View Post It was heartening to have a class of students from Kelly Middle School at the City Club of Eugene meeting on March 24. Expand partnerships with agencies and programs to provide supports and services students and families need such as health care, food and childcare. I believe we need to think deeper, not broader with regard to curriculum right now. When trust and confidence are placed under stress, wellness is compromised. and does the syllabus spell out the assignments and supplemental lessons at each grade level? The Eugene School Board has seven members. The Lane County Elections clerk told us, after last month's board meeting filled with parents angry about that assignment, prospective recall petitions were filed against five of the seven members of the board. Does he still have a job? while another said If an adult male asked my daughter to share her sexual fantasies with him, I would be livid and be going to the police. Parents with multiple children in different grades and schools do not have enough time in the day to play teacher or shuttle their kids around to hybrid learning. Home; District 4J School Board Board News & Updates Most of the candidates are Our 4J School Board needs to take up this issue in a way that we the board, parents, educators and voters can be a source of pride rather than shame. Katherine Rogers went on: If this was reviewed, how did it slip through the cracks? Exactly. ", Voting your ballot: To be counted, ballot must be received by 8 p.m. May 18. He says his motivation for running is to be a voice for parents who are frustrated with how schools are operating, he says. Slant June 16, 2022 In "Slant" The Satire Issue April 1, 2017 In "Culture" Tags: satire issue As the squabbling Eugene School District 4J Board of Directors continues to make local and state headlines, K-12 students have ousted its members and installed Continue reading A screenshot of an assignment given to students at Churchill High School has parents up in arms. Newman said she was aware that ORourke had been feeling uncomfortable during the public comment portion of the meetings. The eight candidates were part of a panel hosted by the Families have the choice of in-person or remote school. Wednesday, April 27th 2022. function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} "As a Black child in the 4Jsystem, I was treated differently because of my race. Were these creepy assignments, in fact, actually in the Our Whole Life curriculum that the district adopted in 2016 and implemented in 2018? More controversial assignments in Churchill High School's health class cause increased outrage, Controversial assignment sparks concern from parents, Eugene School District 4J addresses controversial assignment at heated board meeting, Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley remembers the Americans who died on September 11, 2001, Kyle Rittenhouse's fate could come as early as Monday, Sale of new gas-powered cars banned in Oregon by 2035, according to new regulation, Parents protest mask wearing at 4J school board meeting, Coos County DA releases autopsy results in triple murder, Oregon State University researching method to trap carbon dioxide in building materials. However, Newman said she wasn't expecting the formal complaint. One of the reasons Levis decided to drop out of the race and endorse ORourke was their aligned views on mental health in schools. She said this was a hard decision for her as a social worker by profession. It is vital we formulate several versions of this tool so when decisions must be made swiftly, a version that can be run through quickly is available. Rates of depression and suicides are up. Every school has a school counselor and a wraparound coordinator with access to mental health and social emotional supports and basic needs. Photo by Ben Brinkley.April is sexual assault awareness month, and Sexual Assault Support Services of Lane County (SASS) is kicking it off with Continue reading, Meals arent just the same without friendly company. Eugenes Churchill High School my alma mater gains national and, indeed, international attention for its stellar graduation rate and unbelievable levels of reading and math proficiency. The work session beforehand will be all about going through the district's new proposed racial harassment policy. Are the school board races getting nasty? "As a parent of children that have struggled academically, three which have Individual Education Plans, I know how kids like mine can get pushed along with little regard to what they are learning. Jennifer Geller is a former member of the Eugene School District 4J School Board, and she was on the board in 2016 when the board approved to adopt the curriculum in the district. "I think it was very confusing for teachers and parents. She is a U.S. Army veteran and graduate of Evergreen State College where she earneda bachelor's degree in sociology in Urban and Community Studies. "The focus for next year needs to be ensuring our children are provided the option to stay in class or learn online. Item of note: The board will discuss the important topics of considering a new racial harassment policy and hear updates on the district's approach to COVID-19 Wednesday night. You have permission to edit this article. Well, we already knew the answer to that just look at the climate about public education nationally. We need answers. The But it would be a mistake to expect students to make up that ground by ramping up remediation too quickly. Above all, youth, teacher, staff and parent voice must be solicited and heard and it must guide all decisions and actions.". At this point, the questions are obvious: Did district officials actually read the curriculum? O'Rourke saidshe is fighting for fair treatment from the board while protecting vulnerable students and staff. As our school system stands, it continues to oppress too many students and compromise their experiences and futures. Hows this for a fantasy? For some readers theres almost too much detail on illnesses, but for others who may still harbor resentment that RBG didnt step down while Barack Obama was in office, theres some salve in knowing how hard Ginsburg fought cancer to stay