Ashland School District
En español. Utilice el botón "traducir" en la parte superior derecha.
Accessibility and Translation use button on top right.
Email: Jacqueline.Schad@ashland.k12.or.us
Website: ashland.k12.or.us
Location: 885 Siskiyou Boulevard, Ashland, OR, USA
Phone: (541) 482-2811
Facebook: facebook.com/ashlandpublicschools/
Superintendent Smore Newsletters: https://www.smore.com/
Kinder Builders
PTA Storytelling Evening
Walker Elementary Moves into their New Building
Superintendent's Message
Ashland Families, Students and Community Members,
We made it to June!
I wish to “con-graduate” all the members of the Class of 2023, their families, and the amazing educators that have stewarded them since their earliest years in the District. The culmination of years of hard work by the graduates and all those that support them was celebrated last Friday in a ceremony that packed the Lithia bandshell. And no rain or electrical storms!
The email below is full of good news and useful information, and it is admittedly long. I will keep this message brief to better provide you, the reader, with time to delve into all it offers.
As we head into summer, I hope each of you and those precious to you have opportunity to rest, recreate and replenish. Stay safe, remember to use sunscreen, drink water, and read books.
Have a great summer,
Samuel
Samuel Bogdanove
Superintendent
Ashland Public Schools
Pronouns: He, Him, His
Staff Development in Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
During the Fall of the 2022-23 school year, we had a successful professional development series around equity. We met our goal of over 99% of our entire staff having participated in the Foundations of Equity Training or an equivalent training. This is a rare accomplishment in Oregon, and it shows our dedication to our equity goals.
In addition to offering Foundations of Equity, we also provided four differentiated sessions covering topics including:
- Universal Design for Learning: engagement strategies to benefit students with diverse learning needs
- Best Instructional Practices for English Learners
- Foundations for serving students in the LGBTQ+ community
- Grading for Equity
The differentiated professional development options were very well received. Therefore, we will offer a similar format for our fall training day on October 10, 2023.
Black Youth Leadership Summit
More than 230 African American Students attended the 2023 Black Youth Leadership Summit, held on April 10 and hosted by The Southern Oregon Black/African American Student Success Consortium (SOBAASS).
This one day event provides opportunities for African American students, and students who are a part of the Black Diaspora, to hear from Black Leaders, network with fellow students, as well as explore ways of using their voices and skills to articulate the uniqueness of the, and their, Black experience This year’s theme was “Better Together,” and was hosted, in-person, at Southern Oregon University.
Thanks to the collaboration of at least four local community based organizations, nine school districts, Southern Oregon Education Service District, two universities, one community college, the statewide Black Student Success Network (Organized by the Oregon Community Foundation),and a host of parent and community volunteers, the event was a great success.
For information about the Southern Oregon Black Youth Summer Institute, please click here: https://inside.sou.edu/youth/southern-oregon-black-youth-summer-institute.html
Grant Celebrations
A special thanks to Rebecca Bjornson, Bond Administrator, and Andrea Townsend, Director of Equity and Learning, for their grant writing!
-------------
The LGBTQ2SIA+ Student Success Plan was written to address barriers to educational success for Oregon students who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, pansexual, transgender, queer, questioning, two-spirit, intersex, asexual, nonbinary, and the myriad of marginalized gender identities and sexual orientations represented by the (+). This student success plan establishes a framework for creating safe, inclusive, and welcoming schools for LGBTQ2SIA+ students.
