The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

WAITSBURG—The Waitsburg School Board met Thursday, Aug. 20, via Zoom call. Representative Skyler Rude attended the meeting.

Principal Stephanie Wooderchak shared documents on class schedules in grades six and up. She also shared an online staff schedule that laid out the periods, virtual office hours, and more. Wooderchak reported that the teachers have written letters for the parents that explain their virtual classrooms, attendance plans, assignment days, and more.

The school has begun student registration. A limited number of groups are allowed in the registration area at one time, and all individuals entering the building must be screened. Wooderchak said the process has been a little slow but has gone smoothly so far.

There will be no fall sports for the Dayton/Waitsburg combine. Superintendent Mark Pickel was hopeful that sports would begin during the second season of the Washington Interscholastic Athletic Associations (WIAA) 2020-21 modified sports schedule, which starts in late December.

Facilities, maintenance, and transportation supervisor Colter Mohney reported that the HVAC systems had been serviced, and everything went fairly smoothly. There was an issue with one of the units near the elementary office, and the maintenance crew repaired the problem. He also said he met with the school’s insurance agent, and the school received satisfactory marks all around.

Mohney also reported that there had been interest in properties that the school owns- two lots on Coppei Ave and the annex building near the high school. According to Mohney, it would cost more money to repair the annex building than it would to sell it. The building has lead paint and other expensive, unhealthy problems.

Superintendent Pickel reported that middle and high school students would have their school laptops by the end of next week. Laptops will be distributed to elementary students during the first week of school.

The school has entered a contract with Apex Learning for an online schooling option for students in grades 6-12. Pickel told the board that the vendors that they were looking at for elementary classes had made policy changes that don’t align with Waitsburg Schools. Many of the vendors have a minimum student enrollment that is higher than the number of students enrolled in the district. He has since met with Market Square Education, based out of Woodinville, Wash., and that model is looking promising.

In the first week of September, the district will have a soft-start. That week will reflect a parent/teacher conference model so parents and caregivers can ask teachers any questions, get to know the teacher, and the computer software.

During the new business portion of the meeting, the board reviewed and voted on six salary schedules, including certificated and classified supplemental salary schedules, business manager, business manager assistant, and transportation salary schedules.

Susan Wildey, food services supervisor, presented a plan for a community eligibility program (CEP) that would provide meals for students during the school year. Wildey reported the free meal program she put together following the emergency closure had received lots of positive feedback. She felt strongly that providing meals for students would be one of the better ways to support the school community and families. The school would be reimbursed for a large portion of the funds used for meals, and the program would be valid for four years, with ways for the district to discontinue the program without repercussions. The board voted to approve the CEP.

The board approved a $4,000 transfer to the transportation fund, as well as a $7,500 transfer to the Capital Projects fund. These transfers are standard each year.

The meeting adjourned following the first readings of five policies.