School board

The Odessa School Board held a workshop in the superintendent’s office at 6:30 p.m. March 22 for the purpose of discussing the superintendent’s evaluation. Attending were superintendent Dan Read, board chairman Ed Deife, Heather Valverde, Chris Crossley and Janie Steward.

In the high school library at 7 p.m., the open meeting was held with Deife, Valverde, Crossley, Steward and Read present, as well as principal Jamie Nelson and business manager Juli Weishaar. Also attending were Justin Parr and Travis Schuh.

The board approved the consent agenda which included the minutes of the February 22, 2017 special and regular meetings; payroll warrants #609733-609756 and direct deposit warrants #900005365-900005423 for $233,173.97; general fund warrants #609757-609806 for $71,222.12; ASB fund warrants #609807-609823 for $14,852.48; a general fund comp tax wire transfer for $312.57 and an ASB fund comp tax wire transfer for $27.89.

The board also approved the hiring of Sandi Smith as a bus driver and H.P. Carstensen as the junior-high head basketball coach, accepted the resignation of Kim Kruger as the high-school head girls basketball coach and approved travel to the FFA State Trapshoot in Wenatchee on April 14-15, 2017.

Read reported a March enrollment of 234.1 full-time equivalent students.

Read reported on the state senate Republican’s budget proposal and shared his concerns regarding various aspects of the plan.

He also said the district will receive a waiver from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction for two snow days, making the last day of school June 14.

His report ended with an update on the planning process for the FFA Community Garden.

Nelson reported a headcount enrollment of 257 students in preschool through grade 12.

Recent happenings reported were:

* The Knowledge Bowl team placed fourth in the state tournament

* Regional Science and Engineering Fair winners were Elizabeth Larson, Cole Kissler, Kiegan Wehr, Chance Messer and Colton Messer

* The high school prom was a success

* The elementary talent show organized by Austin Read and Dakota Steward was a hit

* Cole Kissler, Elizabeth Larson and Kiegan Wehr finished in the top 10 at the Wash. State Researcher’s Symposium

* Junior and senior high students performed in the Bi-County Music Festival

* The pep band, under the direction of Craig Holman joined with the Harrington pep band to play at the state basketball tournament in Spokane.

Upcoming activities include student-led conferences, the school musical performances and spring break.

Bruce Todd said high school spring sports are under way, with tennis and golf having had their first competitions last week, while track and field and baseball begin their competitions this week.

Junior-high track practice was to start March 22, and junior high baseball practice will begin after spring break on Monday, April 10.

Board members Deife, Valverde, Crossley and Steward said they enjoyed attending the Washingtone State School Director’s Association Small Schools Conference in Wenatchee and felt they came away with a greater knowledge of the educational process in small schools.

There was no legislative report.

Facilities director Justin Parr reported that official bus inspections had gone well. Sandi Smith has been authorized to drive bus by OPSI and will be assigned the north bus route.

Field days were held at the baseball and little league fields in preparation for the upcoming sports season. The baseball dugout steps have been repaired and the grounds have been mowed for practices.

New speakers and an amp will be installed in the multipurpose room in time for the school musical production next week.

Superintendent Read presented the ASB balance sheet for February. He further presented the Financial Activity reports for General Fund for February showing revenue at $306,890 and expenditures at $283,813 for an ending balance of $730,250.

Superintendent Read presented the 2017-2018 school calendar for board approval with the student’s first day being August 30, 2017, and the last day of school being June 12, 2018. Read noted input was received on several calendar options from staff prior to the recommendation of the final calendar proposal.

Read presented Resolution #3-2016-2107 for board approval, explaining that school districts are required by Washington law to make daily deposits. In order to hold monies in the vault over the weekend for deposit on Mondays following extra-curricular activities, the district can set a policy to deposit monies a minimum of once a week or when receipts total a limit set by the district. Resolution #3-2016-2017 establishes this policy for the district.

Chairman Deife announced the board would be entering into a fifteen-minute executive session beginning at 7:32 p.m. to consider employment of a public officer or employee per RCW 42.30.110 with no action to follow.

The board came out of executive session at 7:47 p.m. and Chairman Deife adjourned the meeting.

The next regular board meeting will be held Wednesday, April 26, 2017 at 6 p.m. in the high school library. The board scheduled a workshop at 5:30 p.m. before the regular meeting.