April 23, 2026 at 6:00 PM - Regular Board Work Session

Description: 

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

Description: 

The Oregon Department of Education (ODE) reviewed instructional materials in 2025 and formally recommended materials to meet the needs of the district's social science classrooms. The materials currently in use are not aligned with the newly adopted Oregon social science standards.

District adoption teams have reviewed curriculum options, piloted materials, and obtained student and parent feedback. The board received an overview of the curriculum adoption process at their January 22, 2026 Work Session. Curriculum is being presented to the board for a first reading with anticipated adoption in May.

The K-2 adoption team is proposing to adopt McGraw-Hill, Wonders/Maravillas, our current literacy curriculum, as our social science curriculum for grades K-2. The adoption team is also proposing the purchase of picture books as supplemental materials. The supplemental materials picture books are expected to cost up to $20,000.

The grades 3rd-5th adoption team is proposing to adopt Teachers’ Curriculum Institute (TCI), Social Studies Alive! The TCI, Social Studies Alive! 7-year subscription for the elementary level grades 3-5 is expected to cost no more than $346,000.

The middle school adoption team is proposing to adopt Teachers’ Curriculum Institute (TCI), History Alive! The TCI, History Alive! 7-year subscription for the middle school (grades 6-8) is expected to cost no more than $445,332.

Description: 

At their March 5, 2026 Business Meeting, the board appointed Erasto Sedda to the Board of Directors creating a vacancy in Position 5 on the Gresham-Barlow Budget Committee. Positions are filled by appointment of the board, and this position must be filled by a member of the District Equity Committee (DEC).  

Eligibility requirements for budget committee members are as follows:      

1. The candidate must live in the district.
2. The candidate must not be an officer or employee of the district.
3. The candidate must be a registered voter in the district.

The board approved the following process for filling the budget committee vacancies:

1. The board announces the budget committee vacancy as noted above;
2. The director of finance advertises the open positions (to interested DEC members) and contacts the previous budget committee members to determine their willingness to continue service on the budget committee - Note that this part of the process could not be completed due to the previous budget committee member serving on the board;
3. If previous budget committee members are willing to serve, those names are brought to the board for appointment;
4. If previous budget committee members are not willing to serve, the district accepts applications from interested persons (on the DEC) over the next month;
5. The board chair and vice-chair conduct interviews, if desired, and provide a recommendation to the board;
6. The board appoints successful candidates to fill the vacancy.

Interested members of the DEC were interviewed, and the board chair and vice-chair will bring forward a recommendation for appointment. 

Description:  At the work session this evening, board members will be asked to provide input regarding the recommended revisions to policies from the Oregon School Boards Association (OSBA) and the district Policy Review Committee. This policy was discussed at the March 12, 2026 Work Session, but the board asked for it to come back for further discussion to allow the absent board members to be included in the conversation. 
 

Policy	Title
Policy BHD	Board Member Stipends and Reimbursements

Description: 

EXPLANATION: The Gresham-Barlow School District Board of Directors will now meet in executive session for the purpose of discussing:

Negotiations, pursuant to ORS 192.660(2)(d)
Personnel, pursuant to ORS 192.660(2)(b)

Executive sessions are closed to the public. Representatives of the news media shall not be allowed to attend during the negotiations discussion. As provided by statute, only designated staff shall be allowed to attend during the discussion about negotiations. Representatives of the news media and designated staff shall be allowed to attend during the personnel discussion. All other members of the audience are asked to leave the room. Representatives of the news media are specifically directed not to report on any of the deliberations during the executive session, except to state the general subject of the session as previously announced. No decision may be made in executive session. 

Description:  Following the Executive Session, the board will reconvene into the regular board work session. 

Description: 

Time has been set-aside on this evening’s agenda for the board to discuss upcoming agenda topics, board operations, and meeting needs. 

Description: 

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

April 29, 2026: Budget Committee Meeting (1 of 2) - 7 p.m.
                        Partnership Room
                        Center for Advanced Learning

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

May 13, 2026:  Budget Committee Meeting (2 of 2) - 7 p.m.
                         Partnership Room
                         Center for Advanced Learning