4J Parent News

Information for parents and guardians from Eugene School District 4J

• North Eugene High School: School board weighing options for existing school building

• Graduation Rates: At 80.8%, rate for Class of 2022 is second-highest in 4J's history

• School Board: Filing period for four seats up for election in May opens this weekend

• Employee Spotlight: Meet Kerry, 4J's prevention services administrator

• Care Solace: Free access to mental health care coordination service continues

• Job Fair, Feb. 4: Apply and schedule an interview for rewarding positions in special ed

• LIKE: Watch the documentary examining social media, available online from Feb. 6–13

• Free Meals: Sign up now to reduce of the local cost of this program and support students

• Work With 4J: Serve local youth and the community—apply for a 4J job today!

With the new North Eugene High School building set to open this fall, the Eugene School Board is reviewing options for what to do with the existing building once it's vacated.

The decision to either retrofit or tear down the existing building is not made in isolation, as either option carries impacts for the new high school, other school buildings in the North region, and the need for field space for both the district and community at large.

The estimated cost to retrofit the old building for a new program is $30 million. That estimate includes expenses for deferred maintenance, upgrades to meet current district standards for school buildings, and required city system development charges. Added to this estimate would be any renovations of the building to accommodate a new program. Retaining the old building also leaves the new North Eugene High School with about half of the field space of other district high schools, leaving less green space in the region for sports and community recreational uses.

Demolishing the original building and installing fields on its footprint is estimated to cost $12 million. This option would provide a substantial credit toward the system development charges for the new building. It would add two grass soccer-sized fields side by-side, bringing the new North Eugene High School's field area in alignment with other district high schools.

4J is accepting questions through its Let's Talk page to help inform the board's discussion and final decision. District staff will answer those questions, as well as post the questions and responses on the district website. Staff also will forward the questions to the board for their consideration.

4J has reason to celebrate! The graduation rate for the Class of 2022 was the second-highest in 4J’s history, with all but one of more than a dozen student groups making gains compared to the prior year, according to Oregon Department of Education's recently released data.

The 80.8 percent on-time four-year graduation rate is 1.9 percentage points higher than last year and 6.3 points higher than for the Class of 2018. The all-time high was in 2019–20, when the state temporarily modified graduation requirements due to the pandemic. All but one 4J student group improved their graduation rate, with many achievement gaps narrowing. Graduation rates for Black and Native students jumped an impressive 12.5 and 31.7 percentage points, respectively.

The upward trend of 4J’s graduation rate is good news and a testament to the dedication and resolve of our educators and students. Much work remains, including closing opportunity and achievement gaps that persist, as they do across Oregon and the United States. We continue to set our collective sights upward.

Eugene School District 4J voters will decide this May who will serve in four of the seven positions on the Eugene School Board.

Candidates interested in running for the at-large seats representing positions 1, 4, 5 and 7 may file with the Lane County Elections Office starting this weekend. Prospective candidates can file electronically starting Saturday and in-person starting on Monday, February 6. The filing deadline is Thursday, March 16, at 5 p.m.

To be eligible, a person must be a registered voter in the school district, must have been a resident of the district for at least one year immediately preceding the election, and may not be an employee of the district or any charter school within the district.

4J Prevention Services Administrator

“We need to focus every effort we can on protecting and supporting our kids. They are our most precious resource and we want to help them thrive."

JOIN TEAM EUGENE!

Providing free access to Care Solace is one of the ways 4J prevention services staff is helping to support the mental health and well-being of 4J students, families and staff. Care Solace is a confidential care coordination service that you can access online at caresolace.com/eugene, or by phone at 888-515-0595 in any language and at any time, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The service provides an additional layer of support, and addresses the need for mental health care and substance abuse treatment. The district is committed to the well-being of our students, staff and families.

Special education teachers and specialists—we want YOU to join Team Eugene! 4J is holding a special education job fair, conducting interviews for special education teachers, school psychologists and interns, speech and language pathologists, and nurses.

Special Education Job Fair
Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023, 9 a.m.–Noon
4J Education Center, 200 N. Monroe St., Eugene

4J is pleased to present a virtual screening of the documentary film LIKE, examining the technology behind popular social media platforms, why it’s so powerful, and what you can do about it. Students and families are encouraged to watch the film together and discuss it afterward. Look for an email from 4J with the movie link on Friday, Feb 3. Questions about the film or showing? Email equity@4j.lane.edu.

The federal waiver that allowed for universal free school meals last summer. However, recognizing that many families are still struggling to recover from the pandemic, 4J continued the free-meals-for-all program for another year using general funds.

You can help reduce the amount 4J pays for the free meal program! If your household income is at or below the guidelines—for example, up to $83,250 a year for a family of four—or your family receives food stamps, TANF or FDPIR, please submit a confidential application for the federally assisted meal program.

If your application is approved, 4J schools will continue to receive federal payment for your student's meals, saving the general fund as much as $814 per student this year, which can be used to educate and support students. Families who qualify also may be eligible for reduced fees for sports, enrichment activities and summer camps, low-cost internet access and other savings.

Administrative Assistant • Bus Aide • Bus Driver • Coaches • Department Assistant • Equipment Operator • Evening Custodian • Finance Clerk • Fleet Mechanic • General Education Teachers • HVAC Refrigeration Technician • Physical Education Teacher • Plumber Specialist • Preschool Promise Lead Teacher • Registered Nurses • Second Grade Teacher • Senior Groundskeepers • Special Ed Educational Assistant • Speech and Language Specialist • Temporary Workers • and more!

2/3 No School

2/4 Special Education Job Fair

2/15 School Board Meeting

2/20 No School: Presidents Day (possible school closure makeup day)

3/1 School Board Meeting

3/15 School Board Meeting

3/16 No School: Middle & High Only (Grading Day)

3/17 No School: Staff Workload Relief Day

3/20 Budget Committee Meeting

3/27–31 No School: Spring Break