Tag Archive for: Camas Schools

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Camas Teachers Agree to 6.4% Pay Increase, Smaller Class Size, Equity Funding

Camas, WA—  Members of Camas Education Association (CEA) voted Thursday to ratify a new two-year deal, ending a strike that lasted seven days that is causing a rippling effect in the school calendar.

Teachers went back to the classroom Friday.

Camas School District (CSD) negotiated with the CEA that class sizes will be reduced over the next two years to between 21-24 students for elementary students, and secondary school sizes are supposed to shift to having a baseline and maximum sizes for each class.

The new deal also sought equity in PE, music and arts funding across CSD schools, and the agreement “establishes a resource fund that is distributed on a per-student basis” that goes up to $140,000 during the 2025-26 school year.

A teacher raise was also agreed upon. In this school year, their pay will increase by 6.4 percent and another 6.6 percent in the 2024-25 school year. Union officials wanted 8.9 percent, and the District said publicly that 5.7 percent was their final and best offer. 

“Quick Summary: Two year contract with salary increase spread out over those two years,” said Shelley Lee, a Camas teacher, and former CEA President. “Phased in classroom reductions over next two years. Letter of agreement for three years for earmarked money for PE, health, library, and music. Lots more to the overall CBA but those were the three sticking points at the end. Overall I think CEA feels like this contract is fair and moves us forward. It’s time now to work together to pass the next levy which will continue to benefit our students.”

The debate ended, but lingering hurt feelings may there a while. 

“We’re tired,” said Mark Gardner, a Camas teacher. “This never should have happened, and we should have started negotiating with the District in March, not May.”

During the process, the school board voted to authorize legal action against the teachers if the strike lingered. And, it was the end of a very challenging first year for Camas Superintendent John Anzalone, who also oversaw budget cuts in the Spring.

“This contract reflects our shared dedication to providing the best possible educational experience for our students,” Anzalone said in a statement after the deal was ratified. “Our teachers are not just educators; they are mentors, role models, and often, beacons of stability for our students. Their love for teaching and their unwavering dedication to their students are the very qualities that excite me for our students’ futures and the future of our district.”

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Camas Schools, CEA Reach Tentative Agreement, School to Start Friday

Camas, WA — The Camas School District and the Camas Education Association have come to a tentative agreement. Pending ratification of the agreement tomorrow, school is expected to resume on Friday, September 8.

Here’s the statement from Camas Superintendent John Anzalone:

Dear Camas Community,

We are happy to share that the Camas Education Association (CEA) and our district have tentatively agreed on a new, two-year collective bargaining contract. On behalf of our more than 1,000 staff members, we are excited to welcome back our students on Friday, September 8, 2023, subject to ratification of the contract tomorrow.

We want to express deep appreciation for our dedicated teachers and the negotiation teams who worked tirelessly to reach an agreement that reflects our shared commitment to our students’ well-being and educational experience.

The first day of school is always a special time, filled with anticipation and the promise of new opportunities. Thank you for your continued support, trust, and partnership. 

Together, we create an environment where our students can thrive and succeed.

We wish you and your family a fantastic start to the

school year.

John Anzalone

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Camas Educators Rally Friday, Negotiations With District Continue

While late negotiations between the Camas Education Association (CEA) and Camas School District (CSD) bargaining teams continue, educators and community members rallied Friday at 11:30 am for about 45 minutes to have their voices heard. Both sides are working today to iron out a tentative agreement that would avoid a teacher’s strike on Monday, August 28, the first day of the new school year.

Rally supporters heard from CEA President Marci Zabel, the union’s Vice President, Michael Sanchez, as well as among others. Lacamas Magazine also spoke to former CEA President Shelly Lee.

The CEA voted this week to authorize a strike if a tentative agreement isn’t reached by August 28, which is the first day of school. 

“Both CEA and our district negotiation teams are hard at work finding solutions that provide needed supports for students and staff, as well as competitive, sustainable compensation. It is our fervent hope that we can solidify an agreement as soon as possible,” said Dr. John Anzalone, Camas Superintendent.

