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

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.

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. Kathryn Unger - Special Education

The District's financial position and cash flow projections remain stable, with minimal changes since last month's report. Current projections are to have an Ending Fund Balance of 6.3%, another tenth of a percent increase from the prior month's projection, indicating a variety of cost-saving measures are combining to have a marginal positive impact.

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.

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. Temporary Licensed Recommended for Non-Renewal in 2026-2027
3. Probationary Licensed Recommended for Non-Renewal in 2026-2027
4. Probationary Licensed Recommended for Renewal in 2026-2027
5. Contracted Licensed Recommended for Renewal in 2026-2028
6. Temporary Administrators Recommended for Non-Renewal in 2026-2027
7. Probationary Licensed Administrators Recommended for Renewal in 2026-2027
8. Non-Licensed Administrators Recommended for Renewal in 2026-2027

EXPLANATION: Board Policy CBG, Evaluation of the Superintendent states, "The Board will formally evaluate the superintendent's job performance at least once each year." In addition to this policy, the superintendent's contract stipulates that an evaluation of the superintendent must be completed by March 15 of each year. 

The board finalized the superintendent evaluation in February, and reviewed the information contained in the evaluation with Superintendent Klinger during an executive session prior to this meeting. The Superintendent Evaluation Committee has prepared the attached Summary Statement for the Superintendent's Evaluation for the 2025-2026 school year. The Superintendent Evaluation Committee is an advisory committee appointed by the Gresham-Barlow School District Board of Directors to develop a plan for evaluation of the superintendent and to coordinate the process. 

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. 

Karen Harshfield, Counselor on Special Assignment (COSA), has been selected for the 2026 Article of the Year Award by the Editorial Board of the Journal for Specialists in Group Work (JSGW). This award recognizes the most outstanding article published in JSGW during the previous volume year. Selection criteria include innovation, organization, and writing quality. The award considers practice-based, research-focused, or commentary articles that significantly contribute to group work literature, address the needs of diverse populations, provide inclusive service delivery methods, or demonstrate potential for substantial impact on group work practice and counselor training.

Ms. Harshfield's team efforts set a standard of excellence by deepening knowledge in the field and enhancing understanding of Qualitative Research within Online Psychoeducational, Counseling, and Therapy Groups. The JSGW Editorial Board, extended their heartfelt congratulations and look forward to her future contributions. 

In an effort to recognize students who achieve state champion status or its equivalent in activities and academic programs, tonight we have the opportunity to recognize a state champion musician from Deep Creek Damascus K-8.

Julian Berry, a fourth grader at Deep Creek Damascus, earned 1st Place and was named Champion of the Oregon Music Education Association Composition Competition for 2026. Julian's composition was picked from thousands of entries from all over the state of Oregon. He was honored at the OMEA Banquet on Saturday, January 17th in Eugene.

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.

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.

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

In compliance with ORS 338.095 (2), Metro East Web Academy (MEWA) must submit a report to the district and the State Board of Education each year on the performance of the school and its students in the preceding fiscal/school year. This report must include, among other things, information regarding the goals and assessments relating to student performance, and a look forward at the school year ahead.

Representatives from Metro East Web Academy will be at the board meeting to present their report.

The board will take a brief recess from the meeting. 

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

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

Action was taken at the November 20, 2025, board work session to accept a letter of resignation from Director David Ligatich who announced his intent to vacate Position 7, At-Large, effective November 20, 2025. The board officially declared a vacancy, pursuant to state statutes and board policy, and directed the administration to advertise the vacancy. 

Applications were received from 12 candidates. The board went through a screening process to select 4 finalists to interview, and interviews were held on February 12 and 20, 2026. Following is a list of the candidates:

According to Policy BBD/BBE, Board Vacancies/Board Member Removal from Office, upon appointment by the Board, the newly appointed Board member(s) will be sworn in and seated immediately. In accordance with policy, the newly appointed board member will be sworn in and seated with the board. 
 
SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: 
1. Board Policy BBD/BBE - Board Vacancies/Board Member Removal from Office
2. Board Policy BBBB - Board Member Oath of Office
 

Given the remaining subscription with the Stemscopes science curriculum, the Board approved a postponement of the elementary science curriculum implementation until the 2026-2027 school year to ensure prudent budget management.

The Oregon Department of Education (ODE) reviewed instructional materials in 2023 and formally recommended materials to meet the needs of the district's Science classrooms. The materials currently being used in the elementary classrooms were purchased in 2019. Throughout the 2024 school year, a committee of teachers, administrators, and coaches spent multiple sessions evaluating Science resources from the ODE-approved list. Parents and the community were offered the opportunity to review the materials during fall parent-teacher conferences.

As a result of these efforts, Amplify Science is recommended for adoption.

The Amplify Science curriculum is expected to cost up to $467,000.

The presentation will provide an overview of student transportation services that First Student provides to the Gresham-Barlow School District. 

The administration will provide an overview of recent formative assessment data from the elementary and secondary levels. 

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

March 9, 2026:        School SIP Overview with Board - 4 p.m.
                                Library
                                Gordon Russell Middle School

March 12, 2026:       Board Work Session - 6 p.m.
                                 Council Chambers Conference Room
                                 Public Safety and Schools Building

March 19, 2026:       Budget 101 - 7 p.m.
                                 Partnership Room
                                 Center for Advanced Learning

March 23-27, 2026: Spring Break
                                No Board Meetings

April 2, 2026:           Regular Board Business Meeting - 7 p.m.
                                Council Chambers
                                Public Safety and Schools Building

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