2-5-2026 NBSD Board Meeting

001Um good good evening. Uh this is the uh February 5th, 2026 regular meeting of the Northland School Board District number 13 board of directors. Uh I'm Nathan Mentok chairman. We have Julie Hail, Diana Weidman, and Hwitt, Megan Frostider, Hick Cahill, and Terry Yardley. And on the video, we've got Michelle Roberts. So, and we're all here. And the next thing is a call of order. We stand and pledge of please. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you. Next item on our agenda is public participation. We have five different people who want to speak here. Uh there's a a little thing I have to say here. The board welcomes

002comments and questions from the public. If you wish to address the board, please fill out a public participation sheet available at the table uh to give to the board secretary, Michelle. We ask that you limit your comments to three minutes and there is a timer. The board will not engage in discussion with members of the public during this time. It is for public comment only. The board chair, myself, has the discretion to limit the number of comments on a particular topic. Speakers may offer objective criticism of school operations and program. The board will not hear comments regarding individual school personnel. Um or board members, although that think they can do that. Um all right, with that in mind, we have five different people. >> Can we approve >> once again? >> Can we approve the

003agenda? >> Oh, yeah. >> Jump right into it. All right. We have the agenda before us. Do we have a motion to approve the agenda? >> Some moved. >> It's moved. Seconded. Second. >> Two seconds. Three seconds. >> Any discussion about the agenda? >> All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? >> None. 70 vote. >> Okay. Appreciate if y'all keep me in check here. Um, all right. My first speaker tonight is Katie Gonzalez. Uh, talking about busing. Why don't you Why don't you come up here? Uh there's a I think there's a microphone there >> and have a seat if you feel if you prefer to stand that's fine too and someone's controlling the time. Yeah. Three minutes. So go right ahead. Thank you. >> Wonderful. Well, thank you. My name is

004Katie Gonzalez and I have uh two children in the district, one in North Bay and one at Hillrest. Um but the reason I am here is to talk about busing. I want um I think it's good to get a real world example. My child is nine and in third grade. She's lovely. She's got some special needs, but uh she takes the regular bus home and um I mention it the reasoning for it is is not really relevant, but we live.3 miles away. So very short. What is that? Three blocks. Um, it takes her an hour to an hour and 15 minutes to get home from school every day. School gets out at 2:45. And, uh, she gets to our house, which is, well, a block and a half away from our house, uh, between 3:45

005and 4 every day to go three miles. And I just want to make sure that the public is aware that that is the current status of our busing system in this lovely district. Thank you. >> You I will point out apparently we're in negotiations with the busing uh company and uh that's some of the issues that are being addressed. Um next is uh Heather Fleming. Is it Fleming? >> Heather. Okay. >> Um >> did I pronounce your name right? >> I don't actually know how to. My father-in-law three different ways. So I will respond to >> [laughter] >> How do you pronounce it? >> Lammy. >> Flammy. Lammy. Okay, fair enough. Go ahead. >> All right. So, I'm just here. We're a lot of people are worried about reconfiguration. So, um I kind of have

006a unique perspective. I was here in the district 12 years ago when we did it last time. I was one of the few teachers that was selected to move to North Bay in that reconfiguration. And um I will admit I went kicking and screaming and it when Tim was commenting at the work session that he was reading the comments from 2014, they were probably mine. I hope my name was not attached. Um and so a lot of people are saying the same thing now. A year ago or so, I still felt the same way about reconfiguration. Listening to Tim's presentation at the first work session, I started to think about it. Listening to Tim's presentation to the staff and to the community, it really changed my mind. And thinking about my daughter, she's in a

007class 31. Last year it was 29. I'm so thankful for her teacher. She's fantastic. I don't feel like it's a class 31. Her teacher does, but she's working 13, 14 hours a day. it's not sustainable for her. So, um if we had reconfigured already, she'd be in a class 27. I still think it's a little much, but um she needs a lot of extra TLC. She's special friend. Um, so I just think that if we were to reconfigure her educational experience will be better if what Tim has said in his presentations is what we do. And I have full faith that that's true. Her educational experience next year at North Bay will be fantastic. And being a coach for the last 5 years, I've got the experience to work at North Bay closely with the

008teachers. It is an amazing place to be. Their data is soaring rapidly. Um, I love spreadsheets and data. I can tell you they're the fourth highest in all of Goose Camp. So, they're not as high as Hillrest yet, but they're well on their way. Um, uh, my biggest concern is the staff. Taking care of staff change is really hard. I lived it. It wasn't fun in the moment, but now I know why I went was for the time like this to take care of the teachers so they don't feel like I felt happier. >> So that's it. >> Well, thank you very much. Appreciate your comments. >> Um, next we have Andrew Giranelli. And did I butcher your name? Okay, good enough. you're talking about planning enrollment. Thank you. My name is Andrew Jardelli. I

009am an educational assistant at Northbend High School, but tonight I'm speaking as a member of this community. My nephew attends Northbend High School, and because we are close, I often see his friends either in passing or at their house when we visit. Recently, one of those friends told me they were planning to switch to online school. They said they took away all the classes I cared about. Online is way easier and I can still see my friends and play sports whenever I want. This story is not unique. I've heard the same sentiment from several teenagers and honestly I struggled to find convincing argument against it. A student's ability to choose elective classes along allows them to explore their interests and is one of the few meaningful forms of agency teenagers have. My nephew and his

010friends talk about missing business classes, creative writing, broadcasting, and I'm sure there are others. I understand that these classes were cut in response to declining enrollment in the North Bend School District. However, I believe that reducing students opportunities to explore and expand their interests has compounded and accelerated that very problem. It seems to me that restoring teacher positions in order to bring back elective classes could change how students and families perceive the value of attending Northbend schools. I recognize that budget constraints have created uncertainty around retaining staff, let alone restoring positions. That said, publicly available data shows that in 2015, district enrollment was 1,973 students. 10 years later, enrollment was 2562 after attrition was accounted for a roughly 30% increase over the decade. During that same period, the number of employees at school district office

011has grown at a rate that exceeds enrollment growth with many of those positions compensated significantly higher than the average classroom teacher. Like many community members, I hope that it is a clear priority to leadership during next year's staffing discussion to dig deep into evaluating the necessity of every school district of every district office role before repeating staffing decisions that have already directly affected student enthusiasm and readiness to attend school and to protect the morale of the teachers. As a Northbend School District employee, I want to acknowledge and appreciate Mr. writers emphasis on transparency and establishing clear precedent in relationship between district office and staff. In the spirit of contributing to that direction, I have reviewed the secondary school class size analysis and this has been one of the most significant points of contention. I believe

012that the information I've gathered can help support the case for additional staffing, particularly in light of the high school science department success in securing class size reduction for the semester. Thank you for your time and consideration. >> Thank you. Appreciate your comments. >> And BL on Gordon, please. School reconfiguration. >> Okay, I feel like I'm back at forensics with this timer. Um, hello. My name is Clyde Van Gordon and I am here tonight to speak about the proposed elementary school reconfiguration. I understand the goals behind the plan and have listened carefully over the past several months. However, the more I hear, the clearer it is that families are being asked to accept a major structural change while the most important details have been kept vague or ambiguous. You are asking us to accept a fixed

013deadline for 2026 without providing the concrete plans to prove it is even possible. Transportation is the clearest example. We are being asked to get on board while the busing RFP is still a black box. We don't yet know the actual routes, ride times, or tradeoffs that may be required. And if those answers come back and they aren't workable for families, what is the contingency plan? Does moving forward tonight make it so difficult to unwind that families and our youngest learners are just stuck with the consequences of a failed assumption? In my own professional life, it is not acceptable for me to make decisions based on bestase assumptions and hope that the details will work themselves out later, especially when other people are expected to live with the consequences. I don't understand why those standards for

014due diligence regarding our children's stability should be any different here. Um, many parents have emailed and asked questions and shown up in good faith. And often those concerns have been brushed off as negativity or entitlement or even met with silence from members of the board. This has left families feeling unheard and anxious. And it isn't just about a plan. It's about the trust that it has to exist between the school board and the community that you serve. Once you move these students and rebuild every family's daily routine, that is not a small adjustment. It is a fundamental change to their daily lives. Excuse me. I don't doubt your good intentions behind this plan. But right now, we are being asked to proceed with the most disruptive option before we have clear answers to the biggest

015risks. Once this moves forward, it won't be simple to unwind if the real world results don't match what's being promised. By passing this motion tonight, you are committing to a point of no return for the 2026 2027 school year based on best case assumptions rather than data. I am asking you to postpone this action, slow down, wait for the transportation RFP results first, and make sure that it is truly the right move for all of our district's children. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. >> And Lynn Cloud >> I am sorry. All right. >> Oh, good evening. >> Good evening. >> Hi. I first am an educational assistant at Hillrest Elementary. I've seen many parents through the school lines as well. I am a mother of two students at Hellcrest. Both would be affected

