Sherwood School Board Recap | Sept. 15, 2025

Sherwood School Board talks cell phone ban, goals, calendar

SHERWOOD, Ore. — The Sherwood School Board resumed its regular monthly board meetings for the school year on September 15 after a summer hiatus since June 23.

Board Chair Harmony Carson, Board Vice Chair Abby Hawkins, and directors Matt Kaufman, Hans Moller, and Matt Thornton were all present.

Paige Squires, the 2025-26 school year Associated Student Body president, kicked off the meeting with an academic update.

“The new grading system is all in place,” Squires said. “We also have the new phone (ban) policy, so I’ve been noticing a really big improvement with how my peers are interacting with one another and how they’re able to go throughout their days longer in classes, talking to each other.”

The board unanimously passed the consent agenda, which included a financial summary of all of the district’s funds, personnel hires and resignations, an annual report on English learners’ data, fees for AP exams, and an agreement for irrigation services with Pacific Sports Turf. 

The board heard a first reading of a proposal to update policies, which includes board governance, administration, fiscal management, support services, personnel, instruction, students, and community relations. The policy updates are suggested by staff as recommendations from both district administration as well as the Oregon School Boards Association (OSBA).

Many of the updates are required by the OSBA such as nondiscrimination and civil rights, discrimination, Title IX, and sexual harassment. Each school district will need to adopt policy changes by October 31, and implement them by January 1, 2026.

There was no public comment.

Events

Homecoming is coming up September 27, with the theme “Adventure Awaits,” with a parade and float scheduled for September 26.

A blood drive is scheduled for October 7, and is completely open to the public.

The Sherwood High Band’s first competition is slated for October 11.

Squires said newly this year, student council members are taking on a suicide awareness fundraiser, planning a dinner on October 16.

The fall play, Hadestown, has performances slated for the Bowmen Theatre November 8-9 and 13-15.

Sherwood High’s a cappella musician group Mixolydians is slated to sing at the Sherwood Tree Lighting at the holiday festival on December 6.

The winter choir concert is scheduled for December 9.

Cell phone ban, enrollment

Aaron Downs, Sherwood School District Superintendent, gave an update that included how it’s going with the new high school cell phone ban and the district's student enrollment numbers.

“At the high school, this year we went cell phone-free,” Downs said. “We were already, for K-8, but now it will be for this year's sophomores through seniors. We want to say thank you to our students and to our families and staff for making that a success. My whole goal is to make new friends—I want friendships, and to build on the positive culture and hear the buzz in the building at lunch and at passing times.” 

Directors weighed in with their experiences of the cell phone ban from their student-age children, who they said are more engaged in their classes and are seeing positive results.

Downs said student enrollment is on track, even though they saw 421 seniors leaving last year and just 232 kindergarteners starting this year. 

“We are in much better shape than many of our colleagues because we landed right where we needed to with enrollment, so we’re appreciative that we’re still welcoming new families in,” Downs said.

Superintendent goals 

Downs laid out three top goals for the school year, as well as 12 board and superintendent shared commitments about why they’re here and working together.

The three goals include strengthening student achievement in early literacy and math, effective instruction, aligned curriculum, and timely support. He said he wants to maintain clear communication, shared expectations, and consistent collaboration. Third, Downs wants to develop student agency by expanding middle and high school learning environments to help students take ownership of their education.

Chair Carson said the goals are intended to tie into the theme of inspiring a joyful community of learners, and board members said they appreciated the robustness of the new goals.

The next school board meeting is scheduled for October 13. 

Watch the full school board meeting here.