A note from the Superintendent,

I want to take a moment to reaffirm our district’s commitment to ensuring that every student, family member, and staff member feels safe, valued, and supported in our schools.

Klamath Falls City Schools is dedicated to following all District policies, as well as State and Federal laws, to protect the rights, privacy, and safety of those we serve.

If our district receives a request for student or family information from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), we will immediately notify our district legal counsel. No information or documents will be shared unless directed to do so by our legal counsel.

Under Oregon’s sanctuary laws, public schools and school employees are prohibited from providing information or assistance to immigration officials in the enforcement of federal civil immigration laws, except in the following limited circumstances:

When required by a judicial subpoena issued as part of a court proceeding; or

When the requested information is already available to the general public (for example, information designated as “directory information” under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act).

ICE agents are not permitted to enter schools, district offices, or school buses to question or take custody of students, parents, or visitors unless they present a valid judicial warrant that has been reviewed and verified by the district’s legal counsel.

These protections apply to all KFCS campuses, facilities, and transportation services. Our top priority remains creating a safe, inclusive, and welcoming environment for every student and family in our district.

Thank you for your continued trust and partnership in supporting our schools and community.

Regards,

Keith A. Brown

Ponderosa Middle School seventh grader Lilly Jannicelli has been selected to join the Oregon Music Educators Association (OMEA) Middle School All-State Choir. Jannicelli is among the first Ponderosa choir students in recent memory to be selected for all-state.

This January, Jannicelli will travel to Eugene where she will join other talented middle school singers from across the state for several days of rehearsals and a culminating performance.

The audition process can be daunting. Students had to learn the song, Dona Nobis Pacem and record themselves singing it a cappella, and in a quiet space.

“The process started when my choir teacher (KFCS choir instructor Perry Dean) told us about the opportunity and said he really wanted someone from Ponderosa to audition,” Jannicelli said. “I was freaking out because I was so excited. I looked it up and saw that about 400 to 500 students auditioned, so I felt really proud I made it in.”

While this is Jannicelli’s first year in choir, she’s already found her voice as a performer. Her passion for singing began last school year when she performed a solo in the Ponderosa talent show, singing Bruno Mars’ “Die with a Smile.”

“That was kind of the beginning of it all for me,” Jannicelli said. “It was really scary performing alone, but afterward, people told me I should join choir. That experience gave me confidence and made me realize I really love to sing.”

In addition to choir, Jannicelli has been part of orchestra for three years. She said balancing both has been rewarding, though scheduling can be tricky with health and PE requirements and will not be able to continue in choir next semester but would like to sing in choir at Klamath Union High School.

“I’ve always liked singing, but I think my family’s support really pushed me to believe I could do it and that I’m capable,” Jannicelli said.

Jannicelli wants her experience to inspire other students at Ponderosa to take chances and explore their talents.

“I hope this kind of starts a trend. I want other students to feel like they can put themselves out there, too. You never know what could happen unless you try,” Jannicelli said. “They even mentioned it on the morning announcements, and one of my teachers gave me a balloon and chocolate. It made me feel really special.”

Students across Klamath Falls City Schools joined in the Oregon Crunch 2025, biting into locally grown carrots at the same time as schools across the state, and even the nation. The event, known as Oregon Crunch-At-Once, celebrates National Farm to School Month, highlighting healthy eating and local agriculture.

A big thank you to our KFCS child nutrition team and cafeteria staff, as well as Klamath Grown for sourcing fresh carrots from two local farms for this year’s crunch!

Oregon Farm to School Network Klamath Grown #OregonCrunch #FarmToSchool #OregonCrunch2025

📣 Join Our District Equity Committee (DEC)! 🌟

We’re excited to announce that Klamath Falls City Schools is now accepting nomination applications for the 2025–26 District Equity Committee (DEC) , a team dedicated to ensuring every student in our schools is seen, supported, and set up for success.

👥 Who We’re Looking For:
We’re seeking 5–10 individuals who reflect the diversity of our community — including parents/guardians, community members, students, and staff. You can also nominate someone you think would be a great fit!

💡 What the DEC Does:
✅ Advises the School Board and Superintendent on equity-related issues and district decisions
✅ Elevates the voices of historically underserved students and families
✅ Provides recommendations and insights to help guide policy and practice
✅ Meets regularly throughout the school year (once a month)

📅 First meeting: November 2025

Your voice matters — and together, we can make sure Klamath Falls City Schools is welcoming, equitable, and empowering for all students.

📍 Apply or nominate today from the link below: 

A cozy morning at Conger Elementary 🍽️

As custom, students made their way to school through the brisk morning air and were greeted with warm smiles from teachers at their classroom doors.

Inside, kindergartners and first graders enjoyed a tasty breakfast made by the kind, welcoming Conger cafeteria staff, which included French toast, eggs, cereal, fruit and juice, the perfect way to start the day! 🥞☀️

KFCS Board of Education

Andrea Jensen, Zone 1, Roosevelt - andrea.jensen@kfcityschools.org

Andrew Biggs, Zone 2, At-Large - andrew.biggs@kfcityschools.org

Vanessa Bennett, Zone 3, Conger - vanessa.bennett@kfcityschools.org

Kathy Hewitt, Zone 4, Mills - kathy.hewitt@kfcityschools.org

Trina Perez, Zone 5, Pelican - trina.perez@kfcityschools.org

Kelsey Bitzer, Zone 6, At-Large - Kelsey.bitzer@kfcityschools.org

Nicole Trejo, Zone 7 At-Large - Nicole.trejo@kfcityschools.org