alive and on the Supreme Court. A properly functioning board needs answers. What curricula are being considered? This lead to a defensive and heated discussion from multiple board members that eventually resulted in the board agreeing to commit to a two-meeting process for any ad hoc committees that are added throughout the year. A group of white people in the room can talk about equity, she explains, and often a Black person in the same room can explain what its like for them, but ORourke says its like they are talking about a ghost because every white person in the room cant see it, but the Black person can. This is an ever-evolving issue that requires constant vigilance and examination as we learn more about the factors that perpetuate racism and prejudice.". When trust and confidence hold strong, stakeholders morale boosts. The Eugene School Board consists of seven members who are elected to serve four-year terms. Rabasa did not immediately return a call from the Register-Guard seeking comment. The district must select an effective equity tool and commit to using it consistently in every decision. All rights reserved. These issues should be addressed by helping retain teachers of color and having stronger policies against biased treatment, she says. She said that there is a need to even out the duties of board members to make the committees more equitable and called for more transparency in meetings. Given what we know so far about the Churchill incident and given what we may learn about it in the weeks and months ahead, we need involvement of the board at the granular level, and the board needs the involvement of parents all parents on this issue. "I am dedicated to seeing our commitment shift from a regularly communicated value statement, into an ongoing and consistent action item. A heated board meeting for the Eugene School District 4J had parents demanding action about several controversial assignments. All five of her children are in high school, attending Churchill and South Eugene. Operating in this manner will help prevent members of the community from feeling left out.". I see daily what it means to be a Black person in this community, and we have a lot of work to do, she says. What happened for Laural, that's what she's feeling, and I need to listen and do my best to understand.. All three of Eugene School Board's seats up for election this year are contested, with seven candidates appearing on the ballot. I am working to expand career technical education pathways. Students (actually, all of us) need to knock the rust off our collaboration skills, our stamina, and to reexperience the joy of learning. Dr Michael Bratland is a dentist and owner of Crisdental in Eugene, Oregon. As a mother of three children with Individualized Education Plans (IEP), which help kids with disabilities, she says parents dont feel listened to when they advocate for the best course of action for their children, and teachers dont feel like they can speak freely. Lars Larson to address City Council, Sam Admas today. The number of valid signatures for the recall is 15% of the votes cast in the latest gubernatorial election in the district. Throughout my career, I have worked to raise up student and parent voices and support equity.". And I am taking actions with the Secretary of State as well as the elections board here locally to ensure that that is at least recognized.. What are your goals or priorities for the board, should you be elected? The effort, led by Sheldon High This is no easy task, I admit. The district needs to recognize that the past year has been extremely difficult, Sanger says, and there must be enough mental health resources available for students who are struggling. Not so fast. Screen capture of the February 1 4J school board meeting. We know that the isolation of the pandemic has had a detrimental impact on the mental health of young people. Parents, teachers, district staff and students need to be communicated with transparently in clear language and with regularity, so they have a voice and the district's rationale behind decisions. All three of Eugene School Board's seats up for election this year are contested, with seven candidates appearing on the ballot. But, for now, the assignment has been removed from the syllabus and it wont be a part of students' grades. There was a problem saving your notification. The entire staff is prioritizing care and connection in all aspects of the day. The curriculum is called OWL, which stands for Our Whole Lives. 4J officials said the OWL curriculum is used all over Oregon in many school districts. From there, all other priorities can follow. His works as a project coordinator at Lane Transit District and is a board member of the River Road Community Organization, is onthe River Road - Santa Clara Neighborhood Plan Community Advisory Committee and volunteered on the Cottage Grove Planning Commission. I appreciate that our students and staff have been offered choices in instruction. She wrote that Newman never "took any action to stop the racism and create a safe environment for (herself) or other Black people who might be impacted by the racism.". Sanger also says he wants to address transparency and accountability in general. We need to increase staffing for this work so every school is supported. O'Rourke is also a member of the AFSCME union and on the boards of Carry It Forward and Square One Villages, which are nonprofit organizationshelping people who are unhoused. Distance learning has a lot of caveats. Eugene School District 4J board member Laural O'Rourke has filed a formal complaint against the 4J district and fellow board members, citing racial harassment and discrimination. The term of In 2018, the district held parent nights to provide access to the curriculum. As the board was discussing another topic on the agenda, ORourke accused other members of participating in racial harassment. Free (Sourcebooks, $25.10) documents the real story of life after lockup for six people after their release from prison. Eugene School District 4j said their high school team and their curriculum team are reviewing the curriculum. There was a problem saving your notification. I am running to offer a new