NEWBERG SCHOOL DISTRICT|714 E. 6TH ST. NEWBERG, OREGON 97132|(503) 554-5000, August 8th @ 5:30 pm - School Board Executive Session & Regular Meeting. Have you ever looked at your childs search history? Editorials. to meet with Novotney and revive a sinking district. The school board members credited with this collapse are still in place. Three incumbents on the Newberg school board lost their seats in Tuesday's election, the end of an era in a district that's attracted national attention since 2021. Yates first considered running for school board last fall when his son entered kindergarten at Joan Austin Elementary. The N Word anyone? Meetings and Agendas Policies Programs and Services Student Success Act School Board Internal Staff Directory Strategic . email:phillipss@newberg.k12.or.us, Address: 714 E. Sixth St,NewbergOR 97132-3406 [The current school board] all say that the parents need a bill of rights! No one should parent our child but us! *angry mob voice* But what are you doing right now? We heartily support Nancy and her vision of a better, more diverse, school board that represents all of Newberg's students and treats everyone . Not Donald Trump. And they are not lining up to work here. The forum was also a reminder that three of the five candidates have children who attend Newberg public schools (or will), a distinct contrast to incumbents who have little stake in the district, because their children are homeschooled or attend private schools. When you have to explain to your white appearing children that there are people who think their cousins are less-than. This list may not include all school districts with elections in 2023. Published: May. During an interview with KGW TV, Brown had this to say about his two-year stint as board chairman: I feel like the Lords got a plan. One evening I was canvassing in a neighborhood. Teachers. The candidates forum on Saturday might have been Newbergs hottest weekend ticket, as a standing-room only crowd listened to all ten candidates for the Newberg School Board share their vision for the district. In this election I can only control my actions. Digging in, even though the board knew the ban was illegal. Or call employers, trying to get critics fired. They are a better choice to rebuild our school community. We need to acknowledge this reality, and mourn with those who mourn, providing the empathy and support they need to heal from this trauma. Then one of them moved to the front row of the audience section, just a few seats away from Jose. Results from the Yamhill County elections office are as follows: Superintendent: Dr. Stephen Phillips Newberg School Board Candidate James Wolfer has made false claims about his past work as a Tribal Police Officer in Grand Ronde, Oregon, as public records show. Two of those candidates, Stefani Carlson and Dawn Depner, are incumbents who were losing to Kelly Oliver and Mark Bigej, respectively. In Canby, three candidates who ran together calling for the removal of sexually explicit and vulgar material in libraries appear to be losing their races. Where are the metrics for superintendent excellence, transparency, and accountability? School Board members are elected to a four-year term. Every song, the scripture reading, and the message that was shared seemed to be just for me. Elizabeth Miller / OPB Several. July 8, 2023 If You Want Unity, Please Act Like It. 50% Off Unlimited Digital Access. . May 16th, 2023 Special Election Candidate Filings for the May 16, 2023 Special District Election List of candidate filings for the May 16, 2023 Special District Election updated throughout the filing period. ReddIt. Calling it propaganda might seem too harsh, certainly, but given the fear-mongering, that word fits. Ringing a doorbell? School board races are technically nonpartisan. Oh, and also, only the incumbents can save our schools from the devil him and herself, according to the material being sent to voters. Please keep in mind that the school district is subject to Public Records laws. Until then, its important for us to pay attention, for the sake of Newbergs children. What you dont hear in the recording on YouTube is the vitriol that erupted from audience members when Jose shared his pronouns. Instead, often under the umbrella of parents rights, conservative candidates have pushed national talking points like access to books related to the LGBTQ+ experience, parental input on public school curriculum, or other issues that parents deem unsuitable for public schools. Except weve shown time and again over the last few months how easily it is to disprove this narrative, with data, with the boards own words and actions, with the stories of those directly impacted by the boards poor decision making. For a rural school district in Central Oregon, it was a relatively expensive race. 2023 - 5:30pm. Phone: (503) 554-5000, Fax: (503) 538-4374. But dont take our word for it. He was appalled at what he saw when he come to Newberg and saw some of the things that were happening. Newberg School District Board positions on the May 16, 2023ballot are: Please consult the board zone map and/or written zone descriptions. Do the actions of these people reflect a characteristic of collaboration, respect, or the intent to find peaceful ways to find unity? And, given the superintendents tight relationship with the current board, it could be that hell receive a lucrative salary increaseone that will take more money from the classroom. We saw some community and business leaders step up to provide resources that allowed candidates to focus