrupt, question, educate, and echo. What do you do if you hear something? What do you do? If you see something? What strategies can you use to interrupt bias, not to ignore it or be silent, but to really address it?
General Room: And so that was much more thorough professional development that we implemented this year.
General Room: Next.
General Room: and out of that came this question from Staff. What if students use those same strategies? And now they're hearing not only staff use it. But is there a student friendly version to this professional development? And so some of our middle schools began piloting some similar
General Room: lessons, but they made it more student, specific and student, contextual, and then shared that back with all of their K 12 administrative colleagues.
General Room: who again concurred, you know, if the whole system is using this. These strategies, then there's greater alignment and clarity around the expectations. So the goal for next year
General Room: is to think about, how do those middle school lessons bump up for high school and maybe become more developing appropriately for primary school. And so that will be some of our work and implementation into next year. So now the whole organization will have similar language and expectations on how to interrupt bias
General Room: next.
General Room: And then, lastly, we saw, and we were asked a lot of questions around, how do you monitor or or track incidents of bias? And what happens next? So we know we have survey tools for students. This is actually a picture of our high school teachers at one of our high school, spending the whole morning looking at panorama survey data which is students identifying where they feel a sense of belonging, or whether
General Room: they're able to talk about race related
General Room: topics in class, and how comfortable that is, or if it happens at all. So there's a lot of self reporting data that Staff is able to look at to monitor those kinds of proactive things. But then also, with those complaint forms, we can also begin to track how many incidents are happening at schools, and and maybe what the context is around those. So we've seen some gaps there that we could tighten up and align and have done that
General Room: next.
General Room: So we presented all of that work back to the board on June 9, th in addition to the information they had from the listening sessions.
General Room: and then posed back to the board. The one box we couldn't check off on our to do list, which is, what do you want to do now as a board given what Staff has worked on this year in terms of addressing the gaps, putting some more systems in place, tightening up and aligning and communicating in more documents, and out of that came one was that recommendation to add more into that AR,
General Room: to give it teeth, so to speak, and accountability which we've done that and given you the copy.
General Room: And then there was a sample resolution that the Board
General Room: could also pass if interested. And that's in front of you tonight, which also would speak to both the values that the board has as a district, and then also the expectations in the resolution.
General Room: So with that, it's just the visuals to go with the overview. You wanted us to show some of those documents tonight because you had you had them in your notebooks. But now they're up and available
General Room: up on a public meeting for folks to see. And then the last slide, we had another question around, what's the communication plan? We want families to really know about these changes? And so we are.
General Room: I've got developed a long to do list, but it will include updates on websites for the district, the school making sure our eeac carries that work through that expectation. Letters to parents in the school, community, letters to staff about the expectations meetings. To make sure these implementations are happening.
General Room: Some modules when we can't do in person trainings, make sure we have those online modules. And then we want our community partners to know about the work we've done this year, and we're very proud of our Wilsonville Alliance for inclusive communities and our Westland Alliance, and often they hear from parents about something that's happened, and then the parents will say, is the school district doing anything.
General Room: and without them getting updates from us? They often don't know. So we're going to be proactive in reaching out with them, giving them these updates, letting them ask questions, see the documents and really appreciating their partnership with us as we do this work.
General Room: and that's the end of the visuals. So I'm going to turn it back over to you. Chair Taylor.
General Room: All right. Well, I believe that we can.
General Room: We can probably take a vote
General Room: motion for the for the policy itself, and then, once we get through
General Room: the vote, I will. Then read the resolution. So do I hear a motion.
General Room: I move to approve. Resolution 2024 to 10 school board, commitment to anti-racism and nondiscrimination. I second
General Room: any questions or discussion.
General Room: Just
General Room: okay. You know, I you mentioned this at the start about this was something that you've wanted to work on since
General Room: day one, I think of your term. And you know, under chair King, we made progress. We we amended and updated policy acb, all students belong.
