The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

WAITSBURG-The Waitsburg School Board met Thursday, January 20, at 6 p.m. The meeting was held in person and via Zoom.

At the beginning of the meeting, school board members received gift bags, flowers, and treats from various classes and organizations within the district. The Waitsburg High School, Honor Society members, served up fresh-baked cookies and punch, and each board member was given a hand-drawn card from Waitsburg's fourth-graders.

"We just want to recognize the hard work these are very challenging times right now for everybody, but especially for the school board who are trying to help run and be a part of the school district and communities, near and far," Pickel shared. "These are just small tokens of appreciation from all of us."

After a brief break and the approval of the consent agenda, secondary principal Stephanie Wooderchak began her report, reminding the board that the first semester ends on Friday, January 28, and the second semester will start on January 31.

The MatBirds Wrestling Club wrestling team began practice last week and will meet Tuesday-Thursdays in the multipurpose room. The MatBirds is a member of the Washington Little Guy Wrestling League and is not affiliated with the school.

Students will be hitting the slopes at Bluewood very soon: Middle School will head up the mountain on Thursday, February 16. This is an ASB-sponsored event and is open to grades 6-8.

High school students will be skiing on March 11, Wooderchak said, which was the earliest that program lead Gabe Kiefel could secure.

Fifth and sixth graders will be skiing each Wednesday in February. Typically, this is a fifth-grade activity. However, the older students were invited this year as they missed out on the 2021 ski season due to pandemic-related reasons.

Waitsburg High School will be hosting a job and career fair on March 8. Surrounding schools, including Dayton High School, have been invited to participate. As of Thursday, the lineup included various departments from Washington State University, Lewis and Clark State College, and Walla Walla Community College. Gravis Law Firm, The McGregor Company, US Navy, Air Force, Army, Columbia Pulp, and the Columbia County Sheriff's Office are just a few of the industries that will host exhibits.

The Waitsburg High School ASB will be hosting a dinner and a movie fundraiser, showing Alaskan Nets, which features a basketball team from Metlakatla, AK. The team is coached by WHS Alum, former teacher, and former coach T.J Scott. The fundraiser will be held in March. Details will be shared at a later time.

State testing (SBAC) windows will open in March. Wooderchak said she did not want parents to confuse the state testing with the diagnostic testing the school has been participating in over the last couple of months.

Wooderchak finished her report with an update on the annual 6th grade Camp Wooten trip. Dayton, Waitsburg, and Touchet middle school students will head to the Blue Mountains for four days in the wilderness, starting May 31. The Camp Wooten trip has been a long-running tradition with local school districts and a hit with the students. Wooderchak said staff chaperones had been secured, but the program always welcomes additional volunteers.

Superintendent Mark Pickel reported that old bubble-style water fountains were replaced over Christmas Break, with water-bottle-filling stations in each building so that students can safely fill water bottles throughout the school.

Pickel said he picked many discarded disposable facemasks and asked teachers to remind students to be respectful and dispose of the masks correctly.

During a recent lockdown drill, teachers said they could not hear the alarm over the intercom system. Pickel said the maintenance department is looking at updating the clock, intercom, and phone systems.

The Jump for Heart program, being headed up by Shelby Gould, is a go for 2022. American Heart Association representatives will be visiting the school. Pickel said he is offering an extra incentive this year: Any student who raises more than $100 will have the chance to get the principal with the classic "Pie in the Face."

Pickel extended a little recognition to the staff and teachers within the district for going the extra mile to pick up duties as needed to keep the school open and safe, despite staff shortages and illness.

"Remember, if you're sick, stay home," Pickel said. "We have had a lot of families keeping students home when they are sick, which is great."

During public comment, Charlie Barron thanked all the school board members for their ongoing hard work before giving an update on the MatBirds team. There are 30 wrestlers this year, and he said that they are playing it as safe as possible. He thanked the school for allowing the club to practice at the school.

The board members reviewed and discussed district policies before adjourning.