Eight candidates are running for four open seats on the Salem-Keizer School Board two political action committees are largely funding opposing slates of candidates for each seat One slate is backed by Community for Salem-Keizer Schools a coalition of the district’s labor unions Marion-Polk-Yamhill Central Labor Chapter of Oregon AFL-CIO Racial Justice Organizing Committee and PCUN Karina Guzmán Ortiz in Zone 5 and Mel Fuller in Zone 7 Their campaigns are largely funded by PCUN The other slate is funded by Marion+Polk First which says it supports “center-right candidates and causes.” Its political action committee's largest funder is the property management firm Commercial Property Resources Jason Kroker in Zone 5 and Jeremiah Radka in Zone 7 former political director of Oregon Right to Life is helping manage those candidates' campaigns a political consulting firm dedicated to center-right candidates and issues The last day to register to vote in the election is April 29 Ballots will be mailed beginning April 30 and must be returned by May 20 What Salem-Keizer School Board directors doSalem-Keizer Public Schools is Oregon’s second-largest school district The district is unusual in Oregon in that its board of directors doesn’t directly make decisions about the district’s day-to-day operations the board delegates that authority to the superintendent Board members are responsible for hiring and evaluating the superintendent Although board members represent distinct zones meaning voters choose a representative for every open seat School board members serve four-year terms Most of the candidates the Statesman Journal interviewed raved about the district’s successful career and technical education programs and said they would do everything they could to continue supporting them “I think everybody who is running would agree that CTEC and CTE are absolutely fabulous,” Kroker said CTEC is the district’s stand-alone career technical education center All the candidates interviewed also cited student and staff safety and a sense of belonging as high priorities “This is where you’ll find that our slates differ significantly,” Guzmán Ortiz said Lisa Harnisch has been involved with the Salem-Keizer School District for more than two decades serving on the former Salem Keizer Education Foundation’s board chairing the Awesome 3000 youth fun run for a dozen years and serving on the district’s budget committee bond oversight committee and long-range facility task force Harnisch is executive director of the nonprofit Marion & Polk Early Learning Hub and co-president of the Oregon Early Learning Hub Association She previously held leadership roles in the state’s Early Learning Division Department of Human Services and Oregon Health Authority In March 2024, she was appointed to the district’s Zone 1 position in March 2024, filling a vacancy created the previous month when board member Osvaldo Avila resigned sort of bringing together of all of my passions,” Harnisch said of the position One of her biggest priorities for her next term would be bringing stability to the district the district was in contentious labor negotiations with both its unions and facing hard budget cuts and layoffs the district is now in a better financial position than most other Oregon districts While the budget still will be a big issue the district also can move forward with rebuilding That should include doing more to support teachers and staff and helping to ensure that families and the community continue to trust in the schools Her other priorities include early literacy and safe and welcoming schools Those are especially important as students continue to recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic “Those two elements are at the crux of what we need to be doing,” she said Harnisch holds a bachelor’s degree in public administration from Indiana University and a certificate in public management from Willamette University She has raised $18,968 for her campaign and spent $10,005 according to Oregon Secretary of State's Office campaign finance records with three young children in Salem-Keizer schools he’s had a “keen interest” in their educational experience He was approached to run for the board and thought I really enjoy participating in the democratic process I’m a big believer in civic engagement and voting and this would be a good opportunity for me to do some good for students.” Mitchell and his wife have lived in Salem for six years He is director of customer success at Solera which builds software applications for commercial customers He previously worked as a vice president of Trak Management Mitchell holds a bachelor’s degree from Utah State University and is a former board member of the Washougal (Washington) Schools Foundation Mitchell said his highest priority is student outcomes “I think the goals the board has adopted are really we should be shooting for more than 23.7% of our third-graders being proficient in English language arts which is where we were at for the 23-24 year.” Mitchell said he believes the district is doing a good job of fostering a sense of belonging for students “Having a culture that is built on mutual respect as well as high standards from teachers to students and from administrators to teachers I think those are important things,” he said But Mitchell said he has heard concerns from parents about a lack of discipline in classrooms and from teachers who feel that district policies don’t give them the power to maintain control over their classrooms “No teacher should feel like they don’t have control over their learning environment Mitchell said he is also gravely concerned that teachers feel like the sand is constantly shifting under their feet “I’m disappointed that a lot of our teachers feel like what they’re being measured on or what they’re being held accountable to constantly changes,” he said “I would love to see more stability … in how we empower them to do their work and how we measure them on how they do their work.” “What I really care about are students having true academic achievement and excellence and a great school experience by the time they walk out and graduate with a high school diploma,” he said Mitchell has raised $14,542 for his campaign and spent $14,517 All of his campaign contributions have come from Marion+Polk First PAC Angelo Arredondo Baca was born in Salem to Mexican immigrants and attended kindergarten through high school in the zone he is vying to represent He’s also the guardian of two of his sisters one of whom graduated from the district in 2022 and the other who is a high school junior has given him a good background to contribute to the school board “I bring both the experience of a guardian and the experience of a recent graduate,” he said The school system really shaped who I am today.” He also wants to bring his perspective as a fairly young person to the board Arredondo Baca graduated from South Salem High School in 2020 has an associate's degree from Chemeketa Community College and expects to receive a bachelor’s degree in political science from Oregon State University in 2025 He is working as an office assistant while attending school and previously has worked as a library clerk legislative chair for the Oregon Student Association policy director for Associated Students of Oregon State University and as a tutor He served on the Salem Human Rights Commission from 2018 to 2023 on the Oregon Secretary of State’s Office Translation Advisory Council from 2022 to 2024 and currently serves on Oregon State University’s Student Fee Committee Arredondo Baca said that among his top priorities for the district is making sure students are ready for higher education or trade school but we need to get them ready for college,” he said He also wants to ensure that students’ basic needs are being met