General Room: We continued on this path, working toward finding the best way to affirm our commitment to this. And you know, under your leadership these last 2 years we've continued down that path, but
General Room: you know it has been your steadfast commitment to making this happen that got us here today and working with staff
General Room: to put into place all of those things we just saw.
General Room: I'm really excited to support this, and it just seems perfectly fitting that we are doing it as the last item in your term on the board. So thank you for everything you've done. Thank you for being just a steadfast supporter of making this happen?
General Room: You're welcome.
General Room: Any other comments, if not, you have one.
General Room: Oh, Director Vidal, sorry
General Room: I I just want to say I'm just so excited. To support you in this. And
General Room: I just think it's huge for our students of color and their families. And I'm really excited about this tonight.
General Room: Thank you, director sloop.
General Room: Oh.
General Room: I'm very excited about this, and but what I was so appreciative of is of the listening sessions and listening to the staff and the eeac and our students. They were so transparent and so open.
General Room: and to hear them say, Well, we just we just don't say anything. We just kind of deal with it.
General Room: It was a clear indication that
General Room: we needed to act on that and come up with a policy on anti-racism, with the bias, the discrimination. And I just thank you for being so steadfast in this from the very beginning and appreciative of the district by creating
General Room: the roadmap and just the complaint process
General Room: having it very dialed in, and
General Room: I appreciate the entire process of it on how we got here, and I will piggyback on Director V. Wyatt, in that
General Room: it is so fitting to be ending on this
General Room: on your last official board meeting. So thank you. Thank you.
General Room: Is
General Room: Want to again. Thank you for your leadership on this, and tell you flatly, this is not about you which I know you would say as well. This is about our our students. And this is really the intersection of a lot of things. This is, this intersects with inclusion.
General Room: this this this is walking the walk, and this part of leadership is letting people know
General Room: where we are.
General Room: And there's a transparency piece to this, too, that I think is really important. So I just appreciate how this is relevant to a lot of the work we do,
General Room: and I. And and as I vote for it, I just, I'm thinking about a lot of things beyond
General Room: just sort of what's written here. This I think this could go for. So thank you.
General Room: Well, thank you all for the support, and I will say that none of this it all started with actually director sloop.
General Room: being a second to put it on an agenda a long time ago, and that started the process. So I owe you a huge thank you, because you know what if people are not familiar with the way the Board rules work. You have to approach someone with
General Room: something that you might want to put on an agenda. And and you know
General Room: it was years in the making, and they could just be like, no, I'm good, you know this. I've got some other things that I want to work on, so you don't know what you're gonna get
General Room: for something that you might be trying to implement change around. But what I'll say about this policy is that it's cross cultural.
General Room: Our listing sessions were not just Hispanics and blacks. I mean, it was every culture that was in that room.
General Room: and they all had a similar story, and it was it made us
General Room: really have to look at. What are we doing?
General Room: This ain't a black white thing. This is an issue within our district that kids are walking around carrying hurt anger trauma, and they will tell you you can hear it with their own voice. They just carry it.
General Room: And they didn't believe that the district would do anything. Oh, no! Why even go report it? They're not going to do anything anyway.
General Room: right? And so. And that was a common denominator across these kids. And so a lot of times, you know.
General Room: as adults.
General Room: you know, we don't know. We know what they come home, and they may tell their parents or not tell their parents.
General Room: But it was real clear that the people who are experiencing the trauma or experiencing it. This was their guidance, and I thought that was important. And then, with the parents having that, that listening session, they said, Is this the 1st time we've ever done this.
General Room: and they loved it, I mean. And this was again cross-cultural white folks. Everybody's there, and everybody was excited as to why we don't do this more had this gathering in this open dialogue around race, which is really really tough for people to stomach, because if you don't believe that it exists, it just doesn't exist in your house right? I always tell people I can't turn off my black skin.
