Hillsboro district reports $1.7 million potential federal funding shortfall, ODE guidance on cell phones and names new IT officer
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Summary
District staff reported uncertainty over federal Title disbursements that could mean about $1.7 million in cuts, noted Oregon Department of Education guidance on cell-phone policies, introduced new IT officer Derek Brown and described summer program visits.
District staff reported at the Hillsboro SD 1J work session that a failure by the federal government to disburse Title funds to states could leave the district facing roughly $1,700,000 in cuts to federal programs.
"The impact to HSD were the money to not be dispersed would be in the area of $1,700,000 in federal programs cuts," a speaker identified in the transcript as Charles said. The speaker said the district is "working with our partners at ODE to track" the situation and is awaiting guidance; the district is not making cuts at this time and expects more clarity by August or September.
Charles also reported attending an Oregon Department of Education office hours session on new ODE guidance regarding school cell-phone policies and noted that the department "has offered a sample policy." The board was told the district will bring an update on the topic to its August retreat.
During discussion time the board introduced Derek Brown as the new information technology officer. The transcript records staff saying Derek was previously a teacher, served in the United States Air Force, worked in Newberg and David Douglas, has children at Century High School and will be part of the district technology leadership.
Board members and staff also reported recent visits to summer programs, with one speaker saying there were "400 students at Lincoln Street just learning math and, feeling comfortable in an air conditioned school." The speaker thanked taxpayers for bond-supported air-conditioned spaces that allowed summer programs to run.
Staff reminded board members that if personnel or property matters arise over the summer the board would be contacted directly for an executive session rather than relying on email. The meeting then moved on to the next agenda items and adjourned at 12:16 p.m.
No final decisions on federal funding or cell-phone policy were made at the work session; staff reported monitoring the issues and planning future updates.
