Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Klamath Promise topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Klamath Promise program manager outlines community‑schools approach and legislative outreach
Summary
Jessie McClung, program manager for the Klamath Promise at Southern Oregon ESD, told the Klamath County School District Board the initiative links roughly 90 community partners across a P–20 continuum to address chronic absenteeism and student success, and plans a legislative tour and public parade outreach next week.
Jessie McClung, program manager for the Klamath Promise at Southern Oregon Education Service District, told the Klamath County School District Board that the Klamath Promise is a community‑schools partnership focused on increasing student success across the full P–20 continuum.
McClung said the initiative — which she described as an infrastructure organization rather than a direct service provider — has worked with roughly 90 active partners since about 2012. The network includes both local school districts, health and behavioral health providers, courts, colleges, nonprofits and private businesses that collaborate to identify gaps and support families. "The Klamath Promise is a community schools partnership to increase student success in whatever way that looks like for the student," she said.
She told the board the initiative combines public‑facing activities (parades, billboards, student recognition) with system‑alignment work behind the scenes to reduce barriers such as housing instability, trauma and limited access to health care. McClung described the program’s meetings and governance structure — a monthly executive team and a community steering committee — and estimated community partner time contributions at about $32,000 per quarter in staff time.
McClung also highlighted persistent equity gaps: early gains in graduation rates did not reach all groups, with tribal graduation rates and outcomes for some student groups remaining substantially lower. She said COVID required the program to "re‑norm" attendance work and emphasized that family stability and trusted local relationships drive sustained gains.
The presentation closed with outreach plans: McClung invited board members to a community steering committee meeting and encouraged participation in an upcoming parade. She said the Promise is planning a legislative tour to showcase local work to state lawmakers. She left flyers and posters for board members and encouraged attendance at the parade next week.
The board did not take action on the presentation; staff and members asked follow‑up questions and noted opportunities for continued district‑Promise coordination.
