Superintendent reports convocation, device‑management rollout and modest enrollment decline
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Summary
Superintendent Dr. Klinger told the board the district welcomed nearly 10,000 students at the start of the school year, has begun implementing an electronic device management plan in response to a governors executive order, and is monitoring a modest enrollment decline that will affect budget forecasts.
Superintendent Dr. Klinger reported to the Gresham‑Barlow School District board on Aug. 27 that the district held its beginning‑of‑year convocation for roughly 1,100 employees and welcomed nearly 10,000 students back to class.
Dr. Klinger said the convocation theme ‘‘Together. We thrive.’’ resonated with staff and described the event as energetic and brief, with music performed by district educators. The superintendent said fall sports and activities were under way and that buses and school kitchens were operating on schedule.
On policy implementation, Dr. Klinger said the district has begun rolling out a districtwide electronic device management plan "in response to the governor's executive order." She said the plan built on practices already in place at many schools and is intended to reduce classroom distractions while bringing more consistency across buildings. Dr. Klinger added that leaders and staff anticipate challenges while implementing the policy but expressed optimism about the start of the school year.
On finances and enrollment, Dr. Klinger told the board that the Oregon Department of Education's first quarter revenue forecast for the biennium was released on Aug. 27 and that the district will receive eight forecasts during the biennium. She said district enrollment was "trending down a bit from last year at this time," a pattern the district expects to monitor and that could affect budget planning.
Dr. Klinger noted that student enrollment will be a key number to watch and that some registrations remained open; she also described the rollout of device management as a district priority tied to classroom instruction. The superintendent closed by thanking staff for the positive convocation feedback and by noting community engagement at school openings; she said Mayor Travis Stovall joined her at Holly Dale Elementary during the first week of school.
No formal board action accompanied the report. Board members thanked Dr. Klinger for the update.