Several key issues were discussed during the Oct. 10 school board meeting, with a focus on complying with new Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR) and the Seven Oak Middle School classroom build budget, which came in under projections along with cost-cutting measures.
New Student Representative Sworn In
Finley Vandiver, this year’s new student representative, was sworn in as a member of the school board. Vandiver’s role is intended to help provide valuable student insights and to work with her fellow student school board members to have an impact on fellow students as part of the district’s ongoing efforts to improve educational outcomes.
Class Load and Caseload Report
The district shared its caseload report, discussing how class sizes are distributed across schools. While some schools were near capacity in class size, especially at the middle school level, there are also patterns of imbalance at K-8 schools, where class sizes vary. According to the district, there are not enough students in some grades to warrant hiring additional teachers, which creates challenges in balancing class sizes effectively.
At the middle school level, most classes were either at or below capacity, with physical education and some electives at or slightly above the cap at Seven Oak Middle School. High school core classes were mostly within limits, with only a few outliers. Principals at each school continue to work to balance class sizes in their respective schools.
Additionally, counselor-to-student ratios are considered good across the district, except at Riverview School, Seven Oak Middle School, and for juniors at the high school, where they are over the cap.
New Oregon Administrative Rules and Compliance
One of the meeting’s primary focuses was addressing compliance with new state regulations. Superintendent Jennifer Meckley reviewed several new OAR requirements, highlighting areas where the district must meet the standards and where they currently fall short.
Among the most significant changes is OAR 581-022-2515, the Menstrual Dignity Act, passed in 2023, which mandates that schools provide menstrual products in every restroom, including male restrooms. However, the district is currently out of compliance due to issues with vandalism and plumbing damage caused by having these products in the male restrooms. The superintendent acknowledged the challenge of ensuring compliance while managing the financial and logistical burdens.
“We’ve tried to meet the spirit of the law by providing access to products, but we are hoping for some flexibility or guidance from the Oregon Department of Education (ODE),” Supt. Meckley said.
Other important OARs include:
- OAR 581-022-2220: Requiring school districts to develop, implement, and annually update a health services plan focused on prevention for all students.
- OAR 581-022-2030: Calling for a planned K-12 instructional program on social-emotional learning.
- OAR 581-022-2045: Mandates opioid prevention lessons for grades 6-8 and once in high school.
- ODE is requiring a .5 credit in personal financial education, and .5 credit in career skills. This change, which most likely replaces some elective credits, was noted as an “unfunded mandate,” which puts additional strain on the district’s resources.
Equity Committee Formation
Under Senate Bill 732, the district is required to establish an equity committee, designed to provide insights into how policies impact underserved student groups. The superintendent will oversee the nomination process, with the board expected to appoint members by August 2025, and the first meeting to take place by Sept. 15, 2025. The committee will consist of parents, employees, students, and other community members, and will serve as an advisory body to the school board on matters of equity.
Budget Report: Coming in Under Budget
One of the more positive updates during the meeting was the district’s financial status. The board was pleased to announce that the district came in under budget for the Seven Oak construction project. Originally budgeted at $4.127 million, the project was completed at $3.985 million.
“Given the fluctuations in construction costs and inflation, this is a big win for the district,” noted William Lewis, operations manager.
Despite inflation causing construction costs to soar – from $100 per square foot to $900 per square foot in some instances – the district was able to navigate the challenges and complete the project under budget.
With cybersecurity becoming a growing concern, the district insurance provider is requiring security upgrades and protocols. The district has already initiated updates such as daily data backups, restricted admin rights on district computers, and mandatory password changes. They have partnered with Cynet, an Israeli company, to monitor cybersecurity threats 24/7.
However, the district is still working on implementing multi-factor authentication (MFA) and endpoint protection software on all devices. While these upgrades are expensive, the district has applied for a grant to cover some costs, ensuring that they remain committed to financial integrity while also meeting the growing demands for cybersecurity required by their insurance company.
Kitcheteria Updates and Equipment Issues
Renovations to the high school’s kitchen and cafeteria (“kitcheteria”) are nearing completion, with new seating and polished concrete floors already installed. However, $350,000 worth of equipment arrived damaged, including broken glass and dents, causing delays. While the damaged equipment is still functional, the district is negotiating with the vendor to either replace or repair the damaged items. Sending the equipment back would delay the project by an additional nine weeks, so the district is working closely with the manufacturer to resolve the issue without disrupting operations.
Other Notable Updates
- Student Board Report: Vandiver shared highlights from recent school activities, including a successful homecoming with high student participation. This marks a step forward in the district’s goal to increase student engagement.
- Orange Shirt Day: Lebanon High School held a National Day of Remembrance on Sept. 30 to honor Native American children sent to residential schools. Students created awareness posters for the event.
- Autumn Harvests: Students across the district took part in farm-to-table activities, harvesting local produce such as corn and tomatoes, further connecting education with practical, hands-on learning.
- Student Constructed Home: The high school home construction class completed their home build, and the home was sold and closed this month.
Conclusion
The Lebanon School District Board faces a number of challenges, from balancing class sizes to meeting new state regulations. Despite these hurdles, the district is managing to stay on track financially, even completing major projects under budget. The focus on new OAR requirements, equity initiatives and student engagement shows a commitment to ensuring that both compliance and the needs of the students are prioritized.