Roseburg Schools, Cow Creek Tribe Expand Partnership to Support Students

ROSEBURG, Ore. — Roseburg Schools and the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians are expanding their partnership with new investments in student opportunities, Tribal language education and support for Native students and families.

The Roseburg School Board approved the expanded partnership on June 10.

The agreement includes a $500,000 commitment from the Tribe over the next 10 years to support improvements and ongoing maintenance at the Roseburg High School Sports Complex. The funding will help with athletic facility improvements, along with student learning opportunities tied to the complex.

Roseburg Schools Superintendent Jared Cordon said the district is grateful for the Tribe’s continued support.

“The Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians has been an extraordinary partner to our schools, our students and our community,” Cordon said. “These efforts demonstrate what is possible when we work together with mutual respect and a shared vision for the future.”

The partnership also includes a new Takelma language proficiency pathway. Through the program, students will be able to earn high school world language credit by demonstrating proficiency in Takelma, the ancestral language of the Tribe. Students who meet the required standards may also qualify for Oregon’s State Seal of Biliteracy.

Tribal leaders said the language program is part of a broader effort to support education while helping preserve and revitalize Tribal culture.

“One of the pillars by which the Cow Creek Umpqua Tribe makes decisions for our next seven generations is the idea that educational pathways create healthy, independent and fulfilling lives,” Cow Creek Umpqua Chairman Carla Keene said.

Keene said local students are the future of the community, and that Roseburg Schools has played an important role in helping prepare young people for success.

“Partnering with Roseburg Schools on these initiatives and learning from their leadership will be a transformational step forward for our youth,” Keene said.

Roseburg Schools and the Tribe are also continuing their work through Oregon’s Tribal Attendance Promising Practices program, known as TAPP. Roseburg Schools is one of nine districts in the state selected for the program.

TAPP focuses on improving attendance, strengthening relationships between schools and Tribal families, and creating culturally responsive support systems for Native students. The program is built around cooperation between school districts and Tribal governments, with the goal of removing barriers to attendance and helping students stay connected at school.

District officials said the expanded partnership reflects a shared commitment to students, families, cultural preservation and future generations in the Roseburg community.