This collaboration was with Phoenix Talent School District, Central Point SD, and Ashland SD, called the Southern Oregon Consortium. Grant presentation Grant Awarded: $198,744.84
-------------
The Ben B. Cheney Foundation began grant-making as a private foundation in 1975. At the end of 2019, after 45 years, the Foundation has made more than 5,780 grants, providing more than $103,653,000 in support to the communities we serve. They selected TRAILS Outdoor School’s playground project this year! Grant Awarded: $10,000
-------------
Technical Assistance Program (TAP)
The Technical Assistance Program (TAP) helps districts plan for capital improvements and expansion to better inform their communities about deferred maintenance needs and future enrollment and explore funding sources for school facilities. TAP provides four types of grants to school districts to cover or offset the costs of conducting:
1. Facilities Condition Assessments; ($25,000)
2. Long-Range Facility Planning; ($25,000)
3. Seismic Assessments; ($25,000)
The Facilities Assessment and Long-Range Facility Plan are required as part of the Oregon School Capital Improvement Matching (OSCIM) Program grant application. The Seismic Assessment is a required component of the application to Business Oregon’s Seismic Rehabilitation Grant Program, through which school districts can apply for funding to retrofit buildings. From 2019 - 2021, the Radon Environmental Hazard Assessment grant will have helped nearly half of all districts in Oregon pay for radon testing to comply with Oregon Health Authority’s ORS 332.341 and 332.345. Starting in 2022, the Asbestos Environmental Hazard Assessment grant will help districts meet the federally mandated requirements of the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) by covering the costs of asbestos inspections, periodic surveillance, AHERA-related training for staff, and upgrading to a web-based record-keeping system. Grant Awarded: $75,000
-------------
Seismic Rehabilitation Grant Program
The Seismic Rehabilitation Grant Program (SRGP) is a state of Oregon competitive grant program that provides funding for the seismic rehabilitation of critical public buildings, particularly public schools and emergency services facilities. Click below to learn more about eligibility.
Team ASD Bond led this with –Robby Moles, Steve Mitzel, Julie Thomas, and Mike Freeman/HMK Co., awarded to AHS Humanities Building! Grant Awarded: $2.5 Million
Ashland YMCA Pre-School Partnership
We are pleased to share that we are close to finalizing an on-site pre-school program at Helman and Walker Elementary Schools. The pre-school classroom at each site will be operated by the Ashland YMCA. Limited scholarships will be available through the Y.
The pre-school classrooms for ages 3-5 will provide opportunities for local families to become familiar with the amazing opportunities in our schools and will help fill the need for early childhood education in the community.
We are grateful to the Ashland YMCA, Chief Executive Officer, Heidi Hill, and YMCA Program Director, Kelley Rittenhouse, for their partnership in creating these opportunities for the youngest members of our community.
REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN: Half day and full day slots available.
PLEASE NOTE: The program will serve ages 3 - 5. Some documentation refers to ages 4 - 6 and is being updated to reflect the appropriate ages.
Safety and Security
The District is in the process of reviewing its Emergency and Safety Manual with the goal of standardizing procedures and plans across all sites. With the completion of several large renovation projects, the need for updating individual site plans is clearly apparent. Rebecca Bjornson will be assisting site leaders in this process.
At the same time the district would like to move to a comprehensive crisis response protocol that is action-based, flexible, and easy to learn. The majority of school districts in Oregon are now using the I Love U Guys Foundation’s Standard Response Protocol to address this need. The district is working towards implementing this by Fall 2023 district-wide.
What is a Standard Response Protocol?
Easy to understand. Easy to implement.
A uniform, planned, and practiced response to any incident is the foundation of a safe school. Safe business. Safe community. The SRP is action-based, flexible, and easy to learn. It rationally organizes tactics for response to weather events, fires, accidents, intruders, and other threats to personal safety.
The SRP’s development is ever-evolving, created with extensive collaboration between experts such as first responders, public safety, schools, districts, and communities. Its tactics are data-driven, researched, and based on experience and contemporary practices.
On the Same Page. Everyone.
The benefits of SRP become quickly apparent. By standardizing the vocabulary, all stakeholders can understand the response and status of the event.
For students, this provides continuity of expectations and actions throughout their educational career. For teachers, this becomes a simpler process to train and drill. For communities, it leverages the growing adoption of the protocols from residents of all ages. For first responders, the common vocabulary and protocols establish a greater predictability that persists through the duration of an incident.
People easily understand the practices and can reinforce the protocol. Additionally, this protocol enables rapid response determination when an unforeseen event occurs.
https://iloveuguys.org/The-Standard-Response-Protocol.html
Watch for more information as we move forward with this implementation.
Retirements and Welcomes
On May 11th, District staff, friends, and families gathered at the beautiful Grizzly Peak Winery to honor staff who are retiring in the 2022/2023 school year and to celebrate teachers who have completed three years with Ashland School District.
