Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Waiting for guidance from the state on athletic programs
This classroom belonging to Secondary Math teacher Brenda Henderson has been cleaned and stripped down to its simplest components. Dayton School District Maintenance Supervisor John Delp and Night Custodian Bill Massey are working on designing classrooms according to COVID-19 requirements for returning students in the fall. They have been cleaning carpets, sanitizing walls, removing shelves, and creating space for an average of 15 students in each classroom. Each student is required to have 36 sq. ft of space in the classroom.
DAYTON-Guy Strot presided over his first school board meeting last week. Strot is the new superintendent for the Dayton School District, replacing Doug Johnson, who retired on June 30.
Strot told the Board of Directors the Dayton schools would reopen on August 29.
He said the goal is to have all the students back for all five days.
He has met with and will continue to meet with, Public Health Director Martha Lanman, regarding COVID-19 requirements.
"She is going to be a great partner for us. I think we are both focused on how we're going to keep staff safe and students safe while getting them back in class," he said.
While there is a substantial commitment for getting students back in the classroom, there has been no firm guidance from the state, yet, regarding programs such as P.E. and Music, and Athletic programs.
Strot said he expects the Washington State Department of Health to issue some guidance within the next couple of weeks.
Jennifer Crane has been hired to replace Kristina Kneble in the Agriculture Education Department.
Strot said Crane is excited and passionate about teaching, and she will be an excellent addition to the Dayton staff.
Business Manager Paula Moisio provided a mostly positive report about District finances.
She said the District is cautious about finances because of the COVID-19 situation, and the unknowns that go with it.
"We're just a little bit in hoarding mode," she said.
Moisio said there is a "decent" current cash balance in the general fund, and other funds are holding steady.
Also, the District is where it needs to be for year-end expenses.
Supt. Strot provided an update regarding summer facilities improvement projects, which are supported by the capital projects levy.
They are; to replace the elementary playground roof, replace the roof on the Agriculture Education building and the bus garage, install an irrigation system at the football field, provide a new door entrance to the Woodshop classrooms, and replace the roof on the Administration Office building.
Drew Wright from Garland Company discussed the scope of work and cost estimates for the elementary playground roof.
The Board of Directors approved Garland Company to replace the elementary roof with a 24-gauge steel roof, not to exceed $ 177,000. Wright said the roof is scheduled to be completed before school starts.
Resolution 2019-11 was also approved, allowing the Business Manager to apply for a FEMA grant, for COVID-19 funds. The grant comes with a 25-percent match requirement, and the District will use CARES Act funding for the match.
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