016by this change. I am also the daughter of a kindergarten teacher that has worked at Hellcrest for 30 plus years. My grandmother also worked at Hillrest or the resource room for several years. To say Hillrest is a second home is a very small understatement. The community we built throughout each school, especially Hillrest, like I said, my second home is something near and dear to my heart. To see these kids go through kindergarten through fifth grade, is truly inspiring. to watch the growth that you have seen as fifth graders becoming leadership, showing student counsel to be men mentorship through our kindergarten reading buddies. To show those kindergarteners, those fifth graders is truly remarkable to hear when they have fifth grade reading buddy time. To have our fourth graders help with our music, movement, and arts class

017that helps with our kindergarten through 2 grade. our buddy classes when an older student might just need a little help and they help those younger students in each those of K through two grade gives those fourth graders or an older classmate that time and kind of responsibility for those kids. The kindergarten through 2 grade keeps the innocence for our older kids. When you see them walking in the hall, it gives our older students a little something to refresh and to keep on their best manners. as relationships we build with staff goes through this trust, connections, and familiarity, excuse me. I have some examples. A student has shown such great growth from starting out as a kindergartener, running through the hallways, not wanting to stay in classrooms, being walked the bus every single day, having to

018get tools that we have helped provide him. He is now a fifth grader learning to succeed by the tools that we have provided. Did not just take one year or two years. It has taken all six years to help him succeed to be the fifth grader that the student is today. I personally work with physical therapy, having watching students go from whatever grade they started and being that same consistent person to go through physical therapy, helping with hearing issues or the students that just need a little extra time, helping those students have those needs is something very near and dear to my heart. making phone calls for certain parents for meetings, scheduling meetings to have that relationship build with them to know where their kids are going for certain meetings helps have that consistency and

019familiarity as well. Students that need this consistency the most are the ones that we need to remember through K all the way through five. Having >> that that means your time's up. >> Thank you very much. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Appreciate your time. >> And I think that's that's it. Okay. Thank you very much for all coming forth and speaking to us. Next item on the agenda is communications of board reports and communications. Um any board reports? No. Okay. We on to student representation to the board. Do we have a student? >> We do not. All right. Uh next we have um associated reports starting with North Education report from Ava Varga. >> Good evening Eric Eva. How you doing? >> Good evening. Um wow. We've got a lot going on, a lot

020of heavy feelings and um a lot of um concern over the reconfiguration. Lots of feelings on both sides. And I don't know how to advise you on that. That's that's a big decision. Um but we trust that you'll make the decision that's best for children and of course taking into consideration the community and the teachers um feelings about that. Um testing season is upon us and a number of different standardized tests will be rolled out over the next uh few months. uh star the star testing window uh closes next week, but most of the grades have um almost a 90% um completion. So, we're almost finished with that. And um the data is already looking pretty good for that. Um hopefully we'll have um I don't know who shares the data with you all later,

021but that will be forthcoming, I'm sure. Um OAB, the Oregon Battle of the Books competition, uh those are well underway. I know some of the high school students um were able to go to the elementary school or maybe the elementary school students came to the high school I think but they'll the high school students were working with them and helping them with their competitions. But it's a lot of fun to see the inter grades. Um, and then also to see the elementary kids walk through the the building with their t-shirts, their OBO, you know, read t-shirts is I think those are new this year and I just think they're they're really cool because they stand out. They're bright red and um draws a lot of attention to to what they're doing. So, I'm going to

022let you know next month I'm going to bring some questions for you, some OBO style questions. So, you best reading the the books on the above list. Um, fourth grade uh students across the district are enjoying uh field trips to the CUS History Museum. And I'm hearing even from adults that the exhibits are really really interesting and fascinating and and many want to like return to the museum to to dive in a little deeper. Um the Cous Art Museum also um or right now they're having a student art show and so they have uh art from uh all different grade levels and so if if you have an opportunity to visit the museum you can see artwork from students from all over the the region. Um the high school knowledge bowl team qualified per state.

023Um, and then at the secondary level, we transitioned from a trimester system this year to uh the semester system, and that's been taking some getting used to. It's a little um different um having um the trimesters are smaller. So, because the semester system is longer, it it feels as though it students have expressed how it's a little more difficult for them if they fall behind to get their grades up. So, um, but it's just, I think, a learning curve that we'll adjust to. It's also a little strange to go from semester 1 that ended on Friday to semester 2 that started on Monday and not to have like a break. So, it's and then many of the students that you have first semester, some of them stay with you, but then you get new students

024and so it's like, whoa, this anyway, that that was a new experience for me since I'm teaching Spanish. Um, let's see. Anyway, and so now I'll go into the extra mile recognition um for for February um the first um nomination. Go ahead and flip the slide once more. There we go. Amber Yester, congratulations, Amber. [laughter] Amber. Amber was nominated by a colleague Tanya Ramenik from the high school and she stated that Amber is always there to help uh with orders, supply needs, and does everything with such a positive and happy outlook. Um I enjoy getting to see her in the office and she never makes you feel like you are inconveniencing her. She's a fun co-worker to be around and makes the office a little brighter when she is there. And we also learned uh

025today that Amber was the correct me if I get this wrong. >> Speak up really quick. >> Sure. >> Nominated Tanya Ramen. >> Oh, >> it's okay. >> Oh, I read it wrong. >> Said is about Tanya Robin. [laughter] >> This just goes to show you the pressure switching left >> and all the weight that's on me. Yeah, things are LIKE I AM SO SORRY. [laughter] is amazing. >> Oh my gosh. Okay, I want to run away now. [laughter] >> It's a nice >> people appreciate the stories from our >> Yes. You're both wonderful. You're both wonderful. YEAH. SO, ALL OF THAT WAS ABOUT TANYA. I'm so sorry. But on a side note, Amber [laughter] was recognized as the Oregon recipient of the National Federation of State High School performing arts teacher. Is that correct?

026>> Oh, goodness. Okay. And then slide. Um I don't know if any of you are aware, but this week, February 2nd to uh the 6th, is um school counseling week. Next slide, please. So, we have three wonderful counselors in the district. Um Candace Woren is at the the middle school. Next slide, please. Rob Patrick at the high school. And we also have Amanda Volrino Gaul at the high school. So I just want to say thank you to all of the counselors for being the steady anchor in our students lives. Um they listen without judgment. They guide with compassion and empower our students with tools for life from academic plans to personal storms. Uh they help to navigate all of it. And we're so very grateful for their invaluable presence in our school community. And next

027um on February 22nd is school bus driver appreciation day. Did y'all know something like that existed? Next slide, please. We have a lot of bus drivers in our in our district. So, I want to give a a round of applause for all of these u wonderful people who are the first smile of the school day for so many of our children and for safely delivering them back home at the end of the school day. I realize sometimes that's a long um and maybe delayed time to get home, but um the bus drivers um are there uh with unwavering commitment to our students safety um their reliability in all kinds of weather and for making the ride fun. So we see and appreciate um all that they do. So >> thank you very much. Thank you.

028Next we have the uh action consent agenda agenda items. >> Pardon me. >> We got superintendent. >> Oh, I'm sorry. Super. I'm just jumping all over the place. Superintendent report. Go ahead. [laughter] >> That's one way to do it. >> True. Um >> we didn't want to hear from you any >> as we heard enough for me to do. Um as we um are getting started with this, there is one piece of information that just came in today. Okay, I'm going to have Dana and Gail share that out about our preschool program as part of the superintendent report. Are you ready to share that? >> Okay. >> Seen some correspondence um I think within the last 90 minutes from a service provider and it was too positive and frankly just too beautiful not to share.