on campaigning. Or take to social media to make spurious claims. While CPRD elections are frequently ignored by most voters, they shouldn't be. Elected in May 2021 - Term expires 6/30/25 Newberg-Dundee voters are fortunate to have five competent candidates committed to moving the school district forward with the utmost transparency, integrity and accountability. For the incumbents who insisted they were getting back to basics, and taking politics out of schools, though, the last few weeks have shown that the election is less about children and schools, and more about using fear-mongering rhetoric to convince voters that only the Save Our Schools candidates can save children from indoctrination, having abortions, gender reassignment surgeries, and fentanyl use. Grief for parents who worried about their childrens well-being, about their safety and security. Edgerly, in particular, has advocated against these kinds of materials for months. Community member Judy Tokstad shares public comment during a Newberg school board meeting Sept. 13, 2022. Office hours: 8:00 am - 4:00 pm Monday-Friday Building doors are locked at this time, please ring doorbell for entrance. This is actually a better scenario than the alternative: that the board and Phillips knowingly created a contract with enough extras added to make him one of the highest paid superintendents in the state. Office hours: 8:00 am - 4:00 pm Monday-Friday Building doors are locked at this time, please ring doorbell for entrance. Melinda Van Bossuyt, the boards longest serving member at 18 years, is running unopposed in Zone 3, while newcomers Mindy Allison and Jennifer Fisher will vie to replace Mitsi Vondrachek, who is stepping down after 16 years representing Zone 6. She added that she is proud of how the board has worked to address the graduation rate at Newberg High School in the last term. Comments will be read in the order they are received. In her time volunteering in the schools, she has been impressed with the caring and dedication of the teachers, but has also witnessed how regulations can make their jobs harder. Uh, extremely professional lifetime career person. The filing deadline for school board seats, including five in Newberg, is Thursday, March 16. Please give them your vote on May 16. Applause was given by most of the audience for each of the remaining seven speakers. As of 8 p.m. Tuesday, voters are rejecting recall efforts against board chair Dave Brown and. Newberg school board members at odds. Newberg Graphic, July 17, 2021, Debate over antiracism resolution in Newberg the latest in series of school board culture battles. Oregon Live, Aug. 4, 2021, Despite calls to hear from students and staff, Newberg school board approves ban on Pride and Black Lives Matter flags. OPB Aug. 11, 2021, Oregon school board votes to ban Black Lives Matter, Pride signs from district buildings. NBC News, Aug.12, 2021, Dozens in Newberg rally against hate amid ban on political signs. KGW, Sept. 22, 2021. Still, the out-going board made sure to add one final chapter to their work, using a June meeting consent agenda to pass a sweetheart of a contract for Superintendent Steve Phillips. Now, Brown and his cronies can wipe their hands of the dirt and walk away, and everyone else will need to spend years cleaning up the damage. Dr. Novotney came in, did a great job for us. That there are grown-ups that see their cousins and automatically think a certain way. Our teachers and schools are not in the business of indoctrination, they are in the business of providing an education that will prepare students for the global workforce. School board zone map and written descriptions are available online: https://bit.ly/3MULBka For questions contact Tabitha Renne at 503-554-5041. Trevor DeHart Bigej appeared to be defeating Depner 63% to 37% and Oliver was defeating Carlson 56% to 44%. Right now, the Newberg School Board has failed to follow professional standards. The principal has no idea and railroads over communication in avoidance. Dont tell me that you got your 8 year old a phone and then in the same sentence say that some random people running for school board are inadvertently grooming your child. Tue, January 18th 2022, 2:18 PM PST. However, I am constantly pushing that we cant let any of the kids fall through the cracks. It could be that Phillips has saved our district from ruin, and deserves a raise. In the meantime, the current board has made several decisions that could have significant impact on the district long after the new board is sworn in. My reply is I have no idea, but I do know that the community is very split regarding who they want to be elected. Deb Bridges, Jeremy Hayden, Nancy Woodward, James Wolfer and Sol Allen have earned the respect and endorsement of parents, teachers, business leaders and the community. It is possible that Philips is doing a good job with the district, but without any metrics or rubrics to show how he was evaluated, were just supposed to believe the boards affirmations. Talk to others around you. Running for the Newberg school board has given me the opportunity to meet many residents who live in the school district. We will only find unity when people come together in good faith to discuss issues and concerns without fear of being retaliated against. Superintendent: Dr. Stephen Phillips School board zone map and written descriptions are available online: For questions contact Tabitha Renne at 503-554-5041. Hawblitzel will be opposed by Jason Yates, who challenged Suzanne Bonamici for her congressional seat in 2014. This