In this message:
• Calendar Change: Monday, October 18 will be a no-school day for students 
• Job Fair: Learn more about 4J school support positions at virtual event tonight 
• Bus Drivers Needed: Route cancelations are possible as staff shortage grows
• Budget Committee: Applicants sought for three openings on community panel
• Your Bond $$ at Work: Camas Ridge school design and other bond updates
• Join Team Eugene: Serve our local youth and community, apply for 4J jobs

Calendar Change: No-School Day October 18

Families asked to plan ahead for vaccine mandate transition day

4J schools will be closed on Monday, October 18. This will be a staff work day and students will not attend school. The 4J school board approved the calendar change on October 6.

The calendar change is for two purposes: The day will provide some critically needed transition time to address program shifts, staff departures, reassignments, leaves and other accommodations related to the statewide vaccine mandate that is effective October 18. The day also will provide planning, preparation and catch-up time for teachers and other staff to address potential student quarantines and other COVID-specific needs, along with their regular work.

To free up more time for staff to address COVID-related needs, the district also is pausing all staff training until January. Professional learning is important, but 4J's top priorities right now must be COVID safety, care and connection.

4J Job Fair Tonight: Join Team Eugene

Virtual info session: Learn about open positions, ways to support schools, find out what it takes to get hired, and get help to apply 

Do you want to help kids and your community? Consider working with 4J! We're holding a virtual job fair on Zoom this evening to share information and answer questions about job openings.

TONIGHT: 4J Virtual Job Fair
Thursday, October 7, 5:30–6:30 p.m.
Drop in at this Zoom link

The district has many part-time and full-time school support staff positions open, including classroom and cafeteria assistants, custodians, bus drivers and aides, nurses, and more. Some positions offer evening hours or part-time school day schedules, to fit your life and responsibilities.

Drop in to the job fair to learn about jobs supporting schools and what might be a fit for you. District staff will talk about open positions, what they involve and what it takes to get hired, answer your questions, and help with your application. We look forward to seeing you at the job fair!

School Bus Route Cancelations Possible

Driver shortage continues to grow • Families of regular riders will be offered reimbursement if their bus service must be canceled 

Eugene School District 4J’s ability to provide student transportation services is temporarily limited due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Like many other school districts and other employers, the district is facing monumental labor shortages.

The shortage of bus drivers is extreme and expanding, despite significant efforts to optimize efficiencies and recruit and retain staff. The district has consolidated routes and rerouted students as much as possible to stretch our limited resources. Currently, just to have enough qualified drivers to transport students on our consolidated routes, our transportation trainers, routers, mechanics and managers are driving bus routes every day, in addition to their normal job responsibilities.

Some bus routes may need to be canceled, if the district becomes unable to continue providing bus service to all routes during this emergency period.

Families whose students regularly ride the school bus in an area where routes are canceled may request reimbursement for transporting their students to school. Reimbursement will be available by invitation to regular riders on selected bus routes, and will continue until the district is able to return bus service to the area.

If your student’s bus route is canceled, you will be contacted about the cancelation and how to request reimbursement for transporting your student, or request other support if transportation is an extreme hardship for your family situation.

Families are encouraged to walk, bike, or carpool to school. 4J's Safe Routes to School coordinator can help with route finding for active and shared transportation. All 4J students also can get a free LTD bus pass.

If you or someone you know is a safe driver, who likes working with kids and supporting our community, applications for bus driver positions are open now! No bus driving experience or special license is needed to get hired; the district will provide paid training and support to get licensed.

Thank you for your support and understanding as we continue to navigate these difficult times. We appreciate your helping us to get all students to school, where we can provide the teaching and learning environment they need to be successful.

Apply Now to Serve on Budget Committee

Applications sought for 3 openings on panel that annually reviews 4J's spending plans to support and educate students

The district is inviting applications for three openings on its volunteer budget committee. Residents interested in serving on the committee should apply by Wednesday, October 13, at 5 p.m.

The budget committee reviews annual budget proposals to ensure that the district is planning to spend money in furtherance of district goals. The committee examines the proposed budget, listens to community comments, and then approves the budget and property tax rates and forwards them to the school board for adoption.

By Oregon law, applicants must be registered voters who live in Eugene School District 4J, and may not be employed by 4J. Positions are non-partisan and unpaid.