New board members Jese Robles, position 4, and Monica Romero, at-large, were sworn into office at the July 9 Hood River County School District meeting. Both graduated from Hood River Valley High School.
Trisha Walker photoHOOD RIVER — Hood River County School District (HRCSD) held its first board meeting for the 2025-2026 school year on July 9 at the Nathaniel Coe Administrative Building.
Board members and administrators began with a five-hour work session that covered board roles and responsibilities, standard practices, conduct, communication protocols, strategic planning and more.
It was the first meeting for newly elected members Jese Robles (position 4) and Monica Romero (at-large), who were sworn in by Board Chair Corinda Hankins Elliott. Both are graduates of Hood River Valley High School (HRVHS).
After the work session and a short break, the board and administrators came back for the district’s regularly scheduled meeting. One of the first orders of business was electing new board leadership for the coming school year.
Chrissy Reitz was elected as chair and David Stuben as vice chair by unanimous votes.
Chief Financial Officer Mark DeMoss next presented the district’s annual appointments: Superintendent Bill Newton as chief administrative officer, district clerk, and custodian of district funds; DeMoss as deputy clerk, budget officer and custodian of district funds; Newton and DeMoss as public contracting officers; Clear Trail CPAs Tara Kamp as official auditors; and a number of depositories that include banks and trusts.
All were approved as presented.
DeMoss later explained the proposed budget and finance advisory committee vacancies. Positions 1 (west Hood River and Cascade Locks) and 5 (Mt. Hood-Parkdale) are open on the budget committee, with terms expiring on June 30, 2028.
Positions 2 and 3 are open on the financial advisory committee, with terms to be determined. This committee meets monthly and “goes into a lot of detail,” DeMoss said.
Reitz suggested interested persons contact any of the school board members, current committee members, or district administrators for more information on what serving entails. DeMoss said it’s also a great place to start for those interested in becoming future school board members.
The district will release more information soon regarding the application process.
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