Superintendent’s Update #222 - Oregon Department of Education

9/21/2007 6:55:00 AM

Superintendent’s Update #222

1. 2007 Legislative Education Highlights

2. Job Opportunity

3. Opportunities and Financial Resources for Schools

4. What You Can Find on the Oregon Department of Education Website

5. Susan’s Schedule

The September 2007 Issue PDF

of Superintendent's Pipeline is available on the ODE website: http://www.ode.state.or.us/pipeline/september-pipeline-07.pdf PDF

Learn about what is new with the Oregon Diploma at http://www.getreadyoregon.org/

1. 2007 Legislative Education Highlights

The Oregon Legislature concluded the 2007 Session on June 29th. This Legislative Summary describes major legislation relevant to Pre-K through 12 education that was passed into law and is meant to be used as a resource for school districts, teachers, students, parents, elected officials, Department of Education (ODE) staff, and members of the public as a quick reference.

Read the 2007 Legislative Summary

Almost 3,000 bills, resolutions, and memorials were introduced by House and Senate members, with nearly 1,000 becoming law. The 57 pieces of legislation in this Summary represent the bills that had the greatest and most direct impact on Pre-K through 12 education and Oregon’s system of public education. Additionally, this report contains the five budget notes ODE has been directed to respond to as well as the new reports ODE is required to make to the Legislature.

For each piece of legislation, the following information is included (where applicable):

Bill Number
Subject(s) covered by the Bill
Effective Date
A Brief Bill Summary
Impacts on the Department of Education
Estimated Fiscal for the Department of Education
Impact on Oregon Administrative Rule (OAR)
Staff Contacts for More Information on the Bill

Please note that many of the bills that impact K-12 education may not have a direct impact on the work of the Department of Education or the programs that we manage. Staff contacts have been included where applicable.

If you have any additional questions or need additional information about any of the materials in this report, please contact ODE Legislative Director Morgan Allen at 503-947-5920 http://www.ode.state.or.us/search/page/?id=1503

2. Job Opportunity

OPERATIONS AND POLICY ANALYST 3
(Board Analyst, Special Schools) $3,962 - $5,799 MONTHLY

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

This position serves as staff for the Oregon School for the Deaf Board of Directors and the Oregon School for the Blind Board of Directors, providing coordination and guidance to the respective Boards. Major duties include:

Provide consultative advice to the Oregon School for the Blind (OSB) and the Oregon School for the Deaf (OSD) Boards of Directors in matters related to Board procedures, quantities and management aspects.
Manage and facilitate research and other relevant materials that evaluate and assess the policy and procedures under the assigned tasks of the Board.
Prepare materials and agendas for Board meetings to assist them in guided discussions and providing subsequent recommendations or advice and in making long-range plans and milestones.
Create, monitor and adjust an action plan based on legislative action which sets forth a series of expectations for the Board.
Manage any of the necessary actions of the Boards and monitor timelines for their recommendations/actions including but not limited to, securing data not easily accessible, meeting with other agencies and external constituencies including community groups and business interests.
Guide development and monitoring of the biennial budget for the Boards.
Oversee support staff in materials organization, schedules, data, and minutes of meetings.
Analyze, synthesize data and other information, and prepare reports at the request of Board members.
Organize and coordinate relevant technical assistance and other program development activities to assure compliance with state and federal laws.
Guide Board analysis or review of operational issues at the State Schools by providing comprehensive operational research for decision making.
Consult with senior management and program mangers on strategic planning process or methods to ensure the success of the Boards.

Please visit http://egov.oregon.gov//ODE/jobs/LEED7074.shtml to see the full job announcement.

3. Opportunities and Financial Resources for Schools

OREGON HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS INVITED TO NATIONAL POETRY CONTEST

The National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation present Poetry Out Loud: National Recitation Contest, in partnership with the Oregon Arts Commission.

Poetry Out Loud is a program that encourages high school students to learn about great poetry through memorization, performance, and competition. From November, 2007 through March, 2008 schools are invited to participate in classroom and school-wide contests, advancing to a state competition on March 8, 2008. State champions will advance to the National Finals, to take place on April 28-29, 2008 in Washington, DC.

