Uncategorized

Salem-Keizer School Board considers next budget, recognizing June as Pride Month

The Salem-Keizer School Board on Tuesday will adopt the school district’s budget for the 2022-23 fiscal year, which starts July 1 and consider a proclamation recognizing June as LGBTQ+ Pride Month.

AGENDA

The board will hold a hearing on the budget with public testimony before adopting it. Board members can either adopt the budget as approved by the budget committee or make adjustments.

The $1.4 billion draft budget showed school district leaders want to add more teachers to the district’s programs serving non-native English speakers and shift more educators to address student behavioral problems. The proposed budget largely maintains current district services and staffing despite a projected decline in student enrollment.

The board also will consider a proclamation recognizing June as LGBTQ+ Pride Month. The proclamation was written by a group of Salem-Keizer students and staff with community feedback.

“The intent with this proclamation was to capture a sense of celebration that also shows clear and positive support of the LGBTQ+ K-12 students and staff in the district,” according to a district report.

Board members will consider appointing two student advisers to the school board. Previously, the board each year has appointed one student as a non-voting member. Two students, Raylin Brennan and Isaac McDonald, applied for the position for the 2022-23 school year. To serve on the board, students must have one year of experience on the district-led student equity committee or student advisory committee.

The board will also consider extending a contract with Valley Inquiry Charter School by five years. The Salem school is expanding. It added sixth grade students this year with plans to expand to seventh grade next year and eighth grade in the 2023-24 school year.

The expansion includes infrastructure upgrades that require a $1 million loan. “The loaning agent has requested a reasonable level of assurance that (Valley Inquiry) will be in operation through the duration of the loan,” according to a district report.

To participate: The meeting begins at 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 14 and will be held online only. View the meeting live on YouTube using the links below.

English: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfYe57I50rs

Spanish: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=du-OjI4fUXM&ab_channel=CapitalCommunityMedia

The meeting will also be broadcast on CC:Media, channel 21.

-Ardeshir Tabrizian