December 12, 2019 at 5:30 PM - Executive Session with Regular Meeting to follow

Description: 
Mission Statement   “Graduating all students to be college and career ready; challenging, inspiring, and empowering them to be healthy and productive citizens.”        

Vision Statement   “North Wasco is a premier school district.  We provide students a rigorous and relevant education with schools performing academically in the top 5% of the nation.  Our students are inspired by a talented, innovative, and highly effective staff that values continuous professional growth. Our district graduates citizens who are ethical and motivated to achieve their limitless potential.  North Wasco is fully embraced by the community, reflecting its health and well being.” 

Description:  Speakers may offer objective criticism of district operations and programs but the board will not hear complaints regarding any individual district staff member. The Board chair will direct the visitor to the procedures in Board Policy KL/GBM - Complaints for consideration of a legitimate complaint involving a staff member.  A commendation involving a staff member should be sent to the superintendent, who will forward it to the employee, his/her supervisor and the Board. 

Description:  OSBA Board Officers:  Two candidates from the Gorge Region (Position 2) are on the ballot - Scott Rogers & Paul Zastrow.

Description:  Adoption of new and revised complaint and appeal Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR) by the State Board of Education in March 2019 affected several policies and administrative regulations.  OSBA has collaborated with the Oregon Department of Education to establish how the new rules affect public charter schools.  Through statute, school districts that sponsor a public charter school have jurisdiction over the public charter school for certain complaints.  OSBA and ODE recommends a discussion with the public charter school and their sponsoring district to establish delegation of final decision making for complaints involving restraint or seclusion, discrimination, retaliation, or applicable Division 22 Standards, for which the school's sponsor has jurisdiction.  Acknowledgment of whether a complainant may appeal to the board of the public charter school's sponsor is recommended through a resolution by the sponsoring board, adoption of policy language or by a provision in the charter agreement.  Policy language is included to help the sponsoring school board decide if they will uphold the decision of the charter board, or hear the appeal from the complainant.  The OARs (581-002-0003 - 581-002-0005) describe the complaints that may be appealed to ODE, and only complaints that have already reached a final decision by the school's sponsor for which the sponsor has jurisdiction pursuant to law. 

Description:  Senate Bill 155 (2019) amended statute on reporting suspected sexual conduct and suspected child abuse.  SB 155 assigned investigative responsibilities to ODE for non-licensed employees for reports of sexual conduct and investigative responsibilities to TSPC for employees licensed through TSPC.  The SB redefines sexual conduct, adds a definition for student in relation to sexual conduct, amends reporting requirements, makes volunteers subject to law, and maintains applicability to contractors and agents.  The SB adds applicability of the law on suspected child abuse to contractors, agents and volunteers to protect students.  The SB requires districts to designate a licensed administrator and alternate licensed administrator for each school building assigned to receive reports of suspected abuse or suspected sexual conduct and their contact information and other required information found in the amended policies and administrative regulations.  In cases of suspected abuse, the district must also post contact information for the local Department of Human Services office and other required information noted in the amended policies and administrative regulations. There are new reporting requirements for the designated administrators to TSPC or ODE when they receive a report of suspected sexual conduct.  Nothing in the bill prevents a district from conducting their own investigation and acting on information gained from the investigation prior to completion of an investigation and determination from another agency.  The recommended policy to replace the current policy has extensive rewriting and the deleting/rescinding of previous versions and adoption of new versions is highly recommended. 

Description:  HB 2341 (2019) makes it an unlawful employment practice for an employer to deny employment opportunities, fail to make reasonable accommodations, or take certain actions because of known limitations of an employee or applicant's pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical condition.  The bill provides exemptions for a reasonable accommodation that requires significant difficulty or expense that imposes an undue hardship on district operations.  It exempts districts with fewer than six employees.  Additionally, SB 479 (2019) made ORS 659A.082 part of the definition of work-place harassment involving discrimination of an employee's service in a uniformed service. 

Description:  Revisions recommended from the December 5th, 2019 Board Work Session. 

Description:  Revisions recommended from the December 5th, 2019 Board Work Session. 

Description:  The Oregon School Boards Association sent out a memo on November 26th notifying School Districts that OSBA has not released a revision of the optional Policy GCPC/GDPC and AR related to PERS retirement and work-back.  OSBA is waiting for further clarification regarding the work-back provision in the new law, Senate Bill 1049.  Most of SB1049 will go into effect January 1st, 2020. Policy GCPC/GDPC and AR will no longer be legal as of January 1st so these policies are being removed from NWCSD Board Policy.