Parkrose board approves 2025–27 integrated guidance application, staff say it preserves about 24 positions

The Parkrose School District Board of Education on Tuesday approved the district's 2025'27 Integrated Guidance application, which bundles state grant programs including the Student Investment Account (SIA), High School Success and Early Literacy into a single plan to be submitted to the Oregon Department of Education.

The application passed on a voice vote after a motion to approve; the board did not record a roll-call tally. Mr. Griddle, who presented the application, said the district would submit the application to ODE the next day and would return with any ODE feedback and final Longitudinal Performance Growth Targets for board approval.

The vote keeps in place a staffing model district leaders said is largely funded by the grants. "SIA, year one, we're looking at a little bit over $3,000,000," Mr. Griddle told the board, and he said about 82% of that allocation is planned for salaries. He described 24 full-time equivalents (FTE) funded under SIA in the budget picture and said the district is using grant funds in part to avoid layoffs or reductions to current services.

Why it matters: The Integrated Guidance application consolidates multiple state grant pots under one application and budget. Board members and staff said doing so reduces duplication and lets the district continue a full-service model that supports classroom coaching, mental-health staff, family liaisons and career and technical education.

Board discussion focused on how the money would be spent and on targets the district must meet. Mr. Griddle walked the board through allocations by program and year. He said SIA would cover salaries for English-language supports, PE teachers, elementary and middle-school coaches, mental-health staff and family liaisons; non-salary spending would include professional learning, STEAM materials, athletics supplies, libraries, equipment and curriculum support. He said High School Success funding would support 7.75 FTE for CTE teachers, on-track coordinators and secondary instructional coaches and that non-salary funds would pay for college-credit opportunities and credit recovery.

Board members asked about Early Literacy funding and a pending governor's proposal that could double the district's allocation. "The Early Literacy number is current, but the governor does have a proposal to double our allocation," Mr. Griddle said; he added that if the governor signs that measure the district's allocation could rise to "over $400,000 each year." He also explained that some federal and state grants (for example CSI/TSI funds) are allocated year to year.

Board members pressed on targets in the Longitudinal Performance Growth Targets. Mr. Griddle said the targets were co-created with ODE and adjusted during that process; he noted some targets are ambitious and that the district will continue to refine them with ODE.

Action and next steps: The board approved the Integrated Guidance application and Mr. Griddle said staff will submit the application to ODE and return with any required edits and the approved LPGTs. He also told the board staff will bring back implementation details, including procedures for documenting grant-funded positions and progress reports tied to the plan.

Clarifying details: The presenter listed the district's 2024 targets and actuals for five LPGT indicators: overall attendance (target 55%, actual 53%), third-grade reading (target 30%, actual 23%), ninth-grade on-track (target 83%, actual 90%), four-year graduation (target 70%, actual 76%) and five-year completion (target 83%, actual 74%). He corrected one target noting 2024'25 attendance should be 56.2 percent. He said SIA year-one funding is approximately $3,000,000 and year two about $2.2 million; he said about 82% of SIA is proposed for salaries and 18% for non-salary expenses. Early Literacy current allocation shown was about $206,000 per year but could double pending state action. High School Success was presented with 7.75 FTE funded in the proposal.

Speakers quoted: "We're into the new biennium for the integrated guidance," Mr. Griddle said during his presentation. "SIA, year one, we're looking at a little bit over $3,000,000," he told the board. When a board member asked what "FTE" meant, Mr. Griddle answered, "FTE is a full-time employee."

Ending: Staff said they will file the application with the Oregon Department of Education immediately and return to the board with any ODE edits and updated performance targets. The approved application preserves grant-funded positions that staff said reduce the need for additional general-fund cuts.