Molalla River School District board adopts most policies, approves consent agenda and integrated application

The Molalla River School District 35 Board of Directors on April 10 approved the consent agenda, adopted a package of policy updates in their second reading while tabling several items for further review, and approved an integrated application for teaching and learning programs.

Why it matters: The policy adoptions and the integrated application clear administrative steps that affect district operations and instructional programs for the coming school year. The board also received progress reports on facility work, a safety-focused public-address system review and an elementary tutoring pilot that showed preliminary gains.

The board opened business by approving the consent agenda, which included the March meeting minutes and the personnel report. A board member moved and another seconded the motion; the board then voted to approve the consent agenda by voice/hand raise.

On a bundled second reading, trustees moved to adopt the majority of policies proposed by the district’s policy committee. At the meeting the board chair read a list of policy codes and asked whether there were questions; a trustee noted concerns about nondiscrimination language and whether certain immigrant-identifying programs were covered under the district’s civil-rights protections. The board ultimately adopted the policies presented at second reading except for a short list the board tabled for further review: the board set aside GBM/JBA, AC-AC-AR12 and the JVA/GBN-related policies for additional committee consideration and follow-up.

During the meeting the board unanimously approved an integrated application for teaching and learning programs as presented. The application deadline referenced by staff was April 30; a trustee moved to approve the submitted integrated application and the motion carried.

Board members also heard informational updates: Dr. Stewart reported on capital projects, saying design-development estimates and hazardous-material survey updates were expected soon and that early site work and demolition planning were likely to occur over the summer. Technology director Mr. Shaw briefed the board on a recent RFP and vendor demonstrations for a replacement public-address/communications system at the high school; the district staff reported selecting a vendor they judged to balance features, future expandability and sustainable licensing costs and said project scope and start dates will be finalized with district technicians.

Facilities staff reported recent energy-efficiency work completed under an Energy Trust program: LED fixture replacements in the main gym and adjacent spaces produced incentives and an estimated near-term utility savings the presenter summarized as roughly $8,000 across the completed fixtures. Finance director Mr. Campbell gave a brief budget update and noted upcoming budget dates: a budget orientation on April 24 and the first budget committee meeting on May 1 (second committee meeting scheduled for May 15).

The board also received results from an elementary tutoring pilot targeting K–3 foundational skills. Staff said the program trained 19 tutors and served about 70 students, and that early comparison measures suggested improved outcomes for students who received tutoring versus those who did not; staff said they plan to continue the program and to refine tutor recruitment and scheduling.

The meeting included ceremonial remarks from a visiting FBLA delegation and updates from the student board representative, who highlighted recent student achievements and upcoming events.

Votes at a glance: - Consent agenda (March minutes and personnel report): motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved by voice/raise (names not recorded in the minutes). - Policy adoptions (second reading): motion to adopt the policies presented by the policy committee; outcome: approved for the bulk of policies presented; exceptions tabled — GBM/JBA, AC-AC-AR12, and JVA/GBN-related policies were set aside for further review. - Integrated application (teaching and learning): motion to approve the integrated application as submitted; outcome: approved (mover/second not specified in record).

Board members and staff cautioned that several items will return to committee for final language review or additional detail. No ordinance, contract award, or budget adoption requiring a recorded roll-call vote was reported in the transcript.