DSD receives donations for cheer & K-12 supplies

DAYTON — The Dayton School Board met in the High School Library at 6:30 p.m. on September 16, 2026. Superintendent Jeremy Wheatley, Board Chair Jeffrey McCowen, and School Directors Ryan Paulson, Pat Davidson, and Aneesha Dieu were present. Grant Griffin did not attend.

To begin the meeting, the Board approved the consent agenda, including last meeting’s minutes, accounts payable, and payroll. The personnel report listed Nick Phillips as an Assistant HS Football Coach, Kayla Nathanson as an Assistant MS Volleyball Coach, and Amber Olsen as the Elementary ASB Advisor. Jami Rushing joined as a mentor teacher, and Grant Heinrich as a HS Football volunteer.

The Board approved a $500 donation to the Cheerleaders Program from Patrick Davidson and an anonymous $500 donation for K-12 supply needs.

Lucy Trump, ASB President, gave a synopsis of recent ASB activities, including the Senior Sunrise, where seniors marked the last day of summer vacation with a sleepover on the football field to watch the sunrise on the first morning of their last school year. Trump said Homecoming was scheduled for October 16-17, 2026, and the ASB planned several activities for the week before Homecoming.

Athletic Director Sam Korslund was out of town but provided a written report. His report noted that HS volleyball had 15 participants, HS fall cheer had 10, and HS football had 27.

Middle School games began the week of September 14, with 17 participants in volleyball, and 15 for football.

Amy Cox gave the principal’s report. She said they are working on testing, but no results were yet available. She said enrollment was close to the projected number. Two foreign exchange students are in the junior class, bringing enrollment to nine.

Cox said there hadn’t been significant problems with the cellphone ban, and the dress code was being strictly enforced, including the ban on pajama bottoms and bedroom slippers.

Dieu asked Cox for more information on the Character Strong program in the Elementary School. Dieu expressed some concern about school counselors being involved in the training without informing the parents.

Much of the remainder of the meeting focused on Wheatley’s upcoming evaluation and the revamping of the District’s Strategic Plan. The Board agreed to review Wheatley’s evaluation incrementally, bullet point by bullet point, before the evaluation is due early next year. This will avoid the Board and Wheatley having to endure one marathon session.

On Friday, September 11, 2026. The new automated system erroneously notified all secondary school parents that their children were absent from one or more periods on Friday, September 11. School was closed that Friday because it was a school holiday in Dayton. The issue was resolved by Tuesday. 

Finally, the Board approved Coleman Oil’s bid for fuel for the coming year. Valley Wide was the only other bidder, but they withdrew their bid. Coleman Oil provided fuel last year. 

Davidson suggested transitioning to propane from oil because it is more economical. He sent Wheatley a contact to discuss the possible transition.

The meeting adjourned at 7:33 p.m.