how can we expect them to focus on academics?” he said “I benefited from the free and reduced lunch program because I wasn’t hungry and I could just focus on academics.” And he said that early literacy is important We should be looking at different strategies on how we can be helping people learn.” Arredondo Baca has raised $7,690 for his campaign and spent $5,023 Parker is an employment service manager for the nonprofit Work Unlimited She previously worked at the Oregon Department of Agriculture and the Oregon Water Resources Department Parker graduated from South Salem High School received an associate's degree from Chemeketa Community College and holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Western Oregon University Parker did not respond to the Statesman Journal’s interview request Her priorities include expanding career training programs, ensuring special education programs have enough resources, and restoring school resource officers to secondary schools, according to her campaign website Parker has raised $17,351 for her campaign and spent $17,339 All but $200 of her campaign contributions were from Marion+Polk First PAC Karina Guzmán Ortiz was among a slate of four candidates backed by Community for Salem-Keizer Schools in 2021 but Guzmán Ortiz is the only one running for reelection “I’ve learned a lot in the last four years around how our schools work how a system as big as ours with nearly 38,000 students Guzmán Ortiz served as board chair during the 2023-24 school year when the district had a new superintendent while facing difficult budget cuts and contentious contract negotiations with both of its worker unions were difficult because she attended district schools and now has two children in them my kids’ teachers who I knew were going to be impacted by budget cuts That was what was really important to me.” her priority is to support student learning something that’s also supported by the community and the state a lot of energy behind improving young children’s ability to read,” she said Student and staff safety and wellness are also a high priority “It’s around making sure that they’re physically safe that there are healthy places to work in and that they’re also well supported,” she said that they have the resources and the training provided to them so they can work with and advocate in situations where kids might have high behavioral or emotional needs.” Guzmán Ortiz is a partner engagement specialist at the Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care She has an associate's degree from Chemeketa Community College a bachelor’s degree in social science from Western Oregon University and a master’s degree in social work from Portland State University Guzmán Ortiz started her campaign with a $7,200 carryover from her previous race She has raised $4,896 this year and spent $4,856 All but $40 of her contributions this year were from PCUN Jason Kroker said he decided to run for the school board after wanting to bring something that bothered him to the board only to find out their meetings were closed to the public since when do parents not get to go to school board meetings?” he said The board closed its meetings to the public in September 2022 following what it said was volatile behavior at meetings People could still watch the meetings and testify during a public comment period remotely It reopened meetings to the public in September 2023 then received an associate's degree from Chemeketa Community College and a bachelor’s degree from Western Oregon University he worked a semester as a campus monitor at North Salem He served in the Oregon Air National Guard while working a variety of jobs including as a marine electrician with the U.S He is currently a heavy equipment technician for the Oregon Department of Transportation One of Kroker’s top priorities for the district is getting school resource officers back in schools “Since we’ve taken SROs out of the schools four years ago there’s been a 320% increase in violent incidents in the schools,” he said Kroker said that the weapons detectors recently installed in some Salem-Keizer schools may do more harm than good any door can be opened from the inside,” he said Kroker also is running on fiscal responsibility and stemming the decline in student enrollment “There’s been a lot of parents pulling their kids out of the school district and the customer is the taxpayer and the parent.” “I want to make sure we’re spending our money wisely Kroker has raised $21,411 for his campaign and spent $20,276 His largest donor is Marion+Polk First PAC Zone 7: Mel FullerMel Fuller said she wanted to run for the school board in 2021 but Community for Salem-Keizer Schools was seeking a slate of BIPOC candidates and she thought that was important Fuller has lived in Salem for 15 years and has two children in district schools I think we’re letting our teachers down a little bit,” she said and they feel like they keep aiming for a moving target when it comes to what they’re being asked to do.” “I want to make sure teachers will have clear expectations and the tools to get there,” she said Fuller is a self-employed legal transcriptionist She also has worked as a program manager for Marion Polk Food Share’s Meals on Wheels has held leadership positions at a number of assisted living facilities and worked as a seasonal park ranger for Oregon State Parks Fuller previously served as an advisory council member for Northwest Senior and Disability Services for Center 50+ and for the Salem Public Library She attended Linn-Benton Community College before receiving a bachelor’s degree in history from Oregon State University Fuller said her priorities for the district are early literacy and fostering a sense of belonging Her work with Marion Polk Food Share took her to every corner of the Salem area “I was also able to immerse myself in a network of community-based programs that were all working together to make Salem more resilient and stronger,” she said I understand what it means for a family to struggle with childcare and finding their place in the community,” she said “When our students and our families are having so many struggles they need to be in a place where they feel they don’t have to worry and they can focus on learning.” Fuller said she also wants “to have a seat at the table” while the district figures out how to respond to federal cuts to education “I’m running because I want our public schools to be celebrated and talked about in our community,” she said “Wonderful things happen in school every single day and our schools and students deserve to be focused on and celebrated for their hard work Fuller has raised $11,238 for her campaign and spent $6,886 Radka lists his occupation as private for-hire transportation He previously spent 20 years in IT networking Radka holds an associate's degree in applied science from Linn-Benton Community College and attended Portland Community College Radka did not respond to the Statesman Journal’s interview request His priorities include expanding phonics programs, focusing on achievement rather than graduation rates, and expanding hands-on, real-world learning, according to his campaign website Radka has raised $14,542 for his campaign and spent $10,642 Tracy Loew covers education at the Statesman Journal. Send comments, questions and tips: tloew@statesmanjournal.com or 503-399-6779. Follow her on Twitter at @Tracy_Loew Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application at Sioux Center Health Hospital in Sioux Center Visitation will be from 3-7PM with the family present from 5-7PM on Thursday 2025 at Memorial Funeral Home of Sioux Center A prayer service will be held at 10:00AM on Friday Interment will follow the prayer service in Memory Gardens Cemetery in Sioux Center A memorial service will be held at 11:00AM on Friday