Naselle schools see many changes in staff

The Naselle-Grays River Valley School District Board of Directors met for its monthly meeting on June 16.

Several personnel matters were addressed at the beginning of the meeting. The resignations of Board Members Steve Gacke and Josh Holt were acknowledged, as well as teachers Lori Dearmore and Sean McNulty, who have accepted teaching positions in other districts.

Russ Hickman resigned as athletic director, and Brian Macy was hired for the position. Rose Nisbet resigned as middle school girls basketball coach and was subsequently named girls varsity basketball coach.

The board acknowledged resignations of middle school coaches Debbie Denny and Heidi Anderson. Merlyn Cerkan resigned her position as a para-educator to become the secretary at the Naselle Youth Camp School. Larry Brignone will step down as groundskeeper at the end of August.

The board approved the contracts of third grade teacher Meg Colquhoun and Sue Holt for an elementary teaching position.

In other business, the board amended policy 1400 to read that "a majority of the board members will be considered as constituting a quorum for the transaction of business."

Contracts were approved with ESD 112 for business manager and payroll services, and with ESD 113 for Drivers Education. The board approved requests to purchase garage doors for the bus barn, not to exceed $30,000, and 60 Chromebooks and carts with Rural Grant funds, not to exceed $30,000.

In the discussion segment, the board considered possible policies on the following: waivers of requirements for graduation credits, holding occasional board meetings in Grays River, and a policy for appealing grades and re-taking courses. No action was taken as these were discussion items only this month.

Youth Camp Principal Alan Bennett shared some test information: 90 percent of students who took the reading and writing high school test passed it, and Superintendent Lisa Nelson gave a facilities overview for the year.

In wrapping up the meeting, the board celebrated the last board meeting of Marilyn Strange after nearly 36 years of service and recognized track athletes for their various state medals.

The next regular meeting is scheduled for July 21 at 6:30 p.m. with a special budget hearing preceding the meeting at 5:30 p.m.