Dayton School Board update

DAYTON – The Dayton School Board met at 6 p.m. on June 14, 2023, in the High School library. Members of the school board present included Chair Jeffrey McCowen, Grant Griffen, Aneesha Dieu, and Zac Fabian. Superintendent Rich Stewart was also present. Korinda Wallace resigned from the School Board before the meeting.

Jamie Trump, who spearheaded the sixth-grade camp at Camp Wootan, reported on this year’s camp. Sixty-seven sixth graders participated, supervised by 13-15 adult helpers and 16 day-instructors. Trump discussed camp activities, including archery, canoeing, and dancing.

Gwen Joyce, the Secondary School Principal, presented her report, including lessons in communications learned during three unscheduled lockdowns during the last month of school. She covered the recent high school graduation and plans to bring former Walla Walla PE teachers to teach fly fishing to the sixth graders.

Stewart addressed Columbia County Transportation’s request to build a bus shelter near the T-Ball backstop to shelter patrons while waiting for the bus. The bus shelter would be provided and maintained at no cost to the School District. If the district decides they no longer want the structure, it would be removed, and the property restored to its original condition.

Some members of the board expressed concern about the shelter. Dieu voiced concern that members of the public or squatters would use the shelter.

Jana Eaton switched the focus of the meeting to the annual budget hearing. She said the district is looking at a year-end balance of $615,000, better than the stated goal of $450,000. The budget will be available at the district office for review by interested citizens.

The board held a general discussion about a district preschool for three and four-year-old children, which would help ameliorate the dearth of childcare in Dayton. Some board members suggested parents could pay for the preschool, but considerably less than private childcare. Stewart said the discussion for a childcare facility was tabled for the time being due to a lack of staffing and facilities.

The board approved contracts for the Superintendent and both principals.

The board went into executive session to evaluate complaints brought against a public officer or employee at about 7:20 p.m. The executive session was extended once for a total of thirty-five minutes in executive session. The board returned to regular session and adjourned without action.