Public Notices & Agency Updates

For Immediate Release

March 31, 2015

Contact: Laura Conroy
503-257-1516
[email protected]
www.mesd.k12.or.us

MESD Board selects Superintendent Search Firm

(PORTLAND, OR) - The MESD Board has announced its' selection of Northwest Leadership Associates as the firm to guide MESD through a recruitment and hiring process for the new Superintendent. Northwest Leadership Associates has extensive experience working with Education Service Districts in Oregon and Washington. The search process begins this week with the search firm meeting with staff, board members, and component district personnel to compile a candidate profile. Information and details about the search process and timeline will be provided when finalized.

For Immediate Release

March 19, 2015

Contact: Laura Conroy
503-257-1516
[email protected]
www.mesd.k12.or.us

Update: Multnomah Education Service District announces Alpha HS Closure

(PORTLAND, OR)- The MESD announced yesterday that Alpha High School is closing. In response to questions about the decision to close, the district is releasing additional information in this update.

The ESD and its component district partners meet quarterly throughout the year in advisory councils. The councils identify and create programs to serve student populations. The programs are described in the Local Service Plan.

Each spring, the ESD and its component district partners review the plan. Then, the districts notify the ESD of the programs and services that the districts require to serve their students and the ESD prepares the appropriate staff and building resources to serve the students. When the number of students needing a particular program or service changes, the program is re-sized to fit the student population.

Alpha High School is an example of a program that the MESD and component districts created together to serve student needs. Alpha is designed to serve students that have been expelled from high school, and/or have other academic needs that cannot be provided by their home district. During the 2014-2015 school year, 100 students were enrolled at Alpha. The majority of students, 80%, are referred from the Gresham-Barlow school district, and the remaining 20% are referred by other partner districts.

Earlier this year, Gresham-Barlow school district notified MESD that it would not need the services offered by Alpha due largely to the district's successful efforts to mitigate expulsion rates. Students that experience other academic needs will be enrolled in another Gresham-Barlow School District learning option.

Due to the decline in enrollment, Alpha High School is closing and the ESD and component district partners are working cooperatively with districts to re-size the program and develop options for students to attend school and receive services. The ESD expects to have details about options in late March.

It is understandable that parents and students have questions about where students will attend school in the 2015-2016 school year. The decision of where to refer students belongs to the individual districts. Students and parents are encouraged to contact their individual district for information about 2015-2016 options.

For Immediate Release

MARCH 18, 2015

Contact: Laura Conroy
503-257-1516
[email protected]
www.mesd.k12.or.us

MESD announces Alpha HS closure

(PORTLAND, OR) - MESD announced today, the closing of Alpha High School at the end of this school year due to declining enrollment.

Alpha Highschool is an accredited highschool which primarily serves students that have been expelled from MESDs component district partners. The greatest number of students attending Alpha, are referred from the Gresham-Barlow School District. Thanks in part to Gresham-Barlow School District's efforts to mitigate expulsion rates, Alpha has experienced declining enrollment, and is being closed.

Alpha teachers and staff are committed to student success, and classes will continue without interruption, through the end of the school year. Graduation ceremonies will be held on June 4th at Mount Hood Community College as scheduled

MESD and its component partners are exploring service options for students that are referred from other districts. Details will be communicated directly to students and families by district staff.

MESD is committed to serving students in cooperation with its' component districts and will continue to work closely with our component district partners to ensure that students receive the support they need to be successful.

For Immediate Release

March 17, 2015

Contact: Laura Conroy
503.257.1516
[email protected]
www.mesd.k12.or.us

MESD announces search for new Superintendent (March 17, 2015)

PORTLAND, Oregon – Multnomah ESD Board of Directors announced today that it is parting ways with Superintendent Barbara Jorgensen and is beginning the search for a new Superintendent immediately. “The Board thanks her for her services, and wishes her well in her future endeavors,” Board Chair Bernie Giusto said after the Board made the announcement. The Board hopes to have a new Superintendent in place by July 1.

The Board appointed Jim Rose, Multnomah ESD’s Chief Operating Officer and Director of Technology as interim Superintendent. Rose has served as Chief Operating Officer for three years, as Director of Technology Services for eight years, and is well respected by the board, staff, component districts and partners. Rose has stated that he will not seek the Superintendent’s position.

The district is developing its’ search process now, and will place information about the process on the district’s website. In a new Superintendent, Giusto said the Board will look for someone focused on “moving the district forward, providing for the community and helping students succeed.”

For Immediate Release

March 17, 2015

Media Contact: Laura Conroy
Public Information Officer
[email protected]
503.257.1516

MESD and MESDEA reach tentative agreement on new contract

Portland, Oregon - Multnomah ESD and the MESD Education Association have reached an agreement on a new contract with the assistance of a state mediator. Teams worked for over 10 hours Monday night, with MESDEA bargaining leader, Scott Sievertson, signing a tentative agreement at 11:39pm. Terms of the agreement are not yet available as the agreement must be approved by the association and district board.

District and union teams hunkered down in the Ainsworth building for three mediation sessions for over 30 hours. The teams appointed envoys, which met in mini-sessions with the state mediator, to exchange proposals and information. The envoys then met with their respective teams in separate caucus rooms.

The agreement means the teams have found a way to address major issues that had stymied progress for months, including salary schedules that would support both the recruitment of highly skilled new staff and the retention of experienced long-term staff.

"After ten months of difficult negotiations and hard work by both sides, I am very pleased that MESD and MESDEA have reached an agreement for a new contract" said Chief Operating Officer Jim Rose.