[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6276519,"mediaKeyId","2659368-a8e1795e071fd8f4703053293ef0874e","parentId",2659368,"title","District previews Genuine Foods proposal; food-service projection shows deeper fund drawdown under contract scenario","audioSeconds",119,"startMs",1342000,"endMs",1461000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2659368-a8e1795e071fd8f4703053293ef0874e&start=1342&end=1461","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2659368-a8e1795e071fd8f4703053293ef0874e/thumbnail_1342000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6276519/Oregon/District-previews-Genuine-Foods-proposal-food-service-projection-shows-deeper-fund-drawdown-under-contract-scenario","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6276519-31b604dae0a521d6f88e86d0983206a4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771070876&Signature=DzqLwAU0avMtMGpTJJEWTonWDdfyz4a8DrEusENT8k1h7yUsAw-O30exX1lbWMsn8zuW4WGwYs-Y06nDZm23Uf6C3TuMiwzuAbFijxIwenjn3EUSafd9tbQN1noyQfrF~8seuG~9p1LGRhhQ-6QwlStoBFoA74KCX7Dn47j8Gk0C9uEub-R52FOCV0B0y~4IDCWIQtbqzX0yKt4gqzQyQ7q~DaDeGtAZxoVD4o391NmlJpMzxAZDOJpehmblzVNgSngocxbhe6w6AHIsIzvIsX98crG7b2S7OfRcdz0kvKsHz4xHTipcHwtqAYfvmtgKC2Fyj-XIBebh4MGvV1Ojpg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Greater Albany Public Schools","date","2025-02-24T00:00:00Z","article","The board heard an update on the food-service contract procurement and a financial scenario tied to an RFP response from Genuine Foods.

Dave (food service lead) summarized a staff-led review of Sodexo’s management and the district’s market analysis. Staff invited Genuine Foods for a three‑day on-site visit and solicited staff feedback on menu variety and product quality; all staff who responded supported a change in provider and rated Genuine Foods’ presentation favorably. Dave said the district had an ODE-approved one‑year emergency temporary contract template and that Genuine Foods will present to the board in March with materials in the March packet.

Finance presenter Jane presented a fund-level projection for the food-service fund showing the fund’s ending balance dropping to 1.5 (presented as 1.5 in the board packet). Jane said ODE guidance recommends an ending fund balance not greater than three months of operating expense and that the projected 1.5 was in line with the goal of reducing a post‑COVID high balance while keeping reserves within acceptable practice. Jane cautioned that the scenario assumes particular participation and CPI assumptions and that the vendor conservatively did not include CPI increases in its projection.

Board members asked clarifying questions about the financial inputs and staffing implications of outsourcing. Dave said the RFP included estimated classified‑salary schedule costs should service FTE change under a new operator, and staff said materials in March would include the RFP, transition talking points and a presentation. No binding action was taken at the session; the board will review full RFP materials and hear Genuine Foods at the next meeting.

Provenance: Dave and Jane presented the RFP background and fund projection; staff will bring a formal proposal to the March board meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Regular School Board Meeting - February 24, 2025 - 6:00 p.m.","oneSentenceSummary","Board staff described a planned presentation from Genuine Foods and a food‑service fund projection that would reduce the fund’s year‑end balance under the vendor scenario.","taxTitle","Greater Albany Public SD 8J, School Districts, Oregon","taxId",65671,"location","Oregon","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":44,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6276524,"Albany schools project $6.1 million shortfall for 2025-26 amid enrollment decline and rising costs",911,431000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2659368-a8e1795e071fd8f4703053293ef0874e&start=431&end=1342","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2659368-a8e1795e071fd8f4703053293ef0874e/thumbnail_431000.jpg","/articles/6276524/Oregon/Albany-schools-project-61-million-shortfall-for-2025-26-amid-enrollment-decline-and-rising-costs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6276524-3481c46e1a4b8116f5e63b772bedb656/orig.mp4?Expires=1771070876&Signature=PXRVKjz0oU9Ii90TYN-BUoxGVqPZaSoL-hlzEbImQtSI56Gt6xRznNnaL0s91zEHD9xS6W5TXj~O6h~4Kns8kbc6ds4RS0mU1VUSjWGBbQxWTCvzgfjt2XF6ZduYa0MYIjhX4LyzozKcz2zSiWWKzW28rnAWCmGgbSpAfwNDwEAdEK1GsProZ9PEj5t9uDa0IkrXqLw8O-cmgTQU7iiOIFV0m4--Xxd0GwTPWnMhZQMrO~naS~DswR02WP0Ibq2~5UcAaXBuhrVhumuysgC4mREE-L34ayKyq3YsSySo4gAguUriixvwBkjFmNT3HgxXxm1cwB9JGNDmFyVMLeaTug__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Greater Albany Public School District presented a preliminary budget projection showing a projected operating shortfall of about $6.1 million for fiscal 2025-26, driven largely by declining student counts and rising personnel costs.

