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Forest Grove superintendent reports 169-student shortfall, new accountability law and program results
Summary
Superintendent Dr. Suzanne West told the school board the district is 169 students below its budget projection for 2024–25, outlined expectations for continued enrollment declines, summarized recent legislative developments including passage of a school accountability reform bill, and shared program and graduation statistics.
Forest Grove School District Superintendent Dr. Suzanne West reported on June 10 that district enrollment currently sits 169 students below the number the district used for budget planning, and staff expect incremental declines to continue for the next several years.
Dr. West said the district has already adjusted the budget committee’s proposals to account for the enrollment variance and expects stabilization “about a decade out,” but projected declines will influence staffing and budget decisions in the near term. She cited a state economic analysis showing the state’s population has shifted toward a larger share of residents age 65 and older than younger cohorts.
Dr. West also provided legislative and program updates. She said the state’s school-accountability reform bill has passed the legislature and is expected to be signed by the governor; once signed, the Department of Education will undertake rulemaking and the district will monitor the new accountability metrics for implications on local schools. She reported the governor’s budget had passed with $360,000,000 in relevant allocations and that technical changes to the state school fund (CSL adjustments) have been codified into law, which the district expects will affect future allocations.
Program highlights Dr. West shared to the board: - CHEECHUS (community program) supported 209 students this school year with after‑school and one‑on‑one support, offering approximately 186 sessions of 90‑minute bilingual programming, youth leadership camps, career exploration and college-readiness workshops. Dr. West said the program has been in place 16 years and reported that, according to the data she reviewed, every student who has participated in CHEECHUS has graduated. - The Community Alternative Learning Center (CALC) graduated 60 students this year, 20 more than the previous year. - Forest Grove High School’s graduation included more than 400 students, with 90 students earning a seal of biliteracy and more than $4,000,000 in scholarships awarded to graduates between the high school and CALC.
Dr. West also praised recent student performances: she described a tenth‑anniversary Mariachi Tradition performance and credited Director Nunez for building the program that showcased current students and alumni on stage.
Why it matters: enrollment trends affect per‑pupil revenues and staffing formulas; new accountability rules could change reporting and interventions required of schools. The CHEECHUS and graduation statistics indicate program outcomes and student attainment that are material to district planning.
Dr. West indicated staff will continue to monitor enrollment trends, the state rulemaking process for the accountability bill and the district’s fiscal outlook.
