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About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (March 21, 2020)
4 La Grande Pride March 2020 • www.lagrandesd.org POSITIVE MOMENTUM SU Strategic plan and student success implementation moves forward M By Trish Yerges The Strategic Plan team continues to meet and report on the progress they are making toward their district goals and moving forward. Scott Carpenter and Superintendent George Mendoza are integral mem- bers of that team and have the following update to give to district families. “The overwhelming feeling of the team was that we have made major steps forward in a positive direction, and the team was excited with our progress,” said Carpenter. Mendoza also noted that the district is developing more clear messaging down the road for certain goals and indicators, whether it’s about attendance or different things the district is doing. “With our culture of care system, we’re making it really easy for people to know what we’re trying to do,” said Mendoza. “The initiatives we’re undertak- ing based on the Student Success Act (SSA) very much align with our Strate- gic Plan.” The analogy is that if the Strategic Plan is the machine or engine, then the Student Success Act funds are the fuel that support that engine. “We’re trying to really be thoughtful about how we’re doing things and monitor the impact of those things to support and adjust those goals and indicators that we’re focusing on improv- ing,” he said. The Student Success Act funds allow the district to hire additional faculty that will help them meet their strategic goals and benefit students. “We’re excited about the extended positions that we’re offering and getting qualified applicants,” Car- penter said. “We’ve hired a few of them already that will continue to super charge our Strategic Plan and our goals and what we want to do.” The district has already hired a behavioral coordi- nator, a counselor at the Middle School, and two core contact teachers. Other faculty have been hired, not having to do with the SSA, including a new vice principal at the high school and another nurse. For the 2020-21 school year, Island City Elementary will have a new principal, Brett Smith, who is replacing retired principal John To- lan. The district will also be hiring a director of Title, Elementary Programs, and Student Services. The district is trying to do a lot of things very well, said Carpenter, but with the broad range of initiatives now being undertaken by the district, there is a need for dedicated oversight and that requires another direc- tor to focus on those efforts. “We ramped up our be- havioral services and we’re adding behavior class- rooms,” said Mendoza. The district hired one behavior classroom teacher and they are adding one behavior para profession- al. Consequently, they are adding a Director of Special Education and Behavioral Services. “We need good adminis- trators to support staff and kids, as well as attending to the community and fami- lies,” Mendoza said. “Those are big reasons to add an- other director.” This new director posi- tion, once filled, will relieve Carpenter from those duties so that he can take on a new role as Director of Personnel and Secondary Programs. Carpenter will now be able to give dedicated attention to HR procedures, policies, onboarding, off-boarding, By Dist investigations, and other man personnel related work. a sc “I want us to ramp up our pair policies and have an up- latio dated HR handbook for the form staff and get more aligned brea with best practices of policy are and decision making for secu our employees,” Mendoza the said. “We haven’t had a HR Director in 14 years.” list Typically, a school district is th the size of LGSD has full dist time HR director positions hard dedicated solely to curricu- W lum and instruction. buil Consequently, LGSD is star excited to be adding the ary new director position and prio hiring additional staff. The district recognizes grate- dist fully that this is possible card because of the funding from eter the Student Success Act. incr “The machine got fuel to a and that fuel is the Student “In Success Act,” said Mendoza. buil “Now we are able to use the tral money to buy programs and sc services that we wouldn’t Isla have had.” they netw stan netw stan a m gram allo hold netw mat upd