The CEA claims the District is holding $16 million in reserves that aren’t being used to help students.  Earlier this year, the Camas School Board voted to use $8.5 million in reserve funding, which helped offset Spring layoffs. 

So, how much reserves does CSD have?

The $8.5 million spend down of reserves started this year:

  • 2022-23: $3.0M 
  • 2023-24: $2.7M
  • 2024-25: $2.8M, with an anticipated 8% minimum fund balance.  

CSD will end the current fiscal year on August 31, 2023, with a fund balance of 10.3 percent ($12.8M). And, many teachers who were laid off were able to be hired back.

“Most of the teachers who received reduction in force notices (RIF) in the spring shifted to other positions in the district based on seniority and teaching endorsements,” said Doreen McKercher, CSD Communications Director. “We then hired a few positions back after the legislative session was completed, and we were allocated additional funding.”

FRIDAY’S VIDEO REPORT: https://youtu.be/SYCSgkfeeUw?si=mN8k9LiWLF0gJnxe

CEA seeks the following:

Lower Class Sizes: Proposing lower class sizes in key areas, such as Kindergarten. The CEA says Camas School District (CSD) returned their proposal by suggesting schools raise class numbers for grades 4 and 5. CEA is proposing teachers get compensated for exceptionally large classes at all secondary levels in order to discourage creating huge classes.

Camas High School teacher, Tom Sawyer, says his classes are typically 38-40 students, which he says is “hard to manage.”

Cost of Living Allowance, or COLA: CEA wants CSD to honor the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which has been in their contract for three years, and was bargained for in 2020. CEA says “… the District wants to switch to the Implicit Price Deflator (IPD). Last year, CPI (5%) was lower than IPD (5.5%) and CEA didn’t push back.” 

CSD is offering a 4.7% COLA at this time. CEA is asking for more (an exact amount has not been given).

McKercher confirmed: “It is 4.7% on salary, increased Professional Development, and an extra ½ day for training on Qmlative. (Qmlativ is the student information system that is replacing Skyward next summer.)”

Consistent Language around Work Hours: CEA wants their contract  to include clarity around fundamental information such as work day start and end times. CEA says “This would also help to ensure equitable experiences across all of our buildings. Having reasonable and realistic start and ending times supports effective collaboration and preparation for our students.”

Manageable Student Caseloads: CEA proposes caseloads that allow Special Education teams to effectively provide student support and additional inclusive opportunities.

Protect Curriculum Planning Time: CEA says CSD wants to take away several additional Wednesday planning periods. 

“No, our District has proposed giving teachers more prep and collaboration time, and the parties have reached a tentative agreement on this issue,” said McKercher.

CEA says: “While this impacts all members, it comes at the highest cost to our elementary members. Our highly educated and experienced educators need time to plan, create essential lessons, and collaborate with peers to best serve all students they serve.”

Equitable Funds for Student Resources: CEA says CSD has an obligation to invest in student programs, but they’re leaving distribution of funds for music, library, and PE at principals’ discretion. That means students have wildly different experiences in these classes. CEA wants these funds to be distributed equitably among buildings and programs.

The general fund budget for the District  is $119.9 million for the 2023-24 school year.

Lacamas Magazine will provide updates as these negotations continue.

CEA
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Dozens Attend Camas School Board Meeting to Protest Teacher Layoffs

Camas, WA — Dozens of students, teachers, and parents gathered together Monday evening at the Camas School Board meeting to express their frustration, anger, and concerns about how budget cuts are affecting the Project Based Learning schools (Discovery and Odyssey). 

The attendees heard from school board members about the agony of the cuts, with Board member Connie Hennessey saying “we are short staffed, and we have to cut, it’s a horrible position to be in … it sucks, basically. It’s not a fun time.”

Using the public comments time during CSD’s regular board meeting, students expressed what is happening to their schools, and are worried about the future. 

