HOOD RIVER — Hood River County School District (HRCSD) Superintendent Bill Newton announced several administrative changes in a March 17 communication to staff and families.
“To make the best use of our resources, we have carefully examined ways to reorganize our administrative team to serve our school communities efficiently,” Newton said. “As part of this ongoing reorganization, we are reducing the number of executive director positions, which will result in cost savings for the school district while shifting some responsibilities among our leadership team. This adjustment helps us prioritize student programs and services amid budget constraints.”
Patricia Ortega Cooper
Executive director of equity and family partnerships
Jane Osborne
May Street Elementary assistant principal
The first change is the retirement of two long-time administrators, effective June 30: Executive Director of Equity and Family Partnerships Patricia Ortega Cooper and May Street Elementary Assistant Principal Jane Osborne.
Hood River Valley High School Principal Columba Jones will move to the district office, “overseeing responsibilities within student services, migrant education, and equity programs,” Newton said.
Hood River Options Academy (HROA) Administrator Joe Kelly will transition to the assistant principal position at Westside Elementary, with Westside Elementary Assistant Principal Dan Barnard moving into the assistant principal role at May Street Elementary.
Executive Director of Student Services Anne Carloss will lead HROA while continuing to oversee the Pine Grove Early Intervention program.
Further changes may be necessary, Newton said, as the district continues developing its 2025-2026 budget.
“We recognize that change can bring both challenges and opportunities,” Newton said. “These shifts allow us to strengthen our school district and refine how we support students across all schools and programs. We are incredibly grateful to our leaders for their willingness to take on new roles in service to our students and school communities … We are committed to keeping our staff and families informed throughout this process.”
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