June 24, 2024 Work Session Meeting Minutes

 MINUTES OF THE SCHOOL BOARD OF DISTRICT NO. 40,
YAMHILL COUNTY, McMINNVILLE, OREGON

The Work Session was held June 24, 2024 both in person and via Zoom at the McMinnville School District Office, 800 NE Lafayette Ave., McMinnville, OR 97128 

The link was https://msd40.zoom.us/j/97721628814

At 6:31 p.m. the Board of Directors of McMinnville School District opened the work session meeting.  The meeting was called to order by Chair Jason Bizon.

Roll call indicated the following:

BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT:
Chair Director Jason Bizon
Vice-Chair Director Abbie Warmbier
Director Lu Ann Anderson
Director Carson Benner
Director  Gerardo Partida
Director Doris Towery
Director Larry Vollmer

BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT:
None

ADMINISTRATION:
Debbie Brockett, Superintendent
Cherice Bowden, Board Secretary

AUDIENCE:
Kourtney Ferrua, Jason Hall, Steffanie Frost, Shelly Simonyi, Karina Smith and Hiran Amerasinghe. See attached.

• Secondary Cell Phone Presentation
  Assistant Principal Jeremy Vernon read a letter from Principal Dave Furman regarding the goal of moving to a phone free school and the school’s responsibility to support our community in responding to issues of teen well-being and mental health.  Principal Hilary Brittan Lack and Allison Eitzen shared a presentation on cell phone free school. AP Jeremy Vernon proposed that they want to adopt a phone free school for students sixth through twelve.  He shared the benefits, their current policy, MHS teacher survey results, possible solutions, next steps, and resources. Principal Eitzen shared how they handle phone use  at Patton MS; they call away for the day.   They have a completely phone free school, there is no exception to the rule, you cannot have your phone out for any reason.  Principal Brittan Lack shared that Duniway MS is pretty much the same as Patton MS.   

  Both middle school principal’s shared the consequences for breaking the rule.  Medical students do have an exception to the rule.  Students may carry a card to show a teacher or sub.  Superintendent Brockett shared a quote from YONDR with the board and AP Vernon passed around the YONDR pouches as well.   See presentation 

  Officer Preston, the School Resource Office (SRO) for the District stated that probably 90% of the cases he works have some nexus to a cell phone, typically being shared at school.  It may be a video of other kids that they didn’t know they were being filmed, or fights. He states that we could mitigate a lot of that if we don’t have cell phones in the classroom.  It is an extreme safety hazard for anybody, any law enforcement office, students and staff when everything is getting posted on social media in real time; if we can see it, whoever else is trying to harm the school or harm people can also see it in real time.  It is extremely hard to combat whatever the first misinformation was because nobody wants to take the time to do the research.

  Graduation Alliance
  Director Ferrua shared a presentation and gave an overview of the partnership that McMinnville School District has with Graduation Alliance.  The goal is to get students engaged in a physical school.  This is a dropout recovery, credit recovery and alternative programming option.  Below are some of the things that are offered to the students and families:

  • Wireless-enabled laptops
  • Comprehensive support (online and in-person mentors)
  • Courses aligned to our course bulletin and standards
  • Highly-qualified teachers and tutors who are available 24/7
  • Student resilience assessments and development programs

  She reviewed the process:

  • Building administration identifies students needing support
  • Notifies the CIA department
  • Department lead updates spreadsheet with student information, notifies Graduation Alliance

  If the student/family is contacted and interested:

  • Begin enrollment process, including Orientation Course
  • Registrar shares information
  • Student is re-enrolled in District
  • Credits and attendance are tracked, and reported back monthly

  Currently we have 28 students we are hoping to engage.  Five are active since May 2024.

  Early Literacy
  Director Ferrua gave an update on the Early Literacy Success Initiative.  For the school year 2023-2024 we received $464,238.80, for 2024-2025 we received $483,187.32.  

  Allowable uses:

  • Professional development and coaching for educators to improve early literacy
  • Extend learning programs that use research-aligned literacy strategies and resources
  • Summer reading programs and tutoring
  • Intensive summer intervention for students significantly below grade level
  • Adoption of curriculum to support reading instruction and culturally relevant practices
  • Additional literacy specialist, coaches or interventionists.

  She shared the breakdown of the final recommendation for use of funds.  See board packet for details.

