School board approved logging on district land, discussed rising sewer and water bills

The Wahkiakum School District Board of Directors approved logging on 10 acres of the Farm Forest on November 22.

Before that begins, Hampstur Corporation will be surveying the Farm Forest during the first week of December according to Kyle Hurley, the VoAg teacher at Wahkiakum High School.

“I’m surprised we didn’t get more local loggers to bid,” Hurley said about the logging project. The board approved a bid from Carlson and Sons Logging Company out of Toutle.

Hurley reported that a representative from RSG Forest Products told him that 75 to 80 percent of the trees on the 10 acres are number one logs, for which Hurley received a quote of $660 per 1,000 board feet.

The board approved supplement contracts for volleyball coaches Kayli Hurley and Jeff Rooklidge as well as for the cheerleading advisor Jaimie Mogush and wrestling coaches Crystal Davis and Frankie Mendez.

“About 75 percent of our middle school kids made the honor roll, Principal Theresa Libby shared during the Principals’ reports. “This is a big group, especially for the first quarter, because a lot of times sixth graders really struggle first quarter. I think we are doing a better job helping the students transition to middle school. We’ve changed our elective classes and kids have more choices and that is creating a lot more excitement.”

Another big incentive, according to Libby are the clubs that meet on Friday. The students enjoy them, but must have their grades up to participate.

WHS Principal Stephanie Leitz said that the Wahkiakum Community Network had found the funds to send six students to a conference in the Washington D.C. area in February. The conference is orchestrated by the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America, and the theme is Engineering Healthy Communities.

“You have to be willing to commit to it,” Leitz said. “It’s a really exciting opportunity for the kids.”

Wrestling practice has started and the team was in need of a new space. A partition, or fourth wall was erected in the old shop building to make room for the mats and a dedicated practice room.

“It’s a nice big space for them,” Leitz said. “They seem really excited about it.”

“It keeps us from having to move the weight room twice each year,” Superintendent Bob Garrett added.

Talk turned to curriculum. The district is considering the formation of a curriculum committee which would include community members, to talk about the matter, with common core as a standard.

“We need to go to our staff and ask where is our greatest need,” Garrett said.

Libby said that there may be a need for more updated writing and Washington state history curriculum for elementary students. Students are using a magazine to study Washington history. The textbooks that are available are from the 1990’s according to Libby.

“It’s not like the old days when somebody comes out with their dog and pony show with their three reading curriculums because there is so much that can be accessed online,” Libby said.

“It’s so much more fluid than when I was a kid,” Director Sue O’Connor said.

Garrett reported that enrollment was down by one student this month during the superintendent’s report. He went over the budget and then he and the board discussed the rising sewer and water bills and how it may affect the district.