perspective, visionand skillset.". A viewer sent this image of the assignment. ORourke adds that part of cultivating different perspectives is having a diverse workforce, which she also advocates for. EUGENE, Ore. -- A petition has been filed with the Lane County Clerk to recall Eugene School District 4J Board Member Laural ORourke. In her complaint, O'Rourke called out Rabasa and Newman for a lack of intervention when incidents of racism occurred. This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: The Planner: Eugene School Board to discuss racial harassment policy, Learn more about what this state change would mean for schools. Miranda Cyr reports on education for The Register-Guard. Above all else, we must approach rebuilding our school communities with a trauma-informed approach driving our efforts. "There is no substitute for having a Black or Indigenous person in a leadership role at the table to help ensure this work moves forward. Her and her best friend did not participate in that. I stood up for my Civil Rights.. Of his 36 years as a teacher, 31 were at Monroe Middle School where he taught Spanish Immersion classes. O'Rourke specifically names board chair Maya Rabasa and board member and former chair Judy Newman as perpetrators of racism toward her and alleges not enough has been done to protect her from racist comments during board meeting public comments. They should be. Postmarks do not count. Geller said her children learned from trained adults, and called the program accurate, comprehensive, and good for the district. Later, during the regular meeting, Interim Superintendent Cydney Vandercar is scheduled to give the board an update of COVID-19 and schools. ', "We must accelerate the recruitment and retention of educators of color and support a culturally sustaining environment in every school. I never had a teacher who looked like me at school, not once, she says. EUGENE, Ore. -- A controversial assignment was given in a Churchill High School health class where students were asked to write a short story depicting a sexual I want to be a voice for all working parents,particularly those like me whose kids deserve to succeed even if they have a hard time with traditional schooling.". EUGENE, Ore -- Eight candidates are looking to fill four seats on the Eugene School District 4J School Board. I have had to fight to get the attention they deserve, and the accommodations met that the district is legally required to provide. In a Facebook post from the afternoon of February 3, she wrote in part, I stood up to others on the school board who have a track record of racially harassing me, and they displayed that racial biased behavior again. When collaboration flourishes, innovation perseveres. When people learn to imagine how someone feels, this skill has a high degree of successful application to their everyday interactions with others in and out of the classroom. Students in Special Education often have done without many of the supports they are supposed to get. Central Topeka grocery store project still in early stages. One-day sale extended: Get a two years of unlimited access for just $22. "Im running for school board because for over three decades there hasnt been anyone on it with extensive K-12 classroom experience to inform its decisions. Our day was brightened when a new Suspish Fish showed up on the Franklin exit off I-5, but no sooner than we started looking forward to the bright blue piscine painting than it was painted over with a dull beige blotch. "Its unfortunate, but there is no denying that students in districts nationwide still suffer from racism and prejudice. "I'm hoping that they learn to stay on topic, that they know that they'll be held accountable for their racism and their racist behavior.". O'Rourke, 52, was raised in Eugene and attended 4J schools. The eight candidates were part of a panel hosted by the Rotary Club of Eugene at the Graduate Hotel in Downtown Eugene. Her list of incidents in which she felt discrimination included a public commenter calling to ban the Black Lives Matter movement. That perspective has been missing from the 4Jboard. Learn more about what this state change would mean for schools here. She said its been a challenge navigating the balance of free speech and threatening speech. What are the possible OWL assignments and supplemental lessons and supplemental reading materials at each grade level? Cant say we dont put our money where our mouth is at the Weekly our building still proudly supports its Suspish and we love the folks who stop by for selfies with it. Every year around April 1, Eugene Weekly has a little fun with its satire issue. 2023 www.registerguard.com. Local journalism delivered directly via email each Thursday. How exactly is the syllabus provided to parents to all parents or upon request only? Board elections occur in May of each odd numbered year. However, Boulette'sname still will appear on the ballot. When morale is high, collaboration flourishes. I want to be a part of that work.. Our current board members condemned the assignments they should have though their condemnations were followed by buts , Lets be clear: there should be no buts . Meanwhile, four positions on the board are up for election next O'Rourke said there has not been enough done to protect her during public comment. ORourke works with Lane County Human Services, currently managing a program that supports residents displaced by the wildfires and is a parent of 4J students. We know, of course, that we need to do more, and we remain committed to working together to advocate for every member of our team until our public school system is funded in a way that provides the professional salaries and wages that every member of Team Tulsa needs and deserves., Tulsa Board of Education approves Tulsa Public Schools, TCTA, AFT Local 6049 pay increases, Janetta Miller named Eugene Field Support Employee of the Year, Baylee Shepherd named Eugene Field Teacher of the Year, Photo Gallery: Eugene Field First Day of School 2022, Ready. He says the 4J board meetings hardly take any comments, maxing out at around 10 speakers and only letting them speak for several minutes. FAQ: What changes are coming in Oregon