029I am going to redact Hi. I am going to redact two sentences because it has individual service I individual staff names in it. Hi Biddy Bulldogs team. I just wanted to reach out and say how impressed I am with your program. I visit 14 different preschool classrooms weekly and what you are doing at Bitty Bulldogs is truly special. Despite supporting a diverse group of learners, including non-verbal students and several others navigating sensory, behavioral, and communication challenges, every student is set up for success. I am always impressed to see individual communication systems, visual and auditory timers, and clear picture schedules all used seamlessly. It's one thing to have the right tools, but it's [snorts] another thing entirely to create an environment where every child, regardless of their sensory, physical limitations, or communication needs, is treated with

030such equality. The most moving part of my day was watching the staff provide ways for more typical peers to connect with their non-verbal classmates through signs like turn, wait, and help. They're not just managing behaviors. They are building a real community, not just a classroom. You guys are amazing. And that was shared with the Bitty Bulldog staff, and I wanted to share that with you. So, thank you for the opportunity to do so. Wow. That's We're very proud of the Bitty Bulldogs program and hopeful to expand that in the future. Um I I wanted to kind of add to what Eva Varga had shared about Amber Yester. Um there were 35 music honores for the recipient and 16 17 state recipients of this um NFHS performing arts educator awards. Um, Amber has built the Northbend

031High School's band program into a state championship, a state champion ensemble, earning multiple OSAA titles. And, um, it's important for us to recognize Amber's leadership. Um, and what she's done to bring a competitive success to our high school and to the community and her um, ongoing efforts to engage the community and the students with um, events outside of just the school. um um she helps our students achieve excellence and shapes their future and we're very very proud to have Amber um be a Northbend employee and um how much she gives to the the students is just amazing. So thank you. Thank you. We really and and and to add Yes, please. >> to add to that too. Um Miss Dale and I met with the music department. We met with um Amber Esester, Sarah Massie,

032Janet Lei, and Shane Brown was part of that meeting and we discussed um some some ways to to to bring back music. Um as as you've heard me say, I'm very dedicated to bringing back K2 music um into our school district. It is something that is very very important and we want to see it back. And um in discussions with the music department um we we brainstormed some ways to do that and to also potentially add um some electives using our music music staff um to the either electives or some music fine arts requirements to the middle school to to give more opportunities for students to take a variety of classes and become well-rounded students. So I it was a very positive meeting and we are very much dedicated to making all this happen. So,

033we appreciate the extra work you put in this year and uh we're we're going to um make this. So, thank you. >> Um [clears throat] February 15th is National SRO Appreciation Day. So we would like to extend our sincere thank you [laughter] >> right already get started. [laughter] So we want to we want to give a sincere thanks to our school resource officers. This is another service we provide to our schools and our community that we're very proud of in Northbend. Um, officer Jared Jennig serves Northbin High School and North Bay Elementary School. He's a trusted presence in our schools and has been recognized for his work as the 2023 officer of the year. Also holds a national certification from the National Association of School Resource Officers, showing a strong commitment to school safety and

034student support. Thank you. >> Yes. Officer Trevor Sami serves Northband Middle School and Hillrest Elementary. He brings care and professionalism to his role and was recently honored with a life-saving award at the department's 2025 awards ceremony recognizing his quick action and dedication to protecting others. So again, thank you, Officer Sing. We are grateful for the time, care, and commitment the officers provide to North Vent School District. February is career and technical education awareness month. February um it's a time to recognize the important role CTE plays in preparing students for success after graduation through hands-on applied learning. CPE connects classroom instruction to real world skills, careers, and post-secondary opportunities. In our district, students can explore a wide range of career pathways including construction trades, metals, healthcare, business, graphic design, and culinary arts. These programs provide practical

035career relevant experiences that help students develop technical skills, problem solving abilities, and professional habits that are valued by employers, apprentices, apprenticehips, and colleges alike. CT also supports student engagement by helping learners see clear connections between their education and their future. We are very grateful for the dedication of our CTE teachers and community partners who support these pathways and who appreciate the board's continued commitment to expanding highquality career and technical opportunities for our students. High school graduation rates were released. Um in Oregon we hear a lot about test fourth and where we rank nationally. And while that narrative deserves our attention, it is not the whole story. Pest scores provide one snapshot of learning at one moment in time. So tonight, I want to highlight our high school graduation rates. These reflect a high level of

036persistence, relationship building, and support systems that help students stay connected to school and cross the finish line. Graduation represents years of consistent effort by students, families, and staff, and tells us that students are leaving us better prepared for their future. Graduation rates reflect sustained engagement over the students 13 years in school, most prominently the four years in high school, the effectiveness of the interventions that we have in place throughout Northbend schools, and the strength of the adult support network our staff provides. They highlight our staff's commitment to our students and our community. When you look at our school district reported as a whole, the graduation rate reflects Evergreen Virtual Academy combined with Northbend School District. So if you see Northbend School District reported, it often is including that. And it's important to recognize that because

037Evergreen is a component of Northbend School District, a component district school. Um it it often looks it is one of our schools essentially and um although they have their own school board and they operate um pretty much independently. There's some oversight on our h behalf but the students that enroll in an online virtual school are very different than the students that are in brick and mortar schools. Often times the students are um not connecting with traditional education, struggling and usually behind when they begin in the online program. So, their challenges are very real and they do a good job trying to support those students, but they're not a reflection on our Northbend High School's graduation rates. Northbend High School's graduation rates for four-year completers was 84.9%. Um, so about 85% of the students graduating in

038five four years. And then the five-year graduation rate is at 90. So, the students who didn't graduate in that first four years. Um, the the state average on the four-year is 83. So again, we're at 85. Um the five-year graduation rate is 90 and the state average is 84. So our high school is doing very well. And again, that is a a a true measure of the commitment of our staff and serving our students. So I am very proud of those rates. The CTE participants, as it is CTE awareness month, had a whopping 89.9% graduation rate. So again, that shows you the value of CTE programs in our schools. And while um we have faced significant declining enrollment and had to finally make some adjustments that hadn't been made in the past, we were very

039cognizant of protecting our CTE programs and keeping those in place because we know that they are keeping students connected to school and prepared for future success. Bats in the attic in one of our buildings caused a bit of a fluff. >> But the metaphor >> I did too. I was like, "Oh, story time." >> I love metaphors. I can't imagine anything else. I tried to cut back though. So, this is not a metaphor. Bats in the attic just caused a bit of a fluff. But the county sanitarian advised against fumigation. They do. They did after all keep down the mice. >> Fair enough. That is, before anybody panics, that is from a school board meeting from August 13th, 1979. I've started to add little fun facts. We found a a booklet that a previous uh

040superintendent administrative assistant put together that's like a history book of board meetings and it is full of lovely fun facts. >> Start prefacing that with old school fun facts because the last few times we've all been like, "What is happening?" >> That's the point. No, make my stomach hit the floor. [laughter] >> That's in the attic. Where? >> Yeah. >> Uh, Grace Dearborn U behavior intervention professional development. January 16th, the North Pin School District hosted a district district-wide professional development session by led by Grace Dearborn. Grace is an award-winning teacher and exper has experience in elementary, middle, and high schools. An instructional coach, an author, and an international presenter who serves as executive director of conscious teaching, a professional learning organization focused on practical strategies for classroom management, student engagement, and trauma-informed instruction. Her work

041emphasizes research-based classroom ready techniques that support positive learning environments. We invited Grace to join us on January 16th and she conducted two professional development sessions for us. Earlier in the day, she led a training session focused on our social emotional learning staff on um recognizing and uh addressing student escalation. Um and in the afternoon she led a I guess I cut myself off. She led a a K kindergarten through 12th grade professional development for all staff. We all attended this in the high school um cafeteria and um she walked us through what she referred to as a storage board of uh of different strategies and techniques that could fit a variety of different classrooms. She has much more focused professional development as well, but we wanted to provide just something that people could maybe pick

042and choose from as she referred to. maybe you don't want everything from the buffet, but there might be some specific things you can pull off of it and take back and implement in your class immediately. So, we were very grateful that we were able to book her as she is an international speaker and um oftentimes hard to bring in. So, we wanted to make sure that um we providing our staff with some opportunities for some professional development with somebody that is engaging and that we could bring locally. Um, we have put out, as mentioned tonight a couple of times, a request for proposals for transportation services that has been published. Um, in the request for proposals, we're able to outline the different types of things that we want the respondents to address when they provide

043our proposals. When we receive the proposals, they'll then be scored by those guidelines. Main areas of focus were reducing transportation time, offering new and flexible routing and increasing student safety. Also providing social emotional supports for students while they ride the bus. Um we do expect our bus drivers to be trained in in talking to students and working with students and working with students with various needs and how to speak to families professionally as well. So these are all things we're looking for. Um, as an administrative team, we have recognized and we've heard this through the the community engagement sessions over and over again the need to address some concerns around transportation and we're committed to doing that. And we've already identified multiple ways which they can um we can work with our current bus company.

