Representatives from 10 school districts gathered on Wednesday to give real-world context to key legislative topics for candidates for state legislature. School leaders prompted discussion on school funding, the educator workforce, social and emotional health, and school safety.

“We were grateful for the opportunity to host a meaningful conversation and build the foundation for our shared responsibility as educators and political leaders to provide an excellent public education,” says Jada Rupley, Superintendent of Clackamas ESD. “We surfaced some of the most pervasive, challenging issues that we are experiencing across the region. Looking ahead, we hope to work together, collaboratively toward meaningful solutions.”

Here are some of the highlights from presenters across the county:

  • Jena Benologa, a parent in North Clackamas School District, spoke about decades of erosion to the state budget for K-12 education. She says that in 2005, the K-12 budget was 45 percent of the total state budget, but has dropped to 39 percent in the current budget. This trend has resulted in 46 fewer school days in her district than 10 years ago.
  • Linda Eastlund, special education director at Clackamas Education Service District; Michael Ralls, director of social services at North Clackamas School District; and Lynn Barry, a teacher at Gardiner Middle School spoke to their experiences working with students needing an increasing amount of mental health resources. According to the 2018 Oregon Student Wellness Survey, the percent of eighth graders who “felt sad almost every day for two weeks or more” rose sharply from 23.6 percent in 2016 to 31.4 percent in 2018. Ralls says that about half the students that visit their school-based health centers for physical or oral health needs end up getting referred to a mental health professional too.
  • Estacada School District Superintendent Ryan Carpenter spoke about a looming teacher shortage. One third of Oregon teachers are eligible to retire today, and fewer graduates are entering the teaching profession. He said that in 2015-16 Oregon’s initial teacher licensing programs produced 1,793 graduates, but that same year, Oregon districts hired 2,937 first-year teachers.
  • West Linn High School student Jessica Yu presented on creating safe and welcoming school environments. She says that nearly 80 percent of cases of bullying go unaddressed, often because they are unreported. She urged state leaders to consider promoting clear avenues for students to report bullying and ensure those concerns get addressed.