School Board Overview

Board Briefs

A summary of the August 13, 2024 Newberg-Dundee School Board meeting

September 4 will be the first school day of the 2024-25 school year for grades 1-6 and 9. Grades 7-8 and 10-12 start September 5. The School Board adopted a revised academic calendar incorporating eight furlough days spread throughout the year.  The entire school district will be closed on furlough days unless there is a vital need for an employee to be on duty. All grade levels are within state required hours of instruction except grades 9-11, which are short one hour, which will be made up during the year. Link to calendar

A gradual start for Kindergarten students on September 4 and 5 will allow students to learn classroom routines with fewer students. All Kindergarten students will return to school on September 6. An early literacy grant is supporting in-coming Kindergarten family meeting times with classroom teachers in August. Information will be coming from elementary schools.

The School Board unanimously ratified the 2024-25 Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Newberg-Dundee School District 29J and the Newberg Education Association. The agreement resulted in Cost of Living adjustments previously incorporated into the 2024-2025 district budget last spring.

Memorandums of Understanding between the school district and five employee groups that include eight furlough days, cost- of- living adjustments and monthly insurance contributions were also approved.

  • Oregon School Employees Association (OSEA) Chapter 17 and the Newberg-Dundee School District 

  • Administrator I (directors not represented by collective bargaining units)

  • Administrator II (principals, assistant principals, coordinators not represented by collective bargaining units.)

  • Confidential/Supervisory/Professional/Technical (districtwide specialists and coordinators not represented by collective bargaining units)

Recognizing that there is opportunity in adversity, Interim Superintendent Paula Radich praised Association members Jen Esmond, Karen Lang, Jen Schneider, Andrea Nicol and Drew Gallagher for their willingness to spend long hours this summer in collaboration and problem solving.

Dr. Radich’s contract with the Newberg-Dundee School District will be extended until October 13, 2024. Her original contract with the School Board was from June 13 to August 13, 2024. The terms of Dr. Radich’s extended contract are identical to the initial contract where Dr. Radich receives no compensation for her work. 

In related action, the School Board voted to engage the Coalition of Oregon School Administrators (COSA) to conduct a search for a long-term interim superintendent. The Board personnel committee will work with COSA to bring a recommended slate of candidates for Interim Superintendent to the Board.

Budget Update

  • Enrollment, revised compensation, furlough days and legal costs may require continued adjustments to the 2024-25 school year budget.  

  • “Right-sized” staffing - also known as “class size adjustments" or ratios for schools are based on enrollment and will be reviewed periodically throughout the school year.

  • An estimated 60 full time equivalent (FTE) were reduced in force from the school district to date, including an estimated 20 FTE reduced during the 2023-34 school year.

  • The 2023-24 school budget ended $1.7 million short and will be audited on October 28.

  • Moody’s Ratings dropped Newberg-Dundee School District’s bond rating from A1 to A3, citing declining enrollment and growth in debt, potentially impacting the district’s perception of creditworthiness in the bond market.

Interest is high in the new district Finance Advisory Committee. Eleven community members are seeking to serve in one of the three positions on the newly formed committee. Applicants will be interviewed the week of August 19. The committee, composed of two School Board members, two Budget Committee members and three community members, pledges transparency, meetings open to the public and reports to the Board and community.

Are we doing the best for our students? Is it effective? How do we know? An analysis is finding broken, misunderstood or nonexistent districtwide systems in need of greater efficiency and effectiveness. Collaborative teams are reimagining technology services, the special education inclusion model and employee onboarding/off-boarding practices.

Current and former English learners continue an upward academic trend in math and English assessments and on-time graduation rates, out-performing statewide results. Students are supported by co-teaching and integrated English Language Development (ELD), Dual Language and self-contained ELD programs.

A total of $961,360 in Austin Family Foundation Grants to the school district will support K-12 career connected learning, Tiger Cubs Preschool, community prevention and wellness, mental health and summer school. These grant funds will support school-based mental health services provided by Lutheran Family Services with no cost to the district. 

Use of the new state-of-the-art NHS welding lab by Portland Community College students continues to be discussed with the school district. PCC has waiting lists for students wanting welding classes. The school district has concerns for increased electricity, water and custodial costs. PCC and the district will meet at Newberg High School in September to tour the welding lab.

The City of Newberg will assume the cost of two School Resource Officers for the 2024-25 school year, putting the joint city-school district funding relationship on hold until May 2025 when the district’s finances stabilize and begin to recover. The school district will look into safety grants.

In other action, the School Board:

  • Reviewed with “no comment” the City of Dundee’s code amendment to create regulations to develop psilocybin facilities. Current state law does not allow placement of a psilocybin facility within 1,000 feet of a school.

  • Approved Christopher Walters, Dunn Carney LLP, as the District’s real estate legal counsel for the 2024-25 school year.

  • Adopted a resolution authorizing Director James Wolfer to act as a real estate signer for the Newberg-Dundee School District during the next four months.

  • Dismissed two formal complaints concerning alleged public meeting law violations as meritless.