Davis resigning as WHS principal

The Wahkiakum School District board of directors struggled with several decisions at their monthly meeting last week.

After approving the minutes of their last meeting and their agenda, the board considered and passed Resolution 210051910.

“We talked about this last month,” said School Superintendent Bob Garrett. “This resolution creates low monetary recognition awards for students doing good citizen type things.”

In new business, Garrett announced needed upgrades to the school’s technology base.

“We estimate it will be somewhere between $50,000 and $60,000 dollars worth of upgrades to the school’s tech equipment over the next three years,” said Garrett.

Garrett said the school had to have the paperwork for the tech upgrade endorsed by the board before the school could be reimbursed by the federal government. A motion was made and adopted to accept the school’s technology upgrade plan.

Garrett informed the board that for the 2010-2011 school year, teachers want the first day of school changed from August 31 to September 1.

“We’re also considering changing the days for mid-winter break but because we don’t have enough information about the changes to regional basketball playoffs we’re going to leave the break as it is for now. But we might need to come back later in the year and change it,” said Garrett.

High School Principal Loren Davis gave a report on the changing nature of math instruction. He said the school’s math books for grades 6-12 are badly out of date.

“We are currently using the Saxon math curriculum, which is out of date,” said Davis.

Davis said state graduation standards were changing. The current Saxon curriculum taught in school would put students behind in their ability to pass the state testing requirements at the end of the year.

He said that teachers were recommending the more integrated learning approach offered by the Holt curriculum and said the cost to switch to the new math books would be about $22,250.

“This way students will start with algebra in the sixth grade and as they move up through the grades learn calculus and geometry by graduation,” he said.

School Board Member Lee Tischer moved to accept the recommendation of switching 6-12 grades to the Holt math curriculum. The motion passed.

Garrett also announced that Principal Davis is resigning at the end of June. Earlier, Davis told The Eagle he was moving to Clover Park Technical College near Lakewood where he will direct several of the school’s youth and adult programs.

Garrett said that with Davis leaving, he was not interested in standing in as the temporary principal.

“What I’m recommending,” said Garrett, “is we take this next year to figure out what we want, administratively.

“What I’d like to do, is list the position and see if we can find someone local."

The candidate could work under Garrett's or Wendt Elementary School Theresa Libby’s certificates for one year.

The discussion then turned to reinstating the 20 percent pay cut the school’s coaches took last year to save many of the school’s extra curricular programs.

“We don’t have to decide this tonight, but this is the last school board meeting until school starts next year,” said Garrett.

He also indicated some of the less popular sports programs might be cut, which means the coaches for those sports will no longer be needed.

After a lengthy discussion, directors said they need time to think about reinstating coach’s pay cuts. They moved to hold a special meeting on May 27 (today) to decide the fate of the less popular sports classes and coaches teaching those classes. The board indicated they would also decide whether or not to increase the school’s pay-to-play fee at the same time.

High School graduation is June 7. School ends June 14 at 11:30 a.m..