February 2016
Hermiston School District continues to face higher than expected enrollment growth. The current yearly growth rate of 3.71% is nearly twice that expected by the Portland State University study and almost 4 times the 0.97% average growth rate across the State. This accelerated growth impacts all schools, but is most apparent at Hermiston High School with graduating classes of about 300 being replaced with incoming freshmen classes topping 400. To address this surge, HSD will place six modular classrooms at HHS next month. Read on for more. Also included you will find information about our move of Outdoor School to Camp Meadowood Springs, along with our school calendar for the 2016-17 school year.
These monthly messages are intended to keep key stakeholders informed about the happenings in Hermiston School District and to provide an opportunity to give the district timely feedback about its initiatives. If you have suggestions for other topics you believe should be addressed in a future Key Communicators message, please let us know!
With regards,
Dr. Fred Maiocco
Superintendent of Schools
Enrollment Growth: According to a 2015-16 student enrollment report released by the Oregon Department of Education, Hermiston School District is the second fastest growing district in the State of Oregon when compared to comprehensive school districts of similar size. HSD is the 29th largest district in the state, of 212 educational districts and institutions, with a fall 2015 membership enrollment cresting 5,500 students.
After the Labor Day holiday last fall, HSD had grown by 213 students, relative to the same date the previous year. By October, Hermiston grew by 3.71 percent, almost double the number Portland State University study predicted and significantly more than the state average of 0.97 percent. For more information on the district projected growth and the PSU population study, visit the HSD web site and the Facilities Planning reports.
The 2015-16 enrollment details are available on the ODE web site.
“The district currently utilizes 24 modular classrooms to accommodate recent student growth; this is four more than were being utilized prior to our last bond measure,” according to Deputy Superintendent Wade Smith. “If we continue at this pace, we will need a total of 81 portable classrooms in the next eight years, where over 1600 students will be housed. Although portables are appropriate for short-term enrollment surges, they are not efficient nor cost effective to address long-term community needs.”
Modular Update: To address the growth at Hermiston High School, the district will set three, two-classroom modular buildings at Hermiston High School over Spring Break, in March, to accommodate student growth needs. In an effort to minimize parking impacts, bus access, and student safety concerns, the six temporary classrooms will be placed along the north side of the median between the front HHS parking lot and the Weber Field parking lot. The buildings are expected to impact 21 parking spaces in the Weber lot.
The eight bus routes that historically utilized this location will be assigned to the current bus loop in front of the school. To accommodate the additional traffic in the bus loop, traffic patterns within the lots will be rerouted to ensure student safety and accommodate added vehicles. All buses will enter in the northern First St. entrance and exit out the southern First St. driveway. The district asks parents dropping off students to enter from Highland Ave. and either drop students off in front of the school (exiting out the southern First St. exit) or on the southern side of the high school along Highland Ave. (exiting out the western Highland Ave. exit).
Concurrent with the traffic flow changes, parking spaces will be formally identified for students and staff. Students may park in the Weber Field lot, the southern lot in front of the building, and along Highland Ave. The northern lot in front of the school will be staff only parking, by permit adhered to the window. Consolidation of staff to this lot is best conducive to the bus schedule, as staff arrive before and leave after the bus traffic.
“The district is experiencing record student growth, and modular facilities are necessary to accommodate the added students,” said Executive Director of Operations Mike Kay. “We realize the impact the buildings will have on parking, and appreciate the patience and flexibility of our students, staff and community.”
HSD chose to set the modular buildings in March, rather than during summer break, to avoid additional construction impacts on high school graduation, as well as Umatilla County Fair and Farm City Pro Rodeo.
Relocation of Outdoor School: Hermiston School District’s Outdoor School Program will move to Camp Meadowood Springs this year, which is in the Blue Mountains just outside of Weston, Ore. In previous years, HSD partnered with neighboring districts and Intermountain Education Service District to hold ODS at Kiwanis Cabins, up the north fork of the John Day River.
Outdoor School provides a free overnight experience for all fifth grade students, many of whom would not otherwise have this type of opportunity. Each elementary school experiences a three-day, two-night stay during the month of May. Approximately 10 high school students are selected as counselors to accompany each of the five elementary schools, to be positive role-models and utilize leadership skills working with teachers and students. Through ODS students increase their understanding of science concepts like natural resources; the geography of Oregon and the Umatilla National Forest; protection of natural resources; and environmental sustainability, conservation and restoration, using a hands-on approach that is both creative and scientific.
Community and district support is overwhelming for the Outdoor School Program. From the City of Hermiston to Kiwanis and many local volunteers, the community fully embraces the program and recognizes the importance of this experience for all students. All five of the district’s elementary school parent/teacher organizations have shown support through donations made over the last two years.
The local Kiwanis Club has been a long time community partner and supporter of the program. Kiwanis provides volunteer assistance for standardized duties, transports equipment and supplies from Hermiston to the ODS site, replenishes wood at the fire pit and mess hall, assists with meal preparation and clean-up, supervises and assists as a visible presence, cleans cabins and the site, and assists with other duties as necessary to make the Outdoor School experience a success for students and staff.
The City of Hermiston has generously provided support by providing recreational equipment such as kayaks, canoes, inflatable water equipment, bicycles, fly fishing equipment, archery equipment, and staff time to support the use of equipment and transportation of equipment to the site.
2016-17 School Calendar: The calendar for next school year was approved by the Board of Education at its January 25, 2016, special meeting.
Next year’s school calendar, termed a Monday Regular Start, includes a Monday, August 29, 2016, start date, with the last day for students being June 7, 2017. Graduation will be Saturday, June 3, 2017. The district will observe winter break from December 21, 2016, through January 2, 2017, and spring break will fall on March 27-31, 2017.
For the complete calendar, visit the Calendar page of this web site.