School Board Backs Armstrong Decision To Reject Shelter For The Unhoused

District 21 Superintendent Candy Armstrong said she rejected a proposal from Gorge Outreach to operate a shelter for the unhoused at the Wahtonka High School Campus during a virtual board meeting on Friday night.

The request for the shelter was prompted by the Covid-19 virus. People without houses have no static location to self-quarantine. And without it, infected individuals could transmit the disease to others.

“Even if they camp or stay in their cars illegally, they don't have a way to stock up on supplies or food for more than a few days at a time -- which means they're constantly back out in public,” wrote City Councilor Darcy Long-Curtiss in a recent Facebook post. That in turn, puts them back in public spaces where they are more likely to have contact with others.

After hearing Armstong’s explanation, board members said they either agreed with Armstong’s decision or made no comment to the contrary.

Armstrong said there were several reasons for the decision, including lack of insurance and safety for employees. But the edge of her argument landed on the idea that school funding could be cut if the shelter were allowed.

Schools receive $10,000 per student but are required to meet specific criteria to receive the funding. To this point, Armstrong said the district must provide meals to students receiving free or reduced lunch. The Wahtonka High School will now be a production site for food, Armstrong said.

Board member Solea Kabakov asked Armstrong if the district had a suitable space for a shelter if the situation elevated.

“I do not at this point,” Armstong said.

Board member Rebecca Thistlethwaite said hotels are better and safer to quarantine infected people without houses. “To me that seems the ideal solution,” she said, pointing out hotels have separate bathrooms. “Thanks for explaining your rationale,” she told Armstrong. “I believe it is sound.”

MORE ON GORGE OUTREACH

Gorge Outreach is operated under Community Action Partnership of Oregon. Partners in the program include City of Hood River, Hood River County Health Department, Providence Hospital, Hood River Hotel, Columbia Gorge Food Bank, FISH Food Bank, Hood River Shelter Services and St. Vincent DePaul. The goal is to support unhoused individuals and families in the Mid-Columbia so they can practice social distancing and reduced infection and transmission of COVID-19.

STILL MAKING CONNECTIONS/ SE HABLA ESPAÑOL

Armstrong said the district is set to go online with classes on Monday, but some students still need to get connected via computers and internet. Additional computers will be checked out on Monday. She said front office staff at school can receive school phone calls at home now and secretaries fluent in Spanish will be available to help.

VIRTUAL COMMENT

School Board members expressed concern about transparency and losing connection with their constituents. All meetings are now held via video conferencing. The Board agreed to take all public comments via email and make them part of the school board information that is distributed to them prior to meetings.