This video contains an explanation about the cuts from Hennessey and fellow Board member, Cory McEnry, as well as public comments from multiple students. 

Please watch the video report: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S03LB1l5xa4

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Discovery, Odyssey Students Walk Out in Protest of CSD Staff Cuts Totaling 47

Camas, WA — About 125 local Project-Based Learning (PBL) students walked out of their classrooms today to protest staffing cuts at both Discovery High and Odyssey Middle Schools, which may total 20 percent of their respective staffs.

The students have expressed their concerns throughout the week, first by speaking up at Monday’s Camas School Board meeting, rallying, and participating in today’s walkout. They initially gathered in front of the Discovery High School, then marched down the school’s long driveway to have their signs visible to passersby.

Camas School District (CSD) is grappling with a $7.4 million deficit, and today CSD Superintendent, Dr. John Anzalone, released a statement to parents on how these cuts will be made to balance the budget.

To balance the $7.4 million deficit, CSD will draw down $1.8 million from reserves, layoff 10 district wide employees ($1.9 million), let go of eight school-wide support staff that are non-classroom ($1.9 million), and layoff 29 classroom teachers ( eight elementary, nine middle school, and 12 high school) totaling $2.6 million. Anazlone said their priority was to do as little disruption to classroom experiences as possible. 

Students
Students protest against looming staff cuts at Discovery and Odyssey.

CSD explained why this situation has happened. In their statement, they said the following:

The shift in public education funding prompted by the McCleary Decision in 2018 has been quite a journey for our state and public school system. Five years later, expenses continue to outpace revenues, and our district anticipates a $7.4M shortfall.

Four key factors are at play: declining regionalization funding, the prototypical school funding model (McCleary), a dramatic enrollment drop, and the sunset of COVID Relief Funding:

1. Regionalization factors were put in place to adjust funding based on the cost of living in different communities. Factors for a handful of districts began declining in 2020-21 at a rate of 1% per year. It is unclear why this is the case. Camas is the only district in the ESD 112 region that experienced this reduction. The annual decreases are counter-intuitive, given that the cost per employee continues to rise and the cost of living in Camas continues to increase.

2. In the state’s prototypical school funding model, funding for staff relies on an experience factor average, not actual experience. Because most of our teachers have many years of experience and are, therefore, near the top of the pay scale, Camas fared better in the previous funding model, which funded districts based on their teaching staff’s actual years of experience and education level.

3. From March 2020 to February 2023, our student enrollment dropped from 7,262 to 6,973 (FTE*), primarily due to COVID, while our staffing levels have remained relatively unchanged.

4. COVID Relief Funds, including Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER), food service, and enrollment and transportation stabilization, total $10.8M to date. These funds, which are nearly expended, provided temporary relief and will not be reinstated going forward.

Students
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Camas School Board Votes to Begin Layoff Process; Cites $7.4 Million Deficit

Camas, WA — At Monday’s Camas School District’s (CSD) Board meeting, the five-member board voted unanimously to begin a district-wide layoff process by ratifying Resolution No. 22-04, a Modified Educational Program.

CSD has been working for months analyzing where to make budget cuts to bridge at $7.4 million budget deficit. Monday’s vote gives the CSD cabinet the authority to formally begin the process to make those cuts, which will include layoffs to certificated, classified and administrative employees.

This is the board’s resolution:

WHEREAS, the Camas School District No. 117 (“District”) faces financial issues due to inflation, increased staffing costs, reductions in enrollment and the state funding model;

WHEREAS, all general fund cash reserves and contingency funds have been considered for use by the Board;

WHEREAS, the District formed the Superintendent Budget Committee, sought input from and conferred both collectively and individually with the Camas Education Association (“CEA”), Public School Employees (“PSE”), Camas Association of Educational Office Professionals (“CAEOP”), building administrators, unrepresented employees, and other community stakeholders;

WHEREAS, the District will identify all persons within the CEA, PSE, CAEOP, building administration & unrepresented employees who willingly will agree to a Reduction in Force through resignations, leaves of absence and/or retirement;

WHEREAS, unless corrected, budget and cash flow analysis by the District anticipates a budget deficit of approximately $7.4 million for the 2023-2024 school year;

WHEREAS, the District has determined that unreserved/unassigned cash reserve of approximately $1.4 million should be budgeted for the 2023-2024 school year.

