June 18, 2025 at 6:00 PM - Regular Board Work Session

Description: 

Kris Howatt, Chair
Holly Riegelmann, Vice-Chair
Blake Petersen, Director
David Ligatich, Director
Dr. Mayra Gómez, Director
Dr. Shawn Farrens, Director
Vacant, Director
John Koch, Interim Superintendent

Description: 

At the work session this evening, board members will be asked to provide input regarding the recommended revisions to policies from the Oregon School Boards Association (OSBA) and the district Policy Review Committee. 

Policy	Title
EFA	Local Wellness
FF	Naming of New Facilities

Description: 

ORS 332.075(2)-(3), states that, "All contracts of the school district must be approved by the district school board before an order can be drawn for payment." This includes the provision of labor performed by employees of the district.

In addition, Board Policy GB, General Personnel Policies, provides that, "The employment contract of candidates to fill licensed and contracted positions will be approved by the Board upon the superintendent’s recommendation."

Employment contracts for the deputy superintendent and assistant superintendent are negotiated annually by the superintendent and the individual employees. These negotiations are independent of the collective bargaining process in place for the district’s employee associations.

Employment agreements have been negotiated by the superintendent with the individuals named below. 

Description: 

EXPLANATION: ORS 332.075(2)-(3), states that, "All contracts of the school district must be approved by the district school board before an order can be drawn for payment." This includes the provision of labor performed by employees of the district. In addition, Board Policy GB, General Personnel Policies, provides that, "The employment contract of candidates to fill licensed and contracted positions will be approved by the Board upon the superintendent’s recommendation."

Salary placement for licensed and administrator positions will follow the terms of the established collective bargaining agreement with the labor association and memorandum of understanding with the administrator group. These agreements are available on the District website.

Description: 

Gresham-Barlow School District was selected by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to participate in the Schools and Libraries Cybersecurity Pilot Program. The pilot program will be used to evaluate the effectiveness of using this funding to support cybersecurity needs and whether to fund them on a permanent basis. Our school district was 1 of 3 in Oregon selected for this three-year pilot program. This will allow GBSD to purchase cybersecurity related software, hardware, and services to protect our networks and data at a 90% discount.

We completed an RFP process to evaluate companies that offer software capable of advanced threat detection and provide high quality 24/7 monitoring by experts at a reasonable price. The winning proposal came from Technegon, an organization that focuses on cybersecurity in education and government.

Description: 

The Oregon Comprehensive Literacy State Development (CLSD) Grant is a five-year, $57.9 million federal funding opportunity aimed at boosting literacy skills for children from birth through 12th grade across Oregon. The Gresham-Barlow School District is eligible to apply for $979,052 of the state allotment. The grant specifically targets disadvantaged students, including those in poverty, English learners, and students with disabilities.

Starting in the summer of 2025, the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) will award competitive subgrants to school districts. The funds must be used to support initiatives like:

• Professional development for educators.
• High-dosage tutoring and extended learning.
• Implementation of high-quality, evidence-based literacy curriculum.
• Hiring literacy coaches and specialists.
• Developing local literacy plans.

Funds are allocated across age bands: 16% for birth-kindergarten, 42% for K-5, and 42% for 6-12. Districts must apply through the Oregon CLSD Federal Competitive Grant Portal by June 30, 2025. This grant offers a significant chance for the Gresham-Barlow School District to strengthen its literacy programs and improve outcomes for all students, especially those most in need.

Description:  The state of Oregon requires that school districts review and update their Comprehensive Sexual Health Education plan biennially to ensure that education plans are scientifically accurate and reflect educational best practices (OAR 581-022-2050). In the Spring of 2024, the Gresham-Barlow School Board approved an update to the Comprehensive Sexual Health Education Plan that included minor revisions to a plan originally approved in the Fall of 2021. The State of Oregon adopted New Health Standards in October of 2023 with a list of approved Health curriculum materials released in the Fall of 2024. The Gresham-Barlow School District adopted new Health curriculum materials in the Spring of 2025. Concurrent with the process of identifying new Health curriculum materials, a group of health teachers, educators, and community members met to update the Comprehensive Sexual Health Education plan. The updated Comprehensive Sexual Health Education plan is being presented for Board approval.

Description:  The Oregon School Boards Association (OSBA) Summer Board Conference is scheduled for August 8-10, 2025 at the Salem Convention Center. The conference will provide examples of best practices, and provide information to equip new and seasoned school board members and administrative teams to confidently govern their district. Attendees will learn about board roles and responsibilities, how to ben an effective board, and what authority and limits boards have. 

Interested board members should work with the board secretary to get registered for the conference. 

Description:  Pursuant to the superintendent contract, "The superintendent will prepare, no later than September 15 of each year, and share with the board a tentative calendar indicating planned travel and vacation time." Time has been set aside on this evening's agenda for the board to review the upcoming travel for the superintendent. 

Description:  The City of Gresham is proposing the Gresham Civic/Downtown Urban Renewal Plan.  The letter included with this agenda item outlines the details of the Plan and the required statutory process.  The District may provide a written comment to the City prior to July 10, 2025.

The Board reviewed this information at their June 4, 2025 Business Meeting. They asked for additional time to review the material, and bring back any questions they had. Time has been set aside on the agenda for any questions or discussion from the board. 
 

Description:  In May 2025, the board transitioned to using a new online meeting management system for board meetings. Time has been set aside on the agenda for the board to receive a brief overview of the meeting management system BoardBook. 

Description: 

Time has been set-aside on this evening’s agenda for the board to discuss upcoming agenda topics,board operations, and meeting needs. 

Description: 

The board will review announcements. A Zoom link for virtual meeting attendance will be provided for upcoming meetings.

July 2, 2025: Regular Board Business Meeting - 7 p.m.
                      Council Chambers
                      Public Safety and Schools Building