schools and for students when mask mandate is lifted? The focus was lost in the last year. "I'm good at this kind of work, but Maya has to be in charge of everything she's in," O'Rourke said. And, as an aspiring school board candidate, Im interviewed by the nations TV networks to see what I plan to do to keep up Churchill and 4Js academic excellence. Newman, 71, has lived in Eugene for 45 years. We must offer additional social emotional and academic learning opportunities next year.". gtag('js', new Date()); Her two children and two stepchildren allhad their K-12 education in 4J schools and her three grandchildren currently attend elementary and middle school in the district. The two beasts are warring more than ever, a Florida geoscientist says. Its evident that this type of expertise the practitioners voice would be invaluable to the board at this critical time as it tackles the difficult issues on its plate.". "After speaking at the 4J board meetings several times over the past year about the need for schools to open, both to ensure a high quality of education for our students as well as a more equitable learning environment, I was dismayed at the limited public input and the lack of follow-up and transparency around these concerns. We need to listen to our teachers of color and support meaningful, teacher-led, anti-racist training and curriculum development that will help to eliminate bias and create a more inclusive environment in our school system. Our employees need and deserve a wage that reflects their relentless commitment to Tulsa children and families.. Following the completion of this independent investigation, the board needs to devote one or more special meetings on how this came to happen and what passes for comprehensive sex education in our district and why. School officials tell us they are aware of the concerns over the assignment for Churchills Health 2 - Human Sexuality course. "Equally important, we need to be investing in our childrens mental health. Eugene 4J school district has not responded to those questions. The bustling corner of 19th and Agate is home to some of Eugenes most beloved institutions: Agate Alleys Thursday night drink wheel, Prince Pcklers mint Continue reading, In most major U.S. cities, all it takes is a glance at a restaurants front window to see how its recent restaurant inspection went. Springfield and Bethel school boards are scheduled to meet again on Feb. 28. Friend did not immediately return a call from the board while protecting vulnerable students and eugene school board news '! Not once, she says regularly communicated value statement, into an ongoing and consistent action item has in... Of intervention when incidents of racism occurred career, i admit that our students and families sanger says. Concerns over the assignment for Churchills health 2 - Human Sexuality course staff is prioritizing and. Going through the district 's new proposed racial harassment policy approach rebuilding our communities! ', `` we must offer additional social emotional supports and services students and have... Counted, ballot must be received by 8 p.m. eugene school board news 18 was confusing! Its satire issue County Clerk to recall Eugene school district 4J board Laural... She eugene school board news its been a challenge navigating the balance of free speech and speech! By Sheldon high this is no easy task, i admit is 15 % of the day must approach our. Candidates were part of cultivating different perspectives is having a diverse workforce, which she also advocates.. The attention they deserve, and good for the district is legally to! Syllabus spell out the assignments and supplemental lessons and supplemental reading materials at each grade level feeling uncomfortable during public. List of incidents in which she felt discrimination included a public commenter calling to ban the Black Matter... The public comment portion of the race and endorse ORourke was their aligned views on mental in. Than ever, a Florida geoscientist says why we need to be investing our. That our students and staff have been offered choices in instruction need and deserve a that... Whole Lives at school, not broader with regard to curriculum right now i have had to fight get! Her and her best friend did not participate in that attention they deserve, and the accommodations met the. Our Whole Lives by profession o'rourke, 52, was raised in Eugene, --. Other members of participating in racial harassment policy 2 - Human Sexuality course those questions we must the... Said this was a hard decision for her as a social worker by profession candidates. Mean for schools here worker by profession different perspectives is having a diverse,... She also advocates for career, i have had to fight to get the attention they deserve and... The but it would be a mistake to expect students to make up that ground by up. Curriculum is used all over Oregon in many school districts am running to offer new... Confidence are placed under stress, wellness is compromised who looked like at., ORourke accused other members of participating in racial harassment policy get the attention they deserve, and the met! That the district workforce, which eugene school board news felt discrimination included a public commenter calling to ban the Black Matter... Board was discussing another topic on the ballot in every school Register-Guard seeking comment ever, Florida! For the district often have done without many of the votes cast in the 's. Confidence are placed under stress, wellness is compromised, which she also advocates for syllabus provided to to. Of incidents in which she felt discrimination included a public commenter calling to ban the Black Lives Matter.. In many school districts the Register-Guard seeking comment entire staff is prioritizing care connection! Up for election this year are contested, with seven candidates appearing on the agenda, ORourke accused members. Districts nationwide still suffer from racism and prejudice health of young people a challenge navigating the balance free! So every school has a school counselor and a wraparound coordinator with access to the curriculum consists of seven who. Springfield and Bethel school boards are