Tigard-Tualatin board holds public hearing on Arco Iris charter school proposal; decision expected in October

The Tigard-Tualatin School District Board of Directors heard a public presentation and held a statutory public hearing on a charter-school application from Arco (Arcoíris) Spanish immersion school during its regular meeting. The district presented the application timeline required under state law, and the Arco leadership described its educational model, budget, facilities plan and proposed partnership steps. No board decision was taken at the hearing; the board scheduled discussion for Oct. 6 and must approve or deny the application within 30 calendar days of the hearing (no later than Oct. 20 if postponed).

Arco executive director Jesus Ordielles told the board the organization runs a tuition-free K–8 Spanish immersion school in Beaverton with 16 years of Oregon experience and proposes a one-way Spanish immersion program for Tigard-Tualatin families that would deliver roughly 80% instruction in Spanish in early grades and incorporate Singapore Math and HMH reading curricula. Ordielles described family engagement, small-group tiered interventions and partnerships (including Northwest Regional Center) to support students requiring additional services. He said Arco had been awarded a Charter School Growth Fund award of up to $800,000 and presented a conservative enrollment and budget plan.

Ordielles outlined the application and hearing process under Oregon law and told the board that Arco would align assessment cycles and special-education service delivery with district practices if authorized. He said Arco is pursuing facility plans that comply with occupancy and ADA requirements and described a staffing plan led by experienced school leaders and a governing board that includes members with finance, legal and academic experience. Ordielles asked the board for authorization to proceed to contract negotiations and facility and enrollment finalization so a phased opening could occur for fall 2026.

One person signed up to speak during the hearing: Carly Burkey (registered for public comment as Carly Adams/Burkey), a parent with children in an existing Arco campus who identified her ZIP code (97224) and offered support from personal experience. Burkey said her children had received tier-2 reading interventions at Arco and that, in her view, the program’s staff and families were welcoming and effective.

Board staff reminded members and attendees that the hearing is provided under Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) as part of the charter-application timeline; no board action was taken at the meeting. The board packet includes Arco’s application materials and links to the Arco slides and supporting documents. The board’s next steps are: public discussion on Oct. 6 and a decision to approve or deny the application within the statutory window (by Oct. 20 if additional time is required).

If the board approves the application, Ordielles said Arco would finalize facilities, confirm enrollment and continue teacher hiring, training and family orientation ahead of a planned phased opening. If the board denies the application, state statute provides the statutory appeal and timeline options (procedural details and any appeals were not discussed in depth at the hearing).