Whitworth teachers tout Title I gains, cite behavior and staffing strains and ask Dallas SD 2 board for help

Whitworth teachers showcased classroom wins and persistent strains on Tuesday as they met with the Dallas SD 2 board during a work session.

Teachers described Title I reading interventions and other specialist supports that, they said, had helped some students move from a first‑grade reading level to chapter books and participate in peer reviews and Accelerated Reader activities. "We have some kids who came in reading at a first‑grade level — this year our fifth graders are reading chapter books," one teacher said, citing improvements tied to the school's walk‑to‑read and classroom‑based Title I model.

But staff pressed that academic gains coexist with growing behavior challenges and staffing shortfalls. One teacher described adding a third adult to a behavior room as "super helpful," saying it allowed classroom teachers to continue instruction while students received targeted support. Another recalled a new student asking, "what school lets you do archery?" as evidence that extracurriculars can boost engagement — but warned that programs and staff support are fragile when budgets tighten.

Teachers urged the board to ground policy decisions in classroom realities. "Sometimes there's a disconnect between what looks good on paper and what it actually is like in our classrooms," a teacher said, asking board members to ask how proposed changes will affect daily instruction. Several staff members called for board help with community outreach and practical support, including volunteer classroom visits and targeted promotion to local media and realtors.

Board members and staff discussed advocacy at the state level. A presenter said they will attend an Oregon School Boards Association (OSBA) advocacy day at the state capital on April 24 and urged teachers to bring concrete solutions for legislators, not only anecdotal accounts. "They've heard the stories. Now they're looking for what are your solutions?" the presenter said.

The board and staff pointed to near‑term wins from community partnerships: one board member used local connections to secure more than 20 donated band instruments after a short appeal. Staff also noted positive attendance trends, saying school attendance recently exceeded 90 percent during a period, while acknowledging normal ‘‘peaks and valleys’’ and the ongoing impact of illness on day‑to‑day attendance.

Teachers asked the board to consider practical steps — including outreach to families, continued promotion of school successes through social channels and local outlets, and exploring family workshops (previously held "love and logic" classes were cited) — as part of a broader strategy to address behavior and staffing pressures.

The work session concluded with board members thanking staff for their candor and agreeing to follow up on advocacy messaging, marketing strategies and potential community supports. No formal motions or votes were recorded during the visit.