BSD Briefs
April 22, 2019
District Goal: WE empower all students to achieve post-high school success.
April 22 Budget Committee Meeting Location Change
2019-2020 Budget Message
The Beaverton School District is planning the 2019-2020 Proposed Budget to present to the District’s Budget Committee on April 22. The budget is based on a $8.97 billion state school fund for K-12 schools. At this level of funding, we are projecting a net deficit of $35 million dollars. This does not include any increased costs that may be incurred after teacher negotiations is completed. In an effort to meet budget timeline obligations, the District is progressing with required reductions to balance our budget including staff and programs, and other resources. These include increases to the student/teacher ratio, reductions of administrative positions, and significant reductions in certified and classified staffing.
Approximately half of the $35 million dollar deficit can be attributed to increased PERS costs. We cannot control these costs as the state sets the rates and bills agencies and districts. The remaining deficit can be attributed to increases in roll up costs (salaries & benefits), flat enrollment, current year budget deficit due to decreased enrollment and underestimated salaries, pay equity mandates, and attrition assumptions not being realized. It is important to note that services and resources were not being misused, but should have been reduced earlier in 2018-2019. Students benefited by receiving services for a longer period of time, but the budget assumptions added to the deficit for the upcoming 2019-2020 budget.
It is important to understand, we are moving forward in constructing the Proposed Budget based on the most current information we have from the state; however, most of the revenue information is an estimate and will change. There will be adjustments throughout the legislative session that will impact Beaverton’s 2019-2020 budget.
While there is optimism regarding a sustainable and long-term investment to the state’s K-12 budget, the ability to plan and spend these funds in the 2019-2020 school year will be extremely difficult to project and complete. This is due to legislative session timing and the likelihood that any revenue package from state lawmakers could be referred to voters in November 2019. School districts would be ill-advised to spend future funding that could be taken away.
Budget Committee Meeting- April 22, 2019
The community is invited to attend the Budget Committee Meeting- Monday, April 22, 2019, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. at Merlo Station High School, in the Multipurpose Room, 1841 SW Merlo Dr., Beaverton, 97003.
Changes Ahead for Health & Science School (HS2) and School of Science & Technology (SST)
After significant consideration by district and building leaders, the decision has been made to reorganize the Health & Science School (HS2) and the School of Science & Technology (SST) effective the 2020-2021 school year. The schools will merge into a new school, providing students with more learning opportunities.
The new school will open as an Expeditionary Learning (EL) School at the current site and incorporate the strengths of both schools. EL Education provides a powerful, coherent framework for engaging learning with a focus on rigorous student outcomes in academics and character. Students experience expeditions (real world, in-depth studies both inside and outside the classroom), share their learning and achievements with authentic audiences through public exhibitions, and belong to a Crew (EL’s advisory vehicle for fostering relationships and the habits of scholarship that every student needs to be successful).
The next school year, 2019-2020, will be a planning and transition year for both schools. Both schools will begin to operate on the same school schedule next year. Next year’s seniors (Class of 2020) will be the last graduating senior class from SST and HS2. Thereafter, graduates will receive their diplomas from the new school.
School leaders will engage various stakeholder groups to determine the new school name, colors, culture, mascot, etc. A series of community conversations with staff, students and families will be held in the coming weeks.
Re-visioning Alternative Education Programs for Expelled Middle and High School Students
The Beaverton School District will be restructuring Alternative Education for expelled students in grades 6-12 effective in the 2019-2020 school year. This is an opportunity to create something new and to maximize opportunities for success for these students. Currently, expelled students are served at Bridges Academy, which costs about $60,000 per student. The District is aligning alternative education program costs more closely with overall student spending averages. Therefore, Bridges Academy will be dissolved.
In its place, a new, differentiated and restorative system will look at the root cause of behaviors and provide multiple options for expelled students. It will also include a middle school opportunity for students who are struggling in school. The program will be at Merlo Station High School.
An Alternative Education leadership team is working closely with middle and high schools to create a more supportive and restorative menu of learning opportunities for students before they are expelled. The programs will incorporate consistent drug and alcohol support, supplemental Language Arts and Math instruction, social emotional support, and use of the District’s Flex Online Learning Program.
Beaverton School District Updates Seismic Assessment
In our ongoing efforts to increase the safety of our schools, the Beaverton School District recently conducted a seismic assessment of all Beaverton School District schools and facilities. The assessment was conducted as required by Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) using the most current standard, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) 41-13, Seismic Evaluation and Retrofit of Existing Buildings.