General Room: I got to stay in it right. You can shut your door and turn the TV channel and just turn it off in your world. It doesn't turn off in my world. And that's the same for a lot of different cultures
General Room: around our district. So it was really nice to get a broad based.
General Room: You know, set of data. And then you also got to see all the common denominator, common denominator. Excuse me going across so. Thank you, Kelly, for for taking a leap.
General Room: and you know, and at least giving us the ability to start the discussion as to looking in the mirror and saying, Hey, what do we got going on over here in this really nice community that we all like living in. So and thank all of you guys for the support and going down the walk, because I know it had to be at times uncomfortable for you, too.
General Room: and I think I've had conversations here and there with with each and every one of you about different topics, and, as you can see, we don't always agree. I mean, you guys don't get to see the the behind the scenes like, throw your hands up with your neighbor or your colleague. So
General Room: thank you, guys all. Thank you for the staff.
General Room: Thank you, for you know Dr. Spencer Iams and and Dr. Soyson and Dr. Pryor, who's not here, and all of your staff that you put to to build all of this. This was a you know, the quick slideshow it doesn't even touch how much actual copy
General Room: is within these policies, and the the remodels and the start over. And no, that ain't it. You know you're missing the Nope. That's not it. Oh, okay, we're getting closer. I mean, it was a lot of work. So thank you, guys all. And it was a heavy lifting
General Room: thanks for recognizing that. You know, we had a we have a problem, and we're going to get better.
General Room: So all you can ask is to keep trying and including people, and I think we did it in a way that was very, very inclusive of the community.
General Room: and we have some people that we thought wouldn't show up to meetings
General Room: actually show up. You know, we had some people who were angry with the district actually show up and and participate, and we're part of the process. So I'm excited for it. I mean.
General Room: we got a little
General Room: resolution here, and I'll and I'll read it. Chair, Chandler, before before you read it, because I think it is being that.
General Room: And okay. So we'll but
General Room: in addition to what your colleagues have said throughout your tenure on the board, and many conversations we had leading up to this year, where we were making like small moves. And you were so patient with us with me, and saying, You're getting closer, but it's got to be something bigger. It's got to be something bigger. And this was the right year. I know there was a lot going on. We didn't predict this year
General Room: when we went on this journey this summer to this is the year we're going to make a bigger, more bold move.
General Room: and I would say, even when you heard the places where we were missing the mark, and we had disappointed members of the community.
General Room: you never lost faith in the teachers or lost your support for them, and that was really clear that you believed in them, and it was always, I think, if they knew if some of them knew what to do, they would do it. So let's give them a roadmap. If we had a better training, I think we would hit the mark if we had more clarity in our complaint forms, people would know.
General Room: So I just want to emphasize for the community that that approach which supported with good teachers who are good people.
General Room: and we know good people often don't know where they're missing the mark. And so it was incredibly gracious of you to keep nudging and never faltering on your belief in our staff that we could get there. We just needed better tools, more clarity in our system more alignment, some tenacity and boldness around, how we were stating something, or including something in our AR,
General Room: so that our staff would know now what to do when something happens, because often students would say.
General Room: I think
General Room: people are doing something, but we're just not told, and we don't know. And so are they not doing anything? And so we've really explored that this year, too, that how much can we share with parents and students about the actions that we take when an incident occurs, so that there isn't a sense that nothing's being done, something is being done, and these are the things we will tell you, and can tell you when we investigate instead of you being left in the dark around it.
General Room: So I want to just again really appreciate your leadership around this and that alongside. That was this tremendous belief in our staff
General Room: to do this work and in the good people that they are, and that we can get better. So thank you.
General Room: Alright. Well, Director Douglas, yeah. Well, should we take the vote first? st
General Room: Do you want to read aloud what you're voting on.
General Room: Oh, okay, read the resolution. Yep, all right. School board commitment to anti-racism and non-discrimination resolution 2024 to 10,
General Room: whereas every student belongs and is welcome in Westland Wilsonville schools, and whereas public schools and school districts in Oregon are subject to all Federal and State laws and constitutional provisions prohibiting discrimination.
