REPORTS TO THE BOARD

Human Resources Report

To: Asha Riley

From: Vicky Barnes

Date: November 5, 2025

Subject: Human Resources and Communications Report

Human Resources Report

New Certificated Employee Onboarding & Support Initiative

I have been working to gather direct feedback from our 26 new certificated hires regarding their initial experience with the district. The goal is to ensure we are effectively meeting the needs of our newest team members.

• Process: Each new hire received a detailed survey covering the onboarding process and their current feelings of support. This is followed by a 15-minute, one-on-one interview to discuss their responses, gather deeper insights, and identify specific areas for support.
• Next Steps: The compiled information and resulting recommendations will be shared with all building principals to better inform supervisory practices and ensure a consistent, supportive environment across the district.

Professional Development and Compliance Training

In October, I attended a comprehensive law conference designed for educational Human Resources professionals. This training represents a crucial investment in maintaining district compliance and mitigating risk.

• Key Focus Areas: The pre-conference session provided valuable instruction on best practices for internal investigations. The remaining sessions focused on current legal requirements and strategies essential for effective and compliant HR operations.
• Investment: The Risk Management department demonstrated its commitment to this expertise by covering half the cost of the conference, recognizing its value as a proactive measure for the district. I appreciate the district's support in providing this essential professional development.

Communications Report

Extended Learning Opportunity Spotlight

In a recent Riley Report, the focus was on our commitment to hands-on learning and personalized instruction. Superintendent Riley recently engaged directly with a teacher and student in an Extended Learning Opportunity.

• The video is available on the Superintendent's webpage and captures Superintendent Riley learning about a hands-on opportunity for students at Columbia Elementary.
• This initiative underscores the district's focus on active, project-based learning and the value of having district leadership directly involved in the student experience.

Woodland Public Schools continues to build on a foundation of excellence, with ten recent articles showcasing the diverse achievements and positive initiatives happening across the district.

This substantial number of positive media features demonstrates the widespread impact of our staff's hard work and the strong support we receive from our community.

• Woodland High School 9th Graders Exceed State Average in Course Passage Rates: Highlighting the academic success of our ninth-graders.
• Yale Elementary School’s Garden: A Community-Powered Learning Space: Parents and community members created a garden at Yale.
• Get Ready to Make Some Noise! Pep Band Returns to Football Games: With the return of levy dollars and the ability to hire a band teacher pep band is back!
• Da Vinci Inspires Flight: Columbia Elementary 4th Grade Hi-Cap Class Engineers Parachutes: Hands-on project-based learning for fourth-grade Hi-Cap students.
• Woodland School District Welcomes Officer Roberto Cuneta as New School Resource Officer: The collaboration of the city, the police department, and the school district brought our first SRO.
• Empowering Math Instruction: Elementary Teachers Dive into Foundational Concepts: A glimpse into how our elementary teachers spent their professional development day.
• The Arts are Back at Yale!: Yale students now have both art and music for students which will be shared at their Veterans Day Assembly.
• Parent-Teacher Conferences Set for Next Week at Woodland Public Schools:  An overview of the parent-teacher conferences by building.
• Career Ready Programs: Preparing Students for Life After Graduation: Expansion of career ready programs.
• Woodland Athletics Are Back in Full Swing: The return of levy funds has transformed athletics in the WMS and WHS.