The District Dispatch

Dear Families and Community Members,

Happy New Year to all students, families, and our incredible Tillamook community. As we enter 2025, I am filled with optimism and a renewed commitment to fostering a vibrant learning environment that ensures high levels of learning for every student.

The strength of our district lies in the unwavering dedication of those who tirelessly support our students, focusing their efforts on creating a world-class educational system. Working alongside so many remarkable individuals who generously give their time, talents, and resources to empower students across TSD9 is an honor.

This year brings exciting opportunities for academic excellence, innovative programs, and meaningful connections. Let’s make 2025 a year of achievement, inspiration, and growth for every student. Here’s to a fantastic year ahead!

Warm regards,
Matt Ellis
Superintendent

At TSD9, we ensure every student thrives academically, socially, and emotionally. While much of the work around PLC Question #3—“What will we do when students don’t learn it?”—focuses on academics, the same principles apply to behavior. Through our Multi-Tiered Systems of Support Framework (MTSS), we proactively help students develop positive behaviors and address challenges effectively.

Strengthening Our Behavior Systems

To enhance this focus throughout the system, we’ve developed a Behavior Task Force composed of teachers, administrators, counselors, and other key members of our school community. The initial focus of the work has been on K-6 with a secondary Behavior Task Force in the works for Spring 2025. This team collaborates with the Northwest Regional Education Service District (NWRESD) to create strong systems to monitor student behavior and use data effectively to respond to student needs.

Through this partnership, we are:

• Defining and developing a cohesive understanding of each Tier of behavior within TSD9.
• Building a districtwide system for tracking and analyzing behavior data.
• Aligning interventions with best practices, including Conscious Discipline strategies.
• Training staff on proactive and brain-based approaches and responses to support positive behavior.

MTSS and Behavior: A Tiered Approach

Just as MTSS provides a framework for academic support, it also guides how we address behavior across three tiers:

• Tier 1: Schoolwide Expectations and Supports
  The foundation of MTSS focuses on teaching and reinforcing positive behavior for all students. This includes:
  • Clear, consistent expectations for behavior throughout the school.
  • Explicit teaching of social-emotional skills, such as conflict resolution, self-regulation, and empathy.
  • Systems to celebrate positive behavior.

When these supports are in place, most students can meet expectations and feel safe, respected, and ready to learn.

• Tier 2: Targeted Behavioral Interventions
  For students who need additional help, Tier 2 provides targeted support such as:
  • Small group social skills instruction.
  • Check-in/check-out systems with a trusted adult to provide structure and encouragement.
  • Behavior contracts or goal-setting strategies tailored to individual needs.

These interventions aim to address emerging challenges before they escalate, helping students stay engaged and connected.

• Tier 3: Intensive, Individualized Support
  For students with significant behavioral challenges, Tier 3 interventions are highly individualized and may include:
  • One-on-one counseling or behavior therapy.
  • Functional behavior assessments to understand the root causes of challenging behavior.
  • Development of personalized behavior intervention plans (BIPs).

Tier 3 ensures that even students with the most significant needs receive the support necessary for success.

K-6 Conscious Discipline: A Brain-Based Approach

An integral part of our behavioral framework at the elementary level is Conscious Discipline, a brain-based approach that focuses on creating safe, connected, and problem-solving school environments. Conscious Discipline emphasizes:

• Safety: Helping students feel physically and emotionally safe by teaching self-regulation skills.
• Connection: Building strong, meaningful relationships between students and adults to foster trust and cooperation.
• Problem-Solving: Equipping students with tools to manage conflict, express emotions, and make positive choices.

This approach is rooted in neuroscience, helping educators and students understand how the brain responds to stress and how to shift from reactive behaviors to thoughtful, intentional actions. Conscious Discipline aligns seamlessly with MTSS, providing strategies for all three tiers of support. TSD9 received a grant last spring, enabling us to train 44 staff members in the Conscious Discipline framework. We have utilized additional grant funding to continue staff education at each elementary school to ensure consistency with implementation.

If you would like to learn more about the Behavioral Task Force or Conscious Discipline, please contact your child's building administration.

The Tillamook School District is pleased to announce that the District and the Classified Association negotiating teams have successfully reached a final agreement following mediation on December 18, 2024. Through constructive dialogue and collaboration, both sides have settled on all contract terms, reaffirming their shared commitment to the success of our schools and the well-being of our dedicated staff.

