Superintendent's Update

2026-27 Proposed Budget

The Centennial School District Budget Committee recently received the proposed budget for the upcoming school year. This proposal reflects a focus on sustaining current programs and services while addressing the gap between projected revenues and increasing costs.

Like most districts, we are navigating financial pressures that require careful planning. While state funding for public education has increased, it is not keeping pace with rising expenditures. To address this, we are utilizing a strategic drawdown of reserves and other cost management strategies as part of a planned and sustainable approach. Throughout this process, we remain focused on instruction and student support, aligned with the priorities in Roadmap '27.

You can view the proposed budget and read my full Budget message here. To watch the April 22 Budget Committee meeting, click here.

The next Budget Committee meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, May 27, 2026. We look forward to working with our Budget Committee as we complete the budget development process for the 2026-2027 school year.

Ratified Contract with the Centennial Education Association

Finally, as a brief update, the District and Centennial Education Association have now fully ratified a successor collective bargaining agreement. This concludes the bargaining process for this cycle and provides a foundation for our continued work together in support of students.

Thank you for your continued partnership and commitment to our students and schools. Let's make these final weeks of the school year a strong finish for everyone.

As a reminder, there is no school for students on Monday, May 4, 2026. The District Office will be open on this date. Centennial School District staff should refer to their work calendars to confirm their work schedules.

May 1 is School Lunch Hero Day. This day celebrates the important role of our Dining Services staff members. These everyday heroes provide healthy meals for all Centennial students, supporting learning and making a difference for our schools. Thank you to all of our Centennial School Lunch Heroes!

Next week is Teacher and Licensed Appreciation Week, an opportunity to recognize the important work of our licensed educators across the District. This includes teachers and the many other licensed professionals who support students each day. Together, they play a central role in student learning, growth, and well-being.

The Centennial School Board has formally recognized the contributions of our licensed staff through a special proclamation, which you can view here.

We encourage you to take a moment next week to thank the educators who have supported your school or your child's experience.

Emily Rios has been selected as the new Assistant Principal of Centennial High School, and will begin serving in this role on July 1, 2026.

Emily brings over 16 years of experience in education, including her current role as Assistant Principal of Curriculum and Instruction at Ironwood Ridge High School in Arizona. In her work, she has led efforts in instructional leadership, strategic planning, staff evaluation, and building systems that support strong academic outcomes and equitable practices.

She is known for her focus on building strong relationships with students, staff, families, and the community, while creating inclusive and student-centered learning environments. Emily has experience supporting special education, ELD programs, and counseling teams, and has served as a Title IX investigator, reinforcing safe and supportive school environments for all students.

Emily is bilingual in English and Spanish and brings a strong commitment to equity, culturally responsive practices, and community engagement. Her background also includes leadership in professional development, curriculum design, and collaborative systems that improve teaching and learning.

Emily is relocating to the Portland area and is excited to join the Centennial community. She is eager to partner with students, staff, families, and the community to continue building on the strong work already happening at CHS.

Last year, our District put together a cohesive process to engage stakeholders and develop the work our of Profile of a Centennial Graduate, part of our Roadmap '27 strategic plan. To begin implementation of this work, this year each school selected a program or activity to pilot aligned with the objectives of the Profile.

As these pilot projects come to completion, we are excited to announce that our participating students will be highlighting their projects in our upcoming Profile of a Centennial Graduate Student Summits. These Summits will showcase student learning from the pilot projects, presented from the students themselves.

Elementary Summit

Tuesday, May 19 - 10am-1pm

Pleasant Valley Elementary

Secondary (Middle/High School) Summit

Thursday, May 28 - 10am-1pm

Centennial High School

We encourage parents/caretakers, family members, and community members to attend our Summits. Attendees will view student presentations and provide feedback to help expand student learning and engagement.

Space is limited, so please use the form linked below to RSVP to one or both of our Summit events. Thank you for your support of our Centennial Students.

Don't miss the Connect to Kindergarten event, happening Thursday, May 7, 2026 at all Centennial School District elementary schools.

5:00-6:00pm – School tours

6:00-7:00pm – Online registration assistance available (optional)

Not sure which elementary school your child will attend? Click the link below to identify your elementary school based on your home address, or call 503-760-7990 for assistance.

There's still time to apply for 2026-2027 preschool openings in the Centennial School District!

Our preschool offerings at our elementary schools are available through our partnership with Multnomah County's Preschool for All program. Families interested in applying for a Centennial School District preschool slot for the 2026-2027 school year can visit the Preschool for All website to learn more about the application process.

May 14, 2026 is the deadline to complete the Preschool for All family application for the 2026-2027. Children must be 3 or 4 years old on or before September 1st and must live in Multnomah County to be eligible for the Preschool for All program.

For additional questions about Centennial's preschool offerings in the 2026-2027 school year, please contact centennialpreschool@csd28j.org.

You're invited to the 2026 Centennial Bike Fair, happening on Friday, May 29, 2:45-5:45pm at Parklane Elementary School (15811 SE Main Street). This free, all-ages event is open to all members of the Centennial community. Activities include bike riding lessons, a skills course, safety stations, bike repairs, and even a free helmet.

This event is part of our Safe Routes to Schools program, and is hosted in coordination with our partners at the Portland Bureau of Transportation, Portland Metro, Portland By Cycle, and the Community Cycling Center. Please join us for this exciting community event!

To view this flyer in Spanish, Russian, Arabic, Chinese, Vietnamese, or Somali, click here.