WHEREAS, the Superintendent has recommended that the Board adopt a Modified Educational Program.

NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved by the Board of Directors of Camas School District No. 117 as follows:

  1. The Superintendent is directed to implement a Modified Educational Program; and 
  2. The Superintendent is directed to prepare a 2023-2024 operating budget that reduces expenditures nearly to the level of reasonably anticipated revenues and reasonably available fund balance, subject to unreserved/unassigned cash reserve limitations noted above; and 
  3. The Superintendent is directed to take such action as may be required by law to notify certificated, classified, and administrative employees who will be affected by reductions in positions; and 
  4. The Superintendent is authorized to make such other plans to implement the reduced educational program as are necessary to comply with the legal obligations of the District. 

RESOLUTION adopted this 27 day of March, 2023.

Board members are: Connie Hennessey, Corey McEnry, Erika Cox, Tracey Malone, and Bamini Pathmanathan

The Camas Education Association (CEA), who represents a majority of certificated teachers, responded with this statement:

On March 27, the School Board passed Board Resolution 22-04.  The title of the resolution is “Modified Educational Program.”

The resolution is more commonly known as the RIF (Reduction in Force) Resolution, which directs the Superintendent to begin the process of laying off staff, thereby reducing the amount of support our students receive at school.

During the Public Comments portion of last night’s meeting, CEA Vice President Michael Sanchez urged the Board to reconsider any and all cuts.

Along with the rest of the community, the Camas Education Association is saddened to hear that this resolution unanimously passed.  Cuts always mean that our students are the ones who ultimately suffer the most.

Last night’s meeting was standing room only, with many first-time attendees.  These attendees aren’t necessarily familiar with the machinations of school budgets, and they’re certainly not as up-to-speed as those who deal with this on a regular basis.  

Customarily, members of the Board will discuss among themselves the Motion to adopt a resolution of this magnitude.  

At least, Board members should.  

However, at last night’s meeting, the Board did not see fit to offer any sort of rationale that would be entered into the public record.  For the many people who were attending their very first Board meeting and were there to advocate for their schools, they heard ZERO discussion from their School Board that evening regarding the RIF Resolution. 

CEA finds this especially galling, especially from a District that claims to value transparency.  

The School Board missed an important opportunity to provide those observing the proceedings with insight as to how they arrived at their decision.

We hope that in the future, the School Board will take the time to give even the most perfunctory statements the next time they make decisions with such far reaching consequences. 

-The Camas Education Association Executive Board

Layoff notices will be distributed before this school year ends.

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Camas School District: Hayes Freedom High School Not Closing

Camas, WA — In response to social media posts about local teachers, parents and supporters rallying to save Hayes Freedom School from the chopping block, Camas School District (CSD) Superintendent, Dr. John Anzalone, issued a clarifying statement Wednesday afternoon to parents. 

The Camas Education Association (CEA), the local teacher’s union, rallied supporters beginning Tuesday night to meet at next Monday’s CSD School Board meeting to express their support of Hayes and the work they do there. They had received credible information that closing Hayes was part of a broader cost cutting measure to save the district $6 million.

“I was able to get more information and the proposal was to move Hayes and merge it with Discovery, not ‘close’ the program,” said Marci Zabel, CEA President. “While I understand that is good for business, that would not be good for the population of students served at Hayes Freedom HS. No decision has been made as of yet, it is an option they are considering. We will continue to push our members and community members to urge the CSD School Board to keep HFHS where it is and come up with another solution that does not have such a negative impact on students.”  

