Programs at Shasta Elementary, Mazama High highlighted on tour
April 25, 2025 / About 12 members of the Oregon Legislature’s Joint Ways and Means Committee visited KCSD schools April 25, before hosting a two-hour public hearing at the Klamath Community College campus to listen to testimony regarding state funding for various projects.
The K-12 education-focused stops highlighted KCSD programs and included visits to Shasta Elementary School and Mazama High School. KCSD Superintendent Glen Szymoniak led the tour, assisted by students, teachers, and administrators at both schools.
Traveling on a KCSD activity bus, the group first toured Kingsley Field and Oregon Tech, then visited Shasta Elementary, where they observed small-group instruction in classrooms led by Jessica Mason and Dena Morosin. They also spoke with students building wind turbines in Kathryn Johnson’s project-based STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) class. The district implemented project-based learning and small-group instruction two years ago to better engage students, address individual learning needs, and boost test scores.
At Mazama High School, the committee learned about the school’s community partnerships, innovative programs, career pathway options, and opportunities for dual-credit and pre-apprenticeship experiences that prepare students for life after graduation.
Health Occupations students Dominic Melgoza, Kai Hunt, Mada Lee, and Brissa Mares shared their experiences and future plans and answered questions from the lawmakers. Brian Fix, chief human resources officer at Sky Lakes Medical Center, talked about the district’s partnership with Sky Lakes Medical Center, which provides opportunities including apprenticeships, hands-on job shadowing, and a earn-to-learn program.
Students in Mazama’s education pathway program — Kaylee Christensen, Callie Newsome, Lauryn Boozer, Emily Wegat, and Isabella Morrow — spoke about their coursework in teaching and early childhood education. Through this program, students earn dual-credit and can obtain a paraeducator certificate from Klamath Community College.
Meanwhile, students in KCSD’s Bridges program, housed at Mazama, took coffee orders and served drinks at the Klamath County Transition Program’s Jo2Go counter. Committee members also enjoyed an afternoon snack of biscuits and gravy, made with pork provided by Lost River Junior/Senior High School’s FFA program. The locally raised pork was served districtwide on Thursday as part of the Farm to School featured food initiative.
Superintendent Szymoniak presented each committee member with a dozen eggs from Lost River’s agricultural science and FFA chickens. The FFA program sells the eggs at a local grocery store and supplies them to their school’s cafeteria.
The 23-member Joint Ways and Means Committee oversees the state budget. Its subcommittees cover capital construction, education, general government, human services, natural resources, public safety, transportation, and economic development.