Retirements
Betsy Bishop has led the esteemed AHS theatre program for 35 years. Mrs. Bishop’s students have gone on to acting and technical careers in local community theatre, at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, on Broadway, and in TV & Film.
In her 25 years at Ashland School District Glenna Rost has been a classroom teacher, school counselor, elementary principal, and Ashland High’s Dean of Students. Among her accomplishments, Rost has been instrumental in the development and ongoing success of Ashland High School’s Catalyst and Thoreau alternative education programs.
Sue Pindell has been an integral member of the Willow Wind Community Learning Center for 15 years. For most of her career with Ashland School District she has taught the 4th/5th classroom. Pindell will be missed by students and staff alike.
Carol Baker, has supported Ashland’s middle and high school Special Education students for 17 years. Thank you Carol!
Nancy Steele has served Ashland students as a Custodian and now Head Custodian for 32 years. For the last several years she has also served ASD staff as a dedicated member of the union executive board. Thank you Nancy!
Brad Cummings has served Ashland students as a Custodian and Head Custodian for Ashland School District for 29 years. Thank you Brad!
Lori Davis has served Ashland students as a Food Service Worker for 21 years, providing nutritious meals to fuel the bodies and minds of our students.
Marvin Phillips, has served Ashland students as a friendly Bus Driver for 5 years of ensuring the safe transportation of our students.
Congratulations, Class of 2023 Retirees! Thank you for your service!
New Contract Educators
Ashland School District welcomes the following educators who have completed their first three years with ASD and demonstrated the skill, dedication, and heart ASD students rely on. We look forward to working with them for many years to come!
Ashland High: School Counselor, Bryanna Trevino and Language Arts/Social Studies Teacher, Isaiah Creel!
Ashland Middle School: Math Teacher, Allen Lambert, Special Educator Teacher, Erika Williford, and Spanish Teacher, Melinda Lindgren!
Helman Elementary: Classroom Teacher, Juliana Quick, Reading Specialist, Karen Tkaczyk-Turner, and Math Specialist, Brian Doak!
TRAILS Outdoor School: Child Development Specialist, Amber Langer!
Willow Wind: Science Teacher, Emily Bland!
Student Services: Speech & Language Pathologist Brittany Whitfield!
We are so happy to have these dedicated educators serving Ashland School students!
Facility Use and Rental
UPDATED FEE SCHEDULE AND APPLICATION FOR NEW AGREEMENTS BEGINNING JULY 1, 2023
Facility Rental Application July 2023
Rules and Regulations for the Use of District Facilities
Questions? Please contact Scott Chadick at Scott.Chadick@ashland.k12.or.us
Safe Oregon Tip Line
Ashland School District uses the Safe Oregon tip line system.
A link to the tip line is located at the bottom of every school web page.
Who receives tips to the School Safety Tip Line? Specially trained technicians field incoming tips 24 hours- a-day, 365 days-a-year for all public schools Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade. The Oregon State Police provides this service through a contracted vendor.
For details on how the tip line works, click here.
Community Flyers - Peach Jar
The Ashland School District Peachjar site
Please Note: Flyers are distributed to Ashland School District students as a courtesy to parents per board policy. Ashland School District does not endorse or sponsor community activities including any described in Peachjar. If you have questions regarding this policy, please contact your child’s Principal.
NEW WEBSITE AND FACEBOOK
ASD Web SIte has a new look: https://www.ashland.k12.or.us/
Follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ashlandpublicschools
Ashland School District
The school district does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability in matters affecting employment or in providing access to programs and services and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following person has been designated at our school to handle inquiries and complaints regarding nondiscrimination policies and to coordinate compliance efforts:
Name: Samuel Bogdanove, Superintendent
Address: 885 Siskiyou Blvd..
Telephone: 541-482-2811
Email: Jacqueline.Schad@ashland.k12.or.us
Inquiries or complaints may also be directed to the Student Services Office at 885 Siskiyou Blvd, Ashland Oregon (phone: 541-482-2811)
Complaints may also be directed to: Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue S.W., Washington D.C. 20202, or by calling (800) 421-3481 or (877) 521-2172 (TTY).
