The North Bend School District board tabled the South Coast ESD Local Service Plan to allow further review, approved a property purchase adjacent to Clyde Allen Baseball Field for safety, and appointed two budget‑committee members. The board also heard a strategic‑plan update and superintendent reports including transportation RFP and a $2.5 million seismic grant for North Bay.
After extensive public comment, the North Bend School District board voted to reconfigure Hillcrest into K–2 and North Bay into grades 3–5 for the 2026–27 school year, citing class-size management and fiscal pressure; critics urged postponement until transportation RFP results and contingency plans are available.
District staff said the current contractor is short roughly six drivers and that a February RFP (proposals due early March) will include ride-time limits, training requirements and route-mitigation expectations; board members were invited to join the scoring team.
Trustees raised alarms about what they described as demeaning or hateful language in teacher and community survey responses. Several board members called for training, stronger community outreach and steps to heal divides while preserving students’ needs as the priority.
District staff presented a proposal to reconfigure Hillcrest and North Bay into a K–2 and a 3–5 school to address uneven, declining enrollment and to concentrate age-appropriate services. No final vote was taken; materials and an RFP timeline were posted and the board plans further action at an upcoming regular meeting.
Superintendent Kent told the board the district will step away from buying the Port Theater due to a high counteroffer and ADA renovation costs; the district executed Viking Lane sale paperwork that generated about $695,000 for capital projects and $15,000 for a North Bay Elementary trail.
Evergreen, the virtual school sponsored by North Bend School District, reported financial reserves, staffing growth and rising enrollment but said roughly half of new students did not stay past their first year and that the school is pursuing strategies to improve retention.
Superintendent and staff reviewed local budget law, fund-balance policy (5% + 2% = 7% target), and the budget committee process; the board approved the district calendar and consent agenda unanimously, with the calendar contingent on an MOU from both unions.
Following a required public hearing with no public testimony, the North Bend board approved the Student Investment Account (SIA) grant (ID 39257) and closed the hearing, moving the grant to approval.
The North Bend School District 13 board endorsed draft guidance to allow decorated graduation caps and expanded recognition cords, citing strong student support and staff concerns about enforcement; the board asked legal counsel to review the final language and added a height limit.
