School's back in session: Enrollment down slightly from fall

The Board of Directors of Odessa School District #105 met in the high school library Wednesday, August 28, 2019 at 6 p.m., preceded by a workshop in the district office at 5:30 p.m. for the purpose of reviewing the 2019-2020 extra-curricular salary schedule and district goals for the next school year.

Present were board chair Ed Deife; board members Heather Valverde, Chris Crossley, Janie Steward and Carmen Weishaar; Superintendent Dan Read; Principal Jamie Nelson; Business Manager Juli Weishaar; Facilities Supervisor Justin Parr and Athletic Director Bruce Todd.

The board approved the consent agenda which included minutes of the July 24, 2019 regular meeting; bills and payroll warrants #612274-612297 and direct deposit warrants #900007093-900007141 for a total of $310,007.26; General Fund A/P warrants #612298-612338 for $68,633.53; ASB Fund A/P warrants #612339-612340 totaling $1,244.83; the Union Exempt Classified Salary Schedule 2019-2020, Extended Contracts 2019-2020, Extra-Curricular Contracts 2019-2020, Coaches’ Salary Schedule 2019-2020 and travel to Camp Wooten for sixth-graders September 24-27, 2019.

Superintendent’s report

Read reported a tentative enrollment of 234 full-time equivalent students for the first day of school, down from 247 at the end of school this past June.

Read reported that changes to school discipline rules, per legislative action, would result in an overhaul of our discipline procedures during the 2019-2020 school year. The superintendent shared a few highlights of the mandates which include; parents are to be included in early intervention of discipline issues, parents need to be notified whenever a student is excluded from classroom instruction for discipline purposes and, when a student is suspended from school, the district is required to provide ongoing instruction for the student through a variety of channels.

Principal’s report

Nelson reported school registration went smoothly with a total headcount enrollment in preschool through 12th grade of 239 students.

Nelson reported topics covered during the first staff professional development day included SBