The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

DAYTON – The Dayton School Board held a workshop meeting on October 19, 2022, in the High School library. All members of the school board were present, Chair Jeffrey McCowen, Grant Griffen, Korinda Wallace, Aneesha Dieu, and Zac Fabian. Also present were Superintendent Rich Stewart and Business Manager Jana Eaton.

During the general public comment period, resident and pastor Jeff Milsten said that though the school allows comparative religion instruction, he felt education ignores facts. He said, “the most influential person in the world, hands down, is Jesus. We can look at how he’s influenced society, government in all sorts of different areas very easily. It’s well-established. When you look at our Declaration of Independence, the Declaration of Independence four times cites God as the authority for why we can be independent.”

He said, “The absolute fact that any historian will confirm Jesus is by far the most influential person who has ever been on this planet. We’ve mentioned lots of other people in history, but somehow, we skip Jesus. Also, the number one book sold over the last 500 years, every year, is the Bible, by far.”

Milsten appeared to be asking the Board to vote to allow any teacher in the district to teach religion as long as it is “factual.” “I do know the boundaries,” he said.

His examples of religious fact included his claim that prayer was the reason that apartheid ended in South Africa and the Soviet Union fell. He said he knew this was factual because two CIA agents and a Vatican priest had told him.

McCowen said the administration would consider Milsten’s remarks.

Milsten asked, “So you’re saying there will be no vote today?”

McCowen said there would have to be an action item on the agenda.

Milsten, said he had not yet brought the issue up in the community “ I didn’t want a hundred people here arguing the point. So, I brought it just myself and talked to just a few people. By now, it will be all over the place, probably tonight, if I know the community. So, I will bring it to the ministerial association so they know what is being proposed. What should I tell them, it’s proposed, and you’ll go around next time, or what?”

McCowen said, “You gave a presentation, and we can present that to the administration.”

Stewart said, “I’m not going to give you a definitive answer right now.”

“I’m not expecting a definitive, said Milsten, “I’m asking if it will be voted on at some point in time.”

Stewart answered that he did not know, and Milsten replied, “Wow, Ok.”.

Dieu, “I would like to just make a comment, whether or not that leads to anything. It is that we at least have a conversation on this topic, and at least have some discussion and see where that goes. That we’re not just going to turn it down and not do anything about it.”

Milsten asked if he would be there for that discussion, if the council wanted his presence.

Dieu responded that it was a workgroup discussion and he was welcome to attend.

Dayton student Grace Trump gave the ASB report, and Council Student Representative Madison Richardson gave her report to the Board.

Sam Korslund, the Dayton-Waitsburg Combine Athletic Director, said should the HS football team win the next two games, it could be in a three-way tie for the playoffs.

The two Middle School volleyball teams will be playing their final games of the season on Wednesday, October 26.

Korslund said there was enough interest in the district to form a wrestling team, and he is gathering applicants for the head coach position. He has been in discussion with the Waitsburg Matbirds, a private wrestling club, to use their wrestling mats to replace the mats at the Dayton and Waitsburg schools past their peak condition.

Amy Cox, the Elementary and Secondary School Principals, Amy Cox and Guinevere Joyce presented their reports to the Board. Cox discussed staff training, goals, and upcoming events. As in past meetings, she emphasized the invaluable services of the K-12 School Counselor, Caitlin Patterson.

Student members of the FFA gave a presentation on their duties, the functions of the FFA, and planned events.

As a part of the Secondary Principal’s report, teacher Melanie Morgan announced the freshman class is holding a fundraiser selling Poinsetta plants for the holidays. The class is taking orders through November 1, with delivery on December 12. Inquiries about the sale should be emailed to Morgan at melaniem@daytonsd.org. She said one student had already sold $1,200 worth of poinsettias by the time of the Board meeting.

Joyce said an Apex online class would be held in a room at the school. Educator support will be available to students who need assistance navigating the online course. This is an alternative for students who have trouble self-managing in class or have fallen behind in a particular subject. The option also broadens the number of potential subjects offered in school.

Superintendent Stewart described additional programs in the planning stage to boost student success.

The Board acted on the two action items on the agenda, approving the iGrant 217 for the Highly Capable Program and changing the time of the Board’s November 2 work session to 6:30 p.m.