Dayton School Board meeting update

DAYTON – The Dayton School Board met in the high school library at 6:33 p.m. on May 8, 2024. School board members present were Chair Jeffrey McCowen, Zac Fabian, Ryan Paulson, Grant Griffin, and Superintendent Rich Stewart. Aneesha Dieu attended using Zoom.

The board approved the consent agenda, which included approval of an overnight trip for the FFA to the State Convention in Pullman and a tour of the University of Idaho. Overnight stays for the HS softball team to participate in tournament play were also included.

The FFA reported that Dayton’s team tied for sixth place out of forty-eight teams even though Dayton has a much higher percentage of middle schoolers participating than the other teams.

Martin Surridge, the high school English and Drama teacher, announced three Dayton seniors won prizes in the 2024 Hot Poetry Contest sponsored by Hanford Challenge. The theme for submissions was nuclear weapons waste. The poems by Justina Abrahamson, Solomon Brenner, and Logan Berg are available to read at https://tinyurl.com/4r78mt56. The 2024 winners included the three Dayton Seniors and two students from the University of Washington. Each won $100.

Keeley Gant, from ESD 123, presented to the board about the Career and Technical Education (CTE) program she was instrumental in developing. The program offers another path to graduation and the board approved it later in the meeting.

John Delp, the head custodian, spoke very positively about the HVAC work contractors are doing in the schools. He said the feed pump for the boiler is no longer functional, but the continuing work will remedy that.

In the Athletic Director’s report, Sam Korslund said he was excited to see the growth in the track program this season.

Elementary School Principal Amy Cox said the third annual mother/son dodgeball tournament, was a successful fundraiser for the PTSO/Boosters. At the May 5 event, the organizers offered a $5 buyback for anyone eliminated, raising an additional $1,300 for the program.

After a public discussion with the superintendent, the board approved the second reading of several policies.

The board went into an executive session, for the stated purpose of reviewing an employee’s performance, and returned with no action before adjourning.

The next meeting is scheduled for June 5, 2024.