January 27, 2025 Work Session Meeting Minutes
SCHOOL BOARD OF DISTRICT NO. 40, YAMHILL COUNTY McMINNVILLE, OREGON
The Work Session was held January 27, 2025 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 Mr. Jason Bizon
Vice-Chair Ms. Abbie Warmbier
Ms. Lu Ann Anderson
Ms. Christine Bader
Mr. Gerardo Partida
Ms. Doris Towery
Mr. Larry Vollmer
BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT:
None
ADMINISTRATION:
Debbie Brockett, Superintendent
Cherice Bowden, Board Secretary
AUDIENCE:
Kourtney Ferrua, Jason Hall, Steffanie Frost, Shelly Simonyi, Brian Crain, Hilary Brittan Lack, Vicky Brown, Kim Price and Dave Furman.
There was one change made to the agenda: Immigration Update was moved to the first topic.
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Immigration Update:
Directors Kourtney Ferrua gave an overview on the federal changes for immigration. The presentation gave an overview of the background information:- Current Legal Standing: Plyler vs Doe
- Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
- Board Policy KN-AR: Law Enforcement Cooperation
- Board Policy KBA: Public Records Request
- Understand Nuances
Also, an overview of ODE & OSBA FAQ, current changes, and support for families and staff. See presentation.
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Pillar I – Teaching and Learning – Goal: Provide relevant, rigorous, and innovative academics that eliminate disparities in achievement.
Director Ferrua shared with the board links to ODE data dashboard, Oregonian date tool and MSD longitudinal date. She gave an overview for Objective 1, Objective 2 and Objective 3 and the progress.Superintendent Brockett gave an overview for Objective 4 and the progress.
Superintendent Brockett gave an overview:
Goal 1 – Foster the delivery of relevant, rigorous and innovative academic programs to eliminate disparities in student achievement. An overview was shared on the measurable success outcome and the outcome for this goal.Pillar 2 -Climate and Culture – Goal: Ensure safe, healthy, and supportive learning environments.
Director Simonyi gave an overview for Objective 1 and the progress.Superintendent Brockett gave an overview:
Goal 2 – Enhance the district’s focus on creating emotionally and physically safe, healthy, and inclusive environments for students and staff. An overview was shared on the progress, finding and next steps for this goal.Pillar 3 – Human Capital – Goal: Recruit and retain highly effective teachers, leaders, and staff.
Director Frost gave an overview for Objective 1 and Objective 2 and the progress.Superintendent Brockett gave an overview:
Goal 3 – Focus on recruiting, retaining, and supporting a culturally and linguistically diverse staff that reflects the student population. An overview was shared on the progress for this goal.Pillar 4 – Community Collaboration – Goal: Enhance family partnerships to boost student wellness, safety and academic achievement, increasing parents engagement and sense of school safety.
Director Ferrua gave an overview for Objective 1 and the progress.Superintendent Brockett gave an overview:
Goal 4 – Build strong partnerships with families and the community to enhance student success, safety and well-being. An overview was shared on the measurable success outcome and progress for this goal.Pillar 5 – Resource Management – Goal: Ensure safe, healthy, and supportive learning environments.
Director Crain and Director Hall gave an overview for Objective 1, Objective 2 and Objective 3 and the progress.Superintendent Brockett gave an overview:
Goal 5 – Ensure district operations are effective and efficient and support the strategic goals of safety and continuous improvement. An overview was shared and the results for this goal.Superintendent Brockett would like to focus on in 2025-2026:
Increase attendance rates, with intense focus on high school students.- Increase academic performance in math and ELA at grade 11.
- Decrease the academic gaps across all grade levels in EL and special education.
- Increase involvement of all families in the decision making process of the district. See presentation.
Subcommittee Reports:
Subcommittee reports were given by the board:- Fiscal Subcommittee: Update given at the last business board meeting. Hearing from the auditor at the next committee meeting.
- Instructional Improvement Subcommittee: Will be meeting this Thursday January 30, 2025.
- Policy Subcommittee: Meeting cancelled.
- Long Range Planning Subcommittee: The water leak at the high school was found. Going through the list of work orders. Reviewed the out of state travel for the high school students for band and choir. Discussed the Blue Collar Tour which is March 6, 8:00 – 2:00, the compressor at Grandhaven ES, the Safety Summit is March 5, 6:00 – 8:00 at Duniway MS, Raising Resilience meeting is February 5, 6:00 – 8:00 in the high school food court and the playground equipment.
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Directors’ Comments:
Director Partida stated that he appreciates everybody that is working in the school district on the immigration issue. He also states that he is worried about attendance and he hopes that we can communicate the information that they need so they don’t need to be afraid to attend school. He thanked everyone for working on it.Director Anderson thanked the Directors and Superintendent for their reports. They were informative. She states that our response about the immigration issue, she has a deep concern for our families and she is glad to know that we are on top of things and meeting with local officials.
Director Towery echoed her deep appreciation for the work they are doing. She said, “Thank you for everything you are doing to make sure our kids and families are feeling safe and kids can come to school and learn and have a positive place for them to be”. She was able to visit Willamette ES and see all of the amazing work that is happening with the garden.. She also said, “Brian, all the work that was done after the flood, the cafeteria looks amazing”. She thanked him for all of the work done.
Director Vollmer stated that he would like to reach out and show some appreciation to Wascher ES for inviting him along to volunteer some time at the swimming pool. He enjoys doing it. He also states that with this latest caper with all of the scare that is going through, it is very concerning. He appreciates all the folks that are sitting in meetings on topic after topic trying to figure it out. How do we keep them safe? How do we keep their families safe and all the different idea sharing we had here, shows how important the topic is to the district and to the board. He stated that he is very, very thankful.
Director Bader echoed the gratitude for everybody’s hard work on both of the important agenda topics. She wants to encourage everybody to encourage everybody to fill out the calendar survey.
Vice-Chair Warmbier stated that Saturday she attended a Legislative Policy Committee meeting for OSBA. They are trying to fix chronic absenteeism. They looked at the date and we are really in line with our county. Everyone is experiencing this problem. There are some ideas from the legislature of how they think they could impact it. She states that now is the time to reach out to the legislators, both to our reps for our district, Senate and House, and also to the Education Committees so they can hear from us and anybody who cares about education.
Chair Bizon stated that he attended MAC Madness, it was very well done and the attendance was great. They did a great job. He states that it is just a different mindset coming to school and they can get by; it is such a mountain and such a pit to crawl out of. It is going to take time and effort and intentionality. It is going to be hard for a while but it does not mean that we stop and we keep going. He thanked the Superintendent for her efforts. He informed the board that he is working with the Vice-Chair and board secretary on an executive session in February. We will be sending out the dates for the superintendent’s evaluation and working on the mid-year retreat in March.
Upcoming dates:
- Board Business meeting: February 10, 2025 and March 10, 2025.
- Work Session meeting: February 24, 2025
The Session adjourned at 8:55 p.m.