In today’s statement, Anzalone said the following:

“We are aware of posts and comments on social media implying that Hayes Freedom High School will be closed due to impending budget cuts. This information is false, and I’d like to clarify our process and outline our budget development timeline. 

“We mentioned in our communication on February 1, 2023, that our leadership team is examining ways to reduce our budget by a target of $6 million, representing 5% of our budget. One of many options under consideration is looking for ways to share staffing among our smaller, choice high schools: Camas Connect Academy, Discovery High School, and Hayes Freedom High School. I want our community to know that we will not eliminate any of our high schools during this arduous budget process, and Hayes Freedom High School will not be relocated. 

“Our exploration and planning, which are still in development, will include reductions at the central office, building administration, classified staff, and certificated staff. In order to minimize impacts on students, we will first focus reductions on district office personnel and building administration.

“As we continue to examine possible areas for reductions, these principles will help guide decisions, including reducing staff positions and programs. Each principle is just one lens; we acknowledge that some may create tension when put up against others.

  • We will continue to use Seeing and Serving EACH Student as a guide and filter.
  • We will reduce or delay non-employee-related costs first.
  • For each reduction, we will consider the impact on students, particularly those with the highest needs.
  • Whenever possible, we will use attrition and consider not filling vacant positions.
  • We will look at our current initiatives and consider which are having the most impact on learning.
  • We will consider reductions that create closer alignment with the state’s prototypical school funding model.
  • We will focus on additional operational efficiencies and consider what the impacts would be.”

The following represents a general budget and staffing timeline, said Anzalone:

  • Late February to early March – Possible board resolution to reduce the budget by $6M. There would be no specificity regarding how the reductions are made. This is the formal first step in the budget reduction process.
  • Mid-March – First round of staffing cuts announced
  • End of March – Target date to notify all impacted staff
  • May 15 – Contractual deadline to notify impacted certificated staff
  • June 1 – Contractual deadline to notify impacted classified staff
Hayes
This is the graphic used in social media posts to support Hayes Freedom.
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Camas School Board Appoints Anazlone As New Superintendent

Camas, WA — The Camas School Board met Wednesday night in special session and unanimously voted to appoint John Anazalone, Ed.D as the new superintendent for Camas School District, administration officials said this afternoon.

Pending contract negotiations, Anzalone will take the helm at Camas School District on July 1, 2022. 

Anzalone is currently an assistant superintendent for Clark County School District in Las Vegas, Nevada. On Tuesday, board President Tracey Malone and Board member Erika Cox visited Anzalone’s district to meet with staff and get a feel for Anzalone’s leadership style and reputation among his peers. 

“It was clear that the staff hold John in high regard. We were impressed with how John is able to support and nurture school communities in such a large system with a wide range of diversity and needs,” said Board President Tracey Malone. “Although we are a much smaller system, we feel like John has the experience and the heart to lead our district.” 

“I very much appreciate the time Tracey and Erika took to visit and get to know the district that supported me for many years,” said Anzalone. “I firmly believe that creating strong, personal connections with students and staff members is how we make a larger district feel small and a smaller district feel like family.” 

Anzalone was named as an assistant superintendent for Clark County School District in 2021, and he has 16 years of experience in school administration at both middle and high school levels in his current system. He holds a doctorate from Walden University and a master’s from the University of Phoenix. 

“As we head into the new year, I plan to visit Camas often to start creating those connections to hit the ground running on July 1,” Anzalone said. 

“This has been quite a journey, and we are thankful for the hundreds of people, including staff, students, parents, and community members who helped us make this decision,” added Malone. “We are excited for the next chapter in Camas School District’s story and for John to help us write it.”

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EDUCATION: Q&A With Camas Schools Superintendent, Dr. Jeff Snell

Camas, WA — Several days ago, Dr. Jeff Snell, Superintendent of Camas School District, announced he accepted an offer to lead Vancouver Schools. Snell answered several questions about his tenure and what to expect going forward.

