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Schools highlight new elective and charter growth: Lincoln Savage environmental elective and Woodland Charter School report
Summary
Presentations at the board meeting spotlighted a popular environmental exploration elective at Lincoln Savage (waiting list and plans for a greenhouse and community partnerships) and Woodland Charter School's annual report documenting enrollment growth, improved assessment scores in science and fiscal stability.
Two school reports at the 3 Rivers School District board meeting showcased classroom innovation and charter school growth.
Lincoln Savage elective: Principal Mark Higgins presented an update on an elective called Environmental Exploration that the school counselor, David Rood, developed. The class became one of the campus’s most popular electives, Higgins said, and currently has a waiting list. Higgins described hands-on learning experiences — on-campus greenhouse plans, cooking classes that will use garden produce, animal visits and off-campus trips — and said community partners have contributed time and donations, including a local nursery donating a greenhouse setup. "It's really gaining a lot of momentum," Higgins said, adding that students are learning the food system and career pathways connected to each step.
Woodland Charter School annual report: Chris Carmenke, education director at Woodland Charter School, presented the charter's annual report. Carmenke said Woodland’s enrollment fluctuated between 208 and 217 this school year (the school’s largest year to date) and current capacity is 220. Carmenke noted modest gains on state report-card measures: English language arts up 1 percentage point, math up 2 points and science up 5 points; he said Woodland’s science scores now sit above the Oregon state average. The school reported a balanced budget with no audit findings and a roughly $2.1 million operating budget; Carmenke noted that charter per-pupil funding is lower than district-funded public schools nationwide but said the district’s pass-through arrangement (an 85% pass-through rate cited in the presentation) provided better support than the charter average.
Why it matters: Both presentations emphasize hands-on programs and partnerships that district leaders say support career pathways, student engagement and community ties. Woodland also flagged facilities needs because growing enrollment has left the school crowded in modular buildings; the charter said research into expansion costs and permitting is under way.
Ending: Board members asked questions about partnerships and next steps; staff said they will continue to support the electives and coordinate with Woodland on permitting and facility plans.
