Three Rivers board adopts K–5 Core Knowledge ELA, declares Fort Benoit emergency and approves $12 million integrated grant application

Three Rivers School District Board of Directors voted at its April meeting to adopt Core Knowledge Language Arts for kindergarten through fifth grade, declared an emergency to expedite repairs at Fort Benoit Elementary after March flooding, and approved the district's integrated grant application that allocates roughly $12 million over the next two years.

The board approved the ELA curriculum after a presentation by Jessica Durant, superintendent, who said the materials and vendor work are ready and that the district needs the purchase completed by the June 30 funding deadline. "Just requesting an approval for this purchase," Durant said during her presentation. Board discussion centered on review cycles and phonics: Durant said the Oregon Department of Education recommends curriculum review every seven years and that the adopted program follows phonics and the science of reading.

Nut graf: The combined votes move three major operational priorities forward: classroom materials for elementary literacy, emergency contracting authority to repair flood damage at Fort Benoit, and the district's submission of an integrated grant package that the superintendent said totals more than $12 million for 2025–27. The grants will fund literacy coaching and curriculum,…