Question: When will you start your new job as Vancouver Schools Superintendent?

Answer: July 1.

Question: What appeals to you about Vancouver Schools?

Answer: I started my career there, and spent 15 years and when you’re in a relationship business and you spend that much time with people those relationships don’t go away. There’s work that I still want to be a part of. There are things we can do better on behalf of students. I’ve been very fortunate in Camas to learn about all aspects of an organization and that happens when you’re in a smaller district so I’m excited to apply that learning.  People reached out and said I’d be a good fit there in Vancouver and I’m humbled to have this opportunity.  It was the right time to consider something, and it’s been a whirlwind and also bittersweet. I love Camas and I love this community. 

Question: What are some of the challenges you will face at Vancouver Schools?

Answer: Similar challenges as we deal with the pandemic. The way we’ve served students has had to change so dramatically and there have been challenges for kids, staff, and families.   All schools want every kid to be successful so the challenges are similar to what we face in Camas.  How do we empower staff to create conditions for students to be excited about learning and be their best? So pandemic response is priority number one. 

Some other priorities I identified in the selection process and what they shared with me is they want a more collaborative culture and a focus on student equity. 

Question: What do you mean by student equity?

Student equity means that we shouldn’t be able to predict a student’s success based on their race, gender or economic/social status. It’s about the opportunities we create. Our society needs every child ready to contribute as young adults. 

For me, I really try to start and stop with student voice. Ask students what is working for them, what’s not working for them. In Camas, we’ve done a lot of that. That empowers a community so I’d like to continue that practice moving forward.

Question: When did you begin your tenure as Camas Superintendent?

Answer: 2016.

Question: How long were you Assistant Superintendent?

Answer: 2011.

Question: You’ve dealt with heavy issues like the teacher’s strike, the Liza Sejkora situation, and a yearlong pandemic. What’s been your legacy at CSD? What have you learned?

Answer: I learned that you need a great school board that’s really committed to the community, that doesn’t have an ego, and wants the best for the children and families they serve. We are blessed in Camas to have a school board that has consistently been that way. They focus on how we best raise our children in this community. We have gone through many crises. This last year has been significant for everyone. Consistent leadership from a school board is critical and we’ve been fortunate to have it in Camas for a long time. I know this year has been hard for people.  I really challenge people to appreciate their school board; they really want what is best for everyone and volunteer as leaders.

We have a really talented staff in Camas and I have been so fortunate to work with these amazing people for 10 years.  They’ve done so many great things for kids. I am grateful to a community that supports its schools and rallies around each other.  I’m grateful to our amazing students.  I learn something from them every day.  I’m proud of being able to be a part of this district. 

Question: What’s it been like to work with parents and all their concerns?

Answer: Why are people passionate about this issue about our pandemic response? They love their family. They want what’s best for their students. They care about each other. They want to be safe.  These core values have sometimes come in conflict during the pandemic because we can’t adequately address them all at the same time. I’ve had to sacrifice some relationships with people because my family wellbeing has been a priority, and I know others have had to make these really difficult decisions in working through their core values of safety, friendship, and family.  Regarding stakeholders that are frustrated or upset about the decisions our district has made, I’m grateful they trust me enough to be honest with me and share their concerns. I think about why the reason for why they share with me and it is because they love their kids; they love their spouse and want their spouse to be safe at work. They want the best for their kids and their families.  When you are genuine about that people know. The majority of people are appreciative of that.  We may not always agree on whatever the next step is, but we do have common ground about the care we have for our families, community and hopefully each other. 

Question: What’s happening with getting vaccines to Camas teachers?

Answer: It’s a really good situation now, as the Governor’s proclamation is making this a priority and community health providers have been amazing. We think we will have everyone who wants to be vaccinated, vaccinated by spring break.  

Question: Given the decreased enrollment, issues parents have with so many teachers, and the curricula, is public education in a free fall? Or is this a bump in the road?

