School Board

The Board of Directors of Odessa School District #105 met in the school library at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, June 28, 2017. The board approved a motion to return to the Odessa Tiger mascot, with school colors of orange, white and black. As a point of interest, it was announced that Harrington had also returned to its original mascot, the Panther, with school colors of red and black, last used approximately 30 years ago.

The Odessa board approved the purchase of new athletic uniforms in orange and black, with some solid black portions of prior-year uniforms able to be reused.

Prior to the regular meeting, the board held a workshop in the district office at 5:30 p.m. to prepare for a new budget and review the summer project list for the school’s buildings and grounds. School superintendent Dan Read, board chair Ed Deife, and members Heather Valverde, Chris Crossley, Janie Steward and Carmen Weishaar attended the workshop.

The regular meeting that followed included the persons named above, plus business manager Juli Weishaar, Kevin and Amy Schaefer, Justin Parr and Terrie Schmidt-Crosby.

Under the consent agenda, board members approved payroll warrants #610015-610038 and direct-deposit warrants #900005547-900005603 for $277,234.67; general fund warrants #610039-610082 for $62,144.79; ASB fund warrants #610083-610098 for $16,090.08; a general fund comp tax wire transfer for $213.19; and an ASB comp tax wire transfer for $58.78.

Under personnel, the board approved the contract for Jamie Nelson as the school principal for 2017-2018 and summer school teaching contracts for Charli Moffet and Blayne Albertson, the Lincoln County Health Dept. school nurse contract for 2017-2018, the Odessa hospital contract for occupational and physical therapy services, the 2017-2018 out-of-endorsement assignment for Laura Caler to teach high school Spanish.

Principal Nelson’s written report listed school wrapped up with a host of events including the annual Senior Recognition All-School Assembly, elementary and secondary spring music concerts, a trip to Silverwood for the band, the FFA banquet and graduation for the Class of 2017.

The associated student body officers elected for 2017-2018 are Colton Hunt, president; Tori Weishaar, vice president; Eric Johnston, secretary; Jayd Jennings, treasurer; and Megan Shafer, assistant treasurer.

Read reported that the summer feeding program is off to a slow start. The future of the program will depend upon increased participation.

Read told the board that interviews for two para-educator positions will take place sometime next month under the direction of Nelson.

Read concluded by reporting that separation of the athletic co-operative’s assets with the Harrington School District has been completed.

Read said the legislature had reached a state budget agreement in principle, with details of the proposed budget to be announced soon.

Supervisor Justin Parr reported that the custodial/maintenance crew members have been working on summer projects. Parr had just returned from the annual WAPT Conference in Pasco where he attended workshops on various transportation topics.

During the earlier board workshop, the board determined that projects involving safety issues would be given priority for completion. Upgrading the fire-alarm system in the high school and replacing sections of sidewalks in disrepair around the facilities are slated to be completed this summer.

Read presented the ASB balance sheet for May, the general fund financial activity reports for May showing revenue at $477,959 and expenditures at $287,287 for an ending balance of $971,030.

The next regular budget hearing/board meeting will be Wednesday, July 26, 2017 at 6 p.m. in the high school library, with a board workshop at 5:30 p.m. before the regular meeting.

Resolution #6-2016-2017, co-op termination:

“WHEREAS, the Odessa and Harrington School Districts have entered into and participated in a Cooperative Agreement for Interscholastic Activities which provided joint athletic opportunities for the respective students in both Districts; and

WHEREAS, the Odessa School Board recognizes that the Cooperative Agreement can only function and continue if the majority of both Cooperative Athletic Boards desire for it to continue; and WHEREAS, the Odessa School Board recognizes that the majority of the Odessa-Harrington Cooperative Athletic Board desires the termination of the Cooperative Agreement. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT: 1. The Odessa-Harrington Cooperative Agreement for interscholastic athletics is hereby terminated effective immediately. 2. In order to provide a smooth transition and in order to allow high school students to continue to engage in appropriate athletic activities it is agreed that Harrington High School students will be allowed to join and participate in any Odessa High School athletic team for which there is no corresponding Harrington team during the 2017-2018 school year. It is understood that Harrington High School will provide the same opportunity for Odessa students in any sports that Odessa does not offer. 3. This agreement and offering under paragraph 2 above, will be reviewed by the respective School Boards no later than June 1, 2018. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT: The Odessa School Board authorizes the Odessa School District Superintendent to meet and negotiate an equitable distribution of cooperative assets with the Harrington School District Superintendent…”

The board approved a motion to ratify David Anderson, of Bi-County Appraisals, as the district’s selected appraiser for the possible purchase of real property.

Read indicated that the real estate purchase and sale agreement has yet to be finalized on the property the district wishes to purchase. The agenda item was tabled and a special board meeting may be called in July if an initial agreement can be reached. If purchased, this property would alleviate the congested parking during school and during after-school activities.

Chairman Deife announced the board would be entering into a fifteen-minute executive session beginning at 6:30 p.m. to discuss the 2017-2018 coaching contracts with action to follow. The board came out of executive session at 6:44 p.m.

Athletic director Bruce Todd submitted the following list of coaches to be approved for the 2017-2018 school year: High school head football coach Jeff Nelson; assistants Justin Zeibel and Josh Clark; head volleyball coach Lanae Carper; assistant LaRee Kuchenbuch; head boys basketball Larry Weber; assistant-Open; head girls basketball Travis Schuh; assistant LaRee Kuchenbuch; head baseball coach Larry Weber; assistant Jeff Nelson; head track & field coach Travis Schuh; assistant Lanae Carper.

Junior-high head football coach Larry Weber; assistant Open; head volleyball coach Suzie Deife; assistant Terri Neilsen; head boys basketball Dalles Deife; assistant Chris Shafer; head girls basketball coach Chris Shafer; assistant Danielle Vesneske; head baseball coach H.P. Carstensen; assistant-Open; track & field-Open; and assistant Jon Hayashi.

The board approved the list of coaches, with the exception of volunteers until the district develops guidelines for volunteer coach participation in extra-curricular activities, including cheer leading.