General Room: and whereas our school board and staff are responsible for enacting policies and promoting educational practices that lead to educational success as well as health and well-being. Of all Pk. To 12 students, and whereas members of the Westland Wilsonville School Board recognize that discrimination, exclusion, and racism have long been determining factors in how children experience school.
General Room: and whereas schools are critical in providing safe and welcoming opportunities for people to learn about others who are different from them, and have conversations about pressing issues. And whereas, in order to truly champion equity, we must actively be in solidarity with black, indigenous native American, Latino, Latina, Asian people of color and tribal communities in our schools.
General Room: districts, and nation, if we want to see more unity in our lifetime, and whereas we believe that a public statement is the only aspect of what we needed to fully address discrimination and racism in our schools.
General Room: Therefore, be it resolved by the Board of Directors of the Westland Wilsonville school district that we are committed to the following actions in our schools.
General Room: We affirm our policy. Acb. All students belong in policy, A/C nondiscrimination, and we will intentionally create spaces and opportunities to hear the perspectives and feedback from diverse voices in our district community.
General Room: and we will take what we learned and apply into policies and practices in order to continuously create learning communities where all students and staff are respected and valued for who they are.
General Room: and we will work to be champions of equity in our schools by implementing culturally responsive practices and curriculum, providing staff with training and professional development to interrupt bias when it occurs, educate towards prevention and restore relationships and community where possible.
General Room: track and monitor bias incidents in our schools in order to make improvements, and we will continue implementing lessons that teach students how to interrupt and report acts of bias and racism in classrooms schoolwide and in our co-curricular activity spaces, and we will invest time and resources towards recruiting and retaining educators and staff who reflect the diversity of the student body, and we will not, or we will
General Room: work to eliminate barriers and promote student success across race, social class, geographic location, or other personal characteristics, such as creed, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, age, economic status, gender, sexual orientation, including gender expression or identity, pregnancy, status, marital status, physical appearance, or the presence of any sensory mental or physical disability
General Room: adopted this 16th day of June 2,025.
General Room: It doesn't.
General Room: Director Douglas.
General Room: Thank you. Director, shoemaker. Aye, director, sloop. Aye, Director Vidal.
General Room: Aye, vice chair way. Aye, chair. Taylor.
General Room: Aye, thank you.
General Room: Alright, thank you guys so much for that. And for all the the heavy lifting that went into that we have moved as
General Room: vice chair, Wyatt, said the superintendent contract to later on this week, and we will be there and get that done. And
General Room: my final parting words to all of you is that 1st and foremost to the board. And
General Room: all you guys, I'm so grateful to have gotten to know each and every one of you in public and in private. I remember when I 1st met Dan, and we were talking about endorsement, and I told him, no, I don't endorse people that I don't know, and people don't know this about me. I don't do that, and I said I got to get to know you better, and I was in Hawaii.
General Room: and he called me, and we had our 1st call, and then we came back, and I was like, Well, of course, I don't know you after one phone call. So we had another meeting. We went, and probably enjoyed a beverage, and continued to get to know one another. And
General Room: you know I thank you for not taking me, saying No, as a sign of disrespect, but more as a sign that I really wanted to get to know you, so that I could work beside you, and and make sure that you know I always showed up in a way that respected you. So thank you for for everything that you've done for me and giving me a different lens of what your experience was like in the district before coming. And so I appreciate you, director sloop.
General Room: I get emotional with her.
General Room: Thank you for all the late night conversations.
General Room: We've had some challenging talks.
General Room: We didn't agree on a vote, and we had to have a sit down at a coffee shop.
General Room: and I told her I didn't appreciate
General Room: what she did in a board meeting, and it was a tough conversation and
General Room: I think our relationship just grew stronger because we were always honest and open with one another, and I think that that
General Room: you don't know what you have in a relationship until you introduce controversy into it.
