Naselle school board hears varied reports

The Naselle-Grays River Valley School Board met on May 18 and heard reports from students and staff.

Middle school student Katie Olsen announced that eighth grade move-up will be on June 14 at 6 p.m. and all are invited to attend.

District Business Manager Jon Tienhaara reported that current enrollment stands at 308.5 full time students and the district’s reserves are at $618,251. May was the first month that the school received money from local property taxes, said Tienhaara..

Principal Karen Wirkkala announced that Naselle Middle School was awarded the 2009 Washington Achievement Award because the students tested within the top 5 percent overall last year.

Youth Camp School Principal Lisa Nelson shared that the youth camp currently houses 88 residents and that by September the youth camp will primarily house former residents from Maple Lane, a juvenile correctional facility near Centralia that will be closing due to budget cuts.

Nelson explained that housing residents from Maple Lane would require changes to camp security policies since the youth camp is a minimum-security facility whereas Maple Lane is a medium security facility.

The board went into an executive session regarding the lawsuit against them. After they returned from the session they announced that attorney Don Austin will be representing them in the upcoming trial.