Naselle board hears concerns of teachers

The Naselle-Grays River School Board listened to staff reports and heard from a representative of the bargaining group for local teachers at their meeting October 19.

Tim Kopp, president of the Naselle-Grays River Education Association which represents the teachers that work in the district, spoke about in-process contract negotiations for next year.

He reported that he will be stepping back from the negotiations process for teachers Rudy Rudolph, Mitzi Hunter, and Brian Macy to take over. Kopp clarified that teachers in the district are aware that money is tight but would like to highlight for the board some issues that the education association has noticed over the past couple years.

Kopp said insurance premiums have been going up, learning improvement days have been removed from the schedule, cost of living allowances approved by voters have not been implemented, and they’ve lost some technical support positions. He said by his count, the district is down by 3-4 positions from several years.

Assistant Principal Jon Tienhaara reported the third grade class is now using technology to talk to students in Ohio through an “e-pal” service and the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction has contacted him about doing a possible study on the effectiveness of Ipad technology in the education of the freshman and sophomore classes.

Principal Karen Wirkkala informed the board that a drug dog from the Pacific County Sheriff’s Office will be in the school on November 4 for an assembly and that the school will hold a Veterans Day assembly on November 10.

Board members approved an $800 donation to the Network for Excellence in Washington Schools to assist in their work to advocate for school funding.