Vernonia board reviews $965,918.99 integrated plan to target student supports and curriculum

Superintendent Jim Hellman told the Vernonia SD 47J board that the districtwill receive $965,918.99 for the next biennium under the stateintegrated planning guidance, a consolidated application that combines nine aligned programs. "For the next biennium, our district is going to receive $965,918.99 for these 9 programs," Hellman said, describing the award as a mix of SIA, early literacy, EIIS and other program funds.

Hellman outlined the state requirements for the grant: a comprehensive needs assessment, community engagement, a four-year plan with specific longitudinal performance goals, and quarterly progress reports to the Oregon Department of Education (ODE). He said district priorities that drove the budget were mental-health supports, math intervention and student voice initiatives, and he identified intended uses including a grad coach, maintaining CTE positions (metals and engineering), instructional assistants, and a planned K-12 ELA adoption. The superintendent said the district has already submitted the application to ODE and that ODE will conduct a review and co-development process before final grant agreements and a final board presentation.

Board members pressed for clarity on how the funding will connect directly to student outcomes and asked about accountability steps; Hellman emphasized that progress markers and quarterly reports to ODE will track implementation. The board did not take a final vote on allocations at the meeting; Hellman said the next procedural steps are ODE review, grant agreements and a final board approval once ODE completes its intake and feedback.