Columbia Gorge Education Service District (CGESD) will have five positions up for election in May and is seeking candidates for the open seats. CGESD’s region covers Hood River and Wasco counties, with some regional programs extending into Gilliam, Sherman, and Wheeler counties in partnership with North Central ESD.
CGESD is one of 19 Education Service Districts across the state of Oregon. In Oregon, ESDs are largely state fund and are governed by an elected board, just like school districts and community college districts. ESDs work with school districts to create an annual service plan which includes, at a minimum, technology services, special education administration, and business services. Additional services depend on community needs and available funding.
ESDs often operate behind the scenes from the general public, providing specialized regional services to school districts. CGESD is known for a wide array of services in the Gorge, including:
Technology services for all school districts in Wasco County.
Early Intervention and Early Childhood Special Education services in Wasco County.
Sunshine Preschool and Sunshine Bilingue in The Dalles.
Migrant Education in Wasco County.
Native American Liaison Services in Wasco and Hood River Counties.
21st Century Extended day/year academic enrichment programming in North Wasco County School District and Dufur School District.
McKinney Vento homeless program for Wasco and Hood River counties.
School Nursing Services in Hood River and Sherman Counties.
School Safety and Prevention Leadership in the Gorge and beyond.
Regional Educator Network to support recruitment and retention of teachers.
Mentorship of new teachers and administrators in North Wasco County School District.
Trainings for educators in Hood River and Wasco Counties.
Regional STEM Hub across the five county region, focusing on career connected learning and STEM literacy from preschool through high school.
Regional Early Learning and Parenting Hub across the five county region.
Zones on the ballot in the May 2023 election include 1 and 3 in Wasco County, 5 and 6 in Hood River County, and 4 (at large). Interested candidates must be a registered voter a