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Tigard‑Tualatin reports largely smooth start; superintendent unveils goals targeting multilingual learners and fiscal stewardship
Summary
District leaders described a mostly smooth first week of school, noted enrollment shifts and bus delays, and presented superintendent goals emphasizing support for multilingual learners, financial stability and community relationships.
Tigard‑Tualatin School District leaders reported to the board on Monday that the new school year opened largely smoothly, with administrators, teachers and custodial staff credited for readiness while the district continues to monitor bus punctuality and some localized class‑size pressures.
Superintendent remarks and an assistant superintendent report highlighted enrollment figures, attendance of staff at opening‑of‑year events, and steps the district is taking to address staffing and transportation challenges. The superintendent also presented three formal goals for the year: targeted academic supports for multilingual learners of English (MLEs), financial stability and stewardship, and continued community relationship building.
Assistant Superintendent Dr. Lisa McCall led a summary of first‑week visits across schools, noting kindergarten welcome events, “morning meetings” and student leadership efforts to help sixth‑ and ninth‑grade transitions. McCall said custodial staff prepared facilities over the summer and that teachers began using diagnostic screening tools and early‑literacy assessments in elementary schools.
Superintendent (identified in the meeting as Dr. Udo) told the board the district welcomed roughly 10,900 students last week — about 300 fewer than a year earlier based on the district’s Average Daily Membership report — and that the district will watch the 10‑day enrollment drop date before making staffing reassignments. The superintendent said some schools are experiencing significant changes: one school that was near 120 students last year now enrolls about 380, and two smaller middle schools exceed 800 students.
Transportation remained a focus. The superintendent said some buses still ran late and the district is working with transportation providers and Director Gomez to reduce delays, emphasizing that the district does not want students waiting long at stops or missing instruction.
As for the superintendent’s goals, the presentation listed action items under each goal. For multilingual learners, the district plans a systemwide MLE strategy with clearer goals, data and monitoring, differentiated supports by student needs (newcomers through students approaching exit from services), and expanded professional development for staff. The district also described a multi‑year MLE plan in development and an updated continuum of services.
On financial stewardship, the superintendent described work to create a multiyear fiscal plan, tighten budget monitoring and continue use of the district’s “academic return on investment” (AROI) process to assess program cost versus outcomes. The board discussed aligning board goals with superintendent goals and a midyear progress check. Board members asked for and supported a midyear review to track progress and allow course correction.
Student representatives from Tigard and Tualatin high schools also reported back on extracurricular calendars, sports schedules and the early response to a tightened cell‑phone policy at high schools. Student leaders and several board members described the phone policy rollout as largely positive; one student reported about 73 confiscations in the first week of enforcement at one school, and other speakers said students and staff perceived improved social connection at lunch.
Ending: The board received the reports as informational. The superintendent and assistant superintendent said they will provide updates on goals and monitoring data in coming months.
