Naselle board considers summit

Naselle school board members were honored for their service to district students at their meeting on February 16.

Elementary aged students made thank you cards and paper flower bouquets, while middle school students created thank you posters that were presented to the board at the meeting.

High School Treasurer Alan Erickson reported that the school would hold daily pep assemblies this past week to mark the kickoff of district basketball playoffs.

Board chair Hollis Fletcher brought up his idea of having a summit meeting between school board members and high school students in order for the students to learn more about the operation of the school and in order for the board members to understand more about the students impacted by their decisions.

Rudy Rudolph spoke about the proposed reductions in the number of Naselle Youth Camp residents and spoke in support of creating a one-year contract extension for employees until negotiations are concluded. Interim district superintendent Rick Pass explained that even if the teachers are not granted a contract extension, the current contract would automatically roll over to the next school year.

Debby Denny commented that she has heard that Castle Rock and Ilwaco have already finished negotiations and requested that the school board start negotiations with the teachers soon.

Pass noted the difficulties the board faces when negotiating the payment of its employees while legislation that might cut more school funding is still under consideration.

Board policy dictates that the school board must approve any donation to the school worth more than $100. The board acted to accept two such gifts--a donation of soil and water sampling kits from Michael and Diane O’Meagher and a 42” color TV from Barney and Jane Klinger.

Youth Camp School Principal Lisa Nelson reported that the school had entered lock down for six hours as part of a campus wide search for contraband.