Ian Jones, from the Center for Advanced Learning in Gresham, Oregon, was selected as the 2007 Oregon Poetry Out Loud champion and represented the state in the 2007 National Finals in Washington, DC last May.

Students who participate in the official Poetry Out Loud program may be eligible to compete in the state and National Finals in 2008. High school teachers who are interested in participating in Poetry Out Loud should know that the program requires less than two or three weeks of class time.

High schools that wish to be part of the official Poetry Out Loud program must contact the Oregon Arts Commission to participate. Contact Vicki Poppen, Arts Education Coordinator at 503-986-0085.

Applications are available online at: http://www.oregonartscommission.org or may be requested from the Arts Commission office, 503-986-0082.

SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT FUND (SIF) GRANT APPLICATIONS DUE OCTOBER 12

In June 2007, the Legislative Assembly adopted Senate Bill 318 and appropriated $260 million for the 2007-09 biennium for a School Improvement Fund (SIF) independent of the State School Fund.

SIF Grant Applications for school districts, education service districts, and Youth Corrections and Juvenile Detention education programs are posted on the ODE website at http://www.ode.state.or.us/search/results/?id=127. Grant Applications are due on or before October 12, 2007.

Contacts:
Julie Anderson--julie.anderson@state.or.us, 503-947-5613
Helen Maguire--helen.maguire@state.or.us, 503-947-5877
Michael Wiltfong--michael.wiltfong@state.or.us, 503-947-5914
Steve Woodcock--steve.woodcock@state.or.us, 503-947-5797

GO GREEN THIS FALL AND WIN A FREE SOLAR SYSTEM!

This fall, you can raise funds for your school, increase energy conservation awareness in your community, and compete to win a free solar electric system valued at $15,000. When your school participates in the Change a Light, Change the World Fundraiser, you have a chance to go solar with a Solar 4R Schools contest. This valuable learning tool is made available through Energy Trust of Oregon in cooperation with Bonneville Environmental Foundation.

Change a Light, Change the World is an outstanding opportunity for your school to raise money while educating students and community members on the benefits of energy efficiency. Simply sign up to sell energy efficient ENERGY STAR® compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs), and your school keeps 50% of the profit—there are no up-front costs to your school.

Sign up today! This remarkable prize includes a one-kilowatt solar electric system with data monitoring, weather station, renewable energy curriculum, teacher training and more—and only the first 30 schools to register are entered into the contest. For more details, contact Julie VanDyne. NOTE: Only schools served by Pacific Power and Portland General Electric are eligible to participate.

FREE TEXTBOOKS

Get Free 2005-2006 Oregon Blue Books to use as textbooks in your classroom. Hurry, supply is limited. 20 books per case, free to teachers.

You only have to pay the UPS shipping charges - $16.00 per case. If you would like to save the shipping charges by driving to the State Archives Building to pick up your books, you can do that.

For more information, contact Julie Yamaka, State Archives for more information (503) 378-5199.

4. What you can find on the Oregon Department of Education website

This weekly item highlights various features found on the Oregon Department of Education website.

Did you know the 2007-08 Oregon School Directory is now available on the ODE website? The School Directory is a phone book listing phone numbers, addresses and key staff people in all public schools and districts in the state, along with additional information about private schools and other educational institutions. It also provides some statistics on the number and composition of Oregon schools and contacts for staff within the Oregon Department of Education.

The hard copy version will be available by the end of September. Order forms for the hard copy directories are also available on the web. Hard copy directories cost $12 each.

5. Susan’s Schedule

Week of September 17th – Susan Castillo attended the Harvard state team planning session; participated in a Portland Public Schools calendar photo shoot, and attended the State Board of Education monthly meeting in Salem.

Week of September 24th – Susan will attend a Professional Educators Advisory Team (PEAT) meeting, the Oregon Diploma Implementation Taskforce Meeting, and attend the Business Advisory Team (BAT) meeting.

o For scheduling inquires, please visit our website at: http://www.ode.state.or.us/search/page/?=848

o Please forward this UPDATE to others who might find it of interest.

If you would like to be added to this list or if you would like to unsubscribe, please email Public Affairs Manager Jennifer Williamson: jennifer.williamson@state.or.us eMail

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