The Current
LOSD News • January 14, 2022
In this Message:
Message from the Superintendent
Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday
Books Dedicated, Donated in Honor of Board Appreciation
Budget Committee Seeking New Members
LO Schools Foundation Board Applications Open
Apply to be a Substitute
LOSD COVID-19 Information:
- LOSD Dashboard Up to Date
- Extending Protocols
- Quarantining, Isolating, and Close Contacts
- Finding Testing SItes
- Finding Vaccination Sites
School Board Meeting
2022-23 New Student Registration
Kindergarten Counts Informational Video
SSPAC Meeting
2022 Bond Sale
Shared Language Around Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Access
Save the Date: LOSD K-12 Safety Symposium
Rotary's SASEE Award Nominations Open
Community:
- LOJ Baseball Registration
- Softball Registration Open
- What's New at Community School
- Hunger Fighters: New Pantry Hours
- Clothing Closet
- Safe Oregon
- Get Social with LOSD
Message from the Superintendent
We made it another week keeping our schools open and protecting the health and wellbeing of our community, which is no small feat during this COVID-19 surge.
Much credit and appreciation needs to be given to our teachers and staff in getting us through this latest pandemic hurdle. They are pulling together and stretching resources to keep our schools open. A special shout out to our school specialists, including our TAG Coordinators, RTI Coordinators, Reading Specialists, who are serving as classroom teachers at the moment. Thank you for everyone’s patience while these amazing professionals' attention is diverted to helping keep our schools open.
Also helping is our community’s cooperation in staying home when ill and isolating and quarantining when appropriate. Containment efforts appear to be working, with our attendance trending in the right direction. Last week we had abou 13% absent, and this week we had about 10% staff and students out of school. For perspective, in pre-pandemic years, this month’s average was about 7% absent.
Public health attributes high vaccination rates to a quick recovery. That, combined with the new isolation and quarantine guidance means our staff and students are returning to school healthy after 5-7 days. Our latest vaccination clinic served 200 more children in our community. At this time, nearly 62 percent of LO residents aged 5-11 have received at least their first dose of the vaccine, 92.5% of LO residents aged 12-18 have received their vaccinations, and our employees are 98.6% vaccinated.
Please remain diligent. What we do over the long weekend ahead could be the difference of keeping our schools open. Based on cases reported to our nurses, and supported by public health findings, COVID-19 is being spread outside of school during social gatherings, amongst household members, and activities where oftentimes fewer protections are in place.
Many ask what they can do above and beyond following COVID-19 measures. Without hesitation, my response is ‘join our pool of substitutes!’ Like all districts, we have been experiencing a severe shortage of substitutes, which means every absence poses a challenge. In the fall, LOSD invested in a standing substitute position at every school and we doubled those positions in December. Being able to have a standing pool of substitutes, which are put to use daily, is a key reason why our district has been able to keep our doors open.
Not everyone can work in our schools but something all of us can do that makes a significant difference is practice kindness. In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr., I hope that we may all heed and embody his message, “Never succumb to the temptation of bitterness.” Thank you for treating each other with respect, consideration and kindness.
2022-23 New Student Registration
Registration for the 2022-23 school year will begin January 19, 2022, for new students who have never enrolled in Lake Oswego before and returning students who are not currently enrolled but will re-enroll for next year. LOSD is pleased to offer online registration through its parent portal, ParentVUE (contact your resident school for help with logging in). See the Registration & Verification page of the LOSD website for guidance. Parents do not need to register students for 2022-23 who are currently attending during the 2021-22 school year.
Budget Committee Seeking New Members
LOSD is currently accepting applications for two open positions on the Legal Budget Committee. The Legal Budget Committee consists of members of the LO School Board and five citizen members who are charged with reviewing and approving the budget for the upcoming school year. Citizen members are appointed to three-year terms and typically meet three to four times in the spring.
Click here for an application or visit the district website, Business & Finance Department. Applications are due February 4, by 5 p.m.
LO Schools Foundation Board Applications Open
Are you interested in contributing to a dynamic volunteer organization dedicated to advancing our community's commitment to educational excellence? Please consider applying for the Lake Oswego Schools Foundation Board of Directors. The Foundation is seeking parents/guardians, students and community residents to serve on its Board of Directors. Board members must demonstrate a commitment to the Foundation, the School District and the Lake Oswego community.
The term for new board members will begin July 2022. Board members commit to a two-year term and may serve up to three terms. Please click HERE to access the online application form. The application provides more information about being a board member.
Interested people should submit applications by Friday, March 4, 2022. The Nominating committee will review applications and conduct interviews in the March time frame. If you are unable to access the application, please contact woolfw@loswego.k12.or.us to receive a pdf version of the application.
Apply to be a Substitute
Parents, guardians, neighbors -- all are encouraged to apply to be a substitute with LOSD. Days and hours are more flexible than ever.
Go to the district website under CAREERS, click APPLY, find SUBSTITUTES in the left menu, and select the option that meets your qualifications and interest: Licensed (Teachers), Classified (Ed Assistants), Food Services, and Custodial. You will be navigated through the process.
