Director Brennan told the North Wasco County SD 21 board during a March work session that the district is completing a two‑year integrated guidance application to the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) that will cover multiple federal and state programs for the 2025–27 biennium.

The plan matters because it consolidates previously separate grant applications into one integrated application intended to align programs with the district’s strategic goals. “Integrated guidance is we're on the... 2 year biennium where we have to submit an application to ODE,” Director Brennan said, adding that the planning team is preparing draft materials in March and will finalize by April for submission.

The nut graf: the single application is meant to improve coordination across Title programs, career and technical education, early literacy and other funding streams so school strategies align with district priorities and ODE expectations.

Most important details: Brennan presented a calendar of planning meetings the executive cabinet set for Feb. 20, March 6, March 12, April 3 and April 10 as part of the application writing and review process. She said the integrated guidance plan will be a two‑year plan covering 2025–27 and that the cabinet will review and prioritize strategies before submission.

Brennan also described an ODE monitoring cycle. She said the district completed a self‑assessment in December, held an initial meeting with ODE staff in January, submitted requested materials “last week,” and expects a follow‑up meeting in March with an on‑site visit in April or May. “Monitoring also informs the technical assistance activities and resources ODE will develop,” she said, describing the monitoring as collaborative.

Board members asked how frequently districts are monitored; Brennan replied that desk monitoring is a regular cycle — about every three years — and that North Wasco’s inclusion in the more in‑depth cycle resulted in selection for an on‑site visit. She warned the district may receive corrective actions for some programs, noting Title I required follow‑up last year and “I suspect that will be the case again this year.”

One concrete compliance gap she reported: district records did not show schoolwide Title I plans at the elementary schools. Brennan said elementary principals and teacher teams began building those plans this week with ODE support. “We can openly say that we know that our schools didn't have school wide Title I plans, or at least there is not a record of it,” she said. She added ODE emphasized collaboration over punishment and offered assistance to ensure compliance going forward.

Timing and next steps: Brennan said the integrated guidance team will share a draft in March for board feedback and submit the application to ODE in April. ODE monitoring follow‑up meetings are expected in March and an on‑site visit in April or May; specific dates were not yet set.

Board members pressed on monitoring consequences and cost. Brennan and other staff said ODE’s approach is primarily corrective and supportive rather than punitive, and that fiscal penalties were not the state’s stated objective; potential increased costs from required changes are “very unlikely,” she said.

Ending: The board received the update and had no formal action. Staff said they will return with the draft integrated guidance application in March and will keep the board informed about any ODE findings and required corrective actions.