Finance presenter Jane (finance presenter) told the board the district’s funded student count (average daily membership, or ADM) has fallen across five years by roughly 308 pupils and that district funding depends on the ADM. Using current inputs, Jane said the district’s beginning fund balance would fall from about $16 million for 2024-25 to about $13 million in 2025-26 and roughly $11 million in 2026-27 under the scenario shown to the board. She described the projection as provisional and said the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) will provide updated statewide ADM and tax estimates in coming weeks that could change the outlook.

The projection attributes the shortfall to several cost increases: health-insurance changes estimated at about $527,000, a 3% collective-bargaining-based COLA that adds roughly $3.8 million, estimated step increases around $600,000 and an assumed PERS cost increase of about $2.5 million above current expense levels. Jane said some revenue offsets are expected — for example, projected ESD transit funds of about $600,000 over the next two years — but not enough to close the gap under current assumptions.

Board members pressed for clarity on the inputs and possible responses. One board member summarized the problem as a “classic squeeze,” saying, “We’re reducing revenue while increasing expenses and the red ink is the only possible outcome,” and several trustees urged staff to continue refining estimates as ODE updates statewide figures.

District leaders also flagged two one-time timing issues that affect later years: bond levy expirations that reduce tax capacity even while the district may still owe debt-service payments for a year, and the uncertain statewide allocation of a recent gubernatorial funding proposal (the presenter showed a scenario using a state funding factor the presenter referred to as 11.37). Staff said those timing and allocation items will inform the 2026-27 projection.

Next steps the board heard included continued review of non-salary budgets, meetings with principals and grant managers, consideration of a hiring freeze, and targeted review of substitute and unemployment costs. Jane said she will bring updated numbers — including more explicit PERS calculations and the bond-debt-service timing — to the district’s budget committee when ODE provides statewide data.

Why it matters: Albany’s classroom funding is largely formula-driven and depends on ADM and state funding levels. The board was presented with an early, conservative scenario that indicates the district will need to consider expense reductions or new revenue assumptions to avoid drawing reserves to an unsustainable level.

What the board said next: trustees thanked staff for early warning and asked for follow-up detail on PERS, the capture rate for incoming kindergarten classes and scenarios that would soften the impact on classroom services and employees.

Provenance: presentation and Q&A began with the district finance presentation at the board packet review and continued through the subsequent discussion with board members and superintendent staff.","The Greater Albany Public School District presented a preliminary budget projection showing a projected operating shortfall of about $6.1 million for fiscal 2025-26, driven largely by declining student counts and rising personnel costs.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6276509,"External review finds consistent mental‑health demand in Albany schools; recommends targeted investments in FACT and data alignment",720,2891000,3611000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2659368-a8e1795e071fd8f4703053293ef0874e&start=2891&end=3611","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2659368-a8e1795e071fd8f4703053293ef0874e/thumbnail_2891000.jpg","/articles/6276509/Oregon/External-review-finds-consistent-mentalhealth-demand-in-Albany-schools-recommends-targeted-investments-in-FACT-and-data-alignment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6276509-9df9fbd54a0c431269ab592499173da2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771070876&Signature=eneI6R7fwH9QVQoGMmilx7k5eQppeW9g8L0tdEtENWVK0WxkILk8TiflXLuvrq4ghdBUJNa9vDGDjCiC3laKsO2gdEEqWtItCYS-kcmYCQPdWsv8AqOjySRdHXs8vozpYybf6i1YPjAo19-pssN7zwxDTQwvmD79b1T5pPxlgeON6~259W8LdFYyb8brRGNM32DGGGBxTBc~KTm~SrBhxtv-tSgLSAGeKGclkJiqTCHe~xFxEOP~mRRLaFQDI3ciozcqUvWh6SRPnrSZGtCLplwHU9MUvk1us7zXgVTBYfXv9-eaW0VzORoVsmjaHYdZbDu8DzJPKyi44dwECEFNHA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The board received a needs analysis of district mental‑health supports from Joe Lykem, a licensed clinical social worker and director of Oregon State University’s applied mental‑health program.

Lykem told the board he used a mixed‑methods evaluation that combined district administrative data, additional survey questions added to last year’s staff Tell survey, and qualitative interviews with roughly 20 staff members selected from a longer list provided by HR. He said staff participation in interviews and surveys provided a strong base for the review.