044We expect them to submit a proposal along with a couple other bus companies and we will then score those and bring a recommendation to the board when that's completed. with that information and with the proposals, they also have the ability to essentially show us what they can provide in routing. So, we will see that when we score the the proposals, we will see based on the current number of riders, the current location of those riders, what they're proposing as routes and keeping them at maximum under 45 minutes. But that's not for all the routes. That's to just be spec, you know, certain. the extended route would be 45 minutes for some people, not everybody. So, we're very um excited to see what those what those proposals bring. Uh North Bay size uh gym seismic upgrade

045kickoff. We're holding a seismic upgrade kickoff meeting with HG Architects on February 14th and excited to get this project underway. It is made possible by the $2.5 million competitive grant that we applied for and were awarded through a seismic rehabilitation grant program through the state. And this program will um uh help increase the the safety of the school um should an earthquake or major weather event occur. It's a good example of the time it takes to plan major capital improvement projects as well. Um as we applied for this grant um and did the preliminary work in 2005 um we are now in the kickoff phase and then we will be planning through 2026 and the final construction will take place summer of 2027. You said 2005 >> 20 25 >> 25 Okay. All right. >>

046So it's it when we when we talk about capital improvements and and upgrades and repairs to our buildings, these these take a lot of time, which is often why we can't get to quite as many projects as we would like to in in in a single year. But this [clears throat] will be um a major construction project that we're very excited to kick off. I would take as they closing down the the the gym while they're doing this work. >> It it is to it is to be planned and to take place during the summer of 27 and be completed by the time students return to campus. >> Excellent. Good. >> Yeah. >> So that's the superintendent. >> Well, thank you very much. >> Uh next item is strategic plan update. Do you have anything

047to report at this time? >> We do. We have uh Moutio from Performance Back joining us to provide an update on what has been accomplished this year with our strategic plan and the work he's done with our district leadership and our building principles. Um early this year we kicked off the strategic planning process with uh some staff meetings and involved people um entirely too early I acknowledge um because there were plenty other things staff were working on um and and this was part of the plan that was put in place last year. So as we recognized um the additional stress that was causing we backed off of that. we agreed to give more time back to the staff and we instead shifted to a smaller leadership team leading the strategic planning process at each school.

048So the goal is to take the higher level strategic plan and create a through line down to the student. So right now it's the we have the overarching plan the buildings are working on building level plans which then roll into the PLC's the professional learning communities and will then roll into the students. So we will see that plan um take fruition here um this year and next. Motio, are you with us? >> See his picture. >> Michelle, can you hear me? >> We hear you. >> Okay. Good evening. It's nice to join you tonight. Uh I appreciate the opportunity to spend 15 20 minutes with you. One of my colleagues K is also on the call. Um I'm joining you from [clears throat] Los Angeles and K is in Chicago. >> Very very cold place.

049Uh let's see. Okay. Will I be able to share my screen? Hello. >> Um, I believe so. What happens if I try and share? Is it not letting you? >> No, I don't see screen sharing. >> I might need two minutes. share this share settings and then share all >> if you go back to share you can just choose the one where It gives him the other button. It'll give him go back to share and click the up. >> See? >> Yeah. And you Well, no. Where the the arrow >> the choice where you had >> I don't see the uh arrow. >> You can give those tools. Okay. >> Show chat. >> Give it a try. And how about now? >> What? I think you got to go down to the other host only.

050Yeah, I got >> All right. You see it now? >> I can see you. >> Oh, can you say do you have the option to share? >> Yeah. Uh, I don't see the option to share. Part of what we were working on with performance back was um ensuring that each building could create their own specific plan. >> Yeah. >> The strategic plan so that it wasn't the strategic plan driving the actions of the building. it was the building sort of aligning their actions with the goals of the strategic plan based on their own individual needs. So, um I've been looking at what are the strengths, you know, what are some of the barriers to success based on the data we gathered through the strategic planning process and um then creating sort of an action plan

051within the building to see if we can sort of change student outcomes in those specific areas. and Lio has met um with our district cabinet, our district leadership team on multiplications and then he's also now working individually with the principles so that they >> That's correct. >> Guide their own teams. Um Mio um instead of focusing on the um sharing the screen perhaps you can talk about some of the strengths you're seeing and some of the successes you're having with the schools individually. >> Yes, I can do that. Oh, by the way, a third member of our team, uh, Dr. James Crawford is also on the line and, uh, he and K, I chime in. Uh, I had only two slides. Um, anyway, so we can we can go on. I want to start by

052taking us back to what this is really all about. It's all about the students and there are three parts, three sections in the strategic plan that spell out or help shape what we want for all students. The first section is called the promise where we talk about nurturing all students uh emotionally uh socially, mentally, physically, psychologically and also making sure that they learn their math, language arts, science and so on. So the promise statement is followed by the portrait of a graduate from North Ben. And that portrait, you can think of that as the vision, the community's vision for what all students when they graduate from the school district, I will know, be able to do and be like when they graduate. So first the promise, next the portrait, and then finally the goals. There

053are four goals for student learning achievement. The first goal and the last goal I like to describe them as the book ends. Uh first goal is about early learning. The fourth goal is about successful graduation and readiness for cut life after high school. And then in between those two book ends you have a social emotional learning goal and an academic goal. So really the way the plan is constructed is it's very solid. Now that's the starting point what we want for students. The real hard work is the implementation of the plan, the follow through in the plan. Otherwise, it just sits on the shelf and it's wasted money by the road map for discipline implementation. It relies on using the to work. So um Tim talk about the school improvement plan. That's the starting point

054and the uh your strategic plan is a five-year document. A long-term plan is implemented in annual chunks and the first chunking again is the school improvement plan for each school. uh all of them address attendance, math and ELA and they also have the option of focusing on other areas that makes sense for the uh for that particular school. So we define the annual plan and then we suggest that every week is about monitoring and adjusting instruction. Every month is about learning and collaboration among practitioners. Every 6 to 12 weeks is to reflect and plan. And then mid year and end of year is to evaluate and celebrate. So tonight's presentation fits that that last section. This is an update to the board on how things have been going so far. So I'm going to go

055back to the annual plan. All all the schools did really well. uh it took a couple of iterations but I have to commend them for their spirit and their attitude and also the quality of the work. Uh I can give you examples from the school plants but I want to focus on the high school. Uh one of the strategies they have in mind it's actually very high leverage strategy. You don't see too often in most school district. It's it's not a new idea, but it just doesn't happen too often. And that's writing across the curriculum. Now, for every teacher and every adult in at the high school, we'll be going through uh training the Oregon writing project to learn how to be a a teacher of writing also for schools. Uh it sounds like an

056old idea, but it's one that still has a lot of currency. Another idea they have would be common formative assessments where teachers uh sit together and decide on how they're going to grade or assess student work. So you now have uniformity or consistency from one teacher to the next. That that's another uh big idea. Each school has its own unique feature but all all the school plans are really solid. Now once the annual plan is done uh we've worked with them on their 6 to 12 week plan. Every 6 to 12 weeks they'll be doing what we call a data summit. Uh think of that as looking back on the six weeks that just ended looking at student data relative to the goals they set in their annual plan and then reflecting on their adult

057practices. the actual way the adults have been implementing their um their practices and how well those are going and what kind of impact are they having on student learning. So data summit is about looking at student data and also reflecting on adult practices. We have a schedule uh roughly every six to eight weeks where we work with the principles as a collective but in between we work with them individually. Also at the end of the school year there will be another report to the board on the uh challenges and successes that will have occurred this this year. I'm going to pause there uh just ask team if there's anything else you would like me to cover or maybe just take some questions from the board. >> Does the board have any questions? >> Not at

058this time. >> So, so school the main points there school goals focusing on attendance, culture, math, ELA, student success. We do um some of the things in in mentioned were um potential actions, not necessarily fully in place right now, but um it is a goal to get there. >> Tim, how often is he going to present to us? >> Mio, um I think we had you >> What's the question? >> One more presentation here. How often will you be presenting to us was the question? We recommend at least twice a year, but we can do more if you're interested. >> I personally would like to have the information in our packet ahead of time because I'm really struggling to understand and it would be easier for me. I don't know about the rest of the

059board, but if we could have it in the packet ahead of time. >> You bet. >> Yeah. >> Can I can come back anytime you want us to. Thank you. >> That's it. >> All right. Thank you. Appreciate your time. >> Appreciate it. Thank you. >> All right. Uh, next item is the consent agenda. >> U, do I have a motion to approve the consent agenda? >> Motion to approve the consent agenda. >> Any second? >> Second. >> All right. We have the motion to approve the consent agenda. Uh, second. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? That passes. 70. Okay. All right. Next, we have ESD local service plan. And someone's here to talk to us about this. >> Good evening, Superintendent Crowder, members of the school board. Uh, good evening.

