District reviews integrated programs annual report, details use of state and federal grants

Assistant Superintendent Michelle Mee presented the district's Integrated Programs annual report for the 2024-25 school year, summarizing how multiple grants were combined into a single year-end submission to the Oregon Department of Education.

The report covers the Student Investment Account, Measure 98 (high school success), the Perkins Career and Technical Education grant, the early indicator/intervention grant and the early literacy grant. "This report is due on the September 30 and requires that it is shared with the board in a board meeting prior to being submitted," Mee said during her presentation.

Mee told the board the Student Investment Account budget for 2024-25 was a little over $5.4 million and that the district used those funds for positions and services including special education teachers and instructional assistants, skills trainers, the STEM/STEAM team, and a K-12 social-emotional learning coordinator. Highlights she cited included elimination of some student fees and investments in personnel to support students.

Measure 98 expenditures were reported at about $1.4 million. Mee said those funds covered graduation coaches, ninth-grade smaller learning communities, CTE teachers, summer school and credit-recovery courses, college dual-credit and AP supports, and a portion of high school counselor salaries.

The Perkins CTE grant for 2024-25 totaled $87,993, Mee said, and was used entirely for equipment, supplies, training and curriculum across CTE pathways (hospitality/tourism/recreation, culinary arts, early childhood education, construction/cabinetry/drafting/engineering, agriculture, welding, manufacturing, automotive, office systems and business). The district also noted newer medical-field pathways were added.

Mee said the early indicator/intervention grant was about $16,000 and helped pay for the Oregon Data Suite, while the early literacy grant totaled $711,000 and supported district literacy coaches, professional learning and a K-5 literacy curriculum adoption.

Board members asked clarifying questions about how the grants are integrated into the district budget and how the reporting process changed. Director Kubik asked whether the integrated report refers to how grants work together in practice. Mee answered that Oregon's ODE now requires a single integrated application/report and that the district uses shared goals and outcomes across grants so they align with the district strategic plan.

When asked whether the grant funds are separate from the general fund, Mee clarified: "The grants are incorporated into our budget, but they are not our general fund budget. They are grants that we utilize the money to pay for things in the district. So they're included in our overall budget, but they are not part of our general fund."