The report from our consultant was completed in March 2019 and presented to the School Board on April 15, 2019. The executive summary of the report is available to the public at https://www.beaverton.k12.or.us/district/bond-measure-information. The report will be used to plan, prioritize, and budget for future seismic upgrades to meet our goals and the requirements set forth in ORS 455.400. Regarding school structures, ORS 455.400 states in part: “Subject to available funding, all seismic rehabilitations or other actions to reduce seismic risk must be completed before January 1, 2032.”
As our understanding of the seismic threat in our area has grown and the building codes have evolved, the Beaverton School District has made numerous seismic upgrades to our facilities across the years. The current Capital Construction Bond approved by the voters in 2014 included seismic upgrades in several buildings. The District has also received three Seismic Rehabilitation Grant Program grants from Business Oregon, totaling $7.3 million. In 2018, a grant was received for Aloha High School and the seismic upgrade work at Aloha High School will be complete in 2020. The District recently learned that its applications for additional grant funding for seismic upgrades at both Beaver Acres and Cooper Mountain Elementary Schools have been awarded. The seismic upgrades at these two schools will occur in 2020 and 2021 respectively. The District has also built all new schools in the 2014 bond program to the highest rating of immediate occupancy.
Questions regarding this report and the safety of our school structures may be directed to community_involvement@beaverton.k12.or.us.
Volunteer Spotlight: Kate Richman
For 38 years, Kate Richman has contributed countless hours to helping our Beaverton School District students succeed. In the Continuing Education for Young Parents (CEYP) Program at Merlo Station Community High School daycare she has helped care for children whose parent or parents attend CEYP.
Kate also took on the role of Volunteer Coordinator. While she helps take care of children, Kate has been responsible for recruiting and scheduling volunteers.
"Since 1981, Kate has helped organized the whole volunteer effort here at CEYP and there is really no way to thank her for all she has done for the program over the years. I hope she knows we appreciate every single day she has given to us," say Jill Simmons, Early Childhood Educator.
"Working with the many volunteers over the years has been the highlight of my time at CEYP. The volunteers have made our teen parent program unique, and many parents have been able to benefit from the program. The volunteers and staff at CEYP inspire the students to recognize their abilities and realize their potential - giving them confidence in themselves. CEYP has been a gift to me, a gift that has kept on giving and I have enjoyed every minute I have volunteering here," says Kate.
Kate has decided to retire her post at CEYP and was celebrated with a lunch and tea with current and former CEYP volunteers at Merlo on April 10, 2019. A plaque with her picture will adorn the walls of the daycare as a token appreciation for all she has done to support the program.
Thank you, Kate. Because of you, WE are stronger.
Breaking the Silence
This month, April 2019, newsrooms across the state are highlighting the public health crisis of death by suicide. The goal of “Breaking the Silence” is to not only put a spotlight on a problem that claimed the lives of more than 800 Oregonians last year, but also examine research into how prevention can and does work and offer resources to help if they – or those they know – are in crisis.
Visit: breakingthesilenceor.com to read the stories.
Tualatin Valley Water District 25th annual Kids Calendar Contest
The Tualatin Valley Water District is sponsoring its 25th annual Kids Calendar Contest for all elementary school students in the Beaverton School District. TVWD is pleased to partner with schools to showcase what students have learned about water - and this project is both educational and fun!
TVWD will choose 15 posters, at least one from each grade from those submitted District-wide,and use them to create their annual calendar. Each school with at least one participating student will receive 100 of the 2020 calendars. All entries must be received in the TVWD office by Friday, May 17 at 4:30 p.m.
For questions please contact Frank Reed at (503) 848-3058 or frank.reed@tvwd.org.
Budget Meeting
Monday, April 22, 2019
6:30 p.m.
Administration Office
16550 SW Merlo Rd.
Beaverton, 97003
School Board Business Meeting
Monday, April 29, 2019
6:30 p.m.
Administration Center
16550 SW Merlo Rd.
Beaverton, 97003
Bond Accountability Committee Meeting
Wednesday, April 24, 2019
6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Administration Center
16550 SW Merlo Rd.
Beaverton, OR 97003
Budget Committee Meeting
Monday, May 13, 2019
6:30 p.m.
Administration Center
16550 SW Merlo Rd.
Beaverton, OR 97003
Beaverton School District
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Email: community_involvement@beaverton.k12.or.us
Website: beaverton.k12.or.us
Location: 16550 SW Merlo Rd, Beaverton, OR, United States
Phone: (503)356-4360
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BeavertonSchoolDistrict/
Twitter: @beavertonsd