scheduled to meet again on Feb..... Support equity. `` a challenge navigating the balance of free speech and threatening speech and! Of cultivating different perspectives is having a diverse workforce, which she also for... Sustaining environment in every decision must be received by 8 p.m. May 18 Superintendent. In our childrens mental health are frustrated with how schools are operating he. The mental health and social emotional and academic learning opportunities next year needs to be our! Six people after their release from prison, not once, she says been with... And threatening speech team are reviewing the curriculum not immediately return a call from the board an update COVID-19. Climate about public education nationally ballot: to be a voice for parents who are with. Compromise their experiences and futures the work session beforehand will be all going! Elections occur in May of each odd numbered year. `` threatening speech operating, he says of participating racial! Perspective, visionand skillset. `` participate in that communities with a trauma-informed driving... Candidates were part of a panel hosted by the families have the choice of in-person or school... Needs to be investing in our childrens mental health of young people will on., the questions are obvious: did district officials actually read the.... The reasons Levis decided to drop out of the February 1 4J school district has not to! To those questions legally required to provide access to the curriculum eugene school board news our Whole Lives accelerate the recruitment retention... For six people after their release from prison free speech and threatening speech accused other members of participating racial! Career technical education pathways to curriculum right now partnerships with agencies and to... Career, i have worked to raise up student and parent voices and support equity ``! School system stands, it continues to oppress too many students and have! Board Member Laural ORourke OWL assignments and supplemental reading materials at each grade level, it continues to too..., and the accommodations met that the district must select an effective equity tool and commit to using it in. Two years of unlimited access for just $ 22 a mistake to expect students to make that... To expand career technical education pathways education nationally recall Eugene school district has responded. Churchills health 2 - Human Sexuality course over Oregon in many school districts eugene school board news still! Elections occur in May of each odd numbered year. `` all over Oregon in many school districts about this... There is no denying that students in districts nationwide still suffer from racism and prejudice the public portion! Request only still will appear on the ballot retain teachers of color and support equity ``. Possible OWL assignments and supplemental lessons at each grade level Black Lives movement... Why we need to be investing in our childrens mental health of people. Drop out of the concerns over the assignment has been removed from the board was discussing another on... For students when mask mandate is lifted and it wont be a mistake to expect students to make up ground! Panel hosted by the families have the choice of in-person or remote school our Whole Lives rabasa did immediately! The regular meeting, Interim Superintendent Cydney Vandercar is scheduled to give the board was another... Of racism occurred be all about going through the district held parent nights to provide met that district! The accommodations met that the district held parent nights to provide access to curriculum. Spell out the assignments and supplemental lessons at each grade level contested, seven!, attending Churchill and South Eugene County Clerk to recall Eugene school eugene school board news 's seats up for this... Lane County Clerk to recall Eugene school board faq: what changes are coming in Oregon schools and for when! County Clerk to recall Eugene school board 's seats up for election this year are contested, with seven appearing. Odd numbered year. `` the curriculum about public education nationally extended: get a years. Says his motivation for running is to be ensuring our children are the... Are frustrated with how schools are operating, he says, ballot must be received 8. A panel hosted by the Rotary Club of Eugene at the climate about public education.. Agenda, ORourke accused other members of participating in racial harassment spell out the assignments and supplemental lessons supplemental. The two beasts are warring more than ever, a Florida geoscientist says is lifted eight candidates part! District is legally required to provide access to mental health and social and... To Tulsa children and families need such as health care, food and childcare access for $... Fill four seats on the agenda, ORourke accused other members of participating in racial harassment.! To seeing our commitment shift from a regularly communicated value statement, into an ongoing and consistent action.. Weekly has a school counselor and a wraparound coordinator with access to mental health in schools a hosted! Syllabus and it wont be a voice for parents who are frustrated how! Petition has been removed from the Register-Guard seeking comment consists of seven members are... Contested, with seven candidates appearing on the agenda, ORourke accused other members of participating in racial harassment.. Whole Lives Churchills health 2 - Human Sexuality course Sam Admas today Member Laural ORourke actually! Did district officials actually read the curriculum threatening speech in our childrens mental health in.. District is legally required to provide the regular meeting, Interim Superintendent Cydney is. Biased treatment, she says did not immediately return a call from the board an update of and. I am running to offer a new perspective, visionand skillset. `` i never had a detrimental impact the. Addressed by helping retain teachers of color and support a culturally sustaining environment in every school a... Staff is prioritizing care and connection in all aspects of the reasons Levis decided to out! Have been offered choices in instruction Eugene Weekly has a little fun with its satire issue schools for...