Findings and themes:
- Strengths: The Families and Communities Together (FACT) team is a highly regarded, outcome‑driven component of district supports and is the usual escalation point staff use when cases require community coordination. Several community nonprofits — cited specifically in presentation as Jackson Street Youth Shelter and Ophelia’s Place — provide important wraparound supports.
- Barriers: Lykem identified inconsistent access to community partners across cases and lengthy waits for external care (reportedly sometimes up to six months). He also flagged economic drivers — housing instability and food insecurity — as exacerbating student distress.
- Prevalence: Using district data and survey results, Lykem estimated a minimum of about 25% of students experienced some level of mental‑health need during the year and that roughly 40% of staff showed some level of struggle, though he cautioned about measurement limitations and episodic need across the school year.

Recommendations Lykem emphasized to the board included: expanding and enriching school‑based mental‑health and social supports (with FACT identified as a strategic place for modest investment), aligning and standardizing district data systems and reporting for student services, and board advocacy to amplify staff needs and partner coordination. He also suggested pursuing Medicaid‑funded services where feasible and noted the state’s low ranking on youth mental‑health measures.

Board members asked for the written report; Lykem said the document is in the board packet and offered follow‑up. Trustees thanked staff and the FACT team for their work.

Provenance: Joe Lykem presented the evaluation and took board questions about standardization, Medicaid billing opportunities and recommended investments.","An independent needs analysis presented to the board found substantial and uneven mental‑health need among students and staff, praised the district’s FACT team and recommended targeted investments and better districtwide data alignment.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6276514,"Board hears detailed survey and cost analysis for middle‑school sports; wrestling club offers to expand access",5337,1753000,7090000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2659368-a8e1795e071fd8f4703053293ef0874e&start=1753&end=7090","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2659368-a8e1795e071fd8f4703053293ef0874e/thumbnail_1753000.jpg","/articles/6276514/Oregon/Board-hears-detailed-survey-and-cost-analysis-for-middleschool-sports-wrestling-club-offers-to-expand-access","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6276514-02d1750ed1d4a88c76756695179d3594/orig.mp4?Expires=1771070876&Signature=TiYInduuh~i6ZwGYVYjDDll629qNoVTQ-Ut0k2j4l0wmCg4e0-H8eHdiaEmE4-dGKGD81zRVoifxPTyQPh5rNsfAmtMWu~9wZaNBwJAqsa6zpmcT7axiTq07Hv9Rc8MF1HOim~ia876DhLkwYbGHTdbqeWhgf2l5AnaktYvxZpBOllRkEsY5XJ7uyg59kp7rtJYPLe2mlzvx5auYrWeGwAXkYlKwYzE17euP-uEnfJElED~9WcV8mMjmvwl3f9uj-FpIxTrvYZcztngPBehuZ3dBCjXjrD8tBkR9epItqYu1XwBbci-xikrRF5JIa8DAcEHTSxkehqvnjVXmu1hWWQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The board reviewed a staff analysis of middle‑school extracurricular sports funded by Student Investment Account (SIA) dollars and heard a separate community presentation from the West Albany MAC (mat) Club about middle‑school wrestling.

Bruce (athletics coordinator) presented results of a student survey of 1,339 middle‑school students: 66% reported interest in middle‑school sports. Top student choices overall were basketball, soccer, track and field and volleyball; in fall, volleyball and cross country led; soccer was strong in spring. The board packet included seasonal breakouts and counts (for example, 334 fall responses identified volleyball and 423 spring responses identified soccer). Bruce also presented a staff coaching survey with 56 respondents that identified past coaching experience (21 staff had coached soccer; 9 had coached volleyball; fewer responded for wrestling).

Bruce reviewed current SIA allocations: each middle school receives $48,000 for clubs and activities, with $2,000 per school allocated to a district coordinator; the presenter showed realized underspending that left about $51,500 available under current yearly spending patterns. Staff broke down available and estimated startup costs by sport, noting some high initial capital for wrestling (mats, headgear) and one‑time equipment costs for other sports (goals, nets). Examples presented: districtwide costs shown in the packet put cross‑country at about $36,000 and track and field at about $41,500; transportation estimates used a $400 per sport estimate for intra‑district competition.

Bruce and principals also warned the board about transportation constraints: the district has a limited pool of trip drivers and high‑school vans are used to support high school competition first; some sports’ travel outside the district would require routes at non‑standard times or volunteer drivers. Board members and staff discussed recruiting volunteer drivers and whether union rules or safety checks would affect the pool of available drivers.

