Dayton School Board modifies education plan to address costs

DAYTON — The Dayton School Board met at 5:30 p.m. on April 16, 2025. Superintendent Jeremy Wheatley, the Board Chair Jeffrey McCowen, and board members Aneesha Dieu, Grant Griffin, Pat Davidson, and Ryan Paulson were present.

The board approved the consent agenda, including a $1,500 grant from Skyline Adventures to buy ski clothes for the fourth and fifth-grade ski program. Three overnight FFA trips were approved in the agenda for the State Convention in Pullman, the National Convention in Indianapolis, and an FFA Officer training in Asotin.

The board consent agenda approved a treadmill donated by Puget Sound Energy and a monetary gift to the girls basketball program from the Columbia County Conservatives.

Wheatley said he was disappointed over funding and policy moves out of the state legislature and would monitor potential changes to minimize impact on the district.

Wheatley said the school sent a group of elementary students to the Walla Walla Y for swim lessons. A second group was scheduled, and he will evaluate the experience to determine whether to have lessons next year. The Friends of the Dayton Pool paid for transportation, and the Y provided free lessons so there was no cost to the district. The program allows students to learn basic swimming skills before a public pool is available in Dayton.

Wheatley said the FFA plant sale will take place at the high school from April 29 to May 1, 2025.

Scholarship night is scheduled for June 5 and graduation on June 7, 2025.

Dieu asked about the district’s bid process and the upper limit for bid-less contracts. Wheatley said up to $40,000 was an informal process, $40,000 to $75,000 was a hybrid with some regulations, and over $75,000 must comply with the formal bid process.

Dieu said the district should hire engineers to provide specifications for projects requiring bids. Once the bids come in, the school board should open them and select the lowest bidder. The board debated and discussed best contracting practices.

The board discussed Resolution 20247-04 to modify the Dayton School District’s education plan after reduced income and increased staffing costs created a financial emergency. The resolution identified declining participation and enrollment negatively impacts the districts precarious financial position.

The resolution would adopt a programmatic reduction of three FTE K-12 certificated staff, depending on current staff certification and endorsements, and the reduction of one classified staff position. The resolution allows the administration to identify needed reductions and which personnel would be involved. The resolution is available to read at https://tinyurl.com/2s3pf2nk.

Wheatley said the district should hope for the best but plan for the worst. The board approved the resolution unanimously.

The meeting ended at 7:21 p.m.