Coos Bay School Board approves two-year integrated plan, highlights career and technical education expansion

The Coos Bay School District Board of Directors on April 30 approved a two-year integrated plan that combines state and federal grant planning into a single district strategy and places a renewed emphasis on career and technical education.

The plan, which district staff described as roughly 90% complete at the time of the vote, lays out objectives and budget allocations intended to increase early literacy, expand CTE pathways, grow advanced-placement and college-credit access, and reinforce student supports. The board approved the plan by unanimous voice vote after a brief presentation and discussion of the draft and next steps.

District staff said the integrated plan is intended to streamline multiple state grant applications and reporting so the same needs assessment and goals guide general, state and federal funding. Dr. Justin Haynesworth, identified in the meeting as the superintendent, told the board the plan would be submitted to the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) by April 30 and would enter a co-development review with ODE staff and a community review panel.

“As we get comments from ODE, we will refine the budget codes and narrative,” said a staff presenter during the board presentation. The district will use a tiered approach in the plan that lets it pre-authorize how any future increases in specific grant lines would be used, staff said.

Career and technical education was the centerpiece of the superintendent’s presentation that preceded the vote. Dr. Haynesworth and other staff highlighted CTE outcomes they said the district hopes to expand, including: building six primary CTE programs (manufacturing, broadcast communication, construction trades, culinary arts, health sciences and computer science), increasing student credentials and certifications, bolstering middle-school exposure to high-school CTE pathways, and growing partnerships with local business and unions for work-based learning and apprenticeships.

The board heard summary data showing students who concentrate in CTE (two or more courses in a CTE sequence) typically graduate at higher rates; district staff said local concentrator graduation rates have historically been high but noted a dip in the 2024 cohort that they said warrants follow-up investigation.

Board discussion touched on alignment of staff and resources to the district’s goals and the importance of broader community partnerships. A board member noted the plan’s emphasis on elementary literacy and professional development funding in the draft budget spreadsheet.

The motion to adopt the integrated plan was made from the board dais and seconded by Board Member Adrian. The board voted unanimously (Adrian — aye; Diane — aye; Arnie — aye; David — aye; Evan — aye; Chair — aye), and the superintendent was directed to file the plan and continue the co-development process with ODE. Staff said ODE will provide feedback on coding and goals and that the district will respond in the coming weeks.

The board was told the plan will be posted publicly with links to the application and the district’s budget spreadsheets, and staff asked members to submit any questions promptly so they can be addressed during ODE’s review.

Board members and staff framed the approval as a step to centralize planning and funding priorities so future grant awards or increases can be plugged into pre-agreed priorities without separate approvals.

A final staff note: the plan as presented includes a two-year budget and personnel allocations emphasizing K–6 literacy, student supports and professional development to implement the stated objectives.