School board

On Wednesday, June 27, the Board of Directors of Odessa School District #105 held a workshop in the district office at 5:30 p.m. for the purpose of budget preparation and reviewing the facilities/grounds summer project list, then moved to the high school library at 6 p.m. for the regular open meeting.

Present were board members Ed Deife, Heather Valverde, Janie Steward, Carmen Weishaar, superintendent Dan Read, principal Jamie Nelson and Juli Weishaar, business manager. Board member Chris Crossley was in Baltimore serving as a chaperone on the trip to FBLA Nationals. Also present were Justin Parr and Bruce Todd.

The board approved the consent agenda which include the minutes of the May 23, 2018 regular meeting; bills/payroll for June, warrants #611073-611098 and direct deposit warrants #900006259-900006317, totaling $300,595.72; general fund A/P warrants #611099-611147 for $120,321.34; ASB fund A/P warrants #611148-611159, for $6,857.72; a general fund comp tax wire transfer for $67.29 and an ASB comp tax wire transfer for $39.95. Also approved under personnel were the 2018-2019 contract for principal Jamie Nelson, the hiring of bus drivers Dennis Hubbard and Miranda Taylor, the hiring of Kjersti Christensen as music teacher (partial year), the hiring of Tim Larson, Carley Williams and Elizabeth Larson as summer school staff and the resignations of Paige Smith as a para-educator, Julie Wehr as musical director and costume/set designer for the school musical; H.P. Carstensen as the junior-high head baseball coach and Chris Shafer as the asst. junior-high boys basketball coach. The school nurse contract for 2018-2019 was also approved.

Superintendent Dan Read reported that the school year began with a student enrollment of 231 full-time equivalent students and ended the year with an enrollment of 251. For budgeting for the 2018-2019 school year, the district will plan on a student enrollment of 245 FTE.

Read gave a brief update on summer projects including selected sidewalk replacement, house/property demolition, security entrance system installation and baseball dugout and track field projects.

Read reviewed with the board OSPI’s Educator Equity Tool and breakdown of courses being taught outside of endorsements. Read said Laura Caler will not be teaching Spanish for the 2018-19 school year, Don Sheldon will no longer teach junior-high-level industrial arts and Bruce Todd will no longer teach 6th grade social studies. Larry Weber will continue to teach consumer finance at the junior-high level.

Principal Jamie Nelson reported senior activities, including the senior assembly, last day check-out and graduation, were all very successful.

Nelson thanked Lanae Carper, who filled in for retiring teacher Craig Holman, for the excellent job she did getting students ready for the Lilac Parade and for the trip to Silverwood.

The principal reported she attended a three-day crisis training session in Spokane. Presenting was Cheri Lovre, who was called in to facilitate the crisis management for Columbine, Marysville and Freeman school districts, as well as many other crisis situations. Nelson will be collaborating with Lovre, NEWESD 101 staff, the counselor from Freeman school district, and others to develop a county-wide crisis response team that will “fly out” to districts in need.

Nelson concluded by reporting her summer will be spent focusing on social/emotional learning, school climate, assessment improvements, differentiation strategies in the classroom, mental health resources for students, crisis planning and positive school public relations.

Bruce Todd reported he is working on a new football schedule, since a number of schools were approved by WIAA to opt down to a lower classification in football.

Todd reported three girls are interested in playing soccer with Davenport next year. Davenport is waiting to see how many girls turn out from their district before they commit to combining with Odessa. Davenport wants to remain in the 2B classification and numbers are too close to call at this time.

Todd reported the baseball dugouts have been torn down, the fence surrounding the dugouts has been removed and the holes have been filled with dirt and gravel. Larry Weber is making arrangements to pour the concrete forms and floors.

Todd concluded by thanking Carmen Weishaar and Danielle Hardung for painting the storage shed on the baseball field.

Justin Parr reported he has a quote for materials to build two new above ground dugouts at the baseball field, the custodians are busy painting handrails in the high school and gym, all the sprinklers have been replaced on the football field and he has picked up the used John Deere 1600 mower recently purchased by the district.

Read presented the ASB balance sheet for May and the Financial Activity reports for the General Fund for May showing an unassigned fund balance of $915,677.