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The political, societal and economic challenges confronting public education in the Rogue Valley and across the state will take some elbow grease to solve.

Gov. Tina Kotek, following a bitter Portland teachers strike, called for task forces to find solutions for strained school systems under significant stress.

“From (educator) salaries not staying competitive with the market, to backlogs in facility maintenance, to classroom disruptions related to the behavioral health needs of students,” Kotek said late last month, “we clearly have work to do.”

While not as adversarial as the Portland stalemate, or even the 2014 strike that closed city schools for 16 days, negotiations continue for a new contract between the Medford School District and the Medford Educators Association.

“While there are still differences in our proposals, we are pleased to continue to have important conversations as we work towards completing this process,” read an MSD website statement following a Dec. 5 bargaining session. “We continue to be hopeful to have an agreement by the new year.”

That would be a welcome relief for all involved — particularly given that state Republicans have teachers unions in their sights, calling for legislation that would bar strikes.

“This is (children’s) time in school,” said Rep. Christine Goodwin, R-Canyonville, whose district stretches into Jackson County. “This should not be a time for the unions to play their games with education.”

One issue on which the district and educators are working together involves what has been called an escalation of violent behavior by elementary school students — a trend that has been growing nationally as well.

“We have been supporting teachers and training, but we could do more,” Medford Deputy Superintendent Jeanne Grazioli said at a recent hearing, “especially our newest teachers … (who) may not have all the tools necessary to handle the most challenging student behaviors.”

Other area school districts also are at significant crossroads as they tackle fundamental changes.

In Central Point, Crater High School’s three smaller, goal-oriented academies are being phased out after 16 years — to be replaced by a unified school, led by a single, yet-to-be-hired principal.

Supt. Walt Davenport said the early success of the academies approach had eventually exposed shortcomings and “it’s just time to reevaluate.”

For a school whose motto is “Where Tradition Meets Innovation,” however, it would be advisable that advantages that grew out of the academies be integrated into the reimagined high school.

Over in Ashland, meanwhile, the search to replace retiring superintendent Samuel Bogdanove entered a new phase as the district advertised to fill a 12-person Community Interview Panel to screen applicants.

Union and district representatives, students, parents and community members will be selected to participate in the panel, which is scheduled to begin its work next month.

Although tempting to suggest that getting a dozen Ashland residents to agree on anything is a challenge in itself, the diversity of the panel is a welcome signal that the district knows the importance of this hiring.

All of this is set against a backdrop that sees Jackson County has the third-highest rate in the state for students who are either unhoused on in unstable situations — a “mind-boggling” challenge for all involved, according to Supt. Brent Barry of the Phoenix-Talent School District. 

To echo Kotek’s words, local school districts clearly have their work cut out for them.