060I'm Paul Peterson, the superintendent of South Dakota ESD. On behalf of the board of the ESD, I just want to say thank you for inviting me to join you this evening. Um, I'm here to provide a brief description of the local service plan uh process and answer your questions related to local service planning which is on your agenda for tonight. As an overview, every year the local service plan or LSP gets reviewed and approved by the regional superintendent, then the ESD board, and then the boards of each of the 10 school districts within South Coast ESD's service area, which which ranges from Reedport into North Brookings and South. The local service plan on your agenda tonight is largely unchanged from the LSPU approved uh I guess two years ago. Uh the plan was reviewed by

061the area's 10 school district superintendent this fall and they voted to approve the plan on November 20th. The South Coast ESD board of directors also voted unanimously to approve this plan at their December 9th board meeting. The LSPD is designed to provide the maximum flexibility to each district and how they want to use their ESD resolution dollars and that each district chooses from a menu of services what they need from the ESD and we call those tier 2 services. Altogether, tier 2 services uh comprise around 95% of the ESD's resolution dollars with around 5% in tier one or what we sometimes call poor services that benefit all 10 districts. Those tier one services include homeschool registration, aiology testing, birth to three evaluations, and the safe school program. South Coast ESD is proud to partner with

062Northband School District to help deliver high quality programs and services for students in a cost-effective manner. and I'm happy to address any questions you may have in the followup with Superintendent Crider with any additional information. >> I have a question on the process. It talks about um voting on the LSP agreements. Do superintendents vote on the formula for allotting the funds to each school district? >> They they do review that. Yes. >> Is that formula in here? >> That is not in in this document. Why not? >> It just hasn't been for um about um well 2015 or so as far as I know. >> Is the formula something the board is supposed to vote on >> or Yeah, we voting on the formula. >> Uh you're voting on the local service plan with which

063is a framework for how the money flows. So essentially the way it works is that we fund the tier one services and then the rest of it gets allocates allocated by ADMW tier 2. >> So under where it talks about the tier services, it talks about the district's aotment of the resolution dollars. How are those allotments defined? Is it based on student enrollment for each district? >> ADMW >> sorry ADMW is the enrollment of each district. Yeah, that's the average daily membership weighted >> and that's what's based that's what the allotments are based off of is enrollment. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> And so just so I understand this correctly, you guys use this formula to to show the flow of how the money's distributed distributed and then we as a board vote on it.

064Correct. >> Is that correct? >> Yes. >> Okay. So, um, sorry. I guess I'm just it's I'm a little confused on some some things. Um, of course, this is my first year serving and reviewing one of these, so, you know, I am new at that. Um, so I I'm I may just need a little bit more time. I don't know. Do you guys have any other questions? >> I'm looking at my notes. >> Okay. Yeah, I'm trying to look review my notes as as well. Sorry if you'll give us a second. >> So, I was looking at the the past um LSP that came to the board and this one has charts. The old one didn't. Are there things changing or or what has changed that had them the charts put in? >> Uh charts

065that have updated the document would be let's see I think they updated to the uh a newer screenshot on one chart. >> Yeah. On the back. I think that's a newer screenshot of the order form that we use >> like on the tier one where it has like um end of the year processes and go back dollars. >> Those the other changes that have been made were um just removed references to um the depth of life skills because that's not one of our major programs anymore. >> Okay. We still do some support for DEP schools in other districts as part of our regular tier 2 service, but we also do uh lots of other uh contract uh work. When districts call us and they need help with this or that, we write up a contract

066and say, "Sure, happy to do it." >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> So, it says under tier tier two that carryover distribution should be based on what the districts put into the program. So if we don't use it, do we get it back? >> You understand the question? >> Looking at this chart here question again. >> It um so it says carryover distribution should be based on what the distribution or on what the district puts into the program. So if we don't use it, do we get it back? >> It's your money. Yeah, >> this is tier two. >> It goes into agency funds. It sounds like I think that's the question she's asking about. I think if it's based on this, it might have to do with the the amount distributed. This one says >>

067because this one says >> the distribution is based on what the district puts into the program. So it's not >> it does not reflect district >> ADMW. This is the one where it says if you order 30% you get you get split up. I think this is >> yeah just uh understand the EF we're not a profit center. We be providing services uh with just very minimal overhead and for example uh if we have extra money that we return that back to the district so they can use that. That's we're just we're just not a for-profit center at all. >> So you're saying we do get it back if we don't use it. >> Uh >> sorry we're really new to this. >> Yeah. Sounds like you've got some really thoughtful technical questions and we

068uh be happy to come back and spend some more time uh uh in in having just some in-depth conversation. If you'd like to do that, be happy to do that uh where we can sit on a table. We can actually show how the money actually flows. Your district does a nice job of taking advantage of the agency funds. In fact, this year there was some agency funds that were accessed to support some of your school improvement work. Uh and that's fantastic work. So, uh, that's all, uh, there's there's a lot of moving parcel to it and, uh, >> it might not be a bad idea. No, you're happy to do that. >> I would agree because this is a lot of us are new board members, too. And so, having an idea of how this

069all works, you know, even listening to you talk, I'm understanding a little bit more, I think, when you describe some of the core services a little better, but I would like you to know the difference and tier one, tier two, and how that works and all, you know, how they benefit us. That' be great. >> I'll give just a quick overview for up right now. Uh the ESD receives state school funding money. >> That goes regular school district. For us, I'm just going to use brown numbers. It's around $7 million. >> 10% of that stays with PDSD. >> 90% of it goes out to the school districts. Now, of that 90%, 5% around 5% is those tier one. That's that all the districts agree that we all want this no matter what size. And then

07095 around 95% of that 90% is just you tell us what you need and you just spend your money. And if you don't spend that money then uh it can go into your agency fund. It's like a a savings account that we monitor for you and you earn interest on that. Um and in fact your district has done a nice job of actually earning interest and and done done well on that. And then when uh every so often then your district will say hey we want to spend some of those agency funds. Uh, and that happens and that's what we did this year, right, Mr. Crider? >> Yeah. >> Yes. Yeah. >> I I have one other little question then too. How does the price, you know, being nonprofit and everything? That's right. How so

071how does the pricing on that last slide, you know, that's on here, this one, how is that pricing determined by the state, by the how do we get like the actual tier 2? How does I'm just curious because I don't >> Yeah, great great question. Um, we look at the people that we have um hired and we sub the price accordingly. So, so but it's individual to like each ESD. It's not like a statewide thing. I >> Okay. Okay. >> All right. >> Which is why, for example, you could look at um for years our our service plan had adaptable life skills on it. >> Our slot cost was in the $35 to $45,000 range when I got here. >> Uh it was very low. >> Um you go to another ESD, you see that

072slot cost at 75 to $105,000. So, so we had to start keep raising ours to, you know, to stay afloat. Yeah. And and uh >> you'll see different pricings for different programs. Yeah. >> Uh but again, uh let's say let's say we put our price tag of $150,000 on a physician >> and then we're able to deliver that service for hundred,000. >> That would give you 50,000 back. >> Oh, okay. >> That's Yeah, that's just >> that's just how TIGs work. >> So, and then it but let's say other way it ends up costing you more than that. What happens in that? >> To be really honest, >> yeah, >> honestly, we usually eat it. >> Okay. >> We usually will our error and most often the ESD eats that. >> Okay. >> Happens all

073the time. >> Do we get like an accounting of the agency funds and the interest we're earning? That would be good for the board to know. >> Absolutely. >> We do. >> Yeah. >> Do we see that, Tim? >> Yeah. Sometimes if I ask for for it, I'll get it. I I'm not sure that it always is delivered. >> Anytime you ask for it, you'll get it. >> I'd like to see it. >> Yeah. >> Well, my suggestion would be that we table this and u schedule a little more in-depth discussion with him and and come back and then consider it at a different time. >> Is there a timeline that you >> Yes, I need a vote by March 1st. >> Okay. Well, we'll see what we can do. Um, >> I I agree

074with tableabling it. I would like a minute to just get my head around. This is just like a one thing that we haven't kind of had the chance to deep dive in yet to in and our run as some of the newer board members and so I would like a little bit more time just to make sure I'm doing my job and understanding the details of of how it works. >> So, I'll go ahead and make the motion to table this matter until >> I'll second that. >> Okay. Okay. Any further discussion on it? Okay. All in favor say I. I. >> Any opposed? Passes 70. >> Thank you. Appreciate your time and look forward to getting a little more information. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Where were next item? Um, is K2K35 school

075reconfiguration act? Tim, you want to start us off on this? This is the reconfiguration vote uh where the board will consider a proposal to reconfigure the two elementary schools into K2 and 35 models. option has been explored as part of the district's ongoing efforts to plan responsibly for current and future needs. I do want to acknowledge the significant work of the school staff and school boards that have invested a lot of time in exploring, researching, analyzing, and planning for presentations that have happened. Um, I want to thank the staff and community members who shared feedback, asked questions, and participated in meetings and surveys. Your engagement reflects a deep commitment to our students and our schools, and your voices have helped shape our understanding of both the opportunities and concerns connected to this work. The information

076gathered will continue to guide us regardless of any decisions that are made tonight as we move forward as a district alongside our strategic plan and as we make decisions that strengthen our educational programs for years to come. I also want to thank our school board for their thoughtful engagement throughout this process as elected volunteers and representatives of our community. They've listened carefully, valued feedback. Our school board represents wise, independent thinkers who are making decisions in the best interests of all the students in Northbend School District. Um, with that, I will turn it over to the board. >> Okay. Um, any comments and discussions? That's where we're at right now. Do we open a we look vote for it or pardon me? >> Do we do a motion first or >> Well, no, let's go. The

