PAGE A4, KEIZERTIMES, NOVEMBER 12, 2021
CONCERNS: ‘ Only 12% of fifth graders were listed as being on track in math.’
Continued from page A1
Board Chair Osvaldo Avila said the
board would meet again in person when
it is safe to do so and “a couple members
of the board meet with district leadership
to determine how to have in-person board
meetings in the safest way possible.”
Salem-Keizer, which had to cancel
a meeting in August due to safety con-
cerns as well, isn’t the only Oregon
school board where meetings have
turned into political battlegrounds. The
Newberg school board unexpectedly
voted Tuesday night to fire their super-
intendent after members of the conser-
vative majority felt he wasn’t enforcing
a ban on political symbols in classrooms
that they had passed, as reported by The
Oregonian/OregonLive.
Public comments were limited to 45
minutes at Tuesday’s meeting, with each
speaker being given three minutes to
speak. In addition to discussing areas
they would like to see school funds go in
the future, multiple speakers expressed
upset that several board members voted
against the resolution outlining the
board's commitment to equity and anti-
racism at last month’s meeting.
“When you talk about diversity and
inclusion, I really think we should also
welcome diverse perspective. Otherwise
if all of us have to work the same way,
that’s not truly diversity in my opinion,”
Board member Satya Chandragiri, who
voted against the resolution last month,
said later in the meeting. “We shouldn’t
misunderstand each other, we shouldn’t
blame each other or shame each other
but listen to the argument or discussion
that we have. Because only then can we
have the good policy come out.”
Board member Marty Heyen turned
her camera off for the entirety of public
comment.
Following public comment, the board
began discussions on the upcoming
school board zone redistricting. The
redistricting aims to ensure the number
of people in each school zone are close
to equal. The board currently has two
redistricting proposals and is seeking
public feedback on the maps, which will
be available on their website. The board
plans to review the maps and public feed-
back at a Dec. 7 meeting.
Assistant Superintendent Olga Cobb
then presented key performance indica-
tors that show how students are doing
this year in comparison to years past.
Two of those indicators, second grade
reading and fifth grade math, showed
a much higher percentage of students
in the “high risk” category compared to
years past. Only 12% of fifth graders were
obituary
listed as being on
track in math. Cobb
When you talk about
emphasized
how
much the pandemic
diversity and inclusion,
affected the normal
I really think we should
learning process for
these students.
also welcome diverse
Another category
perspective. Otherwise if all
on which Cobb pre-
sented was student’s
of us have to work the same
sense of belonging
in schools in the
way, that’s not truly diversity
year 2019. While the
in my opinion.
sense of belonging
in Salem-Keizer
elementary
schools was in
the 70th percen-
Board Member, SALEM-KEIZER SCHOOL DISTRICT
tile compared to
schools through-
out the country
with similar demo-
of spending for the nearly $150 mil-
graphics, the sense of belonging in mid- lion they received in Elementary and
dle and high school in the district was in Secondary School Emergency Relief
the 20th percentile.
(ESSER). Suzanne West, the district’s
The second half of the meeting was director of strategic initiatives, said that
dominated by presentations on budgets almost $45 million has already been allo-
and upcoming funding. The Student cated to address the unfinished learning,
Investment Account, which aims to or learning loss, that occurred during the
improve equity for students that have pandemic.
historically experienced academic dis-
parities, had its funding in the district
cut last year from $36 million to $11 mil-
Questions or concerns? Contact the
lion. The district said it hopes to receive
reporter via email: editor@keizertimes.com
the normal amount of funding this year
and outlined areas the money will go
towards, such as the hiring and retention
of a diverse staff.
Finally, the board outlined a timeline
— SATYA CHANDRAGIRI
Harry James Tlusty
Dec. 29, 1940 – Oct. 23, 2021
Harry was born to John and Anna
Tlusty in Molalla, Ore.
He is survived by his sons Terry
Tlusty and Michael Tlusty; daughters
Anna Ownby, Kelly Tlusty, Michelle
Gibbons and Becky Begley. He also
leaves behind 10 grandchildren, and
four great-grandchildren.
He is preceded in death by his wife
Cheryl Tlusty.
HARRY JAMES TLUSTY
The full obituary can be found
at keizerchapel.com
Margaret McDaniel
May 23, 1920 – Oct. 26, 2021
Margaret McDaniel of Dallas, Ore. passed
on Oct. 26, 2021 at the age of 101.
brainfood
sudoku answers pg A8
sudoku
death
notice
Enter digits 1-9 into blank spaces. Every row must contain
one of each digit. So must every column, & every 3x3 square.
maze by Jonathan Graf of Keizer