School board goes over policy, goals

The Wahkiakum School District Board of Directors met for another special session on Tuesday to discuss an optional policy that allows the board to decide whether they will be, in some ways, the architects of education in the district.

The policy states that the board is to recognize that they are responsible for “holding the district accountable for student learning” and it is to be board’s goal to make certain that all students are given a chance to “become responsible and respectful global citizens who contribute to their economic well-being and that of their families and communities, who explore and understand different perspectives and who enjoy productive and satisfying lives.”

The policy then outlines specific goals for the district with all the customary expectations of education, including reading and writing skills, math, history, science and more as well as entrusting the district to provide opportunities to teach students to think critically and value work.

In order to help the district meet its goals, the board is expected to become knowledgeable about several topics including but not limited to academic and professional standards, planning (including developing a board philosophy), instruction, and finding ways to get families and others interested in participating.

“I don’t want to give lip service to this,” Paula Culbertson said. “It’s up to us whether we adopt this and it’s a pretty big order.”

After much discussion, the board were agreed, 4-0, and voted to approve the policy.

Talk turned to goal setting. Each member of the board will review goals set by other school districts before they return to the school board meeting on Tuesday, May 24, where they will continue the discussion and try to find their common ground by sharing which goals that each of them believe to be of greatest importance for Wahkiakum School District.

Lastly, the board started talking about how to create a tool to assess the superintendent and his work for the school district. The tool will not only evaluate his current work but help the board set goals for him in the future.