By Chelly Bouferrache
For Lebanon Local
The Lebanon School Board meeting on Thursday, June 12, discussed the results of mini-grants awarded to teachers through Lebanon Schools Foundation, outlined summer facilities projects, and bid farewell to outgoing board members while recognizing graduating seniors and a successful wellness fair.
Teacher Mini-Grants
The Lebanon Schools Foundation awarded $500 mini-grants to teachers and staff to enhance classroom experiences, with recipients submitting slides of their projects to the board.
“It’s competitive,” said Edda King, director of the foundation, which is largely funded through voluntary payroll deductions by school staff. “We have a group of us who get together and go over the applications. It’s pretty fun!”
Notable projects included:
- Jessie Questschke, a sixth-grade science teacher at Hamilton Creek, who purchased a Lego robotics kit for students to build and code.
- Ryan McWayne, a fifth-grade teacher at Cascades and Battle of the Books coach, acquired book sets for his class.
- Susie Phillips, at the Brick House transition program for students with disabilities ages 18-21, bought a greenhouse to support vocational skills through working with plants and their plant sale.
- Amanda Gaskey, a preschool teacher at Cascades, invested in age-appropriate bikes to promote gross motor skills and bicycle safety.
- At the high school, Jodi Howell, an AVID teacher, funded materials for awards for the AVID Student of the Month program.
- High school art teacher Luis DeLuna purchased cel animation materials to teach Disney-style animation to his art class students. His slides featured several pieces of student artwork created with the materials purchased.
- Michael Swindle at Seven Oak Middle School bought ChompSaws for safe cardboard cutting for projects in his classes.
- Ashley DaSilva at Seven Oak Middle School acquired science-themed graphic novels to promote science literacy.
- Emily Latimer at Seven Oak funded a school-wide art show featuring 300 student submissions.
- Jesica Gadue, a music teacher at Hamilton Creek and Lacomb, obtained literacy promotion materials for her music rooms at those schools.
- Additionally, $1,875 is going to Seven Oak middle school band students attending a band camp in Albany, bolstered by donations from an anonymous donor and a Hall of Fame member. The Gene and Jeanette Hartl Fund also helped with the mini-grants to cover exam fees for pharmacy tech and CNA certifications, aiding nine students in CNA career education, and an EMR class led by teacher Leah Rainey.
Summer Projects, Budget OK’d
Facilities manager William Lewis detailed summer projects going beyond planned routine maintenance, including a bus lift installation, access control and paving improvements, LHS bleacher replacement, and some limited classroom remodels.
Other initiatives include roof repairs at Hamilton Creek, a water tank flush, a boys’ bathroom repair at Lebanon High School, exterior and interior painting, and playground installations at Green Acres and Cascades Pre-K. Reader boards will be installed at Seven Oak, Riverview, and Hamilton Creek, and the Kitchteria project will conclude with an electric rolling door.
Board Chair Tom Oliver inquired about funding.
“Several of the larger projects are paid for by grants, but due to the diligent work of Steven Prososki, a lot of these projects are included in the general fund budget,” Lewis said. “He has managed the school budgets a little more efficiently.”
The board unanimously approved the 2025-26 budget, with Prososki noting that finances remain on track. A high school-built home under contract is set to close next week at list price, breaking even after expenses.
Wellness Fair, Graduation
The Sources of Strength Wellness Fair, held at Pioneer School, connected over 300 members of the public with resources including health care, mental health, addiction services, housing, and parenting.
The free event featured over 70 vendors from Lebanon, Corvallis, and Sweet Home, offering hamburgers, a kid zone, ice cream, a DJ, swag bags, and T-shirts. Sponsors included Lebanon Community Pool, Linn County Public Health, and Boys and Girls Club, Lebanon Foursquare church, Chef Rick’s Global Kitchen and Cafe Rock among others.
“We also want to recognize the high school’s JROTC that stole the show with setup, tear down, and traffic control,” said Supt. Jennifer Meckley.
Lebanon High School’s graduation celebrated 283 seniors, who participated in a cap-and-gown walk through elementary schools, greeted by cheering students who presented the seniors with handmade cards.
“This was the first year we did not have the stadium for graduation, and the team put in a tremendous amount of work to make it not only memorable but beautiful,” Meckley said, praising the facilities team who had to put together a new setup with the stadium being out of commission.
Board Transitions
The board approved Cade Webber and Addy Pickles as new student representatives to the board, unanimously.
Outgoing student board members Eric Natterer, Hannah Savedra, and Finley Vandiver were honored with Amazon gift cards.
“It’s been so fun being here, I have learned so much,” said Savedra, presenting school happenings for the last time, which included mentions of two high school wrestlers heading to Greece and of course, graduation.
Natterer added: “I want to thank you all for this opportunity. I have learned a lot. I think now I kind of want to go into education.”
Oliver and Board Member Aubree Molina, both stepping down, received gifts of plants and engraved Bulova clocks.
“To honor your time you served, we gave each a clock with some engraving and dates of service there,” Meckley said. “We do really appreciate the time you put in to serve our students and district.”
Oliver reflected: “Thank you, it’s been a lot of fun over the last eight years. It’s been a privilege to serve and to witness a lot of great growth in our district. We have a fantastic leadership team, and I am excited for what the future holds.”
Board member Nichole Piland thanked the student representatives, saying, “Thank you to Eric, Hannah, and Finley, who is not here. It’s been pretty exciting to watch something so new to us unfold, and I think you have set the bar.”
Clyde Rood also thanked Oliver and Molina.
Additional Updates
The board renewed the facility advisory committee and the HR report noted strong staff retention, with only four of 14 positions left to hire for 2025-26, down from 27 last year. “Looking back over past history, this is the lowest amount we have ever had to hire,” said HR representative Kim Grousbeck. “This goes to show you our retention rate is growing.”
A new Success and Belonging Committee, an equity committee mandated by Senate Bill 732, has 15 staff and family members apply, with more recruitment planned for August. “My anticipation is there will be a core group and subcommittees,” Meckley said, highlighting focus areas like disability rights and race.