077action requested by the is to consider approval of the proposed reconfiguration of Northbend school district as two elementary schools into a K2 schoolrest and a 35 school North Bay effective beginning uh 20627 school year. And if we want to make it a motion right if someone wants to make it that motion or we can discuss it before if >> well does anyone have comments? Yes. But do we want to discuss after the motion or before the motion? I guess that was my question. >> However, >> doesn't matter to me. >> Michelle, >> after is how we did it with URA. >> Okay. Someone want to make a motion? >> Um yes. Um I I move to approve um your [laughter] the reconfiguration. Let me get that. Thank you. I move that the school board approve

078the reconfiguration of the North Bend School District's two elementary schools, making Hillrest a K through2 school and North Bay a 3 to5 school with the change being implemented beginning the 2026 through 2027 school year. >> We have a second. >> I'll second that. >> Okay, we have a second discussion. >> Yes. >> Um why don't we go down the line? You want to put the um point the fingers at anyone? If you don't want to say anything, that's fine. Julie, you >> um >> sure I'll go. >> Yeah. >> So, um this has been exhausting. This has been emotional. This has been I've lost sleep. Um it was an incredibly um difficult um decision to come to. I read through the information many times. I read through comments. Uh I read social media posts. Um,

079I really did try to make sure that there wasn't any area that I hadn't given some time and thought to. Um, so I have four children, all different ages, two in elementary school, one in middle school, one in high school. Um, I I can sympathize with families who have their concerns about how this will affect um, you know, families that like mine. Um, and so I just I just jotted down a few notes. This isn't all-encompassing. This is mostly just my thoughts as of today. Um, some things that kind of consistently come up is um it feels like why are we doing this and what options or why haven't we looked at other options? So, like we've stated like many of us are new board members. From what I understand, there were bonds that were

080proposed that didn't pass over the last however many years that could have potentially prevented this as needing to be an option. Um, we could redraw the lines. How often we would have to redraw the lines. Um, how much stress that would put on if we had to redo things every few years. Um, that would be very disruptive, exhausting. um the continued stress on staff and our budget with enrollment the way it is not only in our county but across the state across the country it's so unpredictable um because we and we also have housing developments coming up and business coming in town but then we have this COVID triggered enrollment issue and it there's so we it it's very challenging to predict the future and what we've seen in other parts of the state where

081schools are not just having budget crisis or or bankrupting, which we saw a lot at our our big convention we went to a few months ago, but literally just schools closing down. Um, and you know, we we've seen how budget issues have have come up. You know, I I think of music pretty quickly. Um, I don't want to see things like music and staff having to keep getting cut and keep going away. Um and and I the more I looked into this, the more it felt like, you know, a proactive measure to prevent losing elective classes um to hopefully start easing up the the consistent um exhaustion and stress on on staff members trying to reorganize their classrooms and making sure kids are okay and and meeting those needs. Um, and you know, we're only

082talking about the elementary schools, but I would hope that that if this reconfiguration addresses some of those needs, it would flow into um, you know, the middle school and high school because it's all it's all one big budget and it all comes in the same same place. Um, so I um, I only have experience with North Bay Elementary School. That's where my kids attend. Um, I make the 15-inute drive there and back every day. Um, sometimes I don't mind the drive. Sometimes I'm tired and I'm ready to get home. You know, it depends on the day, depends on how sunny it is. But, um, the culture of North Bay is fantastic. My kids have thrived there. I have had kids in at least two other elementary schools. By far, my favorite school is North Bay.

083I've heard fantastic things about Hillrest. The culture there is good. The kids are happy. Um, one thing that I I um, you know, that comes to mind is that these kids will get to share the good parts from both schools. And, you know, every school has their strength and weaknesses, but there's really amazing things about North Bay. There's amazing things about Hillrest. And this would give those kids an opportunity to experience different kinds of of goodness that our community has to offer. Um, I look forward to the long-term relationships of these kids in the same ages. when they get to middle school, they're not um they're they're they're not having to kind of mesh and figure each other out at a time where, you know, it's already hard to just be comfortable with yourself much

084more, be comfortable with with people you haven't met before. And so I I look forward to hopefully some camaraderie among the students, less bullying. Um so those are just a few thoughts I had. Um again, this decision did not come lightly. Um, and you know, I I look forward to to seeing the positives that we expect to come and being proactive and seeing our district succeed. And um, thank you for everyone who's put in so much time and effort and answered questions, gathered data because we asked for a lot of data, a lot a lot. And you guys provided everything we asked for. So that's it. Thank you. >> Yeah. >> Um, >> I I don't have a lot to say. I echo a lot of what Julie said. Um I'm we did we did

085put a lot of thought to this. We put a lot of sleepless nights into this. I think that just about all of us. Um and this is a tough decision to make for everybody. Um and that's that's all I got. >> Yeah. >> Man, I hate doing these. [laughter] I just am not a public speaker. Uh, our district promises every Northbend student is known, valued, and supported on their path to high school graduation and future success. The data and collection research that we were given has shown me that the district needs to do some things. The first thing is we need a district-wide calendar that's accessed and used regularly so that parents are not over booked at school functions. Whether we change the way it is or not, I've had four kids in four different

086buildings and it it is an issue and I do understand that. I think busing scheduling is a huge issue that the district's going to have to work on regardless either way we go. My child gets on the bus at 6:30 in the morning. >> Um, and the other thing I think really needs to be looked at is training for staff who don't understand the socioeconomic disparities between the school populations and the social emotional needs of children. Looking at the staff comments, every student in our district is not valued andor supported. We as a district have to work to look at what is best for every student today and for the years that are ahead. What we found is a need to address and/or incorporate inclusive environments, positive staff models, equity across the district, and the

087budget constraints we're going to face. For me, the painful comments from a few staff solidified the plan. No more us versus them. We are one district. We should believe in every student. That means giving them staff that care and class sizes that are fair. Thank you. Thank you. Harold, >> you're skipping me. >> No, we're go start at the end. I [laughter] >> Okay, >> but go right ahead. >> Okay. Well, >> we've never skipped you. >> Okay. I was just wondering. I wasn't sure what we're doing. Anyways, um like Anna, I'm I'm not a fan of public speaking, so I'll try and get through this. I'm even gonna set a timer so I try not to go on too long if I >> You have three minutes. >> So, you know, th this has

088been a tough decision. Not where I've had that where I am second guessing the decision that I I've made, but because of I I know it's going to affect um a lot of people. Um it's going to affect teachers, it's going to affect staff, it's going to affect kids and families. And um I I don't take that lightly. And so it it's hard. Um, but I I feel like, you know, I'm making the best decision for our district as a whole. You know, part of it is how did we get here? You declining enrollment. You hear it. Um, you know, I've been looking into this now. Google has this algorithm for me where I get news articles every day. I'm not joking. Portland public schools. Um, you know, 50 million budget deficit, 228 cuts, right?

089They've also already, um, in the past year combined fourth and fifth grades. So, one teacher is teaching both. They're going to do it with first and second also and see how that goes. That is not something I want to see here. Salem Kaiser 23 million budget deficit, 100 staff laid off. Eugene 4J 110 positions are are gone are going to be gone with their 10 million budget reduction and other programs are getting cut besides the staff. Reynold School in Troutdale midyear are having such issues they're cutting six days off the end of their calendar so they don't have to do more disruptive things to their school systems. This is Oregon's climate. This is what we're dealing with. We are lucky because we've had great stewards at this district who have kept us fiscally sound. So,

090this is not what we're looking at right now. And the reason that we're going down this road and the reason that we're doing this is because we want to stay that course. We don't want this to be us. This is devastating and this will not happen to my community as long as I have a say in it. You know, the other thing too is is there's lots of information out there. I mean there's been a lot of information and I think one of the issues that that's caused though is that people are getting or sometimes people get stuck in the weeds. You know we'll talk about this and this and this but the big issue that I believe that what we're trying to do here is is that we are trying to make it so

091that we can efficiently minimize class sizes so that we don't have what is going on in Hillrest right now where fourth graders are in class sizes of like I think it's 30 to 32 students something along those lines. that that's not a sustainable way to teach. Um, and there's really no other options besides teachers teaching to two grades that's going to solve that issue. There's no other solutions that have been presented that are going to solve that issue. Even if we move the border, that just balances the buildings. It does not balance a class size. There's been no other solution presented that is going to help this. And this is a huge issue. >> I mean, we've we've mentioned a lot of other things that we think will be benefits from it, but that is

