Schools prepare for new year

Wahkiakum School District faculty and staff are readying to begin the new school year on September 4, school board members heard Tuesday.

Monday was move-in day for Wahkiakum High School, said Principal Stephanie Leitz. Over the summer, the building was closed for asbestos tile removal, lighting replacement, and floor resurfacing. New Student Orientation will be August 29 at 7 p.m.

Welcome Back Night is scheduled for August 29 at 6 p.m. for John C. Thomas Middle School and August 30 at 6 p.m. for J.A. Wendt Elementary School. Parents will have the opportunity to purchase school supply packets, school t-shirts, and add funds to lunch accounts during the elementary school event, said Principal Theresa Libby.

Leitz briefed the board on changes to online course offerings. Online learning is no longer referred to as ALE (Alternative Learning Experience) and students are no longer required to complete online coursework while off campus. Instead, students taking online courses will report to the library during their designated period. They will be supervised by Library Aide Joyce Wilson.

Also new this year is a required application to enroll in online courses. These forms are available on the school district website (http://www.wahksd.k12.wa.us) or can be picked up at the high school office. They are due by August 28, Leitz emphasized.

Parent Wendy Blix asked if student athletes would be able to work on online coursework during the football team’s 40-minute study period. Yes, Leitz said, since the library will be staffed during that time.

Superintendent Bob Garrett announced the end of the district’s Migrant Program due to financial cutbacks. The program had received an annual allocation of approximately $30,000 in previous years. Over the summer, Garrett received notice that the allocation would drop to $8,000 for the school year, not enough to cover the costs associated with the program.

Garrett also announced that the state funding for Wahkiakum students enrolled in a transitional special education program would go to the Evergreen School District this school year, a requirement to continue with the program. Educational Service District #112 pays for a paraeducator to drive the students to the program site in Kelso using a Wahkiakum School District vehicle.

Garrett and Libby met with representatives from the Northwest Accreditation Commission earlier this week. The organization recently affiliated with AdvancED, an international accrediting body. The program transition may provide the school district with the opportunity to participate as a pilot school in their revamped accreditation process. The Northwest Accreditation Commission representatives will visit again in September with more information, Garrett said.

“The timing on this is actually perfect,” commented Garrett, referencing the pilot project and the potential to use the district’s new late-start teacher collaboration time to complete required self-study.

The board accepted the retirement of Migrant Program Coordinator Marilyn Gatens, who had been with the district 21 years. She and District Clerk JoAnne Nortrup, who is also retiring after a long tenure with the district, will be recognized at a staff celebration on August 30.