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Nyssa SD 26 students describe Camp Gray field studies as district weighs funding gaps
Summary
Fifth-graders presented highlights from an outdoor-school trip to Camp Gray and district staff outlined funding pressures after grant cuts left a shortfall; the board discussed options including private sponsorships and student fees while the district works on a new grant-forecasting model.
Fifth-grade students and their teacher described science-focused field studies at Camp Gray and a visit to the Oregon Coast Museum and Hatfield Aquarium, then told the Nyssa School District 26 board that the trip cost the district roughly $60,000, about $51,000 of which was covered by a grant.
The teacher leading the presentation said the group had to alter parts of the itinerary because of gale-force winds but still completed hands-on activities including a squid dissection and tide-pool observations. Several students—identified only by first name in the meeting—summarized what they learned, from squid anatomy to marine-mammal adaptations.
Why it matters: presenters warned the board that recent reductions to the state outdoor-school grant have lowered available funding for future trips. The teacher said the district’s grant-forecasting model currently produces a maximum projected grant amount of $46,992 (a future forecast figure), noting that the program had lost “almost $25,000” of previously available grant funding. The presenter said the district anticipated an enrollment of 77 students for future trips with an 85% attendance assumption and that figures will update as enrollment changes.
District officials and teachers discussed alternatives to preserve the trip, including private sponsorships, targeted fundraising and, as a last resort, modest student fees. The presenter said some costs were offset this year by transportation reimbursement and by the district’s parent–teacher organization covering t-shirts.
The superintendent’s federal programs lead, Matt Murray, also described plans for a three-year summer-learning grant intended to support roughly 180–200 students each summer, with about one-third of slots for migrant students and a focus on math and language-arts interventions. That program will run in June and culminate with a community showcase on June 25, officials said.
Board members voiced support for the educational value of outdoor school and asked staff to continue exploring funding strategies so the district can sustain the experience for students who have never visited the coast.
What’s next: staff said grant forecasts and enrollment updates will determine the district’s ability to fully fund future trips; the board did not take formal action beyond receiving the report during this meeting.
