ONTARIO
The Ontario School Board of Directors on May 6 held an executive session to review a parent complaint and went into open session immediately afterwards to address the complaint in the open session.
The board addressed Kate and Ella Draper, who were brought back into the open session to hear the outcome.
Board Chairwoman Renae Corn asked the board whether they wanted to discuss the decision, to which board member Eric Evans said he did not and that the agreement was the board would return to open session to vote on the complaint and read an accompanying statement.
An initial motion made by board member Blanca Rodriguez to uphold the decision of Superintendent Nicole Albisu regarding Draperâs complaint; however, Evans said he would not agree to the motion unless it was amended to include reading a statement.
ONTARIO
Ontario School Board of Directors member Derrick Draper walked out in the middle of an executive session tonight, saying he was giving his resignation effective immediately. The board was meeting in-person in the board room.
The meeting was to go over the findings of an investigation with its lawyer per its notice to media on April 16 that the meeting was âunder ORS 192.660 (2) (f) to receive legal advice regarding the investigation report.â
After coming out into open session, board member Craig Geddes read a statement saying that the board acknowledged Draperâs resignation during the executive session, however stated that the board did not ask for nor expect his resignation, nor does not ask for nor expect the resignation of board member Eric Evans.
MALHEUR COUNTY
COVID-19 cases in Malheur County are low enough now that as of Friday, the county will go into the lowest risk category of four risk levels, ranging from âextreme riskâ to âlower risk,â as established by Gov. Kate Brown. This also moves the county out of a two-week caution period.
Malheur County has been in the âmoderate riskâ level since Feb. 26. Prior to that, the county had been in âextreme riskâ restrictions since Nov. 18, 2020; that was meant to be a two-week âpause,â however, Brown extended it indefinitely on Dec. 3.
Moving up and down in categories is based on new case counts and test positivity rate. For Malheur County, from March 21 to April 3, there were 15 new cases, and a 2.9% test positivity rate, according to data from the Oregon Health Authority.
ONTARIO
Ontario High School students who will be able to get to campus for in-person classes during the mornings of four school days for the final five weeks of the year will be able to do so starting on April 19. After listening to a presentation by OHS staff, hearing public comment which included student feedback, and discussing it amongst themselves, the Ontario School Board of Directors unanimously decided to go with a revised hybrid learning model, which will still offer comprehensive distance learning for those not ready or unable to get back to class.
At the top of the presentation, Melissa Williams, director of student services provided an overview of the new guidance from Oregon Department of Education, which is an 88-page document âmost of us have read many, many times.â She pointed out critical changes that were impacting them, including physical distancing requirements between cohorts and staff and students, transportation and meal services.