Estacada Middle School News

We are continuously working to improve as an entire school district, and one powerful tool is our parent experience survey. The survey opens today, and I’d like to ask you to please take the survey once for each school that you have children at. Your thoughtful and honest feedback is so valuable to help us see what is working, and what areas we need to change in the service that we provide to students and families.  

Take the Survey Here: https://forms.hcg.com/f/41560968/75a9/

I’m Maggie Kelly and today we’d like to kick things off by thanking our community and families for your engagement and participation as we begin discussions on a new three year calendar. We are looking forward to bringing together a group of parents, staff, and students to continue this conversation. As always, we aim to create a school calendar that is innovative and in the best interest of student learning. I am happy to say that our calendar committee is now full, after a great deal of interest from our last Super 60 episode. We will also be starting a school boundary committee soon. Because we did not pass a school bond last spring, our elementaries, especially River Mill, are overcrowded. This committee will help decide how we can better balance our student population. To join this committee, or learn more about how our calendar committee is moving forward, go to estacadaschools.org/committees. Have a great week!

Welcome to the new school year, and welcome to Super 60 Seconds with your Superintendent. I’m Ryan Carpenter and this short video series was created to ensure that our families and community have a quick way to stay informed on the biggest updates happening in your schools. I hope you’ll join me weekly as I discuss hot topics and breaking news that impact our district and our kids. 

We can't wait to see you at our first Summer Parks Series event of the summer! Come on out to Campanella Estates Park tomorrow, July 25th at 6pm, for lots of fun.

The Estacada School District will be conducting a reunification exercise of all middle school students and families this Thursday, May 23rd at Estacada High School. Reunification should begin at around 2:15. Families are encouraged to arrive early, and should prepare for extended wait times. 

How will this impact the community?

Community members should prepare for unusual levels of traffic between 1:00 and 5:00 PM on May 23rd around 6th Street, lower Coupland, Shafford, and Pierce. 

How will this impact elementary and high school families/students?
Because the reunification is for EMS students and families, interruptions to other schools should be minimal. Elementary school bus routes may be delayed by around 5 to 10 minutes in the afternoon on Thursday, and parent pickups should plan for extra traffic. High school bus routes will not be delayed, but parent pickups will need to pick up their student at River Mill Elementary instead of at the High School.

What is reunification?
Family reunification is the means for safe and organized reunion of students with their families in the event of an emergency evacuation or school closure. All middle school students will walk to Estacada High School, where parents or other designated emergency contacts will go through the process of picking their child up. The school will release children to parents who have photo identification, and preapproved emergency contacts will also be permitted to pick your student up.

Why is the district conducting this drill?
The district is hosting this event to ensure that staff and families are both familiar with the procedures of reunification required after an emergency event. While the district acknowledges that it may be inconvenient for some families, the district feels that safety and preparedness have to take first priority. 

Families that need to opt out of this drill can do so by picking their child up from school by 12:00 on May 23rd. There will be no buses home or walking home options for EMS students in the afternoon on this day.  Families that participate will stay in their cars and be directed through a check-in line, where they will present I.D. and fill out reunification cards. They will then continue in line and their child will be brought to their vehicle. Identification will be required. Emergency contacts can be added or updated by calling our school office.
 

We are deeply disappointed by the unofficial election night results of the bond campaign. It is heartbreaking to see the current voting tally, which appears to reflect a reluctance from our community to invest in the future of Estacada's children. Throughout the campaign, we closely followed the data and listened to the voices of our constituents, which indicated a different outcome than what we are currently seeing. This disparity between our expectations and the preliminary results is disheartening.

As it stands, hundreds of votes are still left to be counted, and Clackamas County will release an updated count at or around 5 PM this evening. Until we receive this updated count, the Estacada School District will not make any official declaration of defeat. We are aware of the realistically slim chances that could change the tide in favor of the bond.

Regardless of the final outcome, we will continue to listen to our community, make necessary adjustments based on the feedback received, and once again approach the community with a school bond package. The reluctance shown by voters does not diminish the pressing needs of our district, nor does it deter our commitment to advocating for the children of Estacada. The need for improved facilities, increased capacity, and enhanced competitive opportunities for our students will persist, and so will our efforts to address them.

We are incredibly proud of the campaign we ran and the comprehensive information we shared with our community. There were several significant achievements in our outreach efforts, including raising awareness about the real and urgent challenges we face in meeting the needs of today's learners. Superintendent Dr. Ryan Carpenter stated, "My heart is shattered today for Estacada's children. I am so proud of our communication and advocacy efforts. I am confident that we will be back after we regroup, adjust our plans to the feedback we just received, and try again. We cannot stop until our community addresses the threats we face of facilities and equipment well beyond their lifecycle, growth & capacity, and competitive opportunities for the next generation of Estacada's future."

Today I’d like to give families and the community two important reminders. 

Our middle school reunification exercise is coming up on May 23rd. 

