Dayton School Board Update

DAYTON-Several people from the community shared their thoughts and concerns about the proposed Dayton-Waitsburg athletic and activities combine during the public comment portion of last week's school board meeting. Most of the comments were in favor of the full combine. One of the coaches said he had an issue with the number of additional hours coaches would need to be available each week.

Superintendent Doug Johnson said there are three recurring concerns he has heard, and one of them is the cost. Johnson said financial inequality is what usually "kills" combines. Johnson said there is to be a 50/50 split between the two schools, with the combine committee's approval.

He also said he has heard concerns that coaches from Dayton or Waitsburg might favor playing their own students over others.

And he has heard concerns about students spending more time in transit, especially for games that are scheduled on "weird days and times."

"Most people got their questions answered at the Waitsburg board meeting and came away in favor," Johnson said.

Chairman Dan Butler thanked people for taking the time to come to the meeting.

"We have all the confidence in the world we will come to the right decision," he said.

A decision about the direction of the combine with Waitsburg is expected to take place in February so the WIAA can be notified about fall sports.

High school English Teacher Amy Allen talked about some projects her students are doing around the subject of rhetoric.

One of the projects was to write an essay about Shakespeare's Hamlet and the HS seniors tackled Beowulf with a video project. Each student had a role in the production which was completed over a two week time period.

"They did a good job touching on those rhetoric pieces," she said.

The elementary students are hard at work on the Valentine's Day candy sale, which will take place in one week, said Elementary Principal Denise Smith.

Superintendent Johnson said a four-hour power outage "wasted" the phone system and he is moving it up on the capital projects priority list along with the electrical and heating upgrade.

A temporary fix to the phone system was made before Christmas. Johnson said the entire phone system will be replaced during spring break.

The cost for heating oil is now $3500 per month because the control mechanism is either all on, or off, he said.

The elementary school needs more electrical capacity, Johnson said.

A facility meeting has been scheduled for 6 p.m. on Jan. 24 in the multi-Purpose room.

An early release day has been scheduled for Feb. 7 for Phase I training for staff in safety and security measures.