included the prohibition of clapping and other verbal displays of approbation or disapproval, making the event far more civil than even recent school board meetings. Kudos go to the Chehalem Valley Chamber of Commerce, the Newberg City Club, and the George Fox University Civility Project for hosting the event. The new board definitely has their work cut out for them. Elected in May 2023- Term expires 6/30/27, Sol Allen And, based on those affirmations, Phillips is allegedly receiving a much more lucrative contractwe say allegedly, because no one has seen the specifics of the contract. According to board directors, nothing is the boards fault, and earlier leadership, from the board to the district office, can be blamed for the current state of Newberg schools. When someone shows you who they are, believe them. More LOCAL to Love. (Were. We reached out to many of the writers, asking if we could republish their words. They areuhone was fired, Dr. Morelock. By Carey Martell April 16, 2023 0 4686 - Advertisement - Emails show Edgerly, who serves on the local library board, pressured District Superintendent Sara Johnson to remove books and abandon other programs discussing queer people. Five candidates with a vested interest in our public schools and a laser focus on kids achieving a high-quality education are on the ballot. By visiting this and other Yamhill County web pages, you expressly agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of the site. Newberg School District is a school district in Oregon . We remained as one of the men drove his car slowly past our group. Results will continue to come in over the next several days, but heres where things stood Wednesday afternoon. Address: 714 E. Sixth St, Newberg OR 97132-3406 Phone: (503) 554-5000, Fax: (503) 538-4374. As the election date draws near friends have asked me if I think I will win a seat to serve on the school board. All but one of the four races in the nearby North Clackamas School District were wide open with no incumbents running, which means new faces no matter who wins. Weve met one-on-one with this person, and were convicted by their passion, their rage, and their sadness. North Clackamas board meetings have been contentious and unsafe according to Benologa. Phillips will receive a cell phone plan of $4300/year as part of his benefits. In state and national politics when an election happens there is a majority and a minority party. That particular meeting began a cascading series of failures for the board: Firing a superintendent who told them their ban was illegal, and he would not support it. The contract was not made available until the board approved it, and there was no time for public comment about the substantial raise and increase in benefits Phillips will receive. While Brown and other incumbents want voters to believe Novotney was appalled by what Morelock had done to the district, Morelocks hiring at WESD suggests Novotney trusts Morelocks ability to run a complex educational program overseeing 21 school districts. Heres the thing. It could also be that the terms of his contract will make Phillips harder to replace, if future boards use appropriate evaluation tools to see whether his leadership truly is as outstanding as Director Dave Brown says. We want every student in the Newberg School District to receive a high-quality education, and know that the current school board is unable to deliver the education families in Newberg deserve. Instead, Morelocks ascendancy to this new role serves as a stunning reminder of the talent Newberg lost when its school board decided to fire Morelock, without cause or even a plan, sending the district into chaos. Rumor is, the contract will be extended for three years. Public comments are scheduled for regular session board meetings only. Transparency and accountability matter. They just arent. The writers pain is clearly evident in this story, becauselike all of usthis person wants what is best for their children, and knows that the current board is not serving anyone or anything save for their own dogma. The presence of LGBTQ people and material has come under scrutiny in Crook County in the past year, similar to efforts in other parts of the country. There are many parents who are Parents for Change including myself. Stop it. We wanted to call attention to several board decisions, encouraging people to show up for the June 13 meeting, make public comments if possible, and hold the current board accountable for their actionsactions that will potentially hamper the newly-elected board directors, and that have the potential to continue harming children and educators in this district. Candidate filing period February 4, 2023 - March 16, 2023 at 5 p.m. 5 Director Positions At-Large TBD ORS 478.210, Evidence Based Decision Making Initiative (EBDMI), Local Public Safety Coordinating Council (LPSCC), Oregon Government Ethics Commission Information, McMinnville Fire District Candidate Information. Hard stop. Yet he seems unwilling to hold himself to the same standard. So there were tears on Tuesday night into Wednesday: of joy, and anger, and pain. 503-476-2636, Deb Bridges We just needed to believe Brown about that, because we have no other basis for understanding how Phillips landed such a lucrative contract. I said to the boy that he must have friends who live here. Never mind that at least 197 educators left the district because of the hostile work environment created by this board, nor that Phillips got to handpick his staff because almost all district office employees left for other schools. 