October 1, 2026 Superintendent Report
The first month of school has been an active one across the North Bend School District. This year began with several significant changes, including our elementary reconfiguration and transition to a new transportation provider, while we also launched a number of instructional initiatives connected to our Strategic Plan. I continue to be encouraged by the way our staff have responded to challenges, adjusted systems, and remained focused on serving students.

Elementary Reconfiguration
Our transition to a K–2 model at Hillcrest and grades 3–5 at North Bay is now fully underway. As expected, the opening weeks have included adjustments as students and staff settle into their new buildings and routines. At the same time, we are receiving very positive feedback from our staff and families, and beginning to see the instructional opportunities that were central to the decision to reconfigure.
Grade-level teams are working together to identify student needs, and intervention systems are beginning to operate using DIBELS, STAR and other classroom data. Reading Friends, Walk to Read, Title I supports and specially designed instruction are being coordinated around students who need additional support.

We will continue to evaluate the transition throughout the year rather than viewing reconfiguration as a one-time event. When we identify something that can work better for students, staff or families, we will continue to make adjustments.

Transportation
Our transition to First Student has unquestionably been the most significant operational challenge of the beginning of the school year. Families have experienced routing errors, changing stops, extended ride times and communication difficulties. Those issues have required a significant amount of attention from both district staff and First Student.
There has been significant progress, with continued work to be done. Routes and student data continue to be corrected, processes for communicating route changes are becoming clearer, and we are working through individual safety and ride-time concerns as they are identified.
We are not yet where we expect the transportation system to be, but we are in a significantly different place than we were during the opening days of school. Our expectation remains that First Student delivers the safe, reliable and responsive transportation service that was represented through the district's transportation selection process.

Student Voice - Student Perception Survey
Our Student Perception Survey is also being administered in grades 3–12 with completion targeted by October 8th. This provides another important measure of our Strategic Plan work by asking students about areas including safety, inclusion and their relationships with adults at school. Academic achievement is one of several indicators we are monitoring as we evaluate the health and effectiveness of our schools. Once the data is compiled we will share the results with the board.

Vocational Education
Vocational education is now receiving the same kind of impetus that the ascent of Sputnik had brought to science and mathematics. It got a big boost from a local citizens advisory committee. This program was aimed primarily at the problem of retaining those who had no wish to go beyond high school, and those who in former years would have been cinch dropouts. That it has attracted all kinds of students in no way diminishes its effectiveness.

Board Archives, October 12, 1970
More than 55 years later, the conversation sounds remarkably familiar. The terminology has changed a little since then, particularly the reference to 'cinch dropouts,' but what's interesting is how much of that conversation still applies to our work today: ensuring students have meaningful pathways to success beyond graduation. It's also a nice reminder that the Board's decisions today become part of the district's history tomorrow.

Oregon State Assessment System (OSAS) Results and Academic Progress
ODE has released the 2025–26 Oregon Statewide Assessment System results. District staff are reviewing those results alongside our local assessment information and the other Key Indicators identified through our Strategic Plan.
Rather than presenting one state assessment in isolation, I would like to provide the Board with a more complete picture of student performance. At our next Board meeting, our plan is to provide an overview of academic progress through the Key Indicators Spreadsheet we have provided in the past, examining achievement trends, areas of strength, areas requiring additional attention, and local assessment information.
One impressive indicator I would like to point out is our 3rd Grade ELA scores, showing 9.6% growth from 2024-25 baseline data.

BPA Property Update
BPA has determined that its preferred project layout requires additional acreage beyond the property included in the original agreement, in part because of wetlands and other site constraints. BPA is now evaluating the larger acquisition, which would require additional appraisal work and potentially restarting portions of the partition and federal approval process.
BPA has also provided additional information in response to questions regarding the proposed facility, including environmental containment requirements for fuel and wash facilities and anticipated site lighting. BPA has indicated a willingness to return to the Board as the proposal develops. The additional information provided thus far shows that the facility would be set back from the street and adjacent neighborhood even more than previously anticipated, significantly cutting down on lighting concerns, and would still leave significant land for the trail systems we intend to develop.
I will continue to work with legal counsel and BPA so that the Board will have complete information before another proposal is presented for consideration.

OSAA Basketball Tournament
North Bend School District has renewed its agreement to host the basketball tournament for another four years.

Celebrating Our Staff
Finally, I want to recognize North Bend educator Eva Varga, who has been named one of Oregon's 2026–27 Regional Teachers of the Year.
Eva was selected from more than 1,600 nominations statewide. She is an outstanding educator and leader who represents our district exceptionally well through her commitment to students, colleagues and our community. We are incredibly proud to have her representing North Bend.
As we finish our first month, I am encouraged by the progress taking place throughout the district. We have encountered some significant challenges, particularly operationally, but our teams have continued to problem-solve rather than allowing those challenges to distract us from our larger purpose.

Navigating a successful course for every student, every day, every way
1913 MEADE STREET • NORTH BEND. OREGON 97459-3432
Phone: (541) 756-2521 • Fax: (541) 756-1313
Superintendent Tim Crider