We're Not Going Into Lockdown Over Rumors: Inside Salem-Keizer's Biggest Challenges

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