714 East 6th St A few of the commenters recited verses from the Bible to prove their points. Time is set aside at the business meeting for public comment. Two years ago, Shannon argued that policies should not be changed ahead of a new board being sworn in, but now is eager to take a different tact. Newcomer Mindy Allison will replace veteran board member Mitsi Vondrachek, who is retiring after 16 years of service. The pay and the fringe benefits seem excessive in multiple ways. The filing period with the Yamhill County Clerk is February 4 through March 16, 2023. It looks like previously unused vacation rolled over, but were not eligible for payout. The violent rhetoric, polished with a veneer of self-righteous piety, suggests that the board cared little for the people whose lives they wreaked: not the children, who became pawns in a cultural war; nor the parents, many of whom were silenced by a board rallying for parents rights; not for educators, whose longtime commitment to this community was rewarded with specious claims about indoctrination; not for LGBTQIA people and people of color in our community, who were specifically and repeatedly targeted by the boards decisions and its rhetoric. Not the local child-less blogger/fear monger. A Newberg school board meeting on Sept. 13, 2022. According to results last updated Wednesday morning, James Wolfer, a Sherwood school resource officer, was defeating Brown 54% to 46%. The fate of Newbergs future is now only five days away. Acting as though the last two years never happened will be difficultimpossible, reallyand the damage wrought by the boards bricks will linger. By all metrics, this is not true: the district has lost educators and students and money since Phillips arrived; an entire district office staff left because of toxic work environments; policies and decisions have been made without any community input. A few of the school board members came out to show their support for the band as well. The new discipline policy is not coming from the fact that our children are any worse than any other kids in any other generation. The first letter is written by Judy Tokstad, grandparent and educational guardian of two NSD students. Having a strong school district will require that we continue the good work weve started; the damage thats been done will not be repaired overnight, nor will our wounds be easily healed. The board's main job is to establish District policy. Elected in May 2023 - Term expires 6/30/27, Jeremy Hayden According to early results from Tuesdays election, the five candidates running to continue that majority appeared to be losing. Business meetings and work sessions are held at the Newberg School District Office, 714 East 6th Street, Newberg, Oregon. email:phillipss@newberg.k12.or.us, Address: 714 E. Sixth St,NewbergOR 97132-3406 NEWBERG, Ore. A handful of ballots are still being counted and the results won't be officially certified until Feb. 14, but the two lead members of the Newberg School Board are safely on. The WESD announcement this week suggests an alternative narrative: that Morelocks firing was one part of a cascade of failures that can only be righted when Brown and his co-conspirators lose their positions on May 16. Director Zone 7 And theres still time to make a difference! The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. 2007 was also the first election for Zone 7 incumbent Debbie Hawblitzel, who was first appointed to the board in 2005 before defeating Michael Richter in 2007 and running unopposed in 2011. If we understand correctly, though, passing Phillips contract in the consent agenda was illegal. Issues are discussed in black and white, right and wrong. Judging by the candidates forum, Phillips was literally Gods gift to Newberg. If the incumbent candidates want to get politics out of school, they might start by calling out the harmful rhetoric of the Yamhill Advocate. Office hours: 8:00 am - 4:00 pm Monday-Friday Building doors are locked at this time, please ring doorbell for entrance. That no-cause firing has cost the district hundreds of thousands of dollars, but it was necessary, the board says, because Morelock was so bad. Teach them. Director Zone 1 Not the governor. Note the early start time of 5:30 p.m. You can also submit a comment online at publiccomment@newberg.k12.or.us by Monday at 4 p.m. Community involvement is the hallmark of those who want to make a positive difference. Vote for a candidate because you, the voter, think that candidate will best represent your views and best serve the needs of the students in our community. Teachers are. Results have gone the opposite direction in Crook County, where a slate of three far-right candidates easily defeated incumbents to take a controlling share of the board. One would hope that the Yamhill Advocate flyer might be a bridge too far, given its baldly immature graphics literally demonizing members of our community by photoshopping devils horns on their heads. I have contemplated that there needs to be consideration of the middle ground. Phillips and the old board seem to be adding language that will protect him financially, even if hes fired. In addition to volunteering at Chehalem Valley Middle School, she has served on the district budget committee since 2013 and been treasurer for the CVMS parent group since 2014. Sexual harassment? Never mind that the Newberg school district already has at least two dozen pages ofpolicy regarding parental involvement, something Zone 4 Candidate Nancy Woodward pointed out in her comments. A Guide to Oregon School Board Candidates, August 8th @ 5:30 pm - School Board Executive Session & Regular Meeting. The boy left to run back up the street and as I walked out to the sidewalk, I saw his mother waiting for him to come back. If Brown was throwing a brick, it was through the classroom windows of every school in our district, and the shrapnel caused irreparable damage to children and educators alike. