Introductory Comments
Board chair Anne Marie Levis praised Superintendent Gustavo Balderas for his leadership for the last five years in 4J, and noted that he is in line to accept a superintendency in Washington and is expected to leave 4J at the end of the school year. Ms. Levis noted that it is important for the board to move quickly to establish a process to recruit and hire a new superintendent.
Dr. Balderas provided information about the district’s response to the global COVID-19 outbreak. District staff are in regular communication with public health officials and other school districts and providing information updates to the school community. Custodians are intensifying cleaning at schools. He emphasized public health advice that it’s important for everyone to properly wash their hands and stay home if they’re feeling ill.
Items for Action
• Authorized board leadership to recommend consultant and process for interim superintendent selection: The board unanimously approved the chair and vice chair to recommend a consultant for full board approval to assist in the hiring process for an interim superintendent. Board chair Anne Marie Levis noted the district has missed the annual window of time to best recruit and hire a permanent superintendent and will need to appoint an interim superintendent for the 2020–21 school year.
• Approved updates to district policy: The board voted unanimously to revise board policies to conform to changes in state law and updates to policy best practices:
EEA Student Transportation Services
JEA Compulsory Attendance
JEC Admission of Resident Students
Approved items on the consent agenda: The board approved personnel actions (hirings, resignations and retirements).
Items for Future Action (board action is expected at a later meeting)
- Considered draft Student Success Act investment plan: District staff presented detailed information about the initial proposal to invest funds from the Student Success Act’s Student Investment Account starting in the coming school year to bolster student success in and out of the classroom.
The presentation covered the proposal’s nine major components, and board members provided comments and asked questions about each component. The draft plan would add new programs or expand existing ones to support student success and would lead to the hiring of nearly 100 new full-time-equivalent employees.
District staff have spent the past several months gathering community input, reviewing research and analyzing student data to develop the investment plan. Student Investment Account funds may be spent in four areas: offering a well-rounded education, addressing students’ health and safety needs, increasing instructional time and/or reducing class size. A key goal of the Student Success Act is to reduce academic disparities for historically underserved groups, including economically disadvantaged students, students of color, students with disabilities, and students learning English as a second language.
The board will continue its discussion on March 11. The board is set to adopt the plan on March 18, following two final community forums. The district must submit the approved plan to the Oregon Department of Education by April 15 to be eligible to start receiving the funds in the coming school year.
Public Input
Twenty-two people provided public comment to the board, including comments regarding:
- Reducing class sizes
- Improving 3rd grade reading
- Adding more teacher-librarians
- Increasing classroom instruction time
- Reducing standardized testing
- Co-locating Yujin Gakuen at Kelly Middle School
- Appreciation for Superintendent Balderas
Agenda and Materials
March 4 board meeting recording
NOTE: This is a quick summary of the topics and actions at a meeting of the school board. This document is NOT the official minutes of the school board. Official minutes are posted after they are drafted, reviewed and approved by the board. Recordings of meetings are posted within two days after the meeting.
School Board Meeting Schedule & Information
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