Board Members Present: Chair Kris Howatt, Shawn Farrens, Mayra Gómez, Cathy Keathley, David Ligatich, Blake Petersen, and Holly Riegelmann
Recognitions
2024 Oregon Science Teachers Association Award
The school board recognized Gresham High School teacher Cyrus Harshfield for being named the recipient of the 2024 Oregon Science Teachers Association’s Outstanding Classroom Teacher Award for the East Metro Region. He was nominated by colleague Stephen Scannell who shared: “Cyrus has worked diligently to implement the 10th-grade Chemistry curriculum, ensuring it is accessible, engaging, and relevant to students. Through hands-on learning and experimentation, he fosters ‘minds-on’ activities where students actively engage and reflect on their learning.”
Superintendent and District Leadership Team Update
Superintendent Hiu shared that he has held 5 key communicator meetings this fall and shared information about the District’s attendance initiative, long-range facility planning, and the superintendent search. Hiu also reported that the District held a school safety summit on October 29, which featured various speakers and a listening session. He congratulated GHS teacher Cyrus Harshfield on receiving the Oregon Science Teachers Association’s award. Director of K-12 Schools Dr. Sara Deboy shared an update on capital improvements, including turf fields recently installed at Sam Barlow High School and Gresham High School.
Citizens’ Requests of the Board
Former staff member Bill Martin shared remarks related to government accountability. Staff member Juani Santiago shared her perspective on Gresham High School administration. Staff member Jeremiah Hickman shared that volleyball at the middle school level has been a success and is a positive experience that helps students gain confidence.
APPROVED, the Interim Superintendent Contract for John Koch to serve as Interim Superintendent from January 1, 2025 through June 30, 2025.
APPROVED, accepting the US Department of Justice, Community Oriented Policing Office grant of $306,095 to improve camera and door access system software
APPROVED, accepting the Physical Restraint and Seclusion Annual Report, 2023-24
APPROVED, declaring Positions 1, 2, and 3 on the Gresham-Barlow School District Budget Committee as vacant, and approving the appointItem ment process as outlined.
APPROVED, the proposed changes to the district’s Integrated Pest Management Plan
As a result of a discussion that took place in the executive session, the school board did not take action on item 6, Salquist Road surplus district property resolution.
Presentations
Safety Summit Overview
Over 150 people attended the school district’s School Safety Summit on October 29, 2024. At the board meeting, GBSD administration shared the event agenda, provided update on input gathered at the event, and shared next steps.
Nutrition Services Annual Report
Chartwells Nutrition Services Manage Tracey McDougall reviewed last year’s highlights. The main responsibility of the food service management company (Chartwells) is to prepare and serve meals and meal supplements (snacks) to students in the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs. The total of all direct operating costs (including the cost of food, supplies, wages, benefits, and other direct costs) must not exceed total program revenues.
Deputy Superintendent Tracy Klinger provided the annual report on the District’s Integrated Programs, which include funding from various grant resources, including Student Investment Account Funds (SIA), High School Success, Perkins, Early Indicator & Intervention System (EIIS), and Targeted Support & Improvement (TSI). The report consists of two narrative questions. It will be posted on the Gresham-Barlow School district website and submitted to the Oregon Department of Education.
Monthly Financial Report as of 09/30/2024
Finance Director Dennis Clague reported that the financial statements are settling after the start of the new school year. The first full payroll of the 2024-25 year was processed in September and payroll and associated payroll cost encumbrances were established. First of the year material and supply purchases have leveled and maintenance level purchases should be the norm for most areas throughout the remainder of the year. Now that most spending has been done or encumbered, including 4-6% increases for the yet to be completed licensed staff contract negotiations, Cash Balance/Ending Fund Balances can be projected. Revenue is added to the balance and expenditures subtracted from the balance as funds are spent and received. Future months are projected based on known or projected revenue and expenditures. The unaudited Beginning Cash Balance/Fund balance for 2024-25 is $20.8 million.Including the actual data for July through September 2024 and the projections for October through June 2024, the projected Ending Cash/Fund Balance for 2024-25 is $14.6 million. The audit for the 2023-24 fiscal is still underway, so adjustments to the Beginning Cash/Fund balance for 2024-25 may occur, but the Business Office is not aware of any significant adjustments.
Location: Center for Advanced Learning, Partnership Room
December 4, 2024
Regular Board Business Meeting
7 pm
Public Safety and Schools Building
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.
