Board Members Present: Chair Kris Howatt, Cathy Keathley, Blake Petersen, Mayra Gómez, and Holly Riegelmann
Recognitions
Gresham High School (GHS) Choir
The school board recognized the Gresham High School Concert Choir for placing first in the Mount Hood Conference at the choir competition held on April 9. The choir will compete at the OSAA State Choir Championships on May 4 at Oregon State University. Janine Kirstein is the choir director at GHS.
Sam Barlow High School (SBHS) Theater
The school board honored Sam Barlow High School Theatre Department students who participated in the State Thespian Festival in April. SBHS qualified to compete in 14 performance categories. Camden Schroeder won first place in the solo musical category. Alissa Cohen won first place in the playwriting category, and was selected to premiere her original play, “Laughing. Cheering. Chanting. Accepting,” at the festival playwriting showcase. Jeff Schroeder oversees the Theatre Department at SBHS.
SBHS Symphonic Band
The school board recognized the Sam Barlow Symphonic Band for placing first in the Mount Hood Conference at the Mount Hood Conference Band competition. The band will compete at the state band competition in May. Paul Nickolas is the band director at SBHS.
SBHS Jazz Band
The school board honored the Sam Barlow High School Jazz Band for placing first at the Mount Hood Conference Instrumental Jazz Ensemble contest. Paul Nickolas is the director of bands at SBHS.
Asian Pacific Heritage Month Resolution
The school board passed a resolution recognizing the profound contributions Asian and Pacific Americans have made to the state's history, economy, and culture.
The school board passed a resolution acknowledging the contribution school nurses make to the health and educational success of students and the critical role they play in improving public health. National School Nurse Day is May 8.
This resolution will be moved to the June meeting.
Oregon School Public Relations Association Awards
The school board honored the GBSD Communications Team for receiving three Oregon School Public Relations Association (OSPRA) awards. The District received the 2023-24 Oregon’s Best award for their social media campaign-Senior Spotlight. The District also received two 2023-24 Awards of Excellence for The Insider newsletter and the GBSD Dual-Language Immersion Program Video. Congratulations to the Gresham-Barlow School District Communications Team: Communications Director Athena Vadnais, Communications and Community Engagement Specialist Kenya Osorio, and Multimedia Communications Specialist Allie Lewis.
Superintendent and District Leadership Team Update
Superintendent Hiu shared that he is working to set up a meeting with the Gresham Barlow Education Association to learn more about their safety concerns at Gresham High School.
Superintendent Hiu announced that the Budget Committee approved the proposed 2024-25 budget. The school board will vote on adopting the budget at the June 5 school board meeting.
Superintendent Hiu recently met with representatives from the governor’s office and the Oregon Department of Education. States priorities need for adequate funding for k-12 schools.
Superintendent Hiu announced that Julie Rowell has been selected to serve as an assistant principal at Sam Barlow High School.
Superintendent Hiu also honored Communications Director Athena Vadnais for being named Oregon School Communicator of the Year for 2024 by the Oregon School Public Relations Association.
Citizens’ Requests of the Board
Gresham-Barlow School District staff member Juani Santiago Remigio talked about the recent vote of no confidence at Gresham High School and shared she was concerned that not all staff members at the school were asked to vote on the issue.
Mark Adamski, Gresham Barlow Education Association building representative for Gresham High School, shared why he is concerned with the way school and district administration are handling issues involving school safety.
Gresham High School secretary Kym Duncan shared why she is concerned with the way school and district administration are handling school safety issues.
Gresham High School teacher Chris Koenig shared why he is concerned with the way school and district administration are handling safety issues at the school.
Presentations
Lewis and Clark Montessori Charter School Report
As a public charter school, Lewis and Clark Montessori Charter School must submit a report to the district and the State Board of Education each year on the performance of the school and its students in the preceding fiscal/school year. This report must include, among other things, information regarding the goals and assessments relating to student performance, and a look forward at the school year ahead.
APPROVED, the 2024-25 proposed fees and non-resident tuition as presented.
Staff plans to utilize the Student Investment Account and general fund dollars to offset the revenue lost by not charging student participation and supply fees during the 2024-25 school year. Increasing access to co-curricular and extracurricular activities is one way the district is working to support students' social/emotional needs. Decisions about student participation and supply fees are made on an annual basis. Fees may not be waived in future years due to budget constraints.
APPROVED, the submission of a request to postpone the elementary science adoption to the Oregon Department of Education (ODE)
In 2023, science curriculum was on the ODE adoption review cycle for implementation in the fall of 2024. GBSD elementary staff engaged in a two-year process for the adoption of math curriculum (2022-2023 & 2023-2024). The math adoption process created a delay for a science curriculum adoption process. Staff will complete the elementary science curriculum adoption during the 2024-2025 school year
APPROVED, the sale of property located at 5039 SE Chase Rd to Vatik and Yevgeniy Dulo in the amount of $525,000
Information Items
Monthly Financial Update of 03/31/2024
Finance Director Dennis Clague presented the monthly financial update to the board of directors.
There has not been any material movement on the overall expenditures since the last report. However, regarding the revenue side of the report, the state notified the district on 4/13/2023 that after its reconciliation process for the 2021-2022 fiscal year, it owes the district just over $1.1 million for that year. As a result, the projected ending fund balance will be about $1.1 million greater than last reported.
May 15, 2024
6 pm
Board Work Session
Center for Advanced Learning-Partnership Room
June 5, 2024
6:45 pm
Budget Hearing
District Office-Council Chambers
June 19, 2024
Board Work Session
6 pm
Center for Advanced Learning-Partnership Room
Can't Attend Board Meetings?
You can watch regular school board meetings LIVE on the GBSD Website. Look for the link on the homepage in the District News section!
You can also watch regular school board meetings LIVE on Comcast cable channel 27 and Frontier cable channel 35. MetroEast Community Media replays the board meeting at the following times:
Second Showing-Monday at 7 pm.
Third Showing-The following Thursday at 4 pm.
If you live in Damascus-
Board meetings are shown on Willamette Falls TV for patrons in the Damascus area. They are scheduled for cablecast on channel 23 every Saturday at 1 pm.
