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Eugene School District 4J

Equity. Excellence. Innovation.

NEW! Co-Location of Camas Ridge & Family School

Co-Location of Camas Ridge & Family School

photo of front entrance of camas ridge

 

Family School will co-locate with Camas Ridge Community School at Cama Ridge’s current building along 30th Avenue starting in the fall of 2026.

The school board unanimously approved the co-location at its meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 4, as it authorized a final phase of budget cuts to close a projected $30 million shortfall for the 2026-27 school year. District staff will now work on next steps for co-location, including devising a transition committee that will include staff and families from both schools, and choosing a new principal for the campus. 
 

Learn More About Co-Location

 

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Why Co-Location?

Fiscal Reality:

  • Both schools are under-enrolled and operating them with separate administrative teams is not financially sustainable
  • Co-location redirects that savings into classrooms

Building Stewardship

  • The Camas Ridge school building cost $35 milllion in bond proceeds approved by local voters and paid for by local taxpayers. It is currently operating at less than half capacity.
  • Co-location maximizes the public investment wihout closing programs.

Program Preservation

  • Family School, 4J’s lone remaining alternative program at the elementary level, is vulnerable due to declining enrollment and district-wide budget reductions.
  • Co-location is the only viable path for Family School to continue operating long-term.

What Has
Been Decided

What’s Left
to Decide
  • The two programs will remain distinct; co-locating is not merging. Camas Ridge remains a neighborhood school and Family School remains an alternative elementary program
  • One principal will lead the shared campus and administer the two schools equally
  • Detailed schedules
  • Exact use of shared spaces
  • Staffing assignments beyond known educator-to-student ratio
  • Degree of students from two programs interacting during first year

Co-Location Transition Committee Updates

  • MEETING RECAP AND KEY POINTS

    The primary goal of this initial meeting was to establish the committee's foundation and begin addressing some logistical and cultural shifts required for the 2026–27 school year.

    Committee Charter: The committee is an advisory body designed to guide the successful co-location of Camas Ridge and Family School. We reviewed the committee’s purpose and scope, which includes advising on logistical planning, fostering a shared campus culture, and ensuring clear communication with our broader community.

    Critical Areas of Focus: The group reviewed the previously identified nine critical areas of focus where planning is critical to building trust, including student belonging, program identity, and operational safety.

    Communication Strategy: The committee plans to use the central co-location website and a dedicated email (information@4j.lane.edu) to manage questions families and staff may have and to provide updates throughout this process.

    Logistical Discussions: The meeting initiated a preliminary dive into "Staggered Times vs. Same Start/End Times". This included discussing the pros and cons of maintaining a staggered schedule or considering having the same start and end times for both programs.

    Campus Integration: A campus tour was conducted to help the Transition Team visualize purposeful placement of space. It was noted that while some spaces like the Life Skills classroom will remain in their current location, as this is a purpose built space, other areas may be reimagined to support both programs.

    Looking Ahead: We are committed to transparency and will continue to share updates following our sessions. To that end, the committee has earmarked the following dates for our upcoming meetings:

    • Tuesday, April 14
    • Tuesday, April 21
    • Thursday, May 7
    • Wednesday, May 20

    We are energized by the spirit of collaboration shown in our first meeting. While we know that change brings many questions, we are confident that by working together, we can create a vibrant, inclusive, and supportive environment for all our students.

    Lastly, it was shared with the committee that the district expects to announce the appointment of the principal for the co-located campus by Friday, April 10, 2026.

    Thank you for your ongoing support of our students and staff.

    Sincerely,
    Camas Ridge and Family School Co-location Transition Committee Members

Camas Ridge Co-Located Campus Leadership

The principal has been chosen for 2026-27 for the co-located campus at Camas Ridge Community School: Carlos Sequeira. A portrait of Principal Carlos Sequeira

Principal Sequeira is a scholar and deep thinker, a strong communicator and empathetic listener. He comes to school each day striving to make student connections and help each student feel like they belong. He leads with a strong moral compass. 

He has most recently served as assistant principal at Spencer Butte Middle School since 2023. Before that, starting in 2016 he was assistant superintendent and executive director of school improvement at Lane Education Service District. His career includes distinguished school and system leadership posts with Bethel School District, and Sherwood, Wilsonville and Liberty high schools in the Portland area. Holding a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Oregon, he has excelled in strengthening structures that support all students.

Principal Sequeira has met with staff members at both Camas Ridge and Family School, and looks forward to informal opportunities to connect with students and families in the weeks and months ahead in the lead-up to next school year. Heartfelt thanks to Principal Hobie Blackhorn at Camas Ridge Community School and Principal Teresa Martindale for all the amazing work they’ve done in supporting students, staff and families at their schools. 

Principal Carlos Sequeira shares his excitement for the coming year

It is a great honor to serve as the principal of our newly co-located school community, bringing together Camas Ridge Community School and Family School. I step into this role recognizing that this transition brings a mix of emotions for many families, staff, and students. The decision to bring two school communities together under one roof was difficult for many, and I want to begin by acknowledging that change can feel both uncertain and personal. My commitment is to lead with empathy, listen carefully, and help our community move forward together with clarity, respect, and shared purpose. Carlos Sequeira on a hike in a field in front of mountains, holding a camera

I believe strong schools are built on relationships. Schools thrive when students, families, and educators feel connected, valued, and heard. My role as principal is to help strengthen those connections so that both school communities feel respected as we build something new together. I am a firm believer that trust can only grow through open communication, consistency, and a willingness to listen to one another’s perspectives. 

