October 7, 2026 at 6:00 PM - Regular Board Business Meeting

Description: 

Holly Riegelmann, Chair
Dr. Shawn Farrens, Vice-Chair
Heather Coleman-Cox, Director
Kris Howatt, Director
Blake Petersen, Director
Brenna Puderbaugh, Director
Erasto Sedda, Director
Dr. Tracy Klinger, Superintendent

Description: 

We acknowledge that the land where Gresham-Barlow School District is located rests on the ancestral and unceded lands of the Multnomah, Kathlamet, Clackamas, Tualatin, Kalapuya, Molalla, bands of the Chinook, and many other Tribes who made their homes along the Columbia River. We also acknowledge the systemic policies of genocide, relocation, and assimilation that still impact many Indigenous/Native American families today. As settlers and guests on these lands, we respect the work of Native Nations, leaders and families and make ongoing efforts to center Indigenous knowledge, creativity, resilience, and resistance. We consider the many legacies of violence, displacement, migration, and settlement that bring us here today. 
   
   
Reconocemos que la tierra donde está ubicado el Distrito Escolar Gresham-Barlow descansa sobre las tierras ancestrales y no cedidas de Multnomah, Kathlamet, Clackamas, Tualatin, Kalapuya, Molalla, bandas de Chinook y muchas otras Tribus que establecieron sus hogares a lo largo del río Columbia. También reconocemos las políticas sistémicas de genocidio, reubicación y asimilación que todavía afectan a muchas familias indígenas/nativas americanas en la actualidad. Como colonos e invitados en estas tierras, respetamos el trabajo de las naciones, los líderes y las familias nativas y hacemos esfuerzos continuos para centrar el conocimiento, la creatividad, la resiliencia y la resistencia indígenas. Consideramos los numerosos legados de violencia, desplazamiento, migración y asentamiento que nos traen aquí hoy.

Description: 

3 minutes per guest / 15 minutes total

Time has been set aside on the agenda for Citizens’ Requests of the Board. This is an opportunity for the Board to listen and learn from the community. Board members are not able to respond to public comments during the meeting, but appreciate hearing your input. Public comments can be submitted in writing before the meeting, or given in-person during the meeting. Pursuant to Oregon House Bill 2560(3)(a), the meeting of the Gresham-Barlow School Board will be presented online to allow for virtual public attendance at the meeting. If you are a member of the community and wish to provide a written public comment, please use the Citizens Comments to the Board form and email your comments to the board secretary, Sarah Avery, at avery4@gresham.k12.or.us by 4:00 p.m. the day of the meeting. If anyone in the audience wishes to address the board in-person this evening, there are yellow "Citizens' Requests of the Board" forms on the table in the back of the room; please complete a form and give it to the board secretary, Mrs. Avery. 

Public Comments Submitted Including Topic:
1. NAME - Topic

Description:  Until the September payroll numbers are fully processed and analyzed, the administration won't have a very accurate picture of what expenses for the year are expected to be. In the meantime, early trends indicate the District is in alignment with budget projections for July and August.

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."

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: 

All items listed are matters considered by the board to be routine and will be enacted by one motion. The motion requires a second and a vote. There will be no separate discussion of items on the consent agenda unless a member of the board requests specific items be removed from the consent agenda and placed on the regular agenda. 

Description: 

This portion of the board meeting agenda has been provided for the presentation of advisory committee minutes. No action or discussion is required by the board; however, there may be occasional reports or discussion regarding work being completed by the committee(s).

Description:  October 2026 has been designated as School Administrators Month, made possible by associations such as the National Association of Elementary School Principals, the American Federation of School Administrators, and the National Association of Secondary School Principals. 

Description: 

The Gresham-Barlow Education Foundation has identified the following dates for 2026-27 reports to the school board: 

October 7, 2026
January 6, 2027
March 3, 2027
May 5, 2027 

Accordingly, a Foundation representative will be present this evening to provide an overview of recent Foundation activities.

Description: 

Time has been set-aside on the agenda for the superintendent to provide a brief update. District leadership members may also provide an overview of current work and upcoming events taking place in the school district.

Description: 

Time has been set-aside on this agenda for the board members to provide brief updates. 

Description:  The board will take a brief recess from the meeting. 

Description: 

A representative from the Gresham-Barlow Education Association (GBEA) will provide a report to the board. 

Description: 

A representative from the Oregon School Employees Association (OSEA) Chapter 8 employees will provide a report to the board. 

Description:  Annually, Gresham-Barlow School District board policy, IGAEB, requires that the superintendent update the board with regard to the district’s drug, alcohol and tobacco intervention, prevention, health education policy, and related board policies, rules and procedures. This information item will cover these topics for the board's review. 

Description: 

This report is intended to provide the board with a general overview of K-12 enrollment during the initial opening of school, and to identify staffing adjustments that have been made to accommodate enrollment numbers.

This year’s district enrollment as of September 28, 2026 totaled 9,590 students, representing 67 below projections for 2026-27, overall.

In addition to the overall enrollment total, the attached enrollment data provides specific information including class size averages and other staffing/enrollment information.

The administration will briefly share with the board some additional comments and respond to any questions.

Description: 

The administration will provide an overview of the number of interdistrict transfers processed into and out of the district during the current school year. There will be time during the meeting to answer questions about the process.

Description: 

The Oregon Department of Education (ODE) requires Oregon school districts to submit a statement of assurances indicating compliance with Administrative Rules (OAR), located in Chapter 581, Division 22 Standards for Public Elementary and Secondary Schools, annually by November 1, 2026. These assurances must be presented in a public manner, such as at a regularly scheduled school board meeting.

After reviewing the Division 22 Standards, the administration reports that the district is not in compliance with all of these rules. Gresham-Barlow is out of compliance in 581-022-2440 Teacher Training Related to Dyslexia and 581-022-2060 Comprehensive School Counseling.

Description:  During the budgeting process last spring, the district made $10 million in budget reductions. This included significant changes to the elementary music program in the district. An update will be provided around how music and arts education is still being provided at the elementary level through the district music specialist and community partnerships. 

Description:  Until the September payroll numbers are fully processed and analyzed, the administration won't have a very accurate picture of what expenses for the year are expected to be. In the meantime, early trends indicate the District is in alignment with budget projections for July and August.

Description: 

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

October 21, 2026:  Regular Board Work Session - 6 p.m.
                               Council Chambers Conference Room
                               Public Safety and Schools Building

November 4, 2026: Regular Board Business Meeting - 6 p.m.
                                Council Chambers
                                Public Safety and Schools Building

Description:  Estimated time for adjournment: No later than 9 p.m.