General Room: and I try to introduce conflict into every relationship that I have as quickly as possible.
General Room: I do. People will tell you that about me.
General Room: because I want to know what I'm working with. I want to know if there's somebody who's going to show up when things get tough, or are they going to fold up in the clutch? And I don't deal with people who fold up in the clutch.
General Room: so thank you for not folding up. I appreciate you, Director Vidal.
General Room: I I appreciate your energy, your spirit, your staying true to your community, and being a voice for
General Room: the other half of this district, I mean, oftentimes it's forgotten about
General Room: we see it when we're talking about land and property. We see it in many different facets. And you know, Wilsonville is a little bit more of a quiet community.
General Room: albeit large. We don't hear from
General Room: that side of the community as much as we hear from this side of the community. But I always appreciate you bringing that awareness and
General Room: fighting for Lowry and fighting for the schools that are there and and they need you.
General Room: and thank you for being an extension of their voice.
General Room: I really appreciate that.
General Room: And vice chair, Wyatt.
General Room: You know
General Room: I came up with this thing I was like, I'm not missing any more National Championship games.
General Room: football, basketball. None of them I was like, we're not having board meetings on sports nights and and vice chair. Wyatt was like, I agree
General Room: right, being being a big sports family. And I appreciate that's that. I'd say that because it's funny, but it's a big deal. It really is a big deal
General Room: to us sports folks and
General Room: you know, I appreciate your unwavering willingness to challenge me or have me think about it through a lens that I don't think about things. You know. I couldn't have been the chair that I was able to be without your support. Your policy writing. You want to talk about a dynamic writer
General Room: right here.
General Room: And you made my job easy because of
General Room: just your expertise, your experience, and you were always there to say, How can I help
General Room: when I had to not be here? You didn't have a problem with
General Room: taking over the meeting. You would show up, and you did a lot of this work, and there was a point. I said you should be the damn chair
General Room: you were. She was doing so much, and so
General Room: I want to say, thank you for your unwavering support. I wouldn't have had the success that I had without you and
General Room: lo and behold, I still couldn't show up and do the damn superintendent evaluation on time. But
General Room: we'll figure it out. So thank you so much
General Room: for that. And, Dr. Ludwig, I appreciate you picking up the the phone on weekends and
General Room: 11 o'clock at at night, sometimes when we couldn't connect throughout the day. And
General Room: you know, we we hear so many different things about what people think about you. And
General Room: but if you. If you really knew Dr. Ludwig, it would change your whole opinion of what you think about this woman, and and I don't say that that I'm I've been critical
General Room: at times. We've had tough conversations. We don't agree on things, and we've had tough conversations, but it it never changed the way that I felt about you, and I never felt like in your response that it was a response of retaliation, or anything other than
General Room: how can we get to a resolution to whatever that we're dealing with, and I appreciate, and I thank you for that and
General Room: and you know
General Room: the sacrifices that you've made that people might not agree are sacrifices, and I think you know what I'm talking about. And
General Room: you know you've made some that I would never make so
General Room: I'm appreciative of it. Keep forging on.
General Room: and I hope that the new board will support you and and help be a champion, and it's not up for our superintendent to always have to stand up for herself. It's up to us.
General Room: You know. I don't believe in letting people just push around the people that I love and care about, so I won't let somebody push around our superintendent. So I hope that you guys carry that spirit forward and and be a leader in this district, and it's going to be uncomfortable.
General Room: and I get to be on a committee and just watch. And now I get to be a public speaker.
General Room: So I get my 3 min, and I want all 3 of them, all 3 of them.
General Room: So thank you all. Thank you to pat and all the staff. You know. I appreciate every interaction that we've had, and it's not goodbye. I'll still be around, and you know you got me to the end of the month. And so now I get to see outside of these grounds, and who knows? Maybe have a glass of wine with me, so
General Room: enjoy the evening. This meeting is adjourned.