In my first months as principal, my focus will be on listening and learning. I look forward to spending time with students, staff, and families to understand what you value most about your school community, what concerns you may have during this transition, and what hopes you hold for the future. You will see me regularly in classrooms, at arrival and dismissal, and at school events as I work to learn from and connect with our community.

As we move forward, we will intentionally honor the traditions and strengths of both Camas Ridge and Family School while also creating new shared traditions. Each community brings unique values, practices, and experiences that, when combined, can enrich our school in meaningful ways. By bringing the best of both communities together, we have the opportunity to build something stronger, an inclusive, welcoming environment where every student feels a true sense of belonging and pride in their school.

I am deeply committed to partnering with families and staff to ensure every child feels safe, supported, and connected to their school. I recognize that this transition will take time, but through respect, care, and collaboration, we can build a strong and unified community.

I invite all members of our community (families, staff, and students) to be part of this work. Your voice and partnership are essential as we shape the future of our school and create a place where everyone feels a true sense of belonging.

Carlos Sequeira, Principal

Frequently Asked Questions

Have additional questions about the co-location of Camas Ridge and Family School? Email your questions to information@4j.lane.edu.

  • Family School will be co-located at Camas Ridge Community School for the start of the 2026-27 school year, in September 2026.

  • Family School’s classrooms will be packed and moved by district staff and contractors during the summer of 2026, with Family School’s spaces in the building ready for teachers, support staff and parents in August 2026.

  • The new principal for the co-located campus at Camas Ridge is Carlos Sequeira, announced on April 10, 2026. Principal Sequeira met with staff from Camas Ridge and Family School that afternoon, and a message about his appointment and his background was sent the same day to all parents and staff at the two schools. He will meet informally with families and staff during the spring when possible, before assuming the new leadership role on July 1, 2026. 

    Principal Sequeira has most recently served as assistant principal at Spencer Butte Middle School since 2023, and before that has held various school- and system-leadership roles in the Eugene and Portland areas. 

  • The Co-location Transition Committee, with diverse membership from families and staff at Camas Ridge and Family School, serves as a vital advisory body to district leadership. 

    During and after spring 2026, members will collaborate on key elements of the move, including:

    • Shared Spaces: Designing how we utilize common areas to benefit all students
    • Community Building: Planning events and traditions that bring our families together
    • Logistics: Advising on the practical "day-to-day" flow of a co-located campus

    The Co-location Transition Committee held its first meeting April 1, and notes from its meetings are posted on the Co-location web page.

    • Some parents at Camas Ridge have expressed concern about the difference in the vaccination rates for Camas Ridge and Family School. They've shared a worry that Family School's lower rate would introduce a risk to medically fragile students at Camas Ridge.
    • Oregon law provides for families to exempt students from vaccine requirements essentially at-will, not just for documented religious beliefs. School districts may not require students with exemptions to be vaccinated in order to attend public school. 4J follows state law for vaccination exclusion rules, and works with Lane County Public Health on health advisories and prevention and response to outbreaks of common childhood communicable diseases.
    • Vaccination rates by school, and percentages of students with exemptions, are published on the 4J web site. That information is required to be collected each year and reported to the state, and shared with school communities. 
    • The available data is from last year, 2024-25. Immunization data for 2025-26 is incomplete, and families have until the February 25 exclusion date to provide that information to schools. Vaccination and exemption rates by school will be available later in the year.
    • In 2024-25 data, Camas Ridge has a 97% rate for all state-required vaccines. Family School has an 82% rate. When the 2024-25 populations of the two schools are combined, the whole group has a 92.86% rate. 
    • The combined rate for Measles, Mumps and Rubella (known as MMR) is 92.6%, which is below the herd immunity standard of 95% for MMR. The combined rate for pertussis is 92.3%, on the low end of the preferred range of 92-94% for herd immunity for pertussis. 
    • "Medically fragile" is a broad term for students with widely varying serious medical conditions that require special considerations for their safe participation in public school settings. Not all of these students would be exceptionally vulnerable to certain communicable diseases or would have challenges being vaccinated. 4J works with each student's particular needs and consults with families and local support resources (including Lane County Public Health) as appropriate to devise and provide in-school care. Each vulnerable student would have an appropriate prevention strategy for communicable disease and other risks they face in a school setting.
    • For various reasons, vaccination rates vary from school to school. Many 4J elementary schools have rates for all state-required vaccines at 95-97%. However, many schools at all levels are in the 91-94% range for all vaccines and are just below the herd immunity thresholds for individual diseases. Despite that, outbreaks remain uncommon. 
    • In the event of a communicable disease outbreak in our community, we work closely with Lane County Public Health. Recommended safety measures could include keeping anyone unvaccinated or vulnerable home from school. This could happen at any school site in 4J if an outbreak were to occur. This has already been standard practice as the district follows guidance from LCPH.