The Keizer family prefers that memorials be directed to the New Life Church Mission Fund where he spent many happy hours playing ball and riding motorbikes with his neighbors He attended Boyden-Hull schools and graduated with the class of 1984 Erv and his friends were rambunctious and full of fun and the teachers were relieved when they graduated Erv found his greatest joy in playing sports They spent most of their married life in Sioux Center They were blessed with five children: Eric Erv cherished being a father and often spent his time outside playing catch and he loved sharing his sports knowledge with them from gravel trucks with Joe’s Ready Mix to semi-trucks with refrigerated trailers at Te Slaa Trucking He also owned his own truck for several years Erv took a break from trucking to work as a custodian at Sioux Center High School he became certified to officiate basketball often returning home with many entertaining stories to share hauling feed ingredients for Circle J Trucking as he enjoyed driving and being home every night to attend his children’s activities Erv's Christian faith was a core part of his life and he was actively involved in New Life Church in Sioux Center he previously served as a deacon and participated in the chair setup team for many years where he enjoyed reading and discussing some of the lesser-known Old Testament stories with his classmates Erv volunteered frequently at Hot Harley Nights in Sioux Falls which benefited the Make-A-Wish Foundation of South Dakota This cause was close to his heart after his family went on a Make-A-Wish-sponsored trip after Erin fought cancer in 2013 He also volunteered at the Sanford International Golf Tournament which benefits Sanford Children's Hospital in appreciation for the care Erin received there Erv is survived by his loving wife of 33 years Cindy Keizer; sons Eric and Brett; and daughters Erin He is also survived by his brother Larry and wife Lois of Watertown SD; brother Arlyn and special friend Shirley Van Voorst of Brandon SD; sister Marla and husband Ron Schmith of Hawarden IA; and brother Kevin and wife Lynda of Hull Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors — A woman who investigators say tried to stab two Keizer Police officers with a knife during her arrest last July was convicted on several charges Tuesday A Marion County Jury found Brandi Lea Cortes guilty on two counts of second-degree attempted assault one count of assault on a public safety officer one count of attempted assault on a public safety officer and two counts of fleeing or attempting to elide a police officer The charges stem from an incident on July 28 2024 when Cortes tried to elude law enforcement When two Keizer Police officers were taking her into custody identified as Jeremie Fletcher and Cody Stupfel were both wearing ballistics vests and were unhurt by the knife Cortes is set to be sentenced for the crimes on May 8 Description: The first Salem-Keizer area location of a popular chicken finger restaurant is slated to open at Keizer Station The Keizer City Council voted Tuesday to authorize City Manager Adam Brown to sign a letter of intent with Raising Cane's to purchase land on the northeast corner of Lockhaven Drive NE and Keizer Station Boulevard for $1.9 million Raising Cane's has hundreds of locations nationwide but currently has just one other Oregon location in Portland The fast food restaurant chain specializes in chicken fingers and is known for its namesake yellow Labrador retriever mascot "Raising Cane’s is excited to continue our expansion in Oregon and we are actively exploring opportunities to bring our signature ONE LOVE to the Salem Metropolitan Area," Raising Cane's representatives said in a statement Raising Cane's has yet to announce a timeline for construction or when they plan to open in Keizer It is a relatively new addition to the Pacific Northwest "I am excited to bring this into daylight because we've been working on it for about five months," Brown said during the council meeting He said the sale would net the city $1.79 million after the city paid for broker fees The development of the property will require an amendment through the planning commission and a master plan amendment for Keizer Station city staff said selling properties owned by Keizer is of "strategic importance to pay down the PERS unfunded accrued liability" as agreed to by the 2024 budget committee Councilor Lore Christopher said this decision would financially benefit the city by bringing in the sale money "This is a gift that keeps on giving," Christopher told city leaders "I just wanted to thank you for your dedication Who in the world thought that weird little piece of land adjacent to the transit center would be so profitable for us The motion to sign the letter of intent passed unanimously Is there something under construction you'd like to tell us about or find out more about Contact reporter Whitney Woodworth at wmwoodworth@statesmanjournal.com Eight candidates are vying for four open seats on the Salem-Keizer Public Schools board of directors in the May 20 election meaning voters select a representative for every open seat who was appointed to fill a vacancy last year two candidates will vie for the seat held by Ashley Carson Cottingham incumbent Karina Guzmán Ortiz will face a challenger two candidates will vie for the seat held by María Hinojos Pressey The last day to register to vote in the election is April 29 Harnisch was appointed to the district’s Zone 1 position in March 2024, to fill a vacancy created the previous month when board member Osvaldo Avila resigned Harnisch served on a variety of district committees and is a past Salem Keizer Education Foundation board member professional services at Solera; and local small business investor He previously worked as vice-president of Trak Management Mitchell holds a bachelor’s degree from Utah State University He is a previous board member of the Washougal (Washington) Schools Foundation Arredondo Baca is a university student and office assistant He is among a slate of school board candidates endorsed by the Oregon Working Families party which says it is “fighting back on right wing attacks and committing to increasing funding for the state’s public schools.” Arredondo Baca previously has worked as a library clerk He has served on the Salem Human Rights Commission from 2018 to 2023 on the Oregon Secretary of State’s Translation Advisory Council from 2022 to 2024 and currently serves on Oregon State University’s Student Fee Committee received an associate transfer degree from Chemeketa Community College and expects to receive a bachelor’s degree in political science from Oregon State University this year and holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Western Oregon University Kroker is a heavy equipment technician for the Oregon Department of Transportation He retired with 22 years of service in the U.S Air Force/Oregon Air National Guard and was a marine electrician with the U.S He has been a volunteer firefighter with the city of Dallas Kroker has received support for his campaign from Marion+Polk First a political action committee that says it supports center-right candidates and causes The PAC’s largest funder is the property management firm Commercial Property Resources Kroker graduated from North Salem High School and holds a bachelor’s degree in business from Western Oregon University She has served on the Salem-Keizer School Board since 2021 Guzmán Ortiz received an associate transfer degree from Chemeketa Community College has held leadership positions at a number of assisted living facilities and worked as a seasonal park ranger for Oregon State Parks Fuller has previously served as an advisory council member for Northwest Senior and Disability Services an educator and program chair at