By Mary Owen
A “positive, can-do” attitude keeps the North Santiam School District on track, according to Superintendent Andy Gardner.
“We have great staff,” said Gardner, who took over the superintendent role last spring after Jack Adams retired. “It’s always an endless challenge to meet the needs of our kids, especially in light of further budget cuts. But we want to make sure our schools meet them.”
Financial challenges, stemming from funding cuts last May, June, and most recently, August, loom the largest on the district’s “to-deal-with” list. Despite the reductions, NSSD will continue to “provide great schools with what could be significantly less money,” Gardner said.
“This summer, we were able to call back teachers previously laid off,” he said.
The trade off to keep teachers and staff – and maintain all existing programs – was to eliminate six days of the school year, he said.
“Recessions are good for examining what things are most important and what we can live without,” he said.
Serving the entire community, in addition to students, is important for NSSD, he said.
“We’ll be looking this fall into engaging the community through at least one, if not two meetings,” Gardner said. “We don’t intend to run a bond immediately, but we’d like parents to look at past bonds and measures to see what the community would support, if a one was needed. These are their schools, and we want to hear from them. We also want to know what they want from us.”
Another way parents can help the district is to assist with students and school programs. Interested parents can sign up to volunteer by visiting their child’s school, Gardner said.
“There is always lots of work in the classroom, specific to each teacher’s needs,” Gardner said.
Other changes at NSSD include a new Family YMCA teen-parent and on-site infant child-care program at Stayton High School and shuffling leadership roles to fill gaps that opened when Gardner took the superintendent role.
The Y’s school-based teen parent and on-site child care program is for infants and toddlers age 6 weeks to 30 months. The program provides services that can address the needs of teen parents in the district without disrupting their educational experience. Program offerings will include: counseling, transportation, on-site child care, parenting classes and personal finance tutoring.
District moves include shifting Missy Riesterer from dean of students at Sublimity School to principal at Stayton Elementary School. Filling the principal role at Stayton Middle School is Paula Vawter, formerly principal at Mari-Linn. Jeri Harbison will take the helm at Mari-Linn.
“Those are outstanding people, and we’re excited about their move,” Gardner said.
He looks forward to the next nine months, he said.
“Like all districts, we’ll finish a successful school year, regardless of funding and other challenges, because of the commitment of our staff and our families,” Gardner said.
For information on Stayton schools, call NSSD at 503-769-6924.
