TRIBE SAYS KEEP SILETZ SCHOOL OPEN

SILETZ, Ore. — The Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians is calling on the Lincoln County School District to keep Siletz Valley School as a traditional district school.

In a statement this week, the tribe said it has provided more than $7.06 million in charitable donations to the K-12 charter since it was signed in 2003, along with programming, cultural integration, volunteers and facility support. A substantial proportion of the school’s 188 students are Siletz Tribal members, and more than 65% are Indigenous.

“Removing critical educational resources from the Siletz community and forcing students to access those resources elsewhere is not a viable path forward from the tribe’s perspective,” the statement said. “Bussing our schoolchildren out of the community is not the option.”

The tribe has advocated for local education in Siletz for decades. It opposed the district’s 1983 closure of Siletz High School. The original buildings, constructed in 1934, received limited updates under prior district oversight, the tribe said.

Tribal leaders acknowledged recent efforts to rebuild trust and build partnership with the district under the leadership of former Superintendent Dr. Karen Gray and current Superintendent Dr. Majalise Tolan, but urged the district to take full responsibility for the school, including reintegration.

Students, families and tribal members packed special public hearings March 31 and April 2 to support keeping the school open. Eighth-grader Mayci Rilatos told the board she can learn her culture at Siletz Valley School.

Lincoln County School District ranks in the bottom 50% of Oregon public schools. Districtwide math and reading proficiency scores are below state averages. On Niche’s 2026 rankings, LCSD placed 41st of 137 for best districts for athletes, 77th of 144 for most diverse and 87th of 143 for best teachers.

The district has cited compliance issues with the charter agreement. School officials said most have been addressed.

The Lincoln County School District board is scheduled to vote on the charter’s future April 14.