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated 4/4/2023), Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 7/1/2023). Some of them have actually been rewarded for their behavior. We saw grit and determination in our educators, who continued to show up for children, in our district and elsewhere. He runs Willamette ESD, which is in charge of 22 school districts. If you want your thoughts made public about Phillips contract, considering making a public comment at the next school board meeting, which is July 11. Another hallmark of those who support these efforts is witnessed when people with opposite opinions get together for a good faith conversation. In a press release, Novotney said Dr. I try to read the signs as I am driving around and the one that truly stands out is the sign reading Dave Brown as the parents choice for the school board. Stop it. Family members sat on lawn chairs scattered on the lawn outside of the district office. But people in Newberg are paying attention; they see what happens when someone critiques the current school board: a subset of board backers write defaming exposs, based on a whiff of a rumor. Newberg Public Schools. I said, Your parents didnt want the information? The boy said. We felt supported. Newberg Neighbors for a Better School Board, What Can Happen (When Youre not PayingAttention), My opinion: The idea of all or nothing representation needs toend, On Propaganda, Fear Mongering and MisleadingMailers. Conservative school board candidates losing in Newberg and North Clackamas, leading in Crook County By Elizabeth Miller (OPB) and Joni Auden Land (OPB) May 17, 2023 2:33 p.m.. A campaign to segregate queer childrens books at the local library in December failed. February 20, 2023 0 2776 - Advertisement - Oregon Democrats are once again targeting children as a means of securing single-party rule in Oregon. The Newberg School Board usually meets at 7:00 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month. Candidate statements for the voter's pamphlet are due March 20, 2023. And still, the event clearly showed whats at stake in this election. Weve heard this before. Several years ago, the boards personnel committee did a survey of surrounding districts, and discovered that Newberg was at the bottom of the pay scale for superintendents. I want all registered voters to vote. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Crook County for Better Education was managed and financially backed by Bryan Iverson, a political consultant and husband to Oregon House Minority Leader Vikki Breese-Iverson. Twitter. . By Carey Martell March 25, 2023 2 5927 - Advertisement - As I reflected on this experience I felt sad, not because I was called bad, but because I fear it is a reflection of how in our community people are labeled good or bad as a person rather than accepting that good people can have different opinions. My reaction was that I need to defend myself and set the record straight. It opened up honest conversations in our home about being an ally, about why places have to proclaim their stance against racism still today, and why we need to continue the fight. The filing period with the Yamhill County Clerk is February 4 through March 16, 2023. Encouraging the board to reflect on their work, Jose reminded them that their actions excluded many of the students in the district. Rather, hes happy to just use the Facebook page hes created and might post a yard sign or two. Sixty people participated on Zoom for the first meeting in April, and then around 30 people participated in the second meeting on May 1, either in person or on Zoom. If you disagree with a candidates opinion, please dont label any candidate bad. Three incumbents are in that group including school board chair Dave Brown, who survived a recall attempt last year. The new school board can, of course, reverse the policy. That could potentially add another. Director Zone 5 This past weekend I felt rather low after some campaign literature was sent that I considered quite offensive. I think our community can be stronger. Nearly two years later, the Newberg School District faces sinking test scores, a declining graduation rate, falling enrollment and a divided community. And so began the agonizing months of news headlines and media stories that devastated the reputation of our public schools and sowed division in our community. All those roles have helped her get to know the community and know she feels ready to step up to a new level. On Tuesday, Phillips newly-crafted contract will be approved. I believe in the inherent good of each person. Partial results as of 8 p.m. showed incumbent Stefani Carlson trailed retired educator Kelly Oliver in the race for Position 6 with 43% to 57% of the vote, incumbent Dawn Depner trailing business. During this outburst from the audience, a woman in front of me leaned over to the man next to her, encouraging him to not let his emotions show.. 0. parents, moving secondary school schedules to trimesters, and changing start times to earlier for all ages. How come a school in the district still has 4th and 5th grades combined and 2 1/2 teachers between them?