District overview
North Wasco County School District 21
Funding structure, how it compares to peers, and where major projects stand.
Who runs North Wasco County School District 21, and how is it paid for?
North Wasco County School District 21 runs the public schools in The Dalles and nearby rural north Wasco County. A board of directors elected by zone in Oregon's May district elections sets policy, adopts the budget and hires the superintendent, Dr. Carolyn Bernal. Money comes mainly from the State School Fund, plus local property taxes and grants such as the Student Investment Account.
Budget of about $65 million
The board adopted $65,104,541 for 2026-27 in June 2026.
Monthly meetings on Thursdays
Regular meetings are usually the third or fourth Thursday at 6 pm at The Dalles Middle School, with work sessions in between; all are livestreamed.
Seats filled by appointment
Two directors resigned in 2026 and the board appointed replacements for Zones 2 and 3.
Raises through 2027
Union contracts ratified in January 2026 give raises in 2025-26 and 2026-27.
Because only videos are collected, details from agendas, packets and minutes (such as contract amounts and vote tallies) are missing here. That is a gap in what we can collect, not evidence of a problem.
Where the district stands
Heard in the June 2026 meeting video (resolution 26-27-01).
November 2025-October 2026.
Major projects
Facility assessment and long-range facilities plan
under wayA firm was selected in August 2026; the contract cap was raised to $95,000 in September.
- Firm selected
- Cap raised from $80,000 to $95,000
Funding
Not stated
District strategic plan through 2032
startingUp to $50,000 in grant funds approved in October 2026 for a consultant.
- Consultant spending approved
Funding
Intensive program grant
Recent news
View the news feed →Resources
Practical guides to school phone policies, district budgets, and administrator hiring.
Explore resources →Built from the board's livestream recordings on the official D21 Media Channel (YouTube), November 2025-October 2026. Agendas and minutes are on BoardBook, which we do not collect from, and the district website blocked our collector.
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