This exercise will play a critical role in enhancing the safety and security of students and staff during emergencies. 

The second thing I want to remind families about is the upcoming school bond election. 

Registered voters should have received their ballots, and can turn them in by May 21st.

Curious about the state of our high school? Take a virtual tour with us and see the conditions firsthand. Knowledge is power.

Our kids were able to show how they use improvement science to track and meet their educational goals. Our teachers and leaders across the district all showed how they use data to hold themselves accountable and continue to improve their performance, productivity, and teaching practices.

Watch!

Road To Success or “RTS” has experienced great success over the years in providing an alternative, personalized learning option for kids that may struggle, or simply not prefer the traditional high school experience. Starting next school year, RTS will be located in downtown Estacada in a storefront on Broadway Street.

The Estacada School Board voted unanimously during the February School Board Meeting to place a school bond measure on the upcoming May ballot. This landmark decision underscores the district's commitment to enhancing educational opportunities and infrastructure for current and future generations of students.

The proposed bond measure aims to address pressing needs within the school district, including:

Addressing Overcrowding by:

• Building a new high school on the current EHS campus

• Renovating part of the existing high school to create a separate junior high

• Modifying the existing middle school into a third elementary

Improving Aging Facilities through:

• Updating safety and security at all schools

• Improving ADA accessibility

• Installing fire safety systems

• Repairing and replacing plumbing, electrical, roofing, windows

• Removing asbestos

• Improving air quality/temperature regulation

Advancing Career Readiness by:

• Updating career technical education spaces, preparing kids for the modern workforce

Addressing Community Needs by:

• Expanding and establishing indoor and outdoor facilities

By investing in these areas, the Estacada School District aims to uphold its commitment to providing a high-quality education that prepares students for future success while also addressing the evolving needs of the community.

"We believe that investing in our schools is an investment in the future of our community," said Ryan Carpenter, Estacada School District Superintendent. "This bond measure represents an opportunity to ensure that our students have access to the resources and facilities they need to thrive, and by extension allows the Estacada community to thrive." 

The decision to place the school bond measure on the May ballot follows extensive community input and engagement. The majority of voters in a recent poll indicated support for the bond, with 54% describing the bond as an “urgent priority”. 

School Board Chair Ken Riedel described the bond as a “collective effort that has had many eyes on the plan to create a final package that maximizes cost efficiency while still addressing the many urgent needs of our schools and students”.

Voters and the community at large can learn more about the bond package at www.estacadaschoolbond.org.

Camp Magruder was one of the sites that gave sixth graders an emersive experience learning about nature and collaboration during Outdoor School this year. Thank you to all of those who made this possible. Click Here to watch the video. 

The Estacada School District is proud to announce that it has been awarded the prestigious Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting (COE) by the Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO). This esteemed recognition highlights the district's commitment to financial transparency and responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars. ASBO International's COE program honors school districts that have met rigorous standards for financial reporting and transparency. The Estacada School District earned this honor for its financial management during the 2021-22 school year. 

"The COE's mission is to promote and recognize excellence in financial reporting," stated Siobhan McMahon, ASBO International Chief Operations Officer/Interim Executive Director. "The Annual Comprehensive Financial Report serves as a crucial communication tool, informing stakeholders about the financial state of the district, and fostering trust within the school community." This award aligns with the district’s ongoing work to promote financial transparency and communication. The district's financial report was reviewed by a panel of qualified professionals, and the district was awarded a Certificate of Excellence at the conclusion of this rigorous process. 

Participation in the COE program also holds significant financial benefits for the district. One major benefit is the district becoming eligible for a higher bond rating. Similar to an individual’s credit score, a higher bond rating means that the district will qualify for a lower interest rate. 

The recognition from ASBO International underscores the district's commitment to fiscal responsibility and serves as a testament to its wise management of taxpayer dollars.

Superintendent Ryan Carpenter noted that he was “Proud of the recognition as it represents the dedication our district has to upholding the highest standards of financial transparency and accountability. We are committed to ensuring the effective and responsible utilization of taxpayer funds to support the educational needs of our students. In combination with our history of clean audits, Estacada taxpayers should feel confident in the fiscal management of the Estacada School District."

During the September 19th JV Football game, a special touchdown happened in the Estacada School District. Members of both the Estacada team and the opposing team - Camas- showed incredible sportsmanship as they supported EHS student Ryan Hunt in scoring his first touchdown. 

Ryan has autism, and this touchdown was a special moment for his family, the audience, and his teammates. Ryan's mother notes that "he feels like one of the guys, and it's totally changed his perspective on school." His mom, Heidi, also noticed that Ryan's attendance has improved because he never wants to miss a practice. 

The special moment during Monday's game was just one glimpse into the support that Ryan's teammates, coach, and community have provided this school year. The Estacada School District is "all in" on inclusive practices, and this commitment to serving all students is a belief that has also been embraced by Ryan's football team. 

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