Staying busy in the heat of summer!

McKinney Elementary visit: I visited the McKinney Elementary STEM Summer School program in Hillsboro. This program has been happening for 5 years and is an 8-week program that brings students together for reading, writing, math support and a daily STEM project. McKinney students can self-select to attend if they choose and teachers can also recommend those that need extra support to prevent the summer slide. After school, students can enjoy a free lunch in the park supplied by the free summer lunch program.

Camp Eagle: On July 25th, I attended Camp EAGLE for the second straight year. This is a summer camp for youth who are experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity. The city of Hillsboro hosts this event with partners from around the community coming together to make this three days of fun! I did a project with the kids where they identify a problem they see in the community, and then discuss among their peers the best possible solutions to those problems. I always enjoy doing this exercise with kids because it portrays their community awareness, their lens of experience, as well as, the innovative solutions that they come up with.

Dispatch Center Visit: I went on a tour of the Washington County Consolidated Communications Agency (WCCCA). These are the people on the other end of a 911 call. They are the 1st of our 1st responder team. Their well-being and support for the stress they can face is important. Location accuracy for the growing use of wireless technology is critical to pinpoint the area that needs service in a timely manner. It was a true pleasure to visit the facility. I look forward to seeing their new location when they move to House District 30 in 2020. 

Meeting with Sheriff Pat Garrett and Deputy Talbot: I had a great meeting with Sheriff Garrett and Deputy Talbot. They gave me an update on what is happening in Washington County and how specific policies are impacting their work. I appreciate that I can go to them for feedback on potential legislation and the strong partnership we’ve been able to create, and I look forward receiving the agency update and taking a tour next month with colleagues.

Orenco 20 is Plenty Group: I met with a local group of concerned constituents who are passionate about having safe neighborhoods and protecting our historical conservation district, known as Old Orenco. They have been advocating at the city level for a permanent change to the speed limits in Old Orenco to help keep children and the community safe as Hillsboro continues to grow. Some of those roads are narrow and they do not have sidewalks. I appreciate that they came to me to discuss the idea of change, and I am excited to see what type of progress will be made in the coming months with their concerns.

Meeting with HSD Nurses & visiting the Extended School Year School at Quatama Elementary: I met with some of Hillsboro School District nurses in July and they shared about their increased workloads with growing number of students with needs they serve and programs that spread across Hillsboro during the school year. It is critical that we look for ways to address our nursing and counselor shortage in Oregon. I realize that since 2008, that HSD has cut nearly 69 million dollars from their budget, but we must draw attention to this need and look to revenue reform to make strong investments in education. Thank you to Hillsboro School Board members, Martin Granum and Mark Watson for joining me on the school tour at Quatama Elementary School.

Clean Energy Jobs Update: I recently attended a policy briefing on Clean Energy Jobs. This policy work has been in the works for over a decade, and the conversations are finally gaining momentum. I appreciated the update and having a chance to ask questions, and I will support legislation that protects our environment for future generations, provides workforce training and investments in renewables. Click here for updates!