The following are the unapproved minutes from the Harney County School District No. 3 (HCSD No. 3) Board meeting, which was held Tuesday, Nov. 9. These minutes have been edited for clarity and length.

Vincent Adams, an Oregon School Board Association (OSBA) consultant, provided a special presentation via Zoom. The presentation reviewed the steps for the Targeted Feedback Survey (TFS) for the superintendent evaluation.

Adams and the board reviewed the performance standards that were chosen from the OSBA Superintendent Evaluation Workbook last year.

Adams reminded the board that the final evaluation summary needs to “speak with one voice” and use artifacts of evidence. He also noted that the TFS is only one component of the evaluation. The final summary is shared with the public and placed in the superintendent’s personnel file.

Adams recommended keeping the same standards and sending the survey to the same respondents to keep results comparable and measure growth.

After discussing the performance standards in more detail, the board decided to keep standards numbers 5 and 6 from last year, eliminate number 2, and use number 4 instead.

Rather than using the same respondents as last year, Board Chair Rob Frank suggested using a random sampling for a more “authentic” representation for the TFS. Frank said he preferred “fresh eyes” and said using the same respondents makes the evaluation subjective. 

However, Adams said the point of the TFS is to garner targeted feedback.

The next step is to gather names and email them to Frank or Superintendent Steve Quick. This list of names will be compared to last year’s list and then sent to Adams.

The goal is to present final results during the January board meeting.

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Slater Principal Steph Lardy presented her report. The shared attendance results are in, and Mrs. Klus’ class received an ice cream party for having the best class attendance.

Some recent highlights included Red Ribbon Week, Halloween, and decorating pumpkins donated by Gayle Dixson. 

Lardy also went over the i-Ready diagnostic test results, which showed tremendous improvement. She expressed optimism that there will be additional growth in the future.

•••

Quick reported that:

• he had a productive meeting with Shannon Criss, Harney Education Service District (ESD) superintendent. He also shared the Local Service Plan (LSP) 22-23 financials with the board. 

Quick said it doesn’t make financial sense to go back to the ESD. However, the district and the ESD will continue to work together. He will share more details during the next meeting;

• enrolment has declined a little, but it’s typical to lose a few students throughout the year;

• the Comprehensive Distance Learning shifts for Burns High School and Hines Middle School in October were due to a lack of substitutes. Quick commended the staff for their flexibility and readiness;

• the Strategic Planning committee met again and is on target to finish by the end of January, as planned;

• the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program aims to raise the bar and get everyone (K-12) on board to help with school improvement. The program offers strategies for teaching and is a tool that will help students achieve higher. A grant is coming out this month, and he will apply for it;

• things are progressing well with Cardno and the Lincoln building;

• the new Audio Enhancement System, which will use Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds, is also progressing.

•••

In other business:

• the Dorman Miller Estate donated a fiddle to the Slater Elementary Music Program. Students also raised $219 for Slater’s music program.

Board member Randy Fulton made a motion to approve the donations, as presented. Board member Dan Winn seconded the motion, and it passed;

• Fulton made a motion to approve the BHEA Collective Bargaining Agreement 2021-24, as presented. Board member Joe Wright second the motion, and it passed;

• Fulton made a motion to approve the Oregon Department of Education Request Form — Address Change for District Office, as presented. Winn seconded the motion, and it carried;

• Wright made a motion to approve the surplus items — Lincoln Building, as presented. Fulton seconded the motion, and it carried;

• Megan Hunter, student services director, worked with Harney ESD to develop a county-wide plan, which will be posted to the district’s website.

•••

Board comments:

• Frank and Wright said they were not comfortable with Slater Elementary hosting a vaccine clinic.

Quick said the district isn’t promoting or pushing the vaccines, but the district has a good partnership with the health department, and Slater is only hosting this optional event. He added that many parents will be appreciative that the vaccine is an option.

Fulton reiterated that it is optional, and Winn agreed to let people make their own choices.