District outlines back-to-school plans, AI training and new $250,000-per-year EL grant

Superintendent presented an overview of administrative planning for the year and said the district received an English Learner (EL) grant from the Oregon Department of Education that will provide $250,000 per year for four years to support EL students and staff development. “We received a grant from ODE for our English learners… $250,000 for each of the next 4 years,” the Superintendent said, describing plans for staff training, parent nights and after-school activities to be funded by the award.

An administrator described the EL Academy structure: four days of initial training for a cohort of 16 teachers, monthly afternoon sharing sessions during the school year, and three dedicated multi-day work sessions in January, February and May for additional professional development. The administrator said participants will receive a certificate and stipend at the end of the year. “They’re going to get a VEil Academy certificate and a stipend at the end of the year using some of these grant funds,” the Superintendent said.

District leaders said the grant money will pay for targeted supports — bilingual instructional-assistant stipends, staff training, and outreach to families — and that spending must be tied to EL activities and outcomes. Board members asked about the number of EL students (presenters said roughly 20–25 students currently identified, plus about 25 monitored for a time), how success will be tracked, and how the district will ensure funds are spent as required. The Superintendent said the grant is targeted and that staff will report progress as part of on-going monitoring and quarterly board updates.