School district honors directors

January is School Board Appreciation Month, and staff took time out during the Wahkiakum School District Board of Director’s meeting to acknowledge their local volunteer’s service.

“Being a school board member can be a pretty thankless position,” Superintendent Bob Garrett said, “but we here at the school truly know your commitment, your dedication, and your willingness to serve and give of your time. We truly appreciate it.”

High school art teacher Sue Garn also praised the school board for their work and invited them to log on to Google Classroom to see some of the art that Wahkiakum students have been creating.

“I just want you to know, you have some of the best artists I’ve ever worked with,” Garn said. “They are really incredible.”

“Sue has worked with a lot of art students, she has an extensive background,” J.A. Wendt Elementary School and John C. Thomas Middle School Principal Theresa Libby added.

Libby and high school Principal Stephanie Leitz spoke to the board about in-service time and staff development.

Many times, staff has a say about where they want to turn their focus on development. Libby shared one example of coming programming. Susan Schillios from the Charlotte House had arranged for a speaker to give a two hour presentation to teachers about recognizing signs of abuse or neglect, a subject that staff reviews periodically.

“We appreciate our inservice time and feel it’s really beneficial to teachers,” Leitz said.

Leitz also shared that two teachers at the school have made it possible for students to earn college credit in high school classes through a program called College in the High School.

Michele Haberlach has been meeting with the math chair at Central Washington University, according to Leitz, and has been approved as a Central Washington math teacher. Students taking pre calculus and calculus can now receive credit from CWU.

Audrey Petterson already does this for junior and senior level English through LCC.

In other news, Superintendent Bob Garrett reported that enrollment was up. He also said that the school plans to test the newly installed panic alarm system during the next in-service day, January 25.

A vacancy remains on the school board. Anyone within school boundaries may apply and the appointment is for two years, until the next election.

The next school board meeting, originally scheduled for February 16, was moved to Tuesday, February 23.