Answer: Our student enrollment has been very consistent over a long period of time (Enrollment data).  With that consistency in mind, what might be causes for a drop in enrollment this year?  I think the natural conclusion is the impact of the pandemic.  Our world has changed pretty dramatically in a lot of different ways including public education.  Bumpy moments like navigating pandemics create great opportunities to innovate for the future.  I believe public education will be stronger on the other side of the pandemic.

Question: What are the priorities of the next CSD administration? How will the next Superintendent be selected?

Answer: Those are questions that our school board will be working towards in the coming months.  We have been working towards a strategic plan for 2025 which the Citizen Advisory Committee spent the last several years drafting and the board has reviewed several times this year.  There is still some fine tuning needed as the district moves forward.

Snell
Camas School Board.

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Camas School Board Report: CHS To Begin Hybrid In-Class Learning March 8

Camas, WA — Camas School District (CSD) Superintendent Dr. Jeff Snell said schools continue to open up to in-class learning as COVID-19 cases numbers continue to drop across Clark County. The public also learned CSD is facing a $3.5 million shortfall this fiscal year.

“Clark County Health Department will release the latest COVID-19 data for this week later today with rates expected to be below 150 new cases per 100,000 population,” he said today. “This number indicates that Clark County continues to be in the “moderate’ risk level for a fourth consecutive week. This is good news and reinforces the importance of our COVID countermeasures as across the region we’ve added in-person learning experiences for our students and county rates have continued to drop.”

The school board reviewed COVID-19 level data and the current Reopening Plan again on February 22 and made the following decisions around elementary and high school transition timing and programming.

Elementary: At our elementary schools, instruction will move away from a 2-day hybrid Cohort A/B model to 4-day, in-person instruction on March 22, which aligns closely with the end of the trimester. Schools will still be following the 6 foot istancing requirement, masking, and other countermeasure strategies. Staff will be looking at how to maximize classroom and school space. In certain cases, additional staff may need to be hired to support smaller groups of students. Families who indicate a desire for on-site learning will have students attending on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 8:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Wednesdays will continue to be remote learning days and also used by staff to support planning for both on-site and remote learners.

High School: With cases of COVID-19 in Clark County below 200 cases per 100,000 over 14 days, our high schools will have in-person orientation/small group activities during the week of March 1, and we will begin 2-day, hybrid instruction beginning March 8. Students will have a Cohort A/B model. Note: Hayes Freedom High School is already in a hybrid model.

Budget

Business Services Director Jasen McEathron gave a monthly budget status report indicating we are trending to end the fiscal year with a $3.5 million shortfall largely due to the pandemic. There are still many variables at play in the 2020-21 budget including Federal and State relief funding and how that might impact us in Camas. 

School
www.clarkcountyrelocations.com

Social-Emotional Learning

Assistant Superintendent Lisa Greseth and Helen Baller Principal Melissa Hutton were on hand to share an update on the social-emotional wellbeing of our students. District-level data was shared from our second student survey. Highlights for our students were in the areas of supportive relationships with staff and at home, and opportunities for growth in the way we help support emotion regulation for our students. Principal Hutton gave specific examples of how a school uses the data as part of the overall school plan for social-emotional learning and support. 

Becky Stauffer

CSD digital automation specialist Becky Stauffer received the 2021 Laserfiche K-12 Education Impact Award at this year’s virtual Laserfiche Empower Conference.

This award recognizes influential industry leaders who exemplify leadership within the Laserfiche community and empower others to drive transformation within their organizations. Congratulations Becky!

Noah Christensen

CHS junior Noah Christensen was honored with an MTP award by Coach Jones. Noah has grown a lot over his years at Camas, in all facets. One of the biggest ways in which he’s grown is by not being too proud to ask for help when he feels himself getting out of sorts.

“Noah displays good leadership qualities on the football field and in the classroom and he’s just a really fun young man to get to work with and coach,” stated Coach Jones. Great work, Noah!

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