Chemeketa Community College He previously spent 20 years in IT networking Radka holds an associate degree in applied science from Linn-Benton Community College and attended Portland Community College KOIN.com Indigenous people ‘matter and are not disposable’ The body of a kayaker from California who went over Willamette Falls in April was found early Sunday afternoon the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office said VIDEO: Driver 'intentionally' sideswipes motorcycle on Hwy 26 before fleeing Auto prowling incident now tied to Vancouver weekend shooting Legacy Health announce end to merger plans Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month: Celebrating Our Diversity The Remarkable Women or past years and 2025 all paid a visit to the KOIN 6 News studio on Thursday We've got fantastic products that will help you sleep better Alyssa Bergamini is with top best sellers at the best prices in this week's Epic Discounts from consumer resource bestreviews.com We like to have fun here on Everyday Northwest… So we invited a few comedians on to share some laughs and get this Monday going Dolly Olive centers around southern mediterranean ingredients and flavors with an emphasis on an in-house bakery program elegantly simple vegetable offerings and freshly made pastas the Dolly Olive serves brunch every weekend from 10am to 3pm Joined us to chat more about the delicious bites at the Dolly Olive was Kasey Mills and Laura Amans Car bursts into flames on Highway 26 in SW Portland The OSAA track and field state championships are a little over a month a way With the season more than halfway done, the Athletic.net statewide leaderboards are stacked with athletes from the Salem-Keizer area Here are 10 local standouts who were among the state leaders in their respective events entering the weekend The defending Class 2A runner-up in the girls discus Allen uncorked a massive personal-best throw of 138 feet and more than eight feet better than her previous PR Glivinski holds the second-best girls javelin mark in the state and the top mark in Class 5A after producing a big personal-best throw of 145-2 April 18 at the Laker Classic She has already surpassed her previous PR by more than 19 feet this season CentralThe Central senior owns a shot put personal-best of 58-1 1/2 this season which is over two feet better than any male athlete in the state He also ranks third in the state in the discus (163-0) SpragueHunsaker owns the second-best pole vault mark in the state at 14-7 1/4 After finishing sixth at the Class 6A meet last season Hunsaker has upped his personal best by nearly a foot in 2025 Nelson clocked a 12.32-second 100-meter dash April 15 at a Mid-Willamette Conference meet Her time is the 10th-best in the state and third-best in Class 5A Nelson also ranks fourth among 5A athletes in the 200 with a personal-best time of 25.84 The defending Class 4A state champion at 400 meters Pickett has picked up right where she left off last season Cascade's standout senior ran a personal-best of 57.83 in the 400 April 12 at the Wilsonville Invitational Her time is eighth-best in the state and tops among Class 4A Pickett is also the anchor for Cascade's 4x100 relay team which leads Class 4A with a season-best time of 49.94 Olivo uncorked a personal-best javelin throw of 202-1 April 11 at the Vic Downs Mac Invite which still stands as the top mark in the state this season by more than nine feet The Celtics' standout sophomore has already surpassed his top throw from last season by more than 30 feet The defending Class 4A state champion in the shot put Saechao is off to another strong start this season She broke the Cascade school record with a personal-best throw of 41-10 on April 26 which ranks fourth in the state and second among Class 4A athletes Saechao also has the third-best discus throw (116-7) in Class 4A this season After finishing as the Class 6A high jump runner-up as a sophomore last spring Stewart has already taken a massive leap forward this spring His personal-best leap of 6-9 3/4 from the April 5 Oregon Relays is the second-best in the state in 2025 Ward has been one of the state's breakout track and field stars which is tied for fourth-best in the state Ward's mark is eight inches better than his 2024 season-best jump A standout running back for the Dragons' football team Ward also ranks eighth in the state in the 300-meter hurdles with a personal-best time of 39.83 Jarrid Denney covers high school sports and Oregon State for the Statesman Journal. He can be reached at JDenney@salem.gannett.com or on X @jarrid_denney (This story was updated to include new information) Salem will test a water pipe connection between the city and Keizer's drinking water systems starting Friday until Monday The connection — called an intertie — can be used to supplement Salem's water supply could notice a slight change in water quality during the testing Keizer uses groundwater for its drinking water whereas Salem's primary drinking water source is the North Santiam River "Blending the two water sources may cause a minor change to the taste but will not have an impact on the safety or quality of the water," city officials said Finding and implementing backup water resources is at the forefront of Salem leaders' thoughts. An anticipated drawdown this fall at Detroit Dam could release sediment into the North Santiam and clog Salem and Stayton's water filtration systems The worst-case scenario is that Salem would be unable to pull water from the North Santiam for weeks or even months Salem would need to pull in water from its backup sources senior utility planner for Salem Public Works said the intertie with Keizer was last used in 2018 "In light of the upcoming Detroit drawdown the City thought it prudent to test the system to update our assumptions on the capabilities of our pump station," Pulley said it also plays into our goals of defining our resiliency to other possible water system disruptions." Keizer water will be pumped into Salem’s water distribution system The testing will ensure the intertie is functioning and confirm the amount of water that can be pumped City officials said about five million gallons per day will be pumped into the distribution system which is about 20% of the average day demand in March Customers who have questions can call Salem Public Works Dispatch at 503-588-6311 Statesman Journal reporter Zach Urness contributed to this report For questions, comments and news tips, email reporter Whitney Woodworth at wmwoodworth@statesmanjournal.com, call 503-910-6616 or follow on X at @wmwoodworth Description: A 92-room Fairfield by Marriott hotel is planned for Chemawa Station in Keizer Plans were filed for the four-story hotel with an indoor pool and spa at the up-and-coming development south of Chick-fil-A and Keizer Station The 50,942-square-foot building is valued at $11.5 million Keizer City Council unanimously approved plans for the Keizer Station Master Plan Amendment for Area D — the southern portion of the land co-owned by the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon and the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians Tribal leadership said the development would bring new businesses and jobs to the area No Fairfield hotels are currently located in the Salem area A Fairfield Inn & Suites is set to open in Newberg later this month Salem-Keizer Public Schools paid $400,000 to settle a lawsuit alleging Joshua Rist groomed and sexually abused two students between 2015 and 2020 The $10 million lawsuit filed by two former McNary students in September 2023 alleging it failed to protect them from the teacher which the district provided to the Statesman Journal in response to a public records request District officials did not immediately respond to questions about where the money to pay