LOSD Dashboard Up to Date
The LOSD COVID-19 Dashboard is up to date with known school exposures -- those who have disclosed being symptomatic and/or testing positive for COVID-19 after being in school during their infectious period.
The dashboard reports isolations and quarantines as active for a 5-day period (first day of presenting symptoms or testing positive is considered day 0).
The dashboard shares information LOSD can report with fidelity, which is self-reported school exposures. A comprehensive report of community cases can be found through OHA data.
The dashboard quarantine numbers are low because, with our high vaccination rates and Test to Stay program, close contacts are able to remain in school per public health guidance. Nurses contact directly close contacts who need to quarantine, based on guidance.
Finding Testing SItes
Finding and scheduling testing is currently a challenge due to a limited supply of COVID-19 tests. Those who are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or who were exposed to COVID-19 should seek testing through their medical provider or through the community testing sites currently in place in Clackamas County.
Where to Get Vaccinated and Boosted
If you are looking for a COVID-19 vaccine or booster, families can use this easy tool developed by Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) to find a clinic. Families can also schedule an appointment or ask questions by calling the OHSU hotline at 833-647-8222, weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
SSPAC Meeting
All are welcome to observe the Student Services Parent Advisory Committee Meeting remotely.
Thursday, Jan. 20
6-8 p.m.
Click here for the Zoom link on the district calendar
2022 Bond Sale
Representatives from the bond sale team shared perspective and highlights of the draft resolution and market information. Among other things, the resolution sets maximum bond interest rates, appoints bond counsel, and authorizes either the Superintendent/Clerk or Assistant Superintendent of Business Services/Deputy Clerk to make certain designations within the limits of the resolution.
District property tax rates per $1,000 of assessed value was discussed. As communicated during the 2021 bond informational campaign, LOSD is anticipating a 92 cent/$1,000 increase in the total property tax rate as a result of the sale in April. While subject to market conditions on the date of the 2022 bond sale, the total district property tax rate in 2022-23 property tax bills is estimated to be $9.03/1,000.
A resolution to refinance the balance of the district’s 2015 Full Faith and Credit obligations was also discussed. It takes advantage of low interest rates and the ability to do so without a 2% premium on the outstanding principal balance (this redemption premium falls to 0% on June 1, 2022). This refinancing is subject to market conditions.
Also shared were highlights of the current bond market and interest rate environment as well as an update on potential premiums, assuming the bonds are sold with the current interest rate environment.
The resolutions will be brought back at the January 24 board meeting for final action. To view the presentation, access the January 11 board meeting video, found under meeting archives.
Shared Language Around Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Access
To view the discussion, access the January 11 board meeting video, found under meeting archives.
Save the Date: LOSD K-12 Safety Symposium
LOSD is hosting our first annual LOSD K-12 Safety Symposium. We are excited to provide this opportunity for parents to learn about safety issues affecting students and actions we can all take to create a safer community. Please save the date and plan to join us.
Thursday, Feb. 24
6:00 p.m.; doors open at 5.30 p.m.
Lakeridge High School
Rotary's SASEE Award Nominations Open
The Rotary Club of Lake Oswego is seeking nominees for the 2022 SASEE Awards, which honor service above self in educational excellence. View the new SASEE Awards Highlights promotional trailer!
Do you know an educator, support staff member, student or citizen who demonstrates a commitment to education through work, projects and activities that emphasize "service above self?" LO Rotary Club wants to recognize and support the people who make education in Lake Oswego exceptional. Click here to submit your nomination.
Lake Oswego Junior Baseball Registration
Registration for the Lake Oswego Junior Baseball Organization, (JBO) is open for the 2022 Spring Season:
- Registration will stay open until March 3, 2022.
- Practices will begin in March and the season runs through July
- Regular season play is approximately 18 games
- Practices and games will be held at Waluga and Westlake baseball fields
For more information and to register, please visit: https://www.lakeoswegojbo.com
Softball Registration Open
Lake Oswego Girls Softball registration is open for the Spring 2022 Little League season (rec competition for players ages 4-14). Register by Sunday, January 2 to take advantage of the league's "Winter Special" fee and save $25 per player. Final registration deadline is February 13.
Visit www.lakeoswegosoftball.org for more information.
What's New at Community School?
The LOSD Community School is offering virtual enrichment programs and activities for students of all ages including culinary, STEM, arts, language, and athletics.
Hunger Fighters: New Pantry Hours
Back to School Clothes at Clothing Closet
Open Saturdays
9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Visit https://www.ilovelakeoswego.com for more information.
SafeOregon
Parents-guardians who have concerns about a student’s well-being are encouraged to reach out to their principal, and to maintain strong lines of communication and partnership between students, families, staff, and other resources.
SafeOregon is also an effective way to report a tip regarding safety threats or potential acts of violence to our students or schools.
(Students should also be aware that intentionally providing a false report is a serious offense.)
Get Social: Follow, Share, Engage
Lake Oswego School District
Email: info@loswego.k12.or.us
Website: https://www.losdschools.org
Location: 2455 Country Club Road, Lake Oswego, OR, USA
Phone: (503) 534-2000
Facebook: facebook.com/weareLOSD
Twitter: @weareLOSD
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