February 28, 2022 3:30 a.m.
The Roseburg School Board unanimously agreed to extend Superintendent Jared Cordon’s contract through June 30, 2025 during a meeting last week.
A release said during an evaluation on Wednesday, the Board of Directors reviewed district progress in areas such as COVID safety and expanded learning opportunities for students.
Cordon shared achievements made this school year that he said have helped move the district’s strategic plan forward. The release said the district’s strategy for student success focuses on ensuring all students master grade-level academic standards, attain the behavioral and social-emotional skills needed to thrive, and graduate with a plan to achieve success.
Board Chair Rebecca Larson said she was especially proud of the district’s ability to remain open to in-person learning despite surges in COVID cases and extensive staff shortages.
Larson said, “Superintendent Cordon’s steady and calm leadership has helped guide our students, staff and families through yet another challenging school year”. Larson said that maximizing in-person instruction is key to helping students get back on track.
The release said key accomplishments include:
*A 2020-2021 Roseburg High graduation rate of 89 percent, the highest on record
*The creation of COVID tracking systems to manage the intake and monitor positive cases and exposures
*Kicking off a community bond development process that has led to a May 2022 capital improvement bond measure to address critical health, safety and security issues in schools district-wide
*Demonstrating responsible financial management via a clean public audit and the participation in a pooled sale of pension obligation bonds that is expected to save the district $18 million over the next 20 years
*The establishment of a STEAM Team, which expands learning opportunities for all elementary students in areas of science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics.
Cordon said the district has been able to make these achievements thanks to the hard work of the school board and district employees as well as the cooperation and support of students and families. The extension of Cordon’s contract will go into effect July 1st.