December 11, 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. NAME - Topic

Description:  The District's cash flow projections remain solid, but as more detail in expenses related to PERS and payroll costs is recorded for full operating school months, projections for Ending Fund Balance for the fiscal year are lower.

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 superintendents 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.

In compliance with both the State statute and school board policy, this executive summary provides a list of all contracts recommended for non-renewal (ORS 342.513) as well as licensed and contracted positions recommended for employment with a request for board approval.

SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIALS:
1. Licensed New Hires Recommended for Hire in 2025-2026
2. Probationary Licensed Recommended for Non-Renewal in 2026-2027

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 November 20, 2025 board work session.
 

Policy	Title
BBFC	Reporting of Suspected Abuse of a Child
IIA	Instructional Materials
JGA	Corporal Punishment

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: 

In compliance with ORS 338.065(1)(b), the Center for Advanced Learning (CAL) has submitted a request to renew its charter with the district. In compliance with ORS 338.065(5)(c), the board will hold a public hearing regarding this request for renewal. The hearing will include a presentation from the school, public testimony, and a question-and-answer session with the board. 

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: 

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: 

In the Multnomah County region, there is one board of directors position open, and member school boards are asked to vote on the candidates who have filed for that position. Following is a slate of candidates representing Multnomah County school districts:

OSBA Board of Directors, Position 18
Kris Howatt, Gresham-Barlow School District 
Brenda Rivas, Parkrose School District

Member school boards have also been asked to vote on the three representative positions open for the Legislative Policy Committee (LPC). Following is a slate of candidates running for the LPC Representative Positions: 

LPC Position 17
Heather Coleman-Cox, Gresham-Barlow School District
Uncontested

LPC Position 18
Althea Ender, David Douglas School District
Uncontested

LPC Position 19
Christy Splitt, Portland Public Schools
Uncontested

Under OSBA's governance structure, member school boards are required to take official action on the slate of candidates by casting one vote (meaning this is a board vote, not an individual vote). 

The voting period opens in mid-November each year, following the fall regional dinner meetings and the annual OSBA Convention where more information about candidates can be acquired. Additional candidate information for the board of directors and LPC candidates can be found on the OSBA Elections webpage: https://www.osba.org/osba-elections-information-3/

This information is now being presented for first reading and board action. The board secretary must submit the completed ballot online no later than December 15, 2025. 

Description: 

Aligning for Student Success is an integrated guidance and application process for multiple ODE initiatives which include High School Success (M98), Student Investment Account (SIA) within the Student Success Act, Early Literacy Success School District Grant, Continuous Improvement Planning (CIP), Career and Technical Education - Perkins V (CTE), Every Day Matters, Career Connected Learning and Early Indicator Intervention Systems (EIIS). This integration work has brought multiple programs together to improve outcomes and learning conditions for students and educators. 

This is being presented to the Board to approve the 2025-27 SIA Grant Agreement.

Description:  Jeff Gibbs, Executive Director of Technology Services, will provide an update on the district's technology. This will include information on the parent webinar, budget, classroom technology, and new student internship opportunities. 

Description:  Pursuant to Policy IKF, the district will annually review graduation requirements. This will include an overview of current diploma types, graduation standards, and possible changes and adjustments.  

Description:  The District's cash flow projections remain solid, but as more detail in expenses related to PERS and payroll costs is recorded for full operating school months, projections for Ending Fund Balance for the fiscal year are lower.

Description: 

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

December 18, 2025:            Board Work Session - 6 p.m.
                                             Council Chambers Conference Room
                                             Public Safety and Schools Building

Dec 22, 2025 - Jan 2, 2026 : Winter Break
                                              No Board Meetings

January 8, 2026:                    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.