The Wallowa School District is committed to ensuring high levels of learning and growth for each student! Together we ensure that the Wallowa School District is the best place for students to learn and grow. Together we have ensured that our culture is one where our focus is on students first and foremost.

Our 2022-23 focus and goals reflect our district vision and mission. The following goals were established:

Goal #1: Build Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS)/Response to Intervention (RTI), with a focus on Tier I—Core Learning and Tier 2 Intervention

Response to Intervention (RTI) and Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) are in the top three instructional practices that impact and improve student learning. RTI is a systematic process to ensure EACH student receives the additional time and support needed to learn at high levels. RTI includes timely, targeted, and systematic interventions for all students. RTI consists of three tiers. Tier One consists of core instruction for all students. Tier Two consists of supplemental interventions where students receive additional time and support in essential behavior and academic standards. This includes small group and individual targets instruction. Tier Three consists of intensive student supports and interventions.

This goal also focuses on increasing student active engagement and achievement through a focus on:

• Clarity—All Lessons Will Ensure that Students Know WHAT They are Learning (clear learning targets/essential standards), WHY They are Learning That (relevance), and HOW They Can Be Successful (success criteria)

• Challenge—Deepening student knowledge through balancing difficulty and complexity so that students experience a range of experiences which foster fluency, stamina, strategic thinking, and expertise. This ensures increased rigor.

• Maximizing Learning Time—”Bell to Bell” Teaching and Learning

• Focus on Prevention and Response addressing Social Emotional and Behavior

Goal #2: Increase School-Community Engagement and Communications

Accreditation is pivotal in leveraging education quality and continuous improvement. Accreditors use a set of rigorous research-based standards and examine the whole institution to determine how well the parts work together to meet the needs of learners. Diagnostic Ratings include Insufficient, Initiating, Improving (meeting standard) and impacting. Ratings address specific standards in the domains of leadership capacity, learning capacity, and resource capacity. Wallowa High school received most ratings of “impacting”- the highest level and some of “improving,” which pinpoints quality practices that meet standards and are improving. Wallowa received no insufficient ratings or initiating ratings. An Institution Index of Education Quality (IEQ) score of 362.00 was received (scale of 100-400). The five-year average of all institutions evaluated for accreditation is 278.34-283.33. Wallowa is significantly about this average. A score above an IEQ of 275 indicates that the institution is beginning to reach the Impact level and is engaged in practices that are sustained over time and becoming ingrained in the culture of the institution. Wallowa is the only accredited high school in the county.

The evaluator stated, “In conclusion, Wallowa High School is committed to providing a quality educational experience for its students. Evident through the review was the commitment of school leaders, teachers, students, and parents to participate in a learning community where all students engage in a rigorous, supportive, and well-rounded education that prepares them for their futures. Value is placed on engagement in continuous improvement and positive adult-student relationships.”

During accreditation, the evaluator commended the staff for their recent work with developing an Early Warning Systems to gather data on attendance, behavior, course completion, and disposition, as well as their work to begin building Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS)/RTI for the high school. Wallowa teachers are incredible teacher leaders who strive to ensure that Wallowa is the best place for students to learn and grow.

Last Spring, the Wallowa School District recognized a need to better address the needs of our students in grades 6-8. We decided to create a middle school to improve our learning outcomes for these students. The Wallowa Middle School will consist of grades 6, 7, & 8. We know the needs of this age group differs greatly from that of K-5 and 9-12. The Wallowa Middle School will provide a school environment to meet the unique developmental needs of this age group as they explore independence, gain more responsibility in learning and engage with more rigorous curriculum. The Wallowa Middle School will ensure this happens in an intentional way.

The bottom floor of the high school building will serve as the new middle school. The middle school will have their own lunch and recess period and they will have a closed campus. There will be two teachers who will teach 6th-8th grade students. One with increased focus in Math/Science and the other with increased focus in English/Social Studies. The middle school will focus on essentials: ELA, Math, Science, Social Studies, PE and electives. Elective options include: Band, Art, and Intro to Ag/Shop. Planners will be used and geared towards organization of scheduled classes, assignments & tracking, weekly goal setting, and communication between student, teachers, and parents. The middle school will have its own identity, with middle school assemblies, dances, field trips, student leadership, and more.

Capital project work is underway! Capital projects include the $2.3 million Seismic Rehabilitation Grant Project, the $7 million Bond Project, and the $4 million OSCIM Grant. We have a couple other grants that we are waiting on to see if we are being funded for. We hired Lem McBurney as our Project Manager. We are working with ZCS Engineering & Architecture, Architects West, and CB Construction, Inc. on our projects, along with a number of amazing subcontractors as well.

The $2.3 million Seismic Rehabilitation Grant Project will be wrapping up this fall. The seismic project focused on the gym and has stayed right on budget! The seismic project was on time, until the storm hit. The roofing that was completed was damaged, so the roof replacement will cause the project completion to be delayed just a bit.

The $7 million Bond Project and the $4 million OSCIM Grant Project are moving forward. We have moved rapidly through design development and construction sets are completed. Some early work has already taken place. Projects include gym, concession, and locker room remodels, electrical, HVAC, safety and security upgrades, and the construction of a community space and a weight room/workout space. The plan is for the workout space and weight room to be available to interested community members once completed. This space will also house an elevator for the high school.