4J Educator
January 2023, Volume 2
4J Continues Search for More Instructional Space
Last week, I shared with you the district's exciting plan to submit a bid to acquire the vacant EWEB riverfront property for a new multicultural, arts and science education center. The acquisition would also have provided space to relocate the district's administrative services, freeing up much-needed zoned educational property for expansion of instructional programs. However, EWEB has announced its plan to sell the property to the city of Eugene for a new city hall.
I would like to congratulate the city in taking the next step to consolidate its services at a new Eugene city hall, while keeping this landmark riverfront property in public hands. We appreciate EWEB’s consideration of our proposal.
Dr. Andy Dey, Superintendent
Share Your Thoughts: 2023–24 PROPOSED School Calendar
Eugene School District 4J has developed a proposed academic calendar for the 2023–24 school year, and we want to hear your thoughts.
Notably, school would start before the Labor Day weekend, with kindergartners, 6th and 9th graders beginning on Wednesday, August 30, and all other grades returning on Thursday, August 31. Thanksgiving break would be extended to three days, from November 22–24. No-school parent-teacher conference days for grades K–8 would occur on November 20–21, with the exact conference schedule varying by school.
Proposed key dates:
• NEW First Day of School: August 30 for grades K, 6 and 9; August 31 for all other grades
• NEW Parent-Teacher Conferences/No School (Grades K–8 only): November 20–22
• NEW Thanksgiving Break: November 22–24
• Winter Break: December 18–January 2
• Spring Break: March 25–29
• Last Day of School: June 11
Let's Talk: Offering a New Way to Dialogue with 4J
The district is dedicated to fostering positive relationships, building trust and effectively communicating and engaging with our families, staff, students and community members. To accomplish this, we are committed to maintaining an open line of communication and hearing what you have to say about important topics and current initiatives. We are listening.
We are excited to present Let's Talk!, which provides an opportunity for you to ask a question or submit a comment anytime and from anywhere. We also welcome your positive feedback through our “Share Your Joy” button.
Interested in receiving a response, but want to remain anonymous in your questions? No problem. Just include your email and check the "Hide your contact information from the District" box to ensure you get answers to your questions while preserving your anonymity.
We look forward to hearing from you!
Reminder: Paid Leave Deductions Begin This Month
Payroll deductions for Oregon's new family leave program started January 1 and will be reflected on your January paycheck.
Under the program, the wages of employees on approved leave for a qualifying event will be paid out of a state-managed trust fund rather than by 4J for up to 12 weeks each year (up to 14 weeks for pregnancy-related medical leave).
Both 4J and its employees are required to pay into the system, with the district contributing 0.4% of an employee’s gross wages and employees contributing 0.6% of their earnings. As examples, an employee earning $18 an hour would have $18.72 a month deducted from their paycheck, while an employee making $60,000 annually would contribute $30 a month.
Employees can start applying for benefits under the state paid leave program on September 3, 2023. The amount the program pays employees depends on how much they’ve earned the prior year, but some workers may receive their full weekly earnings.
New Camas Ridge Construction Gets Off the Ground
The new Camas Ridge Community Elementary School is getting off the ground as workers have begun erecting the steel frame for the new, state-of-the-art school building.
The installation of the structural steel, which will take several months, is another major milestone in constructing the new school building, which will open in the fall of 2024. The building will be two stories and about 74,000 square feet. The visible work will enable neighbors and motorists who regularly travel East 30th Avenue to keep tabs on its progress.
The new elementary school is the last major construction project paid for by the bond measure 4J voters approved in 2018. The new Edison and expanded Gilham elementary schools opened last fall, and the new North Eugene High School will open in September. Thank you 4J community!
EEF Grants Support Learning for All 4J Students
The Eugene Education Foundation provided $226,959 in grants this school year to expand education and enrichment opportunities for 4J students. Through its annual grant program, the nonprofit foundation funded 72 classroom and district-level programs primarily focused on the arts, literacy, social-emotional learning, health/PE and STEM education.
We THANK Eugene Education Foundation and our community’s generous donors for their invaluable support of 4J schools! YOU are making a world of difference for our students and families.