Agreements Reached

The District and the Classified Association have now fully agreed on all twenty-two articles of the contract, covering key areas such as salaries, benefits, and working conditions. This agreement reflects a spirit of partnership, with both parties working together to address important priorities for the District and its staff.

Notable agreements include:

• Dismissal of Post-Probationary Employees – The District has agreed to the Association’s proposal to allow post-probationary employees to pursue grievances through arbitration, with a shared responsibility for legal fees, ensuring a balanced and fair approach.

• Salary – The salary agreement, which was conceptually agreed to on August 30, 2024, was adhered to and has been finalized, ensuring fair and competitive compensation for Classified staff members. The District is pleased to offer new contract pay rates for all Classified staff, which will be applied retroactively, effective July 1, 2024.

• Bereavement Leave & Jury Duty – The District is pleased to have reached an agreement clarifying compliance with the Oregon Family Leave Act and state law, providing enhanced support for employees during critical times such as bereavement or jury duty.

• Personal Leave Bank – After thorough discussion, the parties have agreed to maintain the current contract language, allowing Association members to donate personal leave days to one another in cases of serious medical conditions, preserving the existing leave-sharing structure.

• Vacancies – The District has agreed to language that prioritizes qualified staff members for internal transfers, with due consideration given to seniority. Additionally, the parties agreed to continue allowing the District to include an Association member in interview panels for District positions.

• Special Education – A new Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) has been established to form a collaborative committee that will help the District meet new state regulations related to Special Education, ensuring that our schools remain compliant and well-supported.

Moving Forward

The District is proud of the work accomplished during mediation and is confident that this final agreement will help strengthen our District while continuing to prioritize the needs of our students and staff. We value the dedication and hard work of our Classified staff and are committed to supporting the District’s mission of providing high-quality education for all students.

We greatly appreciate the collaborative efforts of both the District and the Association in reaching this successful resolution and look forward to continuing our work together to foster a positive and productive environment for both staff and students.

The Tillamook School District Board of Directors will vote on the Classified contract at the regular Board meeting on January 13, 2025, pending ratification by Association members prior to January 9, 2025.

December was a month full of joy, talent, and community spirit as our students showcased their incredible achievements both in and out of the classroom. From the harmonious melodies of our choir and the inspiring performances at the band concerts to the many other student-centered events, the month highlighted the dedication and hard work of our learners. These events not only demonstrated their artistic and creative talents but also reflected the teamwork, discipline, and passion they bring to every endeavor. Thank you to all the families and community members who joined us in celebrating our students' accomplishments. Your support makes moments like these truly special!

At TSD9, we understand that the key to fostering a high-performing learning environment lies in collaboration and leadership within our schools. A vital component of this collaboration is the role of Professional Learning Team (PLT) Leads, who serve as a bridge between teachers, administrators, and the district's broader educational goals. These dedicated individuals are essential to the success of Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) within our schools.

PLT Leads are responsible for guiding the work of PLCs at the building level, ensuring that teams are focused on the right questions, using data effectively, and continuously striving to improve student learning outcomes. By facilitating the PLC process, PLT Leads help teachers work together to analyze student progress, share best practices, and implement evidence-based strategies that directly impact student achievement.

What makes this role so powerful is the strong partnership between PLT Leads and school principals. Principals are key to setting the vision for academic excellence and creating a school culture that supports collaboration, while PLT Leads are at the forefront, ensuring that the strategies and goals set by the leadership team are effectively carried out in the classroom. This partnership ensures that there is alignment between district goals, school-level initiatives, and the day-to-day work happening in classrooms.

Together, PLT Leads and principals create an environment where teachers are supported, encouraged, and equipped with the tools they need to improve instruction and, ultimately, student outcomes. Their shared leadership fosters a culture of continuous improvement, where everyone—from teachers to administrators—is working toward the same goal: ensuring that every student receives a world-class education.

We are proud of the collaborative efforts of our PLT Leads and principals and their dedication to creating a thriving, student-centered learning environment. Through their hard work, our schools continue to grow, and our students continue to succeed.

A Huge THANK YOU to Our Local School Board Members! 🎉

Your countless hours of dedication and unwavering commitment

to our schools do not go unnoticed! 🙌💙

From ensuring top-notch education to creating a brighter future for our students, your volunteer efforts are truly inspiring. We appreciate YOU! 👏✨