Colleagues -

Across our region, there’s a lot of good work happening in our schools and programs right now. In this newsletter you’ll see students stepping up to lead school improvement efforts, educators supporting one another through mentorship, and teams building stronger pathways from school to meaningful careers. You’ll also see the steady, behind-the-scenes work of improving literacy instruction so every student can navigate the Information Age and access the high-wage careers of tomorrow.

Before getting to those stories, I want to share a quick update on something many of you care deeply about: Outdoor School.

Last year, the Oregon Legislature reduced Outdoor School funding by 20%. We were able to sustain the program this year primarily through reserve funds while we hoped for a legislative fix in 2026. With the legislative session now concluded and no solution in place, our Outdoor School leaders have been conducting listening sessions towards redesigning the student experience with significantly fewer resources.

That’s hard news. Outdoor School has long been a rite of passage for Oregon students, and this team has worked hard in recent years to make the experience more accessible — translating curriculum into multiple languages and supporting schools so more students can participate. 

Students from Orenco Elementary, supported by nurses, therapists, families, and adaptive equipment so they could fully participate. Photo courtesy of Hillsboro School District.

These funding reductions also put pressure on the progress we’ve made to professionalize Outdoor School educators by providing more stable employment and benefits.

At the same time, other parts of our system will continue moving forward with plans to hire for the year ahead. And regionally, we recently reached an important milestone: all 20 school boards in our region approved the new Local Service Plan, which guides how NWRESD partners with districts to deliver services and support students. We’re grateful for the collaboration and shared commitment that made that possible.

Taken together, these updates reflect the reality of our work: celebrating progress, navigating challenges, and continuing to show up for students and schools across our region.

Read the full Monthly Messenger. 

I hope the stories that follow leave you as encouraged as I am by the creativity, dedication, and heart behind this work -

Dan Goldman
Superintendent