Molly Martinez, supervisor for Oregon City Community Education, briefed the school board on Aug. 11 about community education offerings and a back‑to‑school resource fair scheduled for Aug. 28 at Jennings Lodge Campus.
Martinez said the department serves the wider community (not only district students) and offers classes, youth sports, preschool and after‑school childcare. The department’s back‑to‑school resource fair is set for Thursday, Aug. 28, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Jennings Lodge and will include vendor tables, free food, school supplies, library‑provided books and activities; Martinez said a similar event last year served more than 350 families.
Other programs Martinez described: a ceramics class (Sept. 25–Nov. 13) to be taught by Tamwada Middle School art teacher James Martin; co‑ed youth volleyball for grades 3–8 with seasonal enrollment that averaged more than 100 participants per season last year; and a total of about 871 registrations across community ed activities during the 2024–25 year (some participants enroll in multiple activities). The department’s After the Bell after‑school childcare operates at all six elementary schools and serves about 270 children; the Early Learning Center preschool at Jennings Lodge serves roughly 54 three‑to‑five‑year‑olds and will continue mixed‑age classrooms aligned with kindergarten readiness standards.
Martinez said the childcare and preschool programs are licensed‑exempt but meet Department of Early Learning and Care expectations for health, safety and staff training; staff are listed with the central background registry and hold required first aid and CPR certifications. She noted partnerships and scholarship options that keep costs low: Building Blocks for Kids offers scholarships with no strict eligibility determination, and community partnerships (for example with NAMI Clackamas for family workshops in Spanish) have helped offer free or low‑cost classes.
Board members asked for a consolidated schedule of open houses, registration dates and back‑to‑school events; Martinez said she would provide a list for board members and encouraged families to enroll early so schools can plan. The supervisor said she is exploring program expansions but highlighted the existing cornerstones of preschool, youth sports and After the Bell as the department’s main sustained offerings.