January 8, 2026 at 7:00 PM - Regular Board Business Meeting

Description: 

Blake Petersen, Chair
Holly Riegelmann, Vice-Chair
Heather Coleman-Cox, Director
Dr. Shawn Farrens, Director
Kris Howatt, Director
Vacant, Director
Brenna Puderbaugh, Director
Dr. Tracy Klinger, Superintendent

Description: 

We acknowledge that the land where Gresham-Barlow School District is located rests on the ancestral and unceded lands of the Multnomah, Kathlamet, Clackamas, Tualatin, Kalapuya, Molalla, bands of the Chinook, and many other Tribes who made their homes along the Columbia River. We also acknowledge the systemic policies of genocide, relocation, and assimilation that still impact many Indigenous/Native American families today. As settlers and guests on these lands, we respect the work of Native Nations, leaders and families and make ongoing efforts to center Indigenous knowledge, creativity, resilience, and resistance. We consider the many legacies of violence, displacement, migration, and settlement that bring us here today. 
   
   
Reconocemos que la tierra donde está ubicado el Distrito Escolar Gresham-Barlow descansa sobre las tierras ancestrales y no cedidas de Multnomah, Kathlamet, Clackamas, Tualatin, Kalapuya, Molalla, bandas de Chinook y muchas otras Tribus que establecieron sus hogares a lo largo del río Columbia. También reconocemos las políticas sistémicas de genocidio, reubicación y asimilación que todavía afectan a muchas familias indígenas/nativas americanas en la actualidad. Como colonos e invitados en estas tierras, respetamos el trabajo de las naciones, los líderes y las familias nativas y hacemos esfuerzos continuos para centrar el conocimiento, la creatividad, la resiliencia y la resistencia indígenas. Consideramos los numerosos legados de violencia, desplazamiento, migración y asentamiento que nos traen aquí hoy.

Description: 

3 minutes per guest / 15 minutes total

Time has been set aside on the agenda for Citizens’ Requests of the Board. This is an opportunity for the Board to listen and learn from the community. Board members are not able to respond to public comments during the meeting, but appreciate hearing your input. Public comments can be submitted in writing before the meeting, or given in-person during the meeting. Pursuant to Oregon House Bill 2560(3)(a), the meeting of the Gresham-Barlow School Board will be presented online to allow for virtual public attendance at the meeting. If you are a member of the community and wish to provide a written public comment, please use the Citizens Comments to the Board form and email your comments to the board secretary, Sarah Avery, at avery4@gresham.k12.or.us by 4:00 p.m. the day of the meeting. If anyone in the audience wishes to address the board in-person this evening, there are yellow "Citizens' Requests of the Board" forms on the table in the back of the room; please complete a form and give it to the board secretary, Mrs. Avery. 

Public Comments Submitted Including Topic:
1. NAME - Topic

Description:  The District's cash flow projections remain solid. As more months of activity are recorded and our financial statements from the prior year are finalized, the projected Ending Fund Balance has increased since October's report.

Description: 

ORS 332.075(2)-(3), states that, "All contracts of the school district must be approved by the district school board before an order can be drawn for payment." This includes the provision of labor performed by employees of the district. In addition, Board Policy GB, General Personnel Policies, provides that, "The employment contract of candidates to fill licensed and contracted positions will be approved by the Board upon the superintendent’s recommendation."

Salary placement for licensed and administrator positions will follow the terms of the established collective bargaining agreement with the labor association and memorandum of understanding with the administrator group. These agreements are available on the District website.

Description: 

All items listed are matters considered by the board to be routine and will be enacted by one motion. The motion requires a second and a vote. There will be no separate discussion of items on the consent agenda unless a member of the board requests specific items be removed from the consent agenda and placed on the regular agenda. 

Description:  In an effort to recognize students who achieve highly in school activities and academic programs, tonight the Board has the opportunity to recognize state level achievements of Sam Barlow High School student athletes.

Boys Soccer
Matty Callison (Senior) was named Mt. Hood Conference Offensive Player of the Year and 1st Team All State. Matty scored 21 goals and had 12 assists this season and led Barlow to a playoff win at Forest Grove.  

Girls Soccer
Braelyn Roberson (Senior) was named Mt. Hood Conference Offensive Player of the Year.

Description:  In an effort to recognize students who achieve highly in school activities and academic programs, tonight the Board has the opportunity to recognize state level achievements of Gresham High School student athletes.

This past fall, 18 Gresham High School student athletes received All-League recognition. Gresham Football made it to the state playoffs for the first time since 2019 under the coaching of Cesar Martinez. Regular season record of 6-3, tied with Milwaukie and Hood River for league champs. Fell to #1 ranked Summit in the first round of playoffs. Go Gophers! 

Description:  In an effort to recognize students who achieve highly in school activities and academic programs, tonight the Board has the opportunity to recognize state level achievements of Sam Barlow High School student athletes.

