Siletz Valley School students, administrators and supporters plead with LCSD board to keep charter intact

By SHAYLA ESCUDERO/ Lincoln Chronicle

NEWPORT – The rhythm of drums carried over the Lincoln County School District parking lot from a circle of a dozen Siletz Valley School students sitting in red chairs.

Savannah VanDaam smoothed the rainbow of fabric on her ribbon skirt as she joined her classmates in a line, holding a sign that read “Preserve what we lost.”

VanDaam attended other Lincoln County schools before Siletz Valley School. She had felt out of touch with her culture. Her brother wanted to cut his long hair after being bullied by children who didn’t understand its cultural significance. That’s when her parents knew they needed to go to Siletz instead.

“This school has been most successful at bringing culture back to the kids and teaching our traditions,” VanDaam said.

But the school could close in June for not complying with its charter agreement with the district.

Equipped with signs, gifts and honor songs, Siletz Valley School students, teachers, board members, tribal leaders and Oregon State University staff pleaded to the Lincoln County School District’s board during a special meeting Tuesday to keep the school open.

Students and teachers argued that some state-mandated methods to measure academic success simply didn’t make sense for their students who faced systemic inequities and whose learning was deeply rooted in indigenous wisdom and real-world practicality rather than standardized testing.

But administrators and board members also said they have since met the requirements of the charter agreement and are committed to continued improvement.

Lincoln County school board members asked questions and thanked the supporters who packed the meeting room but indicated their April 14 decision on the school’s fate largely rested upon an audit by the Oregon School Boards Association.

What happened?

Siletz Valley School must show that they have addressed 12 areas of concern brought by the school district – everything from having a plan for English language learners to accurately reporting its finances.

Following a tumultuous turnover in Siletz leadership, superintendent Majalise Tolan sent a letter last July outlining her concerns with the school’s ability to meet its charter agreement. Another letter was sent in January, saying the district was still not confident in the school’s ability to make the necessary changes and meet standards. Since then, Siletz school leaders have given presentations about the strides they have made and contend they have now addressed the areas of concern.

Siletz superintendent Lenora Hall, who was hired last September, was placed on administrative leave last month so the district can investigate complaints against her. Principal Debra Barnes is the interim superintendent, and the school board is confident in her capabilities.

But, if Siletz Valley School does not meet the district’s requirements, including submitting documentation, attending mandated meetings and meeting imposed deadlines, their charter agreement could be terminated and force the closure of the school June 30.

The school district is relying on an outside perspective – an audit from the Oregon School Boards Association to help make a decision April 14.

A little over two weeks before that impending decision, the school district held a special meeting Tuesday evening to allow for public comment.

Addressing concerns

The smell of mint wafted in the air as dozens of teachers, students and community members packed the school district’s meeting room and spilled into the hallway. Gifts sat at the table, bundles of mint wrapped in twine, fresh lettuce from the school’s garden and salad dressing made by the school’s culinary program.

“We want to be clear – this process has been taken seriously at every level of our organization, our staff, board of directors and leadership team have worked diligently to not only correct identified concerns, but to strengthen the systems that support our school as a whole,” Barnes said. “We are pleased to share that those concerns have been addressed.”

Barnes said that the school now had an updated multilingual English learners plan, teacher licenses were in full compliance, Oregon Public Meetings laws were being followed, board bylaws were online, and there is a plan to address building maintenance issues.

The school board came prepared with questions. Board member Natalie Schaefer recused herself from the meeting because she is the executive director of Yakona Nature Preserve, which has a financial relationship with the Siletz tribe.

Board member Jason Malloy asked about the school’s reading and math scores, since data showed 73 percent of students are below state benchmark reading levels.

Barnes acknowledged that the scores were below the state’s benchmark, but said there has been year-over-year improvement, especially in reading.

To address their low attendance rates, staff are having weekly attendance meetings, created an incentive system and has shifted to positive reinforcement rather than shaming students for absences. The school is also working with multiple community partners, including the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians to address chronic absenteeism.

Malloy asked Barnes what changes had been made over the course of three years since the district’s initial charter report and the school continues to be noncompliant.

Barnes said she found out an audit had been conducted in 2022 but had never seen that report and didn’t know that the issues it raised were ongoing. The first time she heard about any compliance issues was when they received Tolan’s letter in July.

“I think I actually look at a lot of the things and say, ‘Thank you for bringing some of it to our attention’,” Barnes said.

“We’ve had a lot of leadership turnover, and we’ve had office staff turnover, and when that occurs at the same time, and board turnover all at the same time, you know some things are going to fall through because we don’t know what we don’t know.”

Advocating

After answering the board’s questions, students, teachers, parents and community members expressed their support for the school and how devastating a closure would be for the 188 students, 29 staff and 16 teachers.

Korey Cimock, the school’s lead secondary science teacher, has worked in the school for six years and during that time outlasted three superintendents, she told the board.

“This meeting is a result of mismanagement and poor leadership in our school,” Cimock said. “The students and staff sustained the backbone of success in academic skills and practices that support student growth beyond simple testing assessments.”

Cimock argued that assessments were a limited way to show student’s learning and achievement. She invited board members to come to school and to her classroom to better understand the learning taking place.

The school focuses on developing practical life skills, including financial literacy, college credit courses and learning indigenous biological perspectives. Students also volunteer and are active members in the community, making positive differences outside of their classrooms, she said.

“We all know in education, students are diverse, and so should our perspectives on how they should be assessed in their learning,” she said.

AJ Mallozzi, a program coordinator with Oregon State University works with a lot of schools across the state, and told the board the Siletz Valley School students are special.

“I can say that these are some of the smartest students I’ve ever met in my entire life,” Mallozzi said.

She held out several rolled-up posters that depicted student projects – building aquaponic systems and using trash in the environment to create resin beads. The students were working at a level as undergraduates in college, she said.

“We have become better at Oregon State University by understanding how indigenous science can be woven with those STEM topics and improving it,” Mallozzi said. “Through our work with them, we have been able to bring that to the work that we bring to the rest of the state. Our work with Siletz Valley School is making the entire state of Oregon better.”

Students told the board that cultural classes in drumming, canoe carving and indigenous language not only reconnected them with their culture but kept them excited to go to school, improving grades and attendance. Beyond learning, the school was also a place for inclusion and encouragement. Some students shared that Siletz Valley School was the only place where they felt safe and accepted.

Still, in the weeks leading up to the decision whether the school will close, students are trying to prepare for the worst, sophomore Chloe Thomson told the Lincoln Chronicle.

If the school were to close, students would be absorbed into Toledo, Newport and Lincoln City schools. Many would want to do school online or go to Newport schools, Thomson said, but that poses a challenge with transportation and accessibility.

What’s next?

After hearing testimony, the board laid out the next steps in the process.

The district has contracted with Oregon School Boards Association for a compliance evaluation that will be reviewed by board members individually. A copy of the audit would also be provided to Siletz Valley Schools.

The board will then make a decision April 14. If the charter agreement is revoked, the closure would take place June 30.

“You have so many positive things going through your school, and that passion and that creativity that you have is so readily apparent, that warrior pride is just real,” said board chair Peter Vince. “What’s going to happen for Siletz is going to happen because of you people making your school work. Whatever form it’s going to take.”

To read the Siletz Valley School’s response to the LCSD’s formal compliance issues, go here

• Shayla Escudero covers Lincoln County government, education, Newport, housing and social services for Lincoln Chronicle and can be reached at [email protected]