Plant site, athletic fields occupy school board

The Wahkiakum School Board met May 21 to discuss land options and athletic fields.

Mayor Dick Swart told the board he has commissioned an appraisal of the town hall/library building. An initial report suggests the building is not satisfactory for current or any intended use. A final report is expected in about four weeks.

He said he wanted to give the board a heads up that they should expect an invitation to a town hall discussion about what should be done with the building.

Swart also asked the board to reconsider the location of an easement that connects the school district logging road with the new wastewater treatment site.

According to a memorandum distributed by Swart, one of the reasons for the request “is that the proposed access road alignment would make use of an old, apparently well-established logging road right of way that was revealed when the alder trees and underbrush were removed by the district in recent weeks.”

Swart presented a drawing he received from the engineering firm of Gray and Osborne showing both the existing easement and the proposed road.

“The proposed 30 foot wide access road…is approximately 500 feet NE of the existing agreed upon easement,” Swart said.

He asked the board to keep in mind the town is not able to advise at this time what impact the proposed road may have on the future use of the land.

Depending on what the land use will be, he said, the board may not think it is a good idea. While there is no immediate rush, Swart said he would like to have an indication soon because preliminary design work would need to be approved and submitted by August 11.

Board chair Lee Tischer said they would need to talk to the Agriculture (AG) advisory committee to see what their take on the issue would be. Superintendent Bob Garrett said he believed that Kyle Hurley would be able to get the group together before the end of the school year.

Tischer said if the AG advisory said nay on the issue, there would be no point in moving forward, and Garrett added because it is a real estate issue, it would need to be taken into executive session to discuss if it is something to even consider.

In other business, Maintenance Supervisor Bob McClintock and community member Tim Abena discussed with the board the athletic fields and what needs to be done to preserve them. McClintock said it is their goal to make the fields more playable, and they need to purchase some equipment to do the work. He said they would need to aerate the fields and apply sand for a root system.

Abena said because he is still owed for equipment purchases made for the school, he would gift the amount if he were to be granted more time to purchase a sand applying machine.

“This is a very, very essential piece of equipment,” he said.

Maintaining fields is a complex job, he said. All of the equipment can be used on the other fields as well. Board member Willie Johnson moved and Tina Schubert seconded that they would set $15,000 aside for the fields. It passed unanimously.

“We will find the best deal that will work for us,” Abena said.

In the past, students participating in athletics have received a free physical from the clinic, but this year they will no longer offer that as an option. Top cost of a physical could be as much as $170. At that cost, Garrett told the board, students should not be required to obtain an annual physical but a bi-annual.

Drs. Paul Schneider and Keith Wright will be offering free physicals on Saturday, May 31. Garrett said he would like to change the requirement for two years, depending on the complexity of the physical.

A “well child” physical would last 24 months, while a “limited” would only last for one year. If the opportunity is missed, students will either have to schedule an appointment or wait to see if a second date for a free physical is added.

Wahkiakum High Principal Loren Davis announced the students of the month for April. KLOG/Lion’s Club Senior was Kyle Thelander. He said Associated Student Body (ASB) elections were held and went well.

Andrew Weiler was selected as president, Vice President Cody Olsen, Secretary Paige Kehrli, Treasurer Jordyn Wirkkala, Assistant Treasurer Halie Boyce, and Public Relations Officer Kari Schillios.

Graduation is June 13 at 7:30 p.m., and Baccalaureate will be June 12 at 7:30 p.m.

Julius A. Wendt Elementary/John C. Thomas Middle School Principal Theresa Libby said her students had their ASB elections recently as well. She said it was a really positive experience and she was really proud of all involved. President will be Lars Blix, Vice President Kennedy Jacobs, Secretary Madison LaBerge, and Treasurer Kyler McKinley.

The eighth grade moving up ceremony and Kindergarten graduation will both take place on June 11. Morning Kindergarteners will graduate at 10:15 a.m. and afternoon will have their turn at 2:15 p.m.

Both ceremonies will be held in the elementary multi-purpose room. In order to accommodate those who wish to attend Baccalaureate, the moving up ceremony will be at 6:30 p.m. in the middle school gym.

Libby said there are new things planned for seventh grade electives next year. She said they are hoping to get students involved in a student store, community service and a keyboarding class.

The next school board meeting will be held June 18.