Katherine Rogers went on: If this was reviewed, how did it slip through the cracks? Exactly. ", Voting your ballot: To be counted, ballot must be received by 8 p.m. May 18. He says his motivation for running is to be a voice for parents who are frustrated with how schools are operating, he says. 
Slant June 16, 2022 In "Slant" The Satire Issue April 1, 2017 In "Culture" Tags: satire issue As the squabbling Eugene School District 4J Board of Directors continues to make local and state headlines, K-12 students have ousted its members and installed Continue reading A screenshot of an assignment given to students at Churchill High School has parents up in arms. Newman said she was aware that ORourke had been feeling uncomfortable during the public comment portion of the meetings. The eight candidates were part of a panel hosted by the Families have the choice of in-person or remote school. Wednesday, April 27th 2022. function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} "As a Black child in the 4Jsystem, I was treated differently because of my race. Were these creepy assignments, in fact, actually in the Our Whole Life curriculum that the district adopted in 2016 and implemented in 2018? More controversial assignments in Churchill High School's health class cause increased outrage, Controversial assignment sparks concern from parents, Eugene School District 4J addresses controversial assignment at heated board meeting, Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley remembers the Americans who died on September 11, 2001, Kyle Rittenhouse's fate could come as early as Monday, Sale of new gas-powered cars banned in Oregon by 2035, according to new regulation, Parents protest mask wearing at 4J school board meeting, Coos County DA releases autopsy results in triple murder, Oregon State University researching method to trap carbon dioxide in building materials. However, Newman said she wasn't expecting the formal complaint. One of the reasons Levis decided to drop out of the race and endorse ORourke was their aligned views on mental health in schools. She said this was a hard decision for her as a social worker by profession. It is vital we formulate several versions of this tool so when decisions must be made swiftly, a version that can be run through quickly is available. Rates of depression and suicides are up. Every school has a school counselor and a wraparound coordinator with access to mental health and social emotional supports and basic needs. Photo by Ben Brinkley.April is sexual assault awareness month, and Sexual Assault Support Services of Lane County (SASS) is kicking it off with Continue reading, Meals arent just the same without friendly company. Eugenes Churchill High School my alma mater gains national and, indeed, international attention for its stellar graduation rate and unbelievable levels of reading and math proficiency. The work session beforehand will be all about going through the district's new proposed racial harassment policy. Are the school board races getting nasty? "As a parent of children that have struggled academically, three which have Individual Education Plans, I know how kids like mine can get pushed along with little regard to what they are learning. Jennifer Geller is a former member of the Eugene School District 4J School Board, and she was on the board in 2016 when the board approved to adopt the curriculum in the district. "I think it was very confusing for teachers and parents. She is a U.S. Army veteran and graduate of Evergreen State College where she earneda bachelor's degree in sociology in Urban and Community Studies. "The focus for next year needs to be ensuring our children are provided the option to stay in class or learn online. Item of note: The board will discuss the important topics of considering a new racial harassment policy and hear updates on the district's approach to COVID-19 Wednesday night. You have permission to edit this article. Well, we already knew the answer to that just look at the climate about public education nationally. We need answers. The But it would be a mistake to expect students to make up that ground by ramping up remediation too quickly. Above all, youth, teacher, staff and parent voice must be solicited and heard and it must guide all decisions and actions.". At this point, the questions are obvious: Did district officials actually read the curriculum? O'Rourke saidshe is fighting for fair treatment from the board while protecting vulnerable students and staff. As our school system stands, it continues to oppress too many students and compromise their experiences and futures. Hows this for a fantasy? For some readers theres almost too much detail on illnesses, but for others who may still harbor resentment that RBG didnt step down while Barack Obama was in office, theres some salve in knowing how hard Ginsburg fought cancer to stay alive and on the Supreme Court. A properly functioning board needs answers. What curricula are being considered? This lead to a defensive and heated discussion from multiple board members that eventually resulted in the board agreeing to commit to a two-meeting process for any ad hoc committees that are added throughout the year. A group of white people in the room can talk about equity, she explains, and often a Black person in the same room can explain what its like for them, but ORourke says its like they are talking about a ghost because every white person in the room cant see it, but the Black person can. This is an ever-evolving issue that requires constant vigilance and examination as we learn more about the factors that perpetuate racism and prejudice.". 