092the one thing that there's no other solution to solve. Mhm. >> So, and next, you know, I I've had other questions. People are like, "Oh, is K through two and three through five splits? Is that really better than a K through five?" You know, I don't know. That's not why we're doing this. I don't think anyone looked up and said, "Hey, you know, the way the schools are set up now is that how it's serving the students. This is a necess a a a choice of necessity to save off, like I said, devastating budget cuts to keep it so that we don't have to cut services. I mean, we went through well, I was in school board member, but I was around for hearing about last year with the music program. First, it was band

093that we thought we were going to lose and then they were able to save that and then K through K through2 music left, right? I mean, do we want to have to deal with that year after year after year or do we want to take steps now to try and minimize those kind of cuts so that our students get the services that I believe that they they're entitled to? So, you know, I just want to mention a few things too. You know, there's some stuff about messaging and transparency. There has not been any executive sessions on this topic. Everything that you've seen that the board's discussed is posted, you know, online in videos. I mean, there's the community center. Other than that, I mean, it it's out there. This is how we talked about it

094and this is how we were convinced um that this was the right thing to do by listening to our administration. Um, you know, one of the things now, one of the things that's brought up, huge thing, transportation, that is a really big issue. I mean, I've gotten a lot of emails. I've read them all and you know I I I prefer to respond to them in a public way because I want you know everyone to be able to hear what my response is. Um big issue but as you heard from our first speaker tonight it is an issue now. As you heard from Anna it's an issue now. I mean they we already have kids that are riding these buses that it's taking too long. It is an issue that we want to address. Tim

095is new at his job. He he he he cares about this and he has already started and we have RFPs and we are going to make sure that we we make the busing better. I don't know how good we can make it but it is a big issue and I know there's a lot of focus on it. That is not you know the busing is one part. They're even looking at other things to make this stuff easier for parents because we take their concerns and the new challenges very seriously. We we talked about a shuttle between the two schools so someone can drop them off at one and they can still get go to the other directly without a long route. We've talked about possibly delaying start times at the middle northbend high school because

096with that um then the buses then can serve the elementary schools earlier and then go into a second route. We are trying to work on a lot of solutions to make things easier for parents in the community. Um another thing I've heard, you know, a lot of the people that have come out to the forums especially are are people that go to Hillrest and um and there's been a concern by some people that North Bay is not a very good school. I mean, that's pretty much just what's been stated. I definitely don't share that opinion. Um, it's a beautiful, gorgeous facility. It has great teachers just like the whole district does and great staff. Um, I just want to say, you know, North Bay outperforms many of the schools in our area. If you want

097to take a look at it, they're doing great and their numbers have been on the rise. Oregon has had horrific setbacks from COVID. When we closed our schools, which, you know, I was nowhere anywhere in charge of it. I did not agree with that. It really harmed our students. We should have allowed remote learning for people who could, but the closing the schools has done huge damage to Oregon and we've seen that across the state. Everyone is still struggling to get back from that. But one of the things I want to put out is, you know, they look at test scores that they can find online. I don't know, there's not a lot of ways to judge school. So, I understand that's all you have. So, that's what you're going to look at. But those

098test scores are not reflective of your kids. They're not reflective of, you know, the other kids. They're reflective of the kids that take the test and that point of time and how they are doing. doesn't mean if your child is testing at this level, they go to another school, they're going to test lower. I mean, I also want to bring up Northbate is a terrific school that has allowed, you know, once I heard about some more people denigrating in the last I I called the admin did they ask and since 2022, I was like, how many valictorians and solitarians have come from North Bay? So they let me know in that time period of the um of the 32 that came from either Hillrest or North Bay that were not transfers, you know, to the

099middle school, 18 came from Hillrest and 14 came to North Bay and two of those students switched back between. So let me tell you, North Bay can give your kids a great education where they can graduate high school and be a valictorian or saludiatoran. It is a good school. So as I said, there are issues. I'm a parent. I have two kids that go to Hillrest. I have a kindergartenner and I have a fourth grader. So my kids would lose like many parents said, "Hey, I love it that my kids go to school together." Guess what? I love that my kids go to school together. It is probably the time in the day that they are nicest to each other is in the school. >> So true. We have had reports from both her teachers

100about especially my younger daughter always reaching out to her brother in the hallways about you know she loves all his friends and she's super social and she is just absolutely loves it and it's adorable. I also live right next to Hillrest and then in the summer month or spring months when the weather's nice I like to walk my kids to school with my dog. I enjoy that. I mean there there are so many things like my son is will now go like everyone says we'll have to transition you know to North Bay for a year and then go to middle school and you know so I'm going to say I get this and I understand it and it it's something you know my son is going to miss going to school with his sister. You

101know he's going to miss Hillrest. He loves Hillrest. Um you know I'm going to miss you know walking them to school and possibly taking them to school. But when I think of what I'm doing here and what why I signed up for this and why this is so important to me, I signed up because I wanted to help improve how our district runs and how the kids are getting educated. And to me, the only decision is how are we going to help promote academics? And I think that this is the only way forward that's going to keep us on the progress of moving forward. I I I I mean, and you can what I've had people like, well, why don't we just push it out another year? What is that going to solve? It is

102the change that is the biggest problem now. It's the change that's so scary once, you know, if people get used to it or if people leave, I'm sorry for that because I think they're doing a disservice in a way to themselves because these are great schools here. But it's up to them how they want, you know, where their kids go to school and they definitely have that right. But this is really important to me. This is why I'm here on the school board and that is why I supported and I'm sure I missed it and rambled on and I'm sorry, but there we go. >> Thank you. >> I want her as my attorney. Right. >> I don't do any litigation. >> All right. [laughter] I hate speaking with this. Well, you're very good at

103it. >> All right, Carol. Go ahead. >> Yeah. Well, yeah, as everyone I I ditto everything that's been shared here. Uh regardless of what we do, we're going to have some people okay with it and some people not. And that just seems to be the nature of it. So, you have to go by what uh you you believe is the best overall. And I might want to say something in defense of our superintendent who has been royally trashed online. Um Tim, you've done a great job and one of my biggest issues was the school bus and uh the busing and everything that I've seen come to me is being extremely conscientious of what we can do and looking out for the well-being of the student and their safety and their time which on the bus

104which is an issue but um and you know we have a school bus contract coming up. We We have to make a decision. And you know, you can't just keep flipping and flopping and going all over the place. This just seems like the uh best remedy for our district. But um anybody who questions um uh Tim's devotion to research and doing what's best for this district uh is not true and uh I'd like to make sure that you are recognized. So um I guess what do we got Michelle? >> Oh wait one sorry can I add on one thing again because you brought it up. I just want to echo that I had I missed my last page. I do also want to say to the district employees and I mean the admin, the teachers,

105the assistant, I mean every everyone I I have to say I have been a schoolboard member now only since July and you know I looked into it before I became it but I am learning so much more. I mean almost every day I've gone to a conference to and I it was eyeopening um for me. I mean I but really I attended a legislative sess session that a bunch of you know district employees actually from all over Kus and Curry County went to to try and ask you know our representatives at the state level for more help you know or what they can do to not take more money away from us when we really can't afford these budget cuts and I just have to tell you how much dedication and how much effort every

106single employee that I see I mean I am overwhelmed by your dedication and hard work and what you're looking out for and I am Sorry. I I really do want to recognize that too because I >> I mean it may >> for for everybody who sent us uh what I call hate emails and say that we're not researching this binder was given to us by um the district. It has every comment that was made at our our work session. Um it has the comments from staff. It has the comments from parents. We did research. >> We definitely looked at data. The district gave us a lot and we did a lot on our own. >> It was not made just quickly by any of us. I mean, it was read more than once. >> Yeah.

