School board acts on varied business

Business went quickly at the September Wahkiakum School District Board of Directors meeting on Tuesday.

Board members approved the purchase of a network storage server from Sutinen Consulting in Longview for approximately $38,000. They approved new classified employees Hanah Ohrberg, Michelle Wisner and Amber Mace for the 2016-2017 school year, and revised a certificated contract for Ryan Garrett who went from the Master’s column of the pay scale to the Masters plus 45 credits column. The board also approved supplemental contracts for several coaches and a drama advisor.

Several items were declared surplus and will be available for sale including a 1992 Ford Taurus station wagon, two cafeteria tables, an edger, two band saws, a drill press and more.

Superintendent Bob Garrett reported that enrollment was down, mostly at the high school.

“Everything looks good,” Garrett said of the budget. “We’ll do some tweaking, but I know everything is going to stay within the allowable limits. Fiscally we are better off, the best we’ve been in the 22 years I’ve been here so that’s nice.”

Director Robin Westphall expressed interest in attending the Vo-Ag Advisory Committee meeting. The committee is lead by Vo-Ag teacher Kyle Hurley, and they will be discussing a question from the Health and Human Services Department about access to property next to the farm forest.

The board went into executive session to discuss the salary of the Library Tech/Online Coordinator position. They returned to open session and approved an adjustment in pay to match that of the Food Services Director.