Superintendent Newsletter
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We have officially crossed the halfway point of the school year, marking an important moment of reflection and planning across Coos Bay Schools. Our students have completed the first semester, and our staff are now carefully analyzing performance data to help shape a strong and responsive second semester for students and families.
At the elementary level, Middle of the Year (MOY) assessments have been completed, while our junior high and high schools are focusing on student passing rates, on-track-to-graduate data, and overall attendance trends. At all levels, attendance continues to be a key area of focus. This information will be shared with both our Board and families in February as part of our commitment to transparency and continuous improvement.
I strongly value a growth mindset in both my personal and professional life, and as we begin the second half of the year, I look forward to setting goals with our staff and students that emphasize progress, reflection, and ongoing improvement.
Gary Roberts
Superintendent
Coos Bay Public Schools
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The Coos Bay School District invites the community to a special presentation regarding the potential nomination of the Marshfield High School Complex to the National Register of Historic Places.
Join experts from the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department to learn about the nomination process and the benefits of achieving this prestigious national recognition.
This is a wonderful opportunity to share your local history and ask questions about honoring this Coos Bay landmark.
Event Details
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As superintendent, the feedback of our community and families is essential to the direction and success of our schools.
To support open dialogue, I will be hosting a series of town hall meetings in February and March. During these meetings, I will share information about district data, our budget, and future priorities, and I will also provide time for questions and comments from those in attendance. I look forward to hearing from our community and learning from your perspectives as we continue shaping the future of our schools together.
Town Hall Details
Sunset School Library (245 S Cammann St)
February 11th
6:00-7:00pm
Coos Bay Fire Department (450 Elrod Ave)
February 18th
6:00-7:00pm
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We have one more Coffee with the Superintendent coming up, and I invite you to join me for a conversation about our district and your ideas for continued improvement. This is a great opportunity to share your thoughts, ask questions, and connect in an informal setting.
Coffee with the Superintendent Details
Ladybread Bakery (63345 Boat Basin Rd, Charleston)
February 11th
8:00-9:30am
Additional Coffee with the Superintendent gatherings are being planned, and we will share dates, times, and locations with the community soon
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We are currently seeing a high number of students out sick. To help keep everyone healthy, please keep your child home if they have a fever (100.4°F or higher), vomiting, diarrhea, a persistent cough, sore throat, or are feeling too unwell to participate in school. Students should remain home until they are fever-free for at least 24 hours without medication and symptoms are improving. Thank you for helping to reduce the spread of illness and protect our school community.
In addition, Immunization exclusion time is approaching. To prevent any disruption to your child’s attendance, please ensure all required immunization records are up to date and submitted by the deadline of February 25th. Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our school community healthy.
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Attendance has taken a bit of a hit in January for students and staff alike, with the increased illness coming back from holiday break. We have seen our regular attender rate drop to around 65% for the school year. As you are aware, the Oregon Department of Education identifies a regular attender as a student who attends 90% or more of the school year. For CBSD, this means a student who misses less than 18 days over the school year. 18 days may not seem like a lot, but is approximately a month of lost instruction. As we move into February and our string of illness improves, we are hopeful that our regular attender number will rebound. Please see information from ODE on attendance and our district nurses about when to keep kids at home. |
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As I stated in the intro, we are half way through the school and are analyzing data. I wanted to take the moment to highlight some positive growth |
At the state level, the graduation rate increased by 1.5%, reaching 83%. Locally, we saw encouraging growth across our schools and student groups.
Marshfield High School increased its graduation rate by 6% from the previous year, reaching 75% for the 2024–2025 school year. Within that data, several highlights stand out:
- Students experiencing poverty saw nearly a 10% increase in graduation rates
- Students with disabilities increased by 3%
- Students participating in Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses graduated at a rate of 87%
Destinations Academy also showed strong growth, increasing its graduation rate by 8%, with an all-time historic graduation rate of 87% of students in this cohort earning a diploma. This rate is amongst the highest in the state of Oregon for alternative education programs and is a testament to the staff and students who have created an amazing environment at Destinations! Additionally, the graduation rate for students experiencing poverty increased by 8%, reaching 81% and CTE participants had a 92% graduation rate.
These gains reflect the collective efforts of staff across our district; certified, classified staff, administrators, and support teams who work every day to remove barriers, build relationships, and support students on their path toward life after high school. Your work helps ensure students are prepared for one of our three E’s: Enrolled, Enlisted, or Employed.
While there is still work ahead, I am proud of the progress we are making together and grateful for your continued commitment to our students and community. Thank you for the role you play in bettering the lives of the students we serve.
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Overall, our students have seen a 7% increase of students who have tested at or above benchmark level in our Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS) Assessment. The term “benchmark” is a measure to guage proficiency for that grade level in reading. Our kindergarten students saw a 25% growth in students at benchmark, and students in grades 1-6 all averaged nearly 5% growth.
In math, our elementary students saw 19% growth in students that are at or above benchmark. This is the second year of our implementation of the Savvas Math Curriculum and the effect has been measurable and outstanding. Our 3rd grade students have seen largest growth,with a 29% improvement. The data for our kindergarten and 1st grade students show how the long term exposure to solid core curriculum can support student growth, with 52% of students at benchmark, and another 20% of students approaching benchmark.
As a district, we will continue to be committed to providing students the solid foundation to achieve success, including outstanding staff, solid core curriculum, and interventions and enrichment to maximize growth.
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Coos Bay’s connection to Japan has never felt stronger, bridging both art and industry. Recently, fourth-grade students at Sunset School participated in a beautiful cultural exchange by crafting traditional Japanese fans with art inspired by Coos Bay. These handmade treasures will be featured in the Coos Art Museum's Student Biennial Exhibition beginning February 6th alongside fans sent from student's of our Sister City, Choshi, Japan, to Coos Bay in October of 2025. After the event the fans crafted by Coos Bay Students will be sent across the Pacific as a gesture of friendship. Thank you to Mrs. Hanlin, the staff members of the Coos Art Museum, and City Counselors Sara Stephens and Jacob Niebergall for assisting in this project!
This cultural bond is mirrored by our local economy. Several representatives from Elleair (Daio Paper Corporation), a Japanese company that utilizes wood chips shipped directly from the Port of Coos Bay, recently visited the school district. They came to share the final paper products created from our local timber, bringing the "wood products story" full circle for our community.
Whether through the hands of our students or the global reach of our timber industry, the bridge between Coos Bay and Japan continues to flourish.
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