the settlement came from Neither Rist nor his lawyers have responded to the Statesman Journal’s interview requests Rist was teaching at Kalapuya Elementary School when the lawsuit was filed on Sept He was placed on paid administrative leave on Oct. 2, 2023, after the district received an additional complaint about him from another McNary student The district’s investigation into that second complaint is still underway The plaintiffs “can feel proud that their bravery in coming forward precipitated the long-overdue move by the district to get Joshua Rist out of the classroom and away from children,” their lawyer “It also prompted a legislative change to further protect students from sexual advances by teachers,” she said “We hope these overdue but positive outcomes can protect children in the future from going through what our clients endured.” the Oregon Legislature passed a bill aimed at better protecting students from sexual grooming in schools HB 4160 increased the time during which an individual is considered a “student,” from 90 days to one year after graduating or leaving high school investigation and disclosures about a school employee agent or volunteer engaging in sexual contact with a student The body of a 33-year-old man was found Sunday in a parked car at the In-N-Out Burger at Keizer Station Police responded to a call at about 9:40 a.m. Sunday of a suspicious car that had been in the parking lot at 6280 Keizer Station Blvd. for two days, according to a Keizer Police Facebook post who had a registered address in California The In-N-Out parking lot and store were closed until officers cleared the scene at about 1:30 p.m. Isabel Funk covers breaking news and public safety for the Statesman Journal. Funk can be reached at ifunk@statesmanjournal.com or on X at @isabeldfunk As holiday celebrations wind down and decorations go back into storage the only thing left is to take out the tree lights and ornaments and cut it up for the green yard debris bin You also could rent a chipper and put the material in your garden compost Or you can take it for recycling at the Salem-Keizer Recycling & Transfer Station there are several groups ready to take the tree in exchange for some help raising funds Some groups take the trees to Marion County's compostable yard waste facility Others chip them themselves and use the chips Here is a list of groups in the Salem area that will take your tree either from your home or at a drop-off site How to recycle your Christmas tree in KeizerWillamette Valley Bank proceeds go to Boy Scout Troop 121; flocked trees not accepted Contact: Schedule a curbside pickup for Keizer and North Salem addresses only at keizertroop121.com More than five trees or brought in with regular garbage will be charged the standard yard debris rate How to recycle your Christmas tree in north SalemHighway Fuel Suggested donation: $10; proceeds go to BSA Scout Troop 19 Contact: Schedule a pickup for south Salem addresses only (ZIP codes 97302 and 97306) send an email to troop19treerecycling@gmail.com with name Suggested donation: $10 or $50 for flocked trees; proceeds go to BSA Scout Troop 108 Contact: Schedule a pickup for South Salem addresses at bsa108.org north end of the parking lot near the vacant U.S Suggested donation: $10; proceeds go to BSA Scout Troop 7150 Bottle and can donations also will be accepted Contact: to schedule a pickup call or text 971-398-7336 Details: Troop 38 will pick up and recycle trees in the Independence and Monmouth areas on Dec Contact: email T38TREES@YAHOO.COM or call 971-612-0085 to schedule a pickup Send an email to newsroom@statesmanjournal.com with details and we will add it to the list Tracy Loew covers the environment at the Statesman Journal. Send comments, questions and tips: tloew@statesmanjournal.com or 503-399-6779. Follow her on Twitter at @Tracy_Loew Salem-Keizer Public Schools has paid Joshua Rist a music teacher accused of grooming and abusing two students The district also agreed to remove from its website and social media a video message from Superintendent Andrea Castañeda to the community in which she states Rist should be allowed to serve students in the Salem-Keizer School District or anywhere else." into an additional student complaint of abuse Rist did not respond to the Statesman Journal’s interview request His Oregon teaching license remains active In November, the school district paid $400,000 to settle a lawsuit alleging that Rist The $10 million lawsuit It alleged Rist gave the two women extra attention in an effort to befriend them gaining their trust and that of their families He sent "inappropriate and unsolicited" communications on the school messaging platform and via text messages and met with them outside of school and off school grounds “plaintiffs each confided in defendant Rist about struggles trauma and difficult situations they were dealing with At no time did defendant Rist direct plaintiffs to school counselors he chose to use that information to further manipulate and groom plaintiffs.” The lawsuit states both women at separate times served as Rist's teaching assistant during his preparatory period when no one else was present He discussed with them topics that included sexual experiences Rist has spent most of the past 3.5 years on paid administrative leave while the district investigated similar complaints On June 8, 2023, Rist stipulated to certain facts following an Oregon Teacher Standards and Practices investigation meaning he agreed that evidence would support the commission's findings that Rist established inappropriate personal relationships with the two women while they were students at McNary TSPC concluded Rist had engaged in gross neglect of duty The district moved Rist to Kalapuya Elementary School when he returned to work at the start of the 2023-24 school year Rist was teaching music at Kalapuya when the lawsuit was filed on Sept. 27, 2023. He was again placed on leave on Oct. 2, 2023, after the district received an additional complaint about him from another McNary student The district's investigation into that complaint "is no longer active," district spokesman Aaron Harada said The district cannot share any information about the investigation but it was not dropped as part of the resignation agreement Rist remained on leave until his resignation and permanently bars him from working for Salem-Keizer Public Schools the district agreed to not contest any claim from Rist for unemployment benefits in response to employment inquiries from non K-12 educational employers or employers that do not primarily serve children or vulnerable populations the district will release only Rist’s dates of employment The Salem-Keizer School Board voted Tuesday to extend Superintendent Andrea Castañeda's contract for three years Castañeda is in the second year of her 2023 to 2026 contract Her contract includes a statement indicating that after an evaluation and prior to March 15 the school board will decide to extend her contract Director Satya Chandragiri moved a motion to approve an extension of Castañeda's contract for three years and to delegate Board Chair Cynthia Richardson to enter into contract negotiations for a three-year contract beginning July 1 Director Lisa Harnisch seconded the motion It passed with Director Krissy Hudson as the lone nay vote Castañeda earned across-the-board praise from members on Tuesday Richardson commended her for her bold leadership strong community relationships and clear vision for the district's future and we are so blessed to have you," Chandragiri said you move towards the problem rather than away from the problem .. Castañeda, the former head of Tulsa Public Schools’ personnel office, was hired to lead Salem-Keizer Public Schools in 2023. The vote came after the approval of Castañeda's evaluation Richardson said