Dayton School Board examines grad requirements, coronavirus, and the mascot issue

A normally low-key Dayton School Board meeting took a turn for the serious Wednesday Mar. 4 when talk of the coronavirus and the naming of the Dayton-Waitsburg athletic combine mascot came up after not being on the initial agenda.

With it being the overwhelmingly consuming news topic, it only seemed appropriate to discuss how the Dayton school district is handling the potential of threat of an invading illness. Currently the district has not seen an impact on attendance.

Superintendent Doug Johnson wanted to reassure the board and the public that the district is doing several things to keep the students safe and prepared. The first step has been to bring in extra janitorial staff during the week to thoroughly sanitize the schools frequently throughout the week. The other step the staff at the schools have been taking is both encouraging and teaching the students to regularly wash their hands. Johnson shared a story of how he overheard elementary aged students singing their ABCs in order to make sure they washed for the suggested 20 seconds.

Johnson stated the district has no plans to shut down the schools and will only do so if the county health board says they must. Johnson pointed out despite rumors and emails that there was no chicken pox outbreak.

News was also presented regarding the name of the mascot and the results of the D-W Athletic Combine Committee meeting. The message from the Dayton ASB was a resounding yes as to the fact the process of voting and choosing of a mascot was flawed. They felt the process was rushed.

Board member and Athletic Combine Comittee member David Bailey said that they will undergo a new process and that he is determined to make sure this time they get it right, no matter how long it takes. Thus, it appears the next step is to take this back to the D-W Athletic Combine Committee at its next meeting on Monday Mar. 16 at the Dayton School Board room. At that meeting more information should be provided as to how the process of naming the mascot will move forward and be completed. All those who wish to have a voice in the process are encouraged to attend.

The other two elements on the agenda were high school graduation pathways and facilities projects finished and upcoming. High school teacher and academic counselor Kristine Warren used an effective PowerPoint to visualize to the board the eight different “pathways” students can now take to graduate. She went into detail on each path and stated she starts working with students as early as eighth grade to start formulating plans to personalize the graduation plan for each student. Warren also discussed Open Doors, which is a program through Walla Walla Community College in which students who choose not to finish at Dayton can still get a high school diploma.

Johnson shared with the board updates on facility projects. The completed projects included the asphalt project at the elementary school loading zone; the boilers for the main campus, the shops and bus garage by Honeywell were repaired; the school’s communication systems were updated by upgrading phones, speakers and warning lights by Tri Tech Communications; the high school roofs (both flat and sloped) were replaced by Garland and Company; the exterior doors were replaced campus-wide by Builders Hardware; and concrete repairs to the school’s sidewalks were done by Summit Construction. The total cost was just over a $1 million.

With about $250,000 remaining, projects that can be possibly approved at the next board meeting on Wednesday Mar. 18 include roof repairs to the administration building, bus garage and agriculture shop; the covered elementary play area; irrigation for the football/track complex; additional surveillance cameras; electronic key access to doors; and the entry doors to the high school gym.