The Barlow Boys Water Polo team finished 24-9 and were league champions. The women were also league champions and finished 20-7. 

Individual players also received awards, with 7 men and 7 women receiving all-league recognitions. Makayla Riegelmann received Mt. Hood Conference Play of the Year. 

Mike Riegelmann was awarded Coach of the Year for both the boy's and girl's teams. 

The girl's team finished 3rd in state competition, with the men's team finishing 4th at state. Makayla Riegelmann was named 1st Team All-State, with 5 others also receiving state recognition. 

Description: 

The Gresham-Barlow Education Foundation has identified the following dates for 2025-26 reports to the school board: 

October 2, 2025
January 8, 2026
March 5, 2026
May 7, 2026 

Accordingly, a Foundation representative will be present this evening to provide an overview of recent Foundation activities.

Description: 

Time has been set-aside on this agenda for the superintendent to provide a brief update. District leadership members may also provide an overview of current work and upcoming events taking place in the school district.

Description: 

Time has been set-aside on this agenda for the board members to provide brief updates. 

Description:  In mid-August of 2016, the State Board of Education adopted new administrative rules requiring each school district, education service district, and charter school (which owns or leases buildings) to develop a "Healthy and Safe Schools Plan" (OAR 581-022-2223). Included in the requirements of the administrative rules is a report to the board on the required elements of the "Healthy and Safe Schools Plan" which evaluates environmental hazards and plans to address any identified concerns or issues. 

Description:  The board will take a brief recess from the meeting. 

Description: 

This portion of the board meeting agenda has been provided for the presentation of advisory committee minutes. No action or discussion is required by the board; however, there may be occasional reports or discussion regarding work being completed by the committee(s).

Description: 

A representative from the Gresham-Barlow Education Association (GBEA) will provide a report to the board. 

Description: 

A representative from the Oregon School Employees Association (OSEA) Chapter 8 employees will provide a report to the board. 

Description: 

OAR 581-026-0400 requires that public charter schools must have a public hearing which allows for any public comment prior to a board voting to approve or deny the renewal of the charter. A public hearing for the renewal of the Center for Advanced Learning (CAL) was held December 11, 2025 during the Board Business Meeting. Following the request for renewal and after a period of no more than 30 days, the board must then vote on the renewal based on a "good faith evaluation" of state laws, compliance with the charter, meeting performance goals, and fiscal stability.

The good faith evaluation must be based on a review of the public charter school’s annual performance reports, annual audit of accounts and annual site visit. Representatives from the Center for Advanced Learning (CAL) will present the required information for the board to make an informed decision on the renewal request of CAL charter school. 

Description: 

The district’s auditors, KDP Certified Public Accountants, have completed the audit of the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) for 2024-2025. The audit was conducted in accordance with Generally Accepted Auditing Standards (GAAS), and the general purpose financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2025 adhered to Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). The opinion offered by KDP is a clean and unmodified opinion. 

It has been the board’s practice to take formal action on the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report by accepting it as presented by the auditors. Staff are requesting that the board take formal action at this meeting after a brief presentation from Director of Finance, Pete Bejarano. 

The business office will submit the 2024-2025 ACFR to the Excellence in Financial Reporting programs at both the Government Finance Officers Association and the Association of School Business Officials. 

Description:  The District's cash flow projections remain solid. As more months of activity are recorded and our financial statements from the prior year are finalized, the projected Ending Fund Balance has increased since October's report.

Description: 
EXPLANATION: The administration has approved the following out-of-state trips for Gresham-Barlow Schools since September of this school year:

Trip Date	School	Location	Group	Tier Level	Est. Total Cost per Student	Out of Pocket Cost per Student	Approval Status
October 10-11, 2025	Gresham High School	Seattle, WA	Girls & Boys Cross Country	Tier 1	$100	$0	Approved
November 4, 2025	Dexter McCarty Middle School	Vancouver, WA	Choir	Tier 1	$11.43	$0	Approved
December 13, 2025	Gresham High School	Union, WA	Boys Basketball	Tier 1	$15	$0	Approved
December 28-31, 2025	Sam Barlow High School	Reno, NV	Girls Wrestling	Tier 3	$940	$0	Approved

The trips are tiered based on total cost per student. The tier level breakdown is as follows:

• Tier 1 - Annual trip, cost of up to $350
• Tier 2 - Trip taken every 2 years, cost between $350 - $700
• Tier 3 - Trip taken every 3 years, cost above $700

Description: 

The board will review announcements. A Zoom link for virtual meeting attendance will be provided for upcoming meetings.

January 22, 2026: Board Work Session - 6 p.m.
                              Council Chambers Conference Room
                              Public Safety and Schools Building

February 5, 2026: Regular Board Business Meeting - 7 p.m.
                              Council Chambers
                              Public Safety and Schools Building

Description:  Estimated time for adjournment: No later than 9 p.m.