Waitsburg School Board monthly meeting focuses on levy

WAITSBURG—The Waitsburg School Board met Wednesday, November 17, for its regular meeting. The meeting was led by vice-chairman Ross Hamann, following the resignation of former chairman Pam Chapman earlier this year.

Secondary Principal Stephanie Wooderchak reported that grades 6-12 had completed the year’s SBAC (SmarterBalanced) testing. She said that the fall testing was a shortened version and that students will return to regular testing schedules in March. Students in grades 3-12 will take the tests.

She shared that WHS ASB officers, class representatives, and Shelby Gould hosted a 30-minute Veterans Day assembly on November 9, which several community members attended. Wooderchak commented that the event was very nice.

Athletic Director Sam Korslund provided an update on the Dayton-Waitsburg Wolfpack combine, saying that Fall Sports were over. A Sunday evening awards banquet has tentatively been scheduled for December 5. Middle school basketball is currently in season and is going well.

Korslund shared that COVID-19 testing is going well, though it has had challenges. He said all tests have been negative so far, and the process has made him cautiously optimistic about the upcoming season and the impact of COVID-19.

High school girls basketball sign-ups are limited, with just enough players for a varsity squad. Boys basketball has 18 athletes, which is enough for a varsity and JV squad.

The DW Athletic Combine Committee is being reformed. Both Dayton and Waitsburg schools have accepted the new bylaws and are solidifying student and community representative positions. Charlie Barron took the role of Waitsburg representative, and the committee is searching for a Dayton community representative. The combine committee will meet on December 1, with details to come later.

Student representatives were selected by their respective ASB’s, with nominations being provided by ASB officers. Korslund said that he did not want to micromanage the student representative selection process, as it is vital to allow the students a voice of their own.

Superintendent and Elementary Principal Mark Pickel reported that the elementary classes had also finished their SBAC testing. The fourth and fifth grades took tests based on the grade that they were in last school year. He shared a brief report of the results, spread across English Language Arts (ELA) and math. He said that teachers are reviewing the data.

The elementary school also held a Veterans Day assembly, and Pickel reported that it was “very well done.” The assembly lasted roughly 45 minutes. A winter program is being planned; details were not available at the time of the meeting.

The Cardinal’s Nest art program is in full swing, having started in early November. Pickel said the program had been well attended.

The fifth-grade ski trip is being planned. Bluewood extended the invitation to include this year’s sixth-grade students who missed out last year.

Moving on to the Superintendent’s report, Pickel explained the status of the school’s levy. The current levy was approved in 2019 and expires in 2022. The district asked for a $3.50 rate; however, due to the state’s levy-lid, the school could only collect $2.50 per $1,000 and a maximum of $2,500 per student. The district collected just over $493,200 in 2021.

Every two years, the district proposes a levy to help cover the costs related to the school, not covered under the McCleary Act, which could collect up to $731,000, based on a conservative estimate of the community’s growth rate. Pickel later requested that a December 2 special meeting be held to further discuss the levy.

The school district is seeking applicants for a committee to write the pro and con statements for the Walla Walla County voter’s pamphlet related to the new levy ballot measure. Those interested should send their name, address, phone number, and declaration of pro or con to Pickel by December 1, 2021.

New school board member Stephanie Cole and re-elected members Sarah Boudrieau and Lisa Morrow will be sworn in at the December meeting.

Candidates to fill the board seat left by Pam Chapman, whose resignation was accepted in November, will be interviewed at an upcoming special meeting.

School will be released early on Wednesday, November 24, and students will return on November 29. Winter break will begin on December 20, and students will return on January 3. The school’s office will be closed from December 20- 31.

The board exited the regular meeting for a personnel-related executive session.