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HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons hosts the most downloaded sports podcast of all time, with a rotating crew of celebrities, athletes, and media staples, as well as mainstays like Cousin Sal, Joe House, and a slew of other friends and family members who always happen to be suspiciously available.
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Welcome to this episode of What's Happening Salem!
Jacob Espinoza sits down with Andrea, the superintendent of Salem-Keizer School District, to dive deep into the challenges and opportunities facing our schools.
In this candid conversation, they discuss:
- The Budget Crisis: A $25 million budget reduction looming for Salem-Keizer schools—and what it means for your kids' education
- Immigration and School Safety: How the district is protecting all students while navigating complex enforcement issues in our community
- The Attendance Crisis: Why fewer kids are showing up to school post-pandemic and what needs to change
- Test Score Progress: The encouraging momentum shift in reading and math scores across grade levels
- Cell Phone Pouches: The surprisingly successful policy transforming classrooms and teacher morale
- Building School Culture: Why sports and music matter more than budget cuts might suggest
Andrea shares what it takes to keep schools focused amid external pressures, the five district priorities driving real change, and why celebrating small wins creates momentum for bigger transformations. Jacob and Andrea also touch on the importance of community reset around school attendance, measuring success beyond just graduation rates, and procedural justice in how we enforce policies.
Whether you're a parent, educator, or concerned community member, this episode offers insight into the decisions shaping Salem-Keizer schools and the vision guiding the district through challenging times.
Timestamps:
00:02 - Introduction and Thanksgiving chat
02:41 - The $25 million budget reduction explained
05:39 - How school funding actually works
08:10 - Immigration enforcement and school safety
16:01 - District priorities and keeping focus amid chaos
18:21 - The attendance crisis and what's changed
25:52 - Measuring real student success
32:21 - Test scores heading in the right direction
38:46 - Cell phone pouches and classroom transformation
45:03 - Questions from the community
65 episodes
