‘Quality education’ delivered despite COVID-19 disruption, Pleasant Hill budget committee told

By DEAN REA/Correspondent/Pleasant Hill — Despite a year interrupted by social distancing, masking and hybrid learning, Pleasant Hill educators and staff members have found ways to “deliver a quality education” during the COVID-19 pandemic, Supt. Scott Linenberger told Pleasant Hill school budget committee members Monday night.

His remarks prefaced discussion of a 2021-22 general fund budget of $15,149.390, which is 2.12 percent higher than for the current budget year.

“Keeping with these changes, we could not always spend our budgeted funds in the way we had originally expected,” Linenberger said. “Although educating during Covid has challenged us all, there is a positive side as well.”

He noted that the district was provided federal and state funding “to help us navigate quickly through the many required changes. Several of these grants have benefitted our district by helping us meet the new software and hardware needs involved in offering comprehensive distance and/or hybrid education options.”

The superintendent explained that every student now has a Chromebook. The funds also financed ionization to the classroom ventilation system and provided cleaner surfaces, air and water throughout the district.

The district anticipates major—and expensive —adoptions in the next few years in language arts, math and science, he said. Other expenditures are anticipated to replace heating and cooling units and to reroof some of the district’s large buildings. As much as $500 is included in the proposed budget for curricular and for building expenses.

In preparation for next school year, we are creating a new special education classroom to better serve our special needs students,” Linenberger said. “It is our goal to retain these students in the least restrictive environment, and this addition will allow us to bring back some of our students currently being served outside of our district.”

A literacy-facilitating teacher and counselor will be added to the elementary school staff and five educational assistants will be added throughout the district financed through a special account, he said.

“With our Elementary and Secondary School Emergency funds, we are planning to add multiple positions to our staff for the upcoming school year.  Our part-time health clerk and nurse supervisor positions will transition into a full-time registered nurse to support all students district-wide.

“We are also addressing the social-emotional learning challenges for students as we are seeing a greater need.”

Linenberger, who is in his fourth year as superintendent, said, “We are delighted that most students are now back in the classroom and hope the upcoming year continues to move us back together into the classrooms where we feel the delivery of education is most successful.”

Later, during the school board meeting, Linenberger said, “We are not cutting staff nor programs next year.”

A revised language arts program geared to student interests as well was described by English teachers Marietta Bonaventure and Madison Billings.

Budget committee members raised questions and invited those from the public to be addressed during the next budget meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, June 7.  Eric Geyer was selected to lead the committee, which includes school board members.

To view budget details, check the following website: https://www.pleasanthill.k12.or.us/shop/wpimages/2021-22-proposed-budget-doc-e-version.pdf