School board works on varied business

The Wahkiakum School District Board of Directors met on Tuesday for regular business.

After hearing the maintenance department’s pleas for a new lawn mower, the board authorized the school to declare an Husqvarna O-Turn mower as surplus to be sold and to purchase a 2010 John Deere 1445 with a collection system for $18,500 that will also allow the mower to pick up clippings and thus maintain healthier lawns and fields.

Superintendent Bob Garrett reported that the school’s enrollment had increased by two students since February.

Following a proposal by Director Tim Hanigan, Garrett asked for feedback from the other directors on how they would like to move forward in a review of the school district’s policy manual, which hasn’t been updated in some time.

Wanting to be involved, Director Tina Schubert suggested that they work through sections of the manual together as a team.

Garrett gave a quick update of the school garden.

“All I know is this has moved way faster than we sort of might expect,” he said. “Sheila Mace has done a ton of legwork; she has found volunteers. Adrianne Hiatt, the new garden coordinator, and her husband, Matt, have agreed to donate the materials for the tool shed, and Matt is going to build it. The property is a small piece next to the tennis courts.

“Both of the principals are supportive of the project,” Garrett continued. “I think it’s a great opportunity for a community partnership and additional instructional lessons for the students. We are all in favor of moving forward.”

Mace introduced the new garden coordinators, Hiatt and Robin Westphall, to the board and shared some thoughts.

“Across the nation, schools are doing this with great results,” Mace said. “Students who are not academic or sports inclined are finding themselves. Kids are learning about nutrition. Everything across the board is positive.”

The school board approved the school garden project.

During her report, Principal Theresa Libby shared that she had been concerned about the collection of money during Doernbecher Week, a responsibility that had been dropped into the laps of teachers in the past.

“One of my big concerns was that before teachers had to keep track of Dollyhead money and rootbeer float money,” Libby said. "I told Key Club President Delaney Doumit, and she volunteered students to do it.

“By golly! They are there collecting money before school, at every recess, at lunch and at the end of the day. Delaney shows up at the end of the day so they can receipt it and keep track of it, and I am impressed.”

“I’ve been going in the morning and I don’t have anything to do,” Principal Stephanie Leitz added.

“It’s been wonderful,” Libby said.

Libby also reported that eighth grade boys had been given permission to join the high school baseball team this season.

Leitz followed up with her own report and while touching upon the matter of accreditation she spoke about one of their underlying goals as educators.

“Whatever talents the students have, we want them to shine. So it’s been fun to see them involved in different things like the robotics competition and the FFA.”