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Superintendent, principals highlight attendance gains, aging technology and planned upgrades
Summary
Superintendent and school leaders reported attendance improvements and student activities, flagged districtwide aging staff technology and cybersecurity demands, and outlined near-term upgrades including phone handset installs and a key-card rollout; the district will survey families on cell-phone rules.
Superintendent and school leaders presented a broad update on student engagement, attendance efforts and district technology needs during the Philomath SD 17J board meeting.
ASB President ra mckenny said recent student events were well attended — "we exceeded our goal with 50 donations" at the district blood drive — and described Homecoming and Veterans Day activities that supported community engagement. A principal’s presentation (from the elementary school) highlighted a school theme called “Let Soar Together,” a student t-shirt contest, a reading challenge, robotics, swimming for fourth- and fifth-graders, and attendance incentives such as in-semester rewards and classroom competitions designed to raise the percentage of regular attenders.
The superintendent reviewed districtwide items: a middle school had been ranked in the top 40% of Oregon middle schools by US News & World Report; the district moved its meeting location to reduce exposure of student records during public meetings; and staff continue to press for funding to replace aging classroom hardware. The superintendent said phone handsets will be installed and tested over winter break and the board-approved key-card system is in installation planning; staff are trying to coordinate card distribution to minimize delays.
Board and union representatives described technology problems that have pulled staff into "putting out fires" rather than supporting instruction. Board members discussed funding options including grants and community fundraising; one speaker referenced an estimated technology need of about $220,000. The district will run a parent, staff and student survey on cell-phone usage and usage goals before determining any local policy; members also noted the Oregon Legislature is considering a statewide bell-to-bell cellphone ban.
Next steps: staff will pursue grant opportunities and report back on implementation timelines for phones and key-card distribution, publish a survey for community input on cell-phone policy, and provide a more detailed technology funding plan to the board.