107>> Michelle. >> Yeah. [clears throat] Um I don't have a lot to add. Megan covered a lot of what I wanted to say, so that's good. >> Um yeah, and so did Julie. Uh I I um the the idea of the configur reconfiguration um has been on my radar for a year and a half when um I myself and so was Nathan and Megan. We were a part of the strategic planning um committees and I had the privilege of being on on two um committees. I was both on the core planning team and the instructional focus team. So I was in the morning and in the afternoon. The core planning team um was comprised of many people from the public community to teachers to um parents to students and then the instructional focus team was

108more of of the of the teachers. And in both of those groups um this it was very clear that something needed to be done and the disparity between the schools and so forth. Um, and it was then that I was wanting even before I heard from Tim about the declining enrollment, I knew that something needed to be done. So, I won't keep us going any longer, but I do want to um read something that I responded to one of our emails because one of the comments was, "How is this board going to be remembered?" And if this board votes for this reconfiguration, this is what I said. I said, 'We will be remembered for putting all children first, not just one school. We will be remembered for making sure both school staff and administrators are

109praised for their hard work and love and passion for their students, not just one school. We will be remembered for being fiscally responsible in a time of declining enrollment while simultaneously experiencing a budget cut from the state level. And this is how I hope this board will be remembered. Thank Thank you. >> Well, um, a lot has been said which I could repeat, but that that would be redundant. Um, change is difficult. Change is always difficult. Um, and change, uh, I think frankly the change is going to probably be more difficult for the parents than it is going to be for the kids. Uh, kids are resilient and we don't like doing lots of changes, but they are resilient. Uh, and I think the idea, I mean, reading through a lot of the the emails,

110I I really received this, I guess, an under underlying theme of us against them. I mean, it's it's us and it's them that those those kids over there >> and that that I did not like that at all. Um, and although that's not the reason for doing this, I think in the long run, getting rid of this us and them attitude and just making us >> us uh school students of uh of Northbend School District, you know, I think is going to be real positive. And as you pointed out, um, middle school is a very very difficult time. I think it's the most difficult time for kids as they're entering puberty and everything else that's going on and and for the kids um to all know each other whether they like them or not they

111know each other going into sixth grade um having been in together for five years I think is going to make a big difference when they get to middle school and and in terms of the department issues that that we have in middle school and we you always had some and we have more now than we did before and I think co has something to do with that but anyway long and short of it is change is difficult u but I think with this particular change I think it's going to be positive for the school district it's going to be positive for the kids in the long run and um it's that's the reason I support this change and it's not it's something I've I taken on lightly just like the rest of us here >>

112u and I understand the pros and cons on it I know understand people, the passions uh that people have and I respect that. Um but again, we need to make a decision that we think is in the best interest of the school district as a whole and the students of the school district. So >> that's why I support this move. Anything further? >> Okay, then let's call for the question. All in favor of the motion. Let's see. I move the school board approve the reconfiguration of Northbend school districts two elementary schools making Hillrest a K2 school and North Bay a 35 school. This change will be implemented beginning the 202627 school year. All >> second it [laughter] all. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? passes 70. All right, on to the

113next item on our agenda. Uh to appoint a budget committee member. We have three applicants. Um Sarah Bennett, Bob Dillard, uh who I believe is Bob, he's not on. You see, he's on out now, isn't he? >> He is on there. >> He is on. in the Anhedra trailer. Uh, are any of them here by chance? >> No. >> I'll give them an opportunity to speak. >> Are there any online? I can't see the list. >> Uh, Dedra Trailer, >> Bob Dillard, Sarah B. BN T. No. Okay. I don't know if you have any comments moving in or you just move from there. >> I do not. You've had a chance to review the applications. Um, we have two openings. Yeah. So, um, >> the action being requested is to recommend that the board approve

114the three-year appointment of C of candidates for position four and five. >> Thoughts, suggestions? Well, I know Dedra used to work for the school district and her application looked really good to me. I'll just say that she seems to have the experience that would be beneficial. >> I agree with that. >> I also like teachers. >> Okay. I I don't know any other I know work with Bob on the prior committee. So, um I would support Bob because he's done a good job. He has good history track record on the plan on the budget. So, somebody want to make a motion? We um >> we could do is we might have to do sort of to avoid roll call. We could say does can everybody nominate two and then shall tally and then we'll see

115if that gives us the two or we need to then do a second round. Is that is that okay with everybody? >> Well, if someone has wants to nominate people um and we would have one vote on it and we'll see how it goes. >> Yeah. I move to appoint Bob Dillard and Dedra Trailer for the Northbend School District Budget Committee positions four and five for a three-year term ending June 30th, 2028. >> Second. >> Okay, we got a we got a motion and a second. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Any further discussion? >> All in favor say I. >> I passes. >> Okay. So, next we have >> That's right. >> somewhat of a surprise. Um it it was something that we added to the agenda earlier this week. We had an executive session earlier

116today on uh um a property. So, we one of the reasons we could meet in um executive session is to discuss purchase of property. So, um, over the last couple of weeks, a couple of few events have have transpired that allowed us the opportunity to purchase a property. Don't worry, theater. Um, [laughter] it this is a property that we discussed in great detail in executive session that is now um something that we are able to present an offer on um for a less than I would say normal market values for property. um next to Clyde Allen that has been um a home that um has presented significant challenges for the students in our district and the families in our community for many many years. And the home um it it it exposes children that are

117there to play baseball um and families that are there to watch um to many things that are less desirable. And so, um, with that, um, we know that we have some other properties that we've been had on the market that we're selling. And so, we have the opportunity to purchase this property now, um, and for a very reasonable price. So, that is that is what we discussed. So, um to help increase student safety, um and also to increase our ability to have some additional parking at Clyde Allen because we know the the city is considering getting rid of the community center um selling it or or maybe donating it. So, if that were not if that were to go to somebody else, then um we might lose that parking too. So, um, my recommendation and

118what I'm requesting of the board is the ability to, um, execute the deal. Um, so, um, essentially the appropriation authority to, to purchase the property with the board chair's approval, um, and and to go ahead and finalize this deal, which will increase student safety and also not just for our students, but for the whole community. So the uh action requested is for to authorize the superintendent with a concurrence of the board chair to execute the purchase of 2232 Broadway Street, Mark Bend, Oregon 97459 adjacent to CLA baseball field. So we have a motion. I would motion to approve the purchase of the property up to the appraisal amount with the with the caveat that something be in the contract about the people being um taken off the property or however that works prior to uh

119the sale. >> It's already done. I've been on I've been on it. [laughter] >> Already done. >> So they're already out. >> They're not out. >> They will be. >> I'll second that. >> Fair enough. I just want to make a comment. My I I have uh two boys that played ball there. Um yeah, they they went to Marshfield. I'm sorry to say, but anyway, uh they play they played uh Legion ball there. They played Babe Ruth there. And I remember that you're not talking just about high school kids, you're talking about 13, 12 year olds playing Babe Ruth there. And that place has been an eyesore since they played there 25 years ago. And uh getting rid of that eyesore, not just an eyesore. I mean, it's it's >> it's a safety hazard now.

120>> Yeah. >> Um um is going to be a real positive um for the school district and and for the community for that matter because uh that that place is creating problems in the community as we've heard from law enforcement. So anyway, I just wanted to throw that in there. This is not a new problem, but this is a problem I think we really need to deal with. >> Any thoughts? comments. >> Great. >> Well, well then, uh, >> keep the kids safe. >> Yeah. Um, okay. Uh, we have a motion in a second. Um, all in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? None opposed? 70 vote. All right. Board comments. Any comments the board wants to make? >> I want to make a comment. I I've had four kids go through the

121district and I just want to say I've been blessed by great educators. I we were a North Bay bay family. We were a Bay family before that, but we were a North Bay family. We've had special needs kids come through the program, athletes come through the program, and we really have been blessed by great educators. I know that this K235 thing really it it it brought out some of the bad sides of all the things, but I really love the stuff that have been part of my kids' education. I think that too we need to, you know, we keep hearing about the louder, squeakier comments that aren't really kind, but we do have so much great things to be appreciative of with the people who work with our kids. >> You're here. >> Yes. >>

122Yeah. >> Anybody else? >> I'll add to that. I moved here three years ago from Idaho. I lived in Idaho for 14 15 years. North Carolina is where I grew up and I'm so glad that we moved here while my kids were young and got them into this school district. Um the the shift in especially my younger two, the shift in their happiness and confidence um especially Jonah um and everyone who has invested time with him at North at North Bay and they welcome him every day. He comes in and he's his silly, loud, sometimes barking, sometimes meowing self. And they they welcome him with open arms and love. And for a mom, [clears throat] sorry, for a mom to when I drop him off every day, I don't have to worry anymore. And I

123used to have to worry. And um I'm so grateful that I get to not only serve on this board for our community, but I've gotten to know so many teachers and staff and kids. And it has just been exhausting. Um it makes me feel stupid sometimes when I'm trying to learn through my big packet of stuff I'm trying to get my brain around in a short amount of time. But it has been a a huge blessing and I'm really proud of what this school district has done and is doing and to serve with all of you guys. So, thank you. >> Anything else? >> All right. Well, the uh item number 11 on agenda isformational only information. We have the enrollment numbers for uh January 2026, which are down, I might add. Uh once again,

124unfortunately, um quarter 2 financial update, work session, which is February 19th. Put that on your agenda. hoping to highlight um our CTE programs during that work session and we're working to see if we can get our um CTE teachers um to do some roundts for the board so you can kind of go around and and hear about the great things those CT teachers are doing. Also hoping to bring in um um Alan Leiddesma for about 30 minutes to present some some different unique ideas to create more opportunities for youth in our in our community. >> Are we going to be doing that at the high school? Um I yes it will be at the high school or the tech building. >> Okay. Ah the tech building. >> We keep being promised at tech or >>

125there you go. All right. Then the next regular meeting is Thursday Marchh 5th 2026. And with that unless there's anything else we're Thank you.