School board has busy agenda

The Wahkiakum School District Board of Directors approved several action items on the agenda at Tuesday's meeting.

The district agreed to an interlocal agreement that will allow Wahkiakum County PUD to replace a failing light pole that illuminates the field at the high school as soon as football season ends.

The board then heard about a one year interlocal agreement with ESD 112 to host the STEPS (Student Transition Educational Program Services) program which, according to Superintendent Bob Garrett, offers training for work and develops other life skills for special education students over the age of 18.

"The Evergreen School District was overseeing the program," Garrett said, "but they didn't have any students in the program and opted out. We will be the host district on paper and we will be able to keep seven percent of the revenue. I think ESD 112 asked us because last year we had more kids in the program than anyone else, we are a member of their special education cooperative and a member of their staff works in our office."

"It's not going to cause additional workload," Director Tina Schubert summarized. "It will cause a small increase in our residual revenue, it can cause revenue and expenditures to cancel themselves out when it funnels through, and it will benefit those students who need it."

The board approved the interlocal agreement with ESD 112.

Enrollment went up 20 students district wide, according to Garrett. The eighth grade class has grown to 34 students and staff and administrators have been deliberating on how they might address the large class size. A local teacher had been asked to work part time but declined, so three teachers have agreed to give up prep time to create smaller class sizes.

"I think it's warranted and we can afford it since enrollment went up," Garrett said to the board. "We'll try it for a quarter, beginning November 5, and then revisit it, if you approve."

The board approved the supplemental contracts for the three teachers, Nancy Nelson, Tina Merz and Darla Mead.

"They will be thrilled," John C. Thomas Middle School Principal Theresa Libby said. "Thank you very much."

Wahkiakum High School Principal Stephanie Leitz shared her interest in applying for a college ready math initiative funded by College Spark Washington.

"It's an initiative to make sure kids are college ready in math when they leave high school," Leitz said. "We would create an intensified algebra class that eighth and ninth grade students would participate in for 90 minutes a day, using curriculum that the initiative would provide. We need your approval to move forward with the grant application."

The directors gave their approval.

Leitz also shared that one of the high school teachers, Michele Haberlach, had applied to do a presentation at a Gear Up West conference in Seattle this weekend. Haberlach, Leitz and a colleague from Lower Columbia College will give a talk on "building effective community college partnerships that promote college access for all students in rural schools."

Libby reported that the school garden had been expanded and that more classes were getting involved. She also shared that a speaker who had been lined up by the school's intervention prevention specialist Karla Gates, had "mesmerized" the seventh grade class with the story of his life and losses due to addiction.

The man will return to speak at the school district on October 31, first with the middle school at 2 p.m. and then later with the high school at 2:30 p.m., according to Libby.

Garrett updated the board on the football grandstand project.

"It went off really well," he said. "Gomes Construction got fans back in the grandstand before they got rained on."

Andy Lea of Drop Anchor Brewery presented a surprised and delighted Garrett with a check for $828, money raised and matched by the brewery for the grandstand project.

The board echoed Garrett's thanks.

It was noted that other donations have been coming in as well.

The board approved new dates for the December and January meetings. Meetings will be held December 16 and January 21.