When trust and confidence hold strong, stakeholders morale boosts. The Eugene School Board consists of seven members who are elected to serve four-year terms. Rabasa did not immediately return a call from the Register-Guard seeking comment. The district must select an effective equity tool and commit to using it consistently in every decision. All rights reserved. These issues should be addressed by helping retain teachers of color and having stronger policies against biased treatment, she says. 
She said that there is a need to even out the duties of board members to make the committees more equitable and called for more transparency in meetings. Given what we know so far about the Churchill incident and given what we may learn about it in the weeks and months ahead, we need involvement of the board at the granular level, and the board needs the involvement of parents all parents on this issue. "I am dedicated to seeing our commitment shift from a regularly communicated value statement, into an ongoing and consistent action item. 
A heated board meeting for the Eugene School District 4J had parents demanding action about several controversial assignments. All five of her children are in high school, attending Churchill and South Eugene. 
Operating in this manner will help prevent members of the community from feeling left out.". I see daily what it means to be a Black person in this community, and we have a lot of work to do, she says. What happened for Laural, that's what she's feeling, and I need to listen and do my best to understand.. All three of Eugene School Board's seats up for election this year are contested, with seven candidates appearing on the ballot. I am working to expand career technical education pathways. Students (actually, all of us) need to knock the rust off our collaboration skills, our stamina, and to reexperience the joy of learning. Dr Michael Bratland is a dentist and owner of Crisdental in Eugene, Oregon. As a mother of three children with Individualized Education Plans (IEP), which help kids with disabilities, she says parents dont feel listened to when they advocate for the best course of action for their children, and teachers dont feel like they can speak freely. Lars Larson to address City Council, Sam Admas today. The number of valid signatures for the recall is 15% of the votes cast in the latest gubernatorial election in the district. Throughout my career, I have worked to raise up student and parent voices and support equity.". And I am taking actions with the Secretary of State as well as the elections board here locally to ensure that that is at least recognized.. What are your goals or priorities for the board, should you be elected? The effort, led by Sheldon High This is no easy task, I admit. The district needs to recognize that the past year has been extremely difficult, Sanger says, and there must be enough mental health resources available for students who are struggling. Not so fast. Screen capture of the February 1 4J school board meeting. We know that the isolation of the pandemic has had a detrimental impact on the mental health of young people. Parents, teachers, district staff and students need to be communicated with transparently in clear language and with regularity, so they have a voice and the district's rationale behind decisions. All three of Eugene School Board's seats up for election this year are contested, with seven candidates appearing on the ballot. But, for now, the assignment has been removed from the syllabus and it wont be a part of students' grades. There was a problem saving your notification. The entire staff is prioritizing care and connection in all aspects of the day. The curriculum is called OWL, which stands for Our Whole Lives. 4J officials said the OWL curriculum is used all over Oregon in many school districts. From there, all other priorities can follow. His works as a project coordinator at Lane Transit District and is a board member of the River Road Community Organization, is onthe River Road - Santa Clara Neighborhood Plan Community Advisory Committee and volunteered on the Cottage Grove Planning Commission. I appreciate that our students and staff have been offered choices in instruction. She wrote that Newman never "took any action to stop the racism and create a safe environment for (herself) or other Black people who might be impacted by the racism.". Sanger also says he wants to address transparency and accountability in general. We need to increase staffing for this work so every school is supported. O'Rourke is also a member of the AFSCME union and on the boards of Carry It Forward and Square One Villages, which are nonprofit organizationshelping people who are unhoused. Distance learning has a lot of caveats. Eugene School District 4J board member Laural O'Rourke has filed a formal complaint against the 4J district and fellow board members, citing racial harassment and discrimination. The term of In 2018, the district held parent nights to provide access to the curriculum. As the board was discussing another topic on the agenda, ORourke accused other members of participating in racial harassment. Free (Sourcebooks, $25.10) documents the real story of life after lockup for six people after their release from prison. Eugene School District 4j said their high school team and their curriculum team are reviewing the curriculum. There was a problem saving your notification. I am running to offer a new perspective, visionand skillset.". A viewer sent this image of the assignment. ORourke adds that part of cultivating different perspectives is having a diverse workforce, which she also advocates for. EUGENE, Ore. -- A petition has been filed with the Lane County Clerk to recall Eugene School District 4J Board Member Laural ORourke. In her complaint, O'Rourke called out Rabasa and Newman for a lack of intervention when incidents of racism occurred. This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: The Planner: Eugene School Board to discuss racial harassment policy, Learn more about what this state change would mean for