North Clackamas board hears renewal presentations from Clackamas Middle College and Clackamas Web Academy; public hearings close with no speakers

The North Clackamas School District Board of Directors on Jan. 16 heard presentations from two charter schools seeking renewal of their sponsorship and held public hearings that drew no public speakers.

Superintendent Shane James presented the superintendent’s recommendation that the board renew sponsorship of Clackamas Middle College (CMC) and Clackamas Web Academy (CWA), saying district review found both schools “operating substantially in accordance with applicable state and federal law,” in compliance with their existing charter agreements and maintaining financial stability. The board did not take action; formal votes on renewal are scheduled for the Feb. 13 board meeting.

Clackamas Middle College representatives described a program that enrolls about 300 students in grades 9–12, offers dual high school and college credit and a college-readiness seminar, and provides tuition, fees and books for college classes taken through Clackamas Community College (CCC). CMC leaders said their model emphasizes “time management, persistence, engagement, organization and respect” as college-readiness skills and that students who enroll earlier typically accumulate more college credits.

Clackamas Web Academy administrators said CWA serves kindergarten through 12th grade in blended on-site and online models and may enroll students from outside the district; they reported roughly 560 students currently enrolled. CWA staff described daily synchronous teacher-led instruction for middle and high school students, hands-on work and a paper workbook component for elementary students, an advising model that assigns every student a single adviser, and multiple on-site extracurricular and community-service opportunities. CWA said last year’s graduating class (its largest to date) earned more than 2,200 college credits collectively.

Both schools reviewed student-performance data in their presentations. CMC highlighted cohort- and graduate-level college-credit figures and youth-truth (school-culture) survey scores; CWA showed multi-year gains in its four-year cohort graduation rate and improvements on state assessments in some subject areas. Board members asked about advising roles, transportation to college campuses, career-technical education (CTE) pathways and barriers to earning college credit; school leaders said advisers support families, counselors build four‑year plans, CCC provides shuttle service and both schools have recently expanded CTE and pathway options.

Following the presentations, the board held two statutorily required public hearings (one per school) under ORS 338.065; there were no testimony requests and both hearings were closed. Superintendent James and staff noted that, if the board votes to continue sponsorship in February, a contract negotiation phase would follow to set the terms and length of the renewed agreements.

Next steps: the board will consider formal renewal motions at its Feb. 13 meeting. The superintendent and school staff will provide contract proposals and background documentation before that vote.