October 2, 2025 at 7:00 PM - Regular Board Business Meeting

Description: 

Blake Petersen, Chair
Holly Riegelmann, Vice-Chair
Heather Coleman-Cox, Director
Dr. Shawn Farrens, Director
Kris Howatt, Director
David Ligatich, Director
Brenna Puderbaugh, 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. Mark Spolitak - Issues at Gresham High School

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: 

Changes to the policies recommended by the Oregon School Boards Association (OSBA), district staff, and the Policy Review Committee were presented for first reading at the September 18, 2025 board work session.

Policy	Title
JFCEB	Personal Electronic Devices
IKFA	Early Graduation (Delete)
IKFB	Graduation Exercises

SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIALS: Revised policies (3) with recommended revisions

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:  October 2025 has been designated as National Principals/School Administrators Month, and is 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. It is appropriate that the board officially acknowledge the importance of a strong local school system and the contribution that school principals and administrators make to that system. A resolution of acknowledgment for that purpose has been prepared for the board's adoption. 

Description: 

At the National School Public Relations (NSPRA) Seminar, the Gresham-Barlow School District received several awards in NSPRA’s 2025 Publications and Digital Media Excellence Awards. The contest is open to school districts nationwide. Entries are judged on the overall excellence of the entry as well as its quality compared to other entries in the category submitted by like-size school districts across the nation.

Only a select few receive awards. The top award in each category is the Award of Excellence. Awards of Merit followed by Honorable Mentions are also given in each category.

National award winners such as the Gresham-Barlow School District are listed on the NSPRA website.

Award of Excellence, Dual Language Immersion Program Marketing Piece
Award of Excellence, Photo: Graduation Mom's Dream Come True
Award of Excellence, Photo: Looking Back
Award of Excellence, Newsletters: The Insider

 

Since 2013, the Gresham-Barlow School District has earned 51 national awards from NSPRA in the Publications and Electronic Media Contest.

The administration recommends that the board present Communications Director Athena Vadnais, APR, Multi-Media Communications Specialist Allie Lewis, and Communications Specialist Kenya Osorio, with the NSPRA Awards of Excellence.

Description: 

The Gresham-Barlow Education Foundation has identified the following dates for 2025-26 reports to the school board: 

October 2, 2025
January 8, 2026
March 5, 2026
May 7, 2026 

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

Description: 

Time has been set-aside on this 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: 

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: 

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: 

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

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

Description: 

Annually, 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, 2025. 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 581-022-2445 Universal Screenings for Risk Factors of Dyslexia, 581-022-2220 Health Services, and 581-022-2515 Menstrual Dignity for Students.

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 16, 2025 totaled 9,881 students, representing 47 above projections for 2025-26, 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:  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 Zoom link for virtual meeting attendance will be provided for upcoming meetings.

October 16, 2025:  Board Work Session - 6 p.m.
                               Council Chambers Conference Room
                               Public Safety and Schools Building

November 6, 2025: Regular Board Business Meeting - 7 p.m.
                                Council Chambers
                                Public Safety and Schools Building

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