Dayton School Board Work Session Update

Board members Katie Leid, David Bailey, Justin Jaech and Fred White were present.

*Bill Dowdy asked the Board to consider supporting the reinstatement of the High School Fall soccer program, which had been canceled for 2018-19 due to a lack of participants and partial forfeiture of the 2017-18 season. Dowdy believes there may be 25 students in Dayton and Waitsburg interested in playing next year. The issue will be referred to Athletic Director Nicki Luper and the DW Combine Committee.

*Discussion regarding classified staff and state apportionment. The district receives funding for nearly eight employees but has the equivalent of 15 on the payroll. The cost of the additional employees is funded by levy dollars which have been significantly cut by the McCleary decision. The district is concerned about its ability to fund current programming in the coming years.

*Review of curriculum adoption procedures. The district will put together a standing Instructional Materials Committee which will determine the appropriateness of temporary material (newspaper articles and other materials with short-time instructional use) in the event of a challenge. The committee will be comprised of parents, citizens and district employees.

*District Superintendent Doug Johnson provided a second draft of District Goal statements, actions and outcomes. The superintendent and board will continue working on the document before making it available for outside comment.

*Board member Dave Bailey, the District WIAA representative shared ten amendments being considered by the WIAA. One amendment would allow 6th graders to participate in middle school sports when they are part of the middle school enrollment group. Other amendments impact classification formulas.