The following are the unapproved minutes from the Harney County School District No. 3 (HCSD No. 3) Board meeting, which was held Tuesday, Oct. 12. These minutes have been edited for clarity and length.

Denise Rose of Harney County Economic Development, Harney County Judge Pete Runnels, and Keith Ziobron, senior principal of Cardno Inc., presented ideas and a plan for the Lincoln Building.

After providing a slideshow presentation via Zoom, Ziobron invited the board to a public meeting on Nov. 3 to solicit ideas and ask questions. 

The Request for Quote document should be available by mid-December. 

Runnels said the county is willing to share $20,000-30,000 with the district to cover the cost of a strategy that has already been authorized by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The board gave Superintendent Steve Quick permission to move forward with Cardno and the development team.

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Quick reported that:

• he appreciates the maintenance crew and Andy Whitehead for helping the district move into its new office. Quick said the new office looks and feels more professional, and he thanked the board for agreeing to the move;

• the month of November is American Indian Heritage Month, and the Burns Paiute Tribe shared displays at the district office and Slater Elementary. Quick said the Tribe is a great partner;

• vaccine cards or exception requests were due by Oct. 1, ahead of the state’s Oct. 18 deadline. Seventy-one percent of district staff are vaccinated, and 29 percent turned in an exception form. One substitute refused to turn anything in, and one employee decided to retire. Quick said the district is willing to do what it takes to move forward;

• COVID-19 has created a lot of challenges, especially with attendance, but staff are glad to be back full-time for a somewhat normal school year;

• the Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA) delegate assembly met last week. They are working through challenges with mask and vaccine mandates at venues. However, state championships are moving forward, and Quick commended spectators for following the regulations to keep kids participating without issues. Quick also thanked the school board for supporting him as a member of the OSAA Executive Board;

• the district’s enrollment has declined slightly. Current enrollment is at 782 students;

• Strategic planning meetings started with 16 attendees, including a teacher, parents, businesses, clergy, and staff. The committee is on track to get the plan updated and presented to the board for approval by the February meeting.

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Hines Middle School Principal Son Burns provided his report and said it feels like a normal year.

He compared historical data to current iReady data and said students are growing. Burns also shared pictures of assemblies, artwork, coat of arms, and Mesopotamia pictures from Mr. Young’s class. He added that he’ impressed with his teachers and gave them kudos.

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Harney Educational Service District (HESD) Superintendent Shannon Criss provided two handouts and explained the purpose of an ESD.

She said there are 197 school districts in Oregon, and historically only eight  have opted out of their respective ESD, including HCSD No.3 from HESD. 

She then reviewed the Resolution Services that the ESD provides.

Criss said HESD received an influx of extra money due to the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER), which is based on Average Daily Membership (ADM). The ESD also received a rare Consortium Grant, which was only awarded to seven school districts in the state.

Criss explained the contracted services, which are fee based, that ESD can provide. 

Currently, HESD and HCSD No.3 work together with threat assessments and some professional development opportunities. Criss said opting back into HESD would strengthen Harney County and show that the districts are united and working together. 

The board noted that this is a big decision and asked how it would benefit the district financially. The board asked Quick to explore the idea with Criss and tie it into the strategic plan, if appropriate. Some services, such as technology and speech, may not be needed because the district already has its own employees. Much would depend upon how much “pass through” money would be allowed. 

Quick will meet with Criss and bring forward his suggestions and/or recommendations.

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In other business:

• Harney District Hospital donated $470 to Slater Elementary for school supplies;

• Gourmet & Gadgets (Jan and Bob Oswald and Heather Sell) donated items valued at $856.80 to the Hines Middle School Home Economics class;

• Oster Professional Group donated $100 to the Burns High School FFA Program;

• the board discussed the Burns Urban Renewal Agency (URA). 

Although it could potentially affect revenue negatively for some agencies, the outcomes could help with recruiting over time.

The Burns URA does not need the school district’s permission. Correspondence was provided for informational purposes only. The 30-year duration does raise some concerns, but the goal is to improve blighted properties.

If the school district loses revenue, it will be made up by the state via the funding formula. It may also give the school district a seat at the table for input with housing;

• goals for the superintendent evaluation process were discussed. The board plans to check in with Quick at the November meeting.

The first goal is to complete an employee recruiting/retention plan. The second goal is to improve student learning, but no specific measurement indicators were agreed upon. However, iReady scores could be a means of showing data.

Oregon School Boards Association (OSBA) will be invited to an executive board meeting in November to facilitate the process.

• Quick shared an idea for using ESSER funding. He showed a video regarding the Audio Enhancement System, which would provide cameras, intercoms, speakers, etc. for all of the district’s schools.

Quick said Umatilla and Milton-Freewater school districts are currently using this system, and it will improve teaching and safety.

The system could be installed by January, and installation would take place around staff. 

The bid is about $600,000, and they are already vetted through a purchasing co-op that the district joined. The initial agreement includes a 5-10 year warranty and service contract.

Quick said administrators and teachers reviewed the system, and they were super excited about it. Some of the new teachers have used similar systems, so this could be a great recruiting tool. It’s a modern system that reaches every student, and the impact would be great for students and staff.

Quick submitted rationale to ESSER to fund the system, and it was approved. He asked the board to support this major purchase.

Board member Dan Winn made a motion to approve using ESSER funds to purchase a new Audio Enhancement System, as presented. Board member Randy Fulton seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously;

• Quick presented a slideshow presentation of Division 22 Standards and showed that the district is in compliance with all items.

A discussion was held regarding essential skills. Some board members expressed concern that they are being waived by the state. However, administrators assured them that nothing has changed. The district’s requirements are more stringent than the state’s.

Fulton made a motion to approve the Division 22 Standards, as presented. Board member Joe Wright seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously;

• Winn made a motion to approve the Burns High School graduation date of May 28, 2022. Board member Wendy Reid seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously;

• Board Chair Rob Frank reported that he met with other board chairs regarding the mandates, and the majority of them are frustrated. The board’s legal advisor, PACE, said there is no legal foundation for a resolution. Frank said the Freedom Foundation would take a stand, and he asked how the district is accommodating exceptions. Frank said he wants the board to think about how the mandates are handled in the future, especially if students are required to get the vaccine.

Quick said those with approved exceptions are expected to wear a mask, stay home when they are sick, wash their hands diligently, eat healthy, and socially distance whenever possible. It’s not reasonable to offer remote work or require weekly testing.

Fulton suggested that the board let other districts take the lead and wait for additional court rulings. 

The next meeting of the HCSD No. 3 board will be held Tuesday, Nov. 9 at 6 p.m. at the district office.