at the superintendent's request the majority of her evaluation is based on student outcomes and the board results policy "Superintendent Castaneda has demonstrated strong leadership while maintaining transparent communication and fostering an inclusive goal-focused environment," Richardson said skills and ability to remain calm under pressure highlight her leadership qualities." The school board recommended continued proactive communication and collaboration with members to ensure ongoing transparent and effective leadership The board unanimously approved the evaluation Castañeda thanked them and said that when she applied for the job it was the only position she wanted and applied for She stressed the district's work is a team effort of every teacher "There's almost 6,000 people doing this work," she said "It is with extreme humility and even more joy that I get to be part of this community — the only one that I want to be part of." Clarifications & Corrections: The name of candidate Lore Christopher's husband has been corrected With the former mayor running against the incumbent mayor in the Nov the Keizer mayoral race is shaping up to be the most competitive in recent decades Mayor Cathy Clark is seeking a sixth term and faces predecessor Lore Christopher Clark emphasized giving Keizer a voice in the region and collaborating with other cities and governments to tackle issues like homelessness while Christopher said Keizer leadership needs to be less outwardly focused saying she was encouraged to run by community members wanting a different mayor to lead the city Keizer Mayor Cathy Clark wants smart growth regional voice for cityClark has been in office since 2015 she served on Keizer City Council from 2007 to 2014 previously worked as a home educator and consultant then as executive administrative support for state agencies She currently owns a business that does consulting for nonprofits is married with four grown children and has lived in Keizer since 1989 She said her political engagement began as a mother to young children living in an equally young city Keizer became a city in 1982 and was still sorting out how to handle certain issues like backyard burning Concerned for her family and allergy-induced asthma triggered by smoke Clark joined a task force to address the issue She said she was inspired by the leadership of Keizer City Councilor Dr who tried to understand the reasoning behind backyard burning and collaborated to find solutions "Everybody was at the table to craft a holistic solution was adopted and our haulers began the program with yard debris," she said "I'm a scientist by education and training I love holistic problem solving and building holistic solutions." Clark went on to serve on the city's budget committee and was asked to run for council in 2006 Clark also has served with the League of Oregon Cities as chair of the Mid-Willamette Valley Council of Governments chair of the Salem Keizer Metropolitan Planning Organization and chair of the Mid-Willamette Valley Homelessness Alliance Clark said she wants Keizer to have a voice in the region and tell its own story before others tell it "We've been underselling ourselves for a long time so one of my big pushes as a mayor has been to elevate the profile of the Mid-Willamette Valley the second largest metro area in the state," she said "I just started pounding on that message: We matter to the state economy We matter for state infrastructure investment The Mid-Willamette Valley is a powerhouse that had Clark highlighted top issues like public safety land use and economic development as top accomplishments Keizer police had frozen positions and limited technology tools Clark said she’s worked to fully fund and staff the police She also highlighted her work to fund parks and replace worn-out playground equipment She said she’s worked to spur business growth and more housing options through economic development and updated land use codes and the River Cherry Overlay District is spurring new redevelopment." She wants any discussion about land use and expanding the Urban Growth Boundary to the north to be an open conversation with the public and stakeholders Clark said the city has continued updating zoning and codes to make it easier for property owners to develop or redevelop land for mixed-use more housing options and more business spaces She said she supports working with the community to plan for growth that does not create tax burdens for residents More information on Clark can be found at mayorcathyclark.com who served as Keizer mayor from 2000 to 2014 She has lived in the city for 37 years with her husband Her time in public service began when her son was 2 Living in a city with undeveloped parks and dismal playgrounds she said she had few places to take him to play outside Christopher joined the Parks Advisory Board and fought to bring in a young family's perspective "We've got to give something for families," she said When a position opened on the City Cuuncil in 1998 city leaders put both names in a bucket and drew out Christopher's name Her time as a city councilor turned into a successful run for mayor she retired from her job as a human resources administrator for the state of Oregon and served on the Keizer Public Arts Commission Keizer Heritage Foundation and Keizer Community Foundation Christopher said Keizer needs a proven leader to tackle challenges and highlighted her previous experience overseeing successful projects like Keizer Station and Keizer Rapids Park without incurring debt Keizer residents had no place to buy socks and underwear Keizer Station is a regional attraction with dozens of restaurants and stores that employ 4,000 people She said her work on Keizer Rapids required collaboration She said she decided to run for mayor again after being encouraged by other community leaders "There are four continuing city councilors and they've all endorsed me," Christopher said that's a vote of a lack of confidence in our current leadership and it's been difficult to get anything done and move things forward." She said she had an effective council when she was mayor and wants to keep leadership's focus local "You have to not take your eyes off the ball," Christopher said "Everything has got to be centered on the things that you want to accomplish for Keizer I think the continuing counselors want that They want to make a change in people's lives I want you to be happy that you're living in Keizer because of all the amenities that are available to you." Christopher said Clark's efforts to work on regional task forces is admirable but the focus of the mayor should be on the city "The role of the mayor is to take care of your city's needs first and move your city forward and make sure that your city is in a winning and prosperous situation," she said "I think that's why we're in some of the situation that we're in There's not enough time to do all of that outward-facing work and take care of the locally focused work that needs to be done." More information on Christopher can be found at christopherforkeizer.com How much money have the candidates running for Keizer mayor raised?In addition to the mayoral office, council positions 1, 2 and 3 are on the ballot Tammy Kunz and Marlene Parsons are running to replace departing councilor Laura Reid for position 1 Shaney Starr and Kyle Juran are running unopposed for reelection for positions 2 and 3 Dan Kohler and Starr have endorsed Christopher Clark's campaign reported $5,190 in contributions as of Oct Her biggest donors were individuals and C Clark Enterprises Her biggest donors were the Oregon Realtors Political Action Committee the Mid-Valley Affordable Housing Coalition and Friends of Danielle Bethell For questions, comments and news tips, email reporter Whitney Woodworth at wmwoodworth@statesmanjournal.com, call 