Waitsburg School Board discusses curriculums, summer recovery plan at April meeting

WAITSBURG—The Waitsburg School Board had a full agenda for the April 15 meeting, including approval of a comprehensive sexual health curriculum and discussing athletic combine matters.

During the secondary principal’s report, Principal Stephanie Wooderchak shared that the senior class has been planning for graduation. Currently, the 2021 graduation is on the school’s calendar for June 4.

Superintendent Mark Pickel reported that there would be a meeting with the DW Administration team on April 16, regarding the upcoming basketball season, with a coach’s meeting to follow at a later date.

Pickel reported on the recent vandalism to the baseball and football fields damaged by a still unidentified driver. Baseball coach John Watts, school board member Lisa Morrow, maintenance supervisor Colter Mohney and Superintendent Pickel organized nearly 30 volunteers to repair the field. Smith Brothers Landscaping from Walla Walla donated dirt, sand, and other supplies to the efforts.

Superintendent Pickel said the DW Combine Athletics Committee is currently inactive as there has not been enough going on to meet regularly. For now, the Waitsburg and Dayton school administrations with Athletic Director (AD) Sam Korslund are working to guide sports programs. The committee will reconvene this summer to create documents including a common code of conduct addressing discrepancies between the two school’s athletic eligibility requirements. Work on a common code began before the pandemic, and Pickel said that a draft from the former AD would be reviewed.

Pickel said there was not much to report from the Maintenance and Facilities department. The tree removal at the athletic fields is complete, and spring maintenance is well underway. He said the trees were in worse condition than initially thought.

The Washington State Patrol performed yearly bus inspections early last week, and the district is waiting for the inspection reports, said Pickel.

Presenting the elementary school principal report, Pickel reported that nearly every parent-teacher conference was in-person. Families were given the option for in-person or virtual conferences.

Students returned to school full-time and in-person on April 19. All hygiene protocols have been updated to reflect the increased student presence. Pickel said that all exterior doors would continue to remain locked, and all visitors and students must go through a health screening upon entering the building.

Pickel said that the Office for the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) would be releasing a template for school districts to implement “summer recovery plans,” which could include credit retrieval and enrichment programs in the form of summer school. At least one teacher at Waitsburg is willing to help with credit retrieval, and Pickel said the district would have a better idea of the plan once it has received the template.

OSPI also notified Washington schools that there would be no spring standardized testing this school year, and fall assessments are being reviewed. There were no other details to report at this time, but Pickel said he would share information as it develops.

Design West has submitted Call for Bid paperwork for the high school roofing project. The bid window closes May 4 at 2 p.m.

The board reviewed the comprehensive sexual health education curriculum crafted by a committee composed of school staff members and parents. The proposed curriculum is age-appropriate and will satisfy Washington’s Health Education K-12 Learning Standards. For details on the approved curriculum, please see aricle below. The board approved the curriculum and purchase of the necessary textbooks.

The meeting adjourned shortly after brief discussions around class schedules and policy readings.