  ELSI Successes 2023-2024

  • Full day  training for all K, 1, 2 and LRC elementary teachers
  • Two 2-hour training for early literacy classified staff
  • After school programming at all six elementary schools
  • Literacy nights at all elementary schools.
  • Full alignment of high quality curriculum with pacing calendars
  • Updated assessment plan with new research
  • Alignment of Articulated Foundation Skills instruction (phonics and phonemic awareness)
  • Kindergarten transition activities planned for August

  Oregon Demonstration Network Opportunity:

  • 14 sites in 2024-2025
  • Intentional support, resources and coaching for principals focusing on priority practices of Early Literacy

  Success Act include:

  • Adoption and implementation of science of reading research-aligned curriculum
  • Professional development and coaching for educators
  • Extended learning opportunities for students
  • High-Dosage Tutoring

  Willamette and Buel ES were chosen and will have access to best practices and renowned education researcher Dr. Nell Duke and other research experts .  See board packet for details.

• Subcommittee Reports

  Subcommittee reports were given by the board:  

  • Fiscal Subcommittee:

  Did not meet.

  • Instructional Improvement Subcommittee:

  Director Ferrua had updates on 25 very organized goals for her department and what they have done throughout the year.  Kindergarten enrollment is higher but PreK is still low.  There are some challenge materials that the staff is working through, looking at novels in our library.  Next year looking at Stanford children and also PLCs for staff on Wednesday mornings, how it is going to be organized a little differently.  Discussed health adoption, we are going to stay with what is on the state list.  Summer school programming is going on, but it’s bare bones and finding staff is a challenge.

  • Policy Subcommittee: 

  Did not meet.

  • Long Range Planning Subcommittee: 

  Wascher light assessment.  The new state regulation is that fluorescent bulbs are to be prohibited.  There is an incentive to help  transition from fluorescent to LED.  The cost for replacement is more than $44,000.00.  We received a $42,000.00 instant rebate to help with the total out of pocket cost.  The cost was less than $1200.00.  The same state requirement is going to affect the rest of the schools, we are working through how they are going to tackle it.  Did a cafeteria and gym lighting assessment.  Graduation preparation, the scoreboard, the bear and the flagpole were painted.  Concrete is going to be polished instead of waxed to preserve it. Investigating the cracks under the concrete on the Lafayette property. 

  Auctioned off a lot of equipment that was no longer being used; made a little under $10,000.00 which will go toward playground sites, upgrades and safety.  Facilities are in the process of doing a playground assessment.  Construction Pathway is building a lock shed for the track equipment.  The City has a safe routes to school grant and is making street improvements to access our schools.  More to come regarding the cement floor for the freezer at the maintenance building.

  Directors Comments
  Director Partida stated that it was exciting handing out the awards to the retirees last week.  38 years working in the district is amazing.   The proposal for the cell phones, he is on that part, but of course we have to listen to the community, parents, we have to educate the parents, and the community to get any opinion they have .  He believes it is a really good proposal.  He hopes we can do something to support the case, that’s the main thing. 

  Director Benner stated that he supports the very careful look and restrictions of cell phones at all schools. 

  Director Anderson echoed what Director Partida said about the awards for our retirees.  That was really a lot of  fun and good to see families come to help them celebrate.  She visited a couple of buildings and the drive through graduation was a blast.  She congratulated Dr. Ferrua for getting her Phd.

  Director Towery also congratulated Dr. Ferrua.  She echoed the awards for the retirees, there were some great conversations, and hearing the impact that they have had in our district was pretty awesome.  

  Director Vollmer gave a shout-out to Wascher ES for inviting him to field day.  He stated that to know that we can actually connect with the kids, to see how exciting much of what we do here ends up being for them.  He thanked Wascher ES for the invite.

  Director Warmbier stated that she got to participate in some of the fun end of the school year fun.  She went on a field trip to Gilbert House with her daughter’s class.  5th grade promotion at Newby ES was really special to see kids getting awards and recognized; just celebrating the end of that time.  Duniway MS had a bouncy house, dunking tank and all kinds of stuff that she had to go see because they had an amazing field day.  She is super passionate about the Anxious Generation book that she read.  What we talked about, whatever the option is, it’s going  to be a really hard change.  As much as we can do to support the staff and make those changes, it’s going to be best for kids.  She is willing to participate in whatever is needed and let them make the decision on what’s going to work at the high school.

  Chair Jason Bizon thanked Dr. Brockett for keeping the board in the loop on the grants being received as they come in.  He congratulated and thanked the team for getting them.  He thanked the board for attending the joint work session with the city.  Even though the meeting was long, there has been some good follow up after the meeting.  We will see how we progress from here and move forward.

    Upcoming dates:

  • Board Business meeting, July 8, 2024 
  • No Work Session meeting in July
  • Summer Board Retreat, August 3, 2024

  The Session adjourned at 8:11 p.m.