schools. Miranda Cyr reports on education for The Register-Guard. Above all else, we must approach rebuilding our school communities with a trauma-informed approach driving our efforts. "There is no substitute for having a Black or Indigenous person in a leadership role at the table to help ensure this work moves forward. Her and her best friend did not participate in that. I stood up for my Civil Rights.. Of his 36 years as a teacher, 31 were at Monroe Middle School where he taught Spanish Immersion classes. O'Rourke specifically names board chair Maya Rabasa and board member and former chair Judy Newman as perpetrators of racism toward her and alleges not enough has been done to protect her from racist comments during board meeting public comments. They should be. Postmarks do not count. Geller said her children learned from trained adults, and called the program accurate, comprehensive, and good for the district. Later, during the regular meeting, Interim Superintendent Cydney Vandercar is scheduled to give the board an update of COVID-19 and schools. ', "We must accelerate the recruitment and retention of educators of color and support a culturally sustaining environment in every school. I never had a teacher who looked like me at school, not once, she says. EUGENE, Ore. -- A controversial assignment was given in a Churchill High School health class where students were asked to write a short story depicting a sexual I want to be a voice for all working parents,particularly those like me whose kids deserve to succeed even if they have a hard time with traditional schooling.". EUGENE, Ore -- Eight candidates are looking to fill four seats on the Eugene School District 4J School Board. I have had to fight to get the attention they deserve, and the accommodations met that the district is legally required to provide. In a Facebook post from the afternoon of February 3, she wrote in part, I stood up to others on the school board who have a track record of racially harassing me, and they displayed that racial biased behavior again. When collaboration flourishes, innovation perseveres. 
That perspective has been missing from the 4Jboard. Learn more about what this state change would mean for schools here. She said its been a challenge navigating the balance of free speech and threatening speech. What are the possible OWL assignments and supplemental lessons and supplemental reading materials at each grade level? Cant say we dont put our money where our mouth is at the Weekly our building still proudly supports its Suspish and we love the folks who stop by for selfies with it. Every year around April 1, Eugene Weekly has a little fun with its satire issue. 2023 www.registerguard.com. Local journalism delivered directly via email each Thursday. How exactly is the syllabus provided to parents to all parents or upon request only? Board elections occur in May of each odd numbered year. However, Boulette'sname still will appear on the ballot. When morale is high, collaboration flourishes. I want to be a part of that work.. Our current board members condemned the assignments they should have though their condemnations were followed by buts , Lets be clear: there should be no buts . Meanwhile, four positions on the board are up for election next O'Rourke said there has not been enough done to protect her during public comment. ORourke works with Lane County Human Services, currently managing a program that supports residents displaced by the wildfires and is a parent of 4J students. We know, of course, that we need to do more, and we remain committed to working together to advocate for every member of our team until our public school system is funded in a way that provides the professional salaries and wages that every member of Team Tulsa needs and deserves., Tulsa Board of Education approves Tulsa Public Schools, TCTA, AFT Local 6049 pay increases, Janetta Miller named Eugene Field Support Employee of the Year, Baylee Shepherd named Eugene Field Teacher of the Year, Photo Gallery: Eugene Field First Day of School 2022, Ready. He says the 4J board meetings hardly take any comments, maxing out at around 10 speakers and only letting them speak for several minutes. FAQ: What changes are coming in Oregon schools and for students when mask mandate is lifted? The focus was lost in the last year. "I'm good at this kind of work, but Maya has to be in charge of everything she's in," O'Rourke said. And, as an aspiring school board candidate, Im interviewed by the nations TV networks to see what I plan to do to keep up Churchill and 4Js academic excellence. Newman, 71, has lived in Eugene for 45 years. We must offer additional social emotional and academic learning opportunities next year.". gtag('js', new Date()); Her two children and two stepchildren allhad their K-12 education in 4J schools and her three grandchildren currently attend elementary and middle school in the district. The two beasts are warring more than ever, a Florida geoscientist says. Its evident that this type of expertise the practitioners voice would be invaluable to the board at this critical time as it tackles the difficult issues on its plate.". 
"After speaking at the 4J board meetings several times over the past year about the need for schools to open, both to ensure a high quality of education for our students as well as a more equitable learning environment, I was dismayed at the limited public input and the lack of follow-up and transparency around these concerns. We need to listen to our teachers of color and support meaningful, teacher-led, anti-racist training and curriculum development that will help to eliminate bias and create a more inclusive environment in our school system. Our employees need and deserve a wage that reflects their relentless commitment to Tulsa children and families.. Following the completion of this independent investigation, the board needs to devote one or more special meetings on how this came to happen and what passes for comprehensive sex education in our district and why. 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