Brody Harvey from the West Albany MAC Club said his nonprofit club runs year‑round wrestling for ages 4–8th grade, currently fields about 71 middle‑school wrestlers, charges a modest club fee ($50) and relies on volunteers. He offered mats and logistical support and proposed a city‑level middle‑school wrestling league that would run a 9‑week in‑season schedule of duals and a city championship. Brody said the club and high‑school coaches have produced state placers and growing girls’ participation; he estimated startup costs for a district league (officials, stipends, singlets and incidental equipment) in the low thousands and said singlets could be provided from existing inventories.

What the board will do next: staff said they will refine cost models as they move into the budget season, take coaching recruitment steps and return with concrete program proposals and budget options to consider before final allocations are set.

Provenance: Bruce’s presentation (middle school survey, SIA spending) and Brody Harvey’s testimony and offer of support were the primary sources for this article.","A district survey of 1,339 middle‑school students showed 66% interest in participating in sports; principals and staff discussed costs, coaching capacity and bus/driver limits. Staff recommended using SIA funds to expand offerings; West Albany’s mat club told the board it can supply wrestling mats and help run a league.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6276504,"Votes at a glance: board approves routine consent items and LBLESD Local Service Plan",8089,205000,8294000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2659368-a8e1795e071fd8f4703053293ef0874e&start=205&end=8294","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2659368-a8e1795e071fd8f4703053293ef0874e/thumbnail_205000.jpg","/articles/6276504/Oregon/Votes-at-a-glance-board-approves-routine-consent-items-and-LBLESD-Local-Service-Plan","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6276504-c39e14dc5070cbc85e4c123c7b77f2a3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771070876&Signature=RkCS82YFVTeM92aM8kPJsW1ZYNk3zWoUvN3LE~xMkjUKeB-6x7Dkzxt988UdpBZuLlfRI7yfMaHin8NrqfWjS8OE7mo9inX5OankwY~eygCdbdZxQmCDijBoa0~U1fddxJ-zrv07ZMIcHg0t7bE5f9E8DXPNPNhMr0ObB1JSmo0eYPs1vG8XvmzojZBxFD1a9LrC0YcL6QUiWC9DbQGecbngz3e0Dp3kJvN9dGuylr8lPbJpnNBee2YDvf2TLyMofPbS5UNfWGacOf3ND3QmiLL6~nwcFiW4GBAGAkA8LjK-pg9P7BlnVbbmije2vxHAw9KGLjLNzl3vBmtrjD7Aqw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the meeting the board took several routine motions and votes summarized below.

Votes recorded during the session

- Approval of agenda as presented — motion made and approved by voice vote (transcript: “I move to approve the agenda as presented.” / “All second. All in favor. Aye.”). No mover or a recorded roll-call tally appear in the transcript.

- Personnel (licensed) — motion to approve personnel licensed; motion seconded and approved by voice vote (transcript: “I move to approve the personnel license.” / “All in favor. Aye.”).

- Personnel (classified) — motion to approve classified personnel; seconded and approved by voice vote.

- Minutes (regular board meeting 2-10-2025) — motion to approve the minutes was moved, seconded and approved by voice vote.

- LBLESD Local Service Plan (second reading/approval) — motion to approve the LBL ESD local service plan as presented; motion seconded and approved by voice vote. Staff noted the ESD is making reductions tied to regional enrollment declines and that approving the plan conforms with routine interdistrict ESD processes.

- Motion to adjourn — moved, seconded and approved by voice vote.

What the transcript records and what it does not:
- The transcript records each motion and the board’s voice approval (“Aye”), but does not provide a roll‑call tally or name each mover/second for several motions. Where a speaker moved the motion on the record, the transcript text is included below under provenance.
- No final contract awards or budget adoptions were voted at this meeting; those items were discussed and scheduled for future meetings.

Provenance: citations below point to the transcript lines where each motion is recorded.","The board approved the meeting agenda, personnel items, minutes and the LBLESD Local Service Plan and adjourned. No controversial final decisions were taken on contracts or budget allocations at this meeting.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

District previews Genuine Foods proposal; food-service projection shows deeper fund drawdown under contract scenario

Albany schools project $6.1 million shortfall for 2025-26 amid enrollment decline and rising costs

External review finds consistent mental‑health demand in Albany schools; recommends targeted investments in FACT and data alignment

Board hears detailed survey and cost analysis for middle‑school sports; wrestling club offers to expand access

Votes at a glance: board approves routine consent items and LBLESD Local Service Plan