THE DALLES — At the May 29 The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce Community Affairs Meeting, Superintendent Carolyn Bernal shared updates regarding the North Wasco County School District (NWCSD). Former Economic Development Officer for the city, Dan Spatz, facilitated the meeting in place of Chamber President Lisa Farquarson.
Carolyn Bernal, Superintendent, NWCSD
Bernal’s presentation centered on the district’s mission and values, as well as it’s “portrait of a graduate,” defining the attitudes and skills the district aims to have a student leave with upon graduation. After presenting some demographic data from the 2023-24 school year, she discussed aspects that guide the district’s work, particularly three “overarching domains,” including student wellbeing and engagement, educational excellence and innovation in the classrooms, highlighting the district’s strategic and integrated guidance plans.
She also mentioned the establishment of a Youth Wellness Community Collaborative, where the district works with community partners to focus on youth mental health and wellbeing. Bernal discussed the district’s collaboration with The Next Door Inc. to bring Youth Outreach Workers (YOWs) into the district to help address student’s mental health and chronic absenteeism, as well as the establishment of Culture and Climate Teachers on Special Assignment (TOSAS) to address creating a positive school environments and meeting student needs.
Bernal additionally provided an update on both Innovations Academy (IA) and Innovations Virtual Academy, and said three youths from the juvenile detention education program at NORCOR, which is run by IA, recently graduated, “which is a huge celebration and really an attribute to Principal Sholtis and the work she is doing over at Innovations Academy,” Bernal said.
She then noted budget reductions for the 2025-26 school year, made through attrition. Primary budget constraints included stagnant enrollment, the uncertainty of federal funding levels, inflation and increased Public Employee Retirement System (PERS). “We are one of 21 school districts that got hit with a double digit PERS increase, which equated to about a $3.3 million hit out of our [20]25-26 budget,” she said.
Bernal also discussed the hiring of a new Chief Financial Officer (CFO), to replace Randy Anderson, who was the Interim CFO over the last school year, and noted various summer projects, including seismic upgrades to Chenoweth Elementary School, coordinating with City of The Dalles to install sidewalks from Snipes Streets to Chenoweth Loop as part of the district’s Safe Routes to School program, and the installation of a new press box at Sid White Field at the Wahtonka Campus.
Bernal wrapped up with a look at summer programing and the school board’s decision to wait for newly voted in board members to join the board before they further discuss and make decisions on a potential future bond measure.
Commissioner Phil Brady, in attendance, commended the district on graduating three NORCOR students and suggested getting someone to “champion” the high school and focusing messaging on the positive programs and aspects within it in regard to future bond measure efforts.
He also commended The Dalles High School (TDHS) on its career training programs, saying, “There are lots of things that can shine there that I’m really proud of.”
Spatz remarked on the statistic that 15 different languages are spoken in the district and asked if the district is facing barriers in teaching students who are non-native English speakers. Bernal said most non-native English speakers come to the district with prior education, “so, it’s getting them caught up in the English language, but not necessarily caught up academically, if that makes sense,” Bernal said.
Spatz also asked about students relying on online access and if broadband availability is an issue.
Bernal confirmed it’s an ongoing issue, stating the district provides wifi hotspots to students who have no broadband access at home for virtual school. She noted the district is working to apply for funding to expand broadband access in the community.
Bill Lennox, attending as the Wasco County representative for the North Central Public Health District, asked what the superintendent would like to see change.
“Helping us develop a robust mental health support for kids that are coming in just with complete trauma and we don’t know how to meet their needs,” Bernal said. “It’s getting in the way of their learning, and we’re not able to effectively educate our kids that are coming with trauma because it’s so deep that we don’t have enough support there.”
The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce Community Affairs meetings take place on zoom every Thursday morning at 7 a.m.
Commented
Sorry, there are no recent results for popular commented articles.