503-910-6616 or follow on X @wmwoodworth Salem-Keizer Career Technical Education Center students Aspen McIntosh and Spencer Magann say they enjoy the school because of the real-world opportunities they are given The center educates juniors and seniors through hands-on learning in 10 specialized programs "(It) feels liberating to be more of your own person," Magann said CTEC had the highest sense of belonging out of all schools in the Salem-Keizer district Salem-Keizer Public Schools was the first school district in Oregon in 2018 to measure students' sense of belonging — an indicator of academic performance engagement and mental health — as a key performance metric Sense of belonging is the degree to which a student feels accepted Salem-Keizer's director of mental health and social-emotional learning Students who lack a sense of belonging may experience poor engagement Moore said when students feel like they belong they create a stronger community within schools have improved mental health and are more resilient Salem-Keizer measures students' sense of belonging by collecting data on their relationships with teachers respect felt by peers and how much they feel understood there is still more to do to reach annual targets students in grades 3-5 were below annual sense of belonging targets by two percentage points and have been since spring 2022 Students in grades 6-12 are below the annual sense of belonging targets by one percentage point a two percentage point decrease from spring 2023 Salem-Keizer Public Schools sense of belonging initiativesThe district created its equity office in 2016 to figure out ways to get students more involved in learning and boost their engagement performance and graduation rates after noticing disproportionate outcomes for underrepresented students Salem-Keizer partnered with Panorama Education to use their nationally benchmarked assessment survey system to track students' sense of belonging "Kids in our community have told us that we've needed to do better and I think that's really what launched us into that space," Moore said students are asked to give feedback on their experiences such as what they would like their teachers to know so they can figure out how better to help students learn Salem-Keizer schools have increased the number of counselors social workers and psychologists in the district while partnering with mental health-focused community agencies The district has also worked with affinity groups people brought together by a common goal or purpose to find ways schools can help them feel more represented The district also added clubs and a community resource specialist to work with students directly in focus groups The implementation of the affinity groups helped improve the sense of belonging for Pacific Islander students in 2024 Candalaria Elementary School students created a new culture center to help improve the sense of belonging in minority students "Sense of belonging is a district-wide endeavor," Moore said "It's every single department's work and lives in each of those schools." Salem-Keizer's Career Technical Education CenterWith 10 years of experience working with adolescents and young adults including three years as a social worker for Salem-Keizer Kelsie Wafer said young people's sense of belonging is a big success indicator She said when trying to improve sense of belonging the challenges could be getting students to leave their comfort zones building confidence and teachers adapting to students' constant changes in opinions McIntosh and Magann said CTEC gives them a stronger sense of belonging because it's easier to connect with people including one of Maslow's hierarchy of needs getting help for anxiety and "What you say in here stays in here." McIntosh said the sense of belonging she feels at CTEC helps her stay motivated with the support of other students When students feel safe and comfortable in school they can focus on classes and engage with the work Which Salem-Keizer schools have shown improved sense of belonging?In elementary schools Asian students and students with disabilities reported the highest sense of belonging in 2024 and nonbinary students reported sense of belonging more than 10 percentage points lower than other students Elementary schools that have improved sense of belonging since spring 2023 include Highland Elementary Four Corners Elementary and Bush Elementary Pacific Islander students and students with speech/language needs reported the highest sense of belonging in 2024 students with emotional and behavioral disorders and nonbinary students reported sense of belonging more than five percentage points lower than other students Secondary schools that have improved sense of belonging since spring 2023 include Stephens Middle School Judson Middle School and Parrish Middle School How Oregon tracks sense of belongingThe Oregon Department of Education began tracking sense of belonging data in 2020-2021 through the Student Educational Equity Development survey The survey went through a pilot period before it went live in 2023-2024 The SEED survey collects information on students' education experiences The survey gathers statewide data from students in grades 3-11 When House Bill 2656 went into effect in 2024 it took away school districts choice of offering SEED surveys to students and required them to make it available Students can choose to decline to participate The SEED survey is among ODE's initiatives that promote a sense of belonging What's next for sense of belonging initiatives in Salem-Keizer Public Schools?During a school board meeting at the end of 2024 Moore outlined initiatives that are in progress and next steps for the district Alexander Banks is an intern at the Statesman Journal. Reach him at abanks@statesmanjournal.com Brush College Elementary School Principal Jeannine Piscoran teachers and other staff greet all 254 students when they walk through the doors in the morning and Piscoran sometimes has lunch with students in her office or the lunchroom These are some ways the school is working to boost attendance rates Piscoran describes the effort as a "layered cake" of cultivating a sense of belonging connecting and building relationships with students recognizing and rewarding good behavior and communicating the impact of attendance to families The initiative resulted in a 15 percentage point jump — 64% to 79% — in regular attendance rates at the West Salem school from the 2022-2023 school year to 2023-2024 The Salem-Keizer School District in October 2024 launched the Attendance Matters campaign to combat chronic absenteeism and improve test performance as a byproduct 1 in chronic absenteeism — defined as students absent more than 18 days during the school year or two days each month — compared to the 10 largest districts in the state According to Oregon Department of Education data saw chronic absenteeism rates increase from 26% in 2019 to 48% in 2023 Chronic absenteeism is a challenge across Oregon "Oregon’s chronic absenteeism rate consistently ranks within the bottom 20% of states," according to the Oregon Department of Education lack of engagement and misconceptions contribute to chronic absenteeism The COVID-19 pandemic strengthened these factors and persists Data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress reported that fourth-grade and eighth-grade Oregon test scores ranked lower than the national average in reading and mathematics in 2022 Oregon is one of the worst states for declines in those subjects Salem-Keizer school board members discussed students' testing scores from the Oregon Statewide Assessment System during an October 2024 school board work session and how they compare to the district's annual targets: One month after Gov. Tina Kotek signed a proclamation declaring September 2024 as Attendance Awareness Month Salem-Keizer Public Schools issued a press release on "high-impact programs" to address declining statewide test results "We launched Attendance Matters to create community-wide awareness on the importance of regular school attendance and to support schools in the work they are already doing to improve attendance," said district spokesperson Aaron Harada "Our data shows that regular attenders are more likely to be proficient readers by the end of third grade more likely to be proficient at math in middle school and are also more likely to graduate," Harada said Salem-Keizer schools' outreach programs include meetings Some schools also celebrate regular attendance through events and prizes Teachers work with students and families to support them when they've missed assignments Harada said students who miss more than 10 consecutive days will be withdrawn from school but re-enrolled if they decide to return Brush College Principal Piscoran starts talking with families about the importance of attendance at kindergarten orientation She reviews daily and weekly attendance rates updates parents on any concerns and shares research on the impact of chronic absenteeism Piscoran and her staff use intentional language with students They don't question why a student came to school late They say they're glad the student made it to school Students are recognized and rewarded for good behavior through PAWS tickets The small ticket represents their bulldog mascot and is an acronym for practicing safety A blue ticket is given to an individual student while a red ticket is given to the classroom Students go to the Bulldog store twice a month to exchange their blue tickets for prizes Brush College also implemented a monthly attendance board at the beginning of the school year If a student has a regular attendance rate of 90% or better during the previous month their names are placed on a decorated board representing a theme "I think it's great for kids to be acknowledged for what they're doing well," Piscoran said A Keizer woman has been charged for a second time in connection to the murder of her 12-year-old son was arraigned Thursday in Marion County Circuit Court on charges of first-degree murder second-degree murder and two counts of first-degree criminal mistreatment Robertson was arrested in January 2017 after her son, Caden Berry, was found unresponsive in their Keizer apartment. Court documents show he was strangled. Robertson was initially charged with aggravated murder and murder by abuse The charges also allege that in 2015 she engaged in "a pattern and practice of assault or torture" of her other son Caden was the youngest of three children and was a seventh grader at Claggett Creek Middle School, according to his obituary. He enjoyed football, playing video games and catching Pokemon, his obituary said. Robertson's oldest son died by suicide in 2011 when he was 12 the court determined Robertson was not able to aid and assist in her trial and she was committed to the Oregon State Hospital Certified clinicians evaluated her several times and reported she was exhibiting "psychosis-like symptoms," according to court records Evaluators found she had a number of mental disorders borderline personality disorder and paranoid personality disorder The case was dismissed in April 2020 after it was determined Robertson was unlikely to regain capacity to stand trial She was committed to the Oregon State Hospital as an "extremely dangerous person," according to court documents Robertson has been moved back to Marion County Jail where she's being held without bail The Oregon Department of Human Services conducted a review of Caden's death that found systemic problems with the department's interactions with the family Six schools in the Salem-Keizer Public Schools will start using Yondr pouches for students' cellphones by the end of January as part of the district's cellphone ban aimed at fostering a more engaging and educational environment by reducing distractions "Yondr is one strategy that is available for our schools to support students sense of belonging and to improve student engagement," said district spokesperson Emily Reverman The first phase will be for pouches for students at Sprague and McKay high schools and Whiteaker, Straub, Houck, and Stephens middle schools, Reverman said. The $213,000 for the pouches will be funded through Oregon's Student Investment Account A district email sent to parents this month said additional schools will get Yondr pouches in the spring and fall of 2025 Reverman said the district policy regarding high school student phone usage will be updated to take the pouches into account Current policy states kindergarten through eighth grade students are prohibited from using cellphones during school High school students are allowed to use their cellphones during lunch and passing times Grant High School and Beaumont High School are among those that have purchased the pouches Yondr said they have partnered with thousands of schools across 27 countries with 65% to 83% of schools reporting improvement in student engagement Founder Graham Dugoni said the pouches were created for "phone-free spaces" where "creativity and productivity could flourish in the absence of technology." apple watches and other communication devices are placed in the pouch and sealed using a magnetized lock which can be opened with an unlocking base Students will receive their Yondr pouches when they get to school They are expected to keep the pouches with them and can get them unlocked at designated stations at the end of the day Students with medical needs or in a unique situation that requires access to their phones will coordinate with their teachers or administrators "Prior to having cell phones to get ahold of families there was the traditional method where they call the office," said Stephens Middle School Principal Ricardo Larios The pouches are an opportunity "to see the impact of what more focused students can look like," Larios said They are intended to increase a sense of belonging have present conversations and not think about their phone notifications In case of a "true emergency," students will be able to open the pouches There are little to no studies that examine the long-term effects that cellphone usage has on academic performance And the research is muddied because of differing parameters of what a cellphone ban looks like A study from 2016 found that banning cellphones has an effect on student academic performance but only by a standard deviation of 0.07 and driven by low-performing students The study was partly replicated in 2020 by Swedish researchers who found "no impact of mobile phone bans on student performance." A more recent study from 2024 concluded there is "little to no conclusive evidence" showing that cellphone bans in schools result in improvement in academic performance states there is "a significant lack of robust evidence on which to base sound decisions." A German study corroborated these findings but small effect," with the effects being more prevalent in the realm of social wellbeing than academic performance the study found that 29% of students still use their cellphone "The negative consequences of smartphone use often stem from unreflective and thoughtless engagement with these devices largely due to a lack of digital literacy among young people," the study states The researchers suggested there could be an effective alternative to cellphone bans: "By using smartphones constructively in education schools can foster responsible usage habits ensuring that students learn to leverage these digital devices effectively and safely as communication tools and information sources." Alexander Banks is an AAJA-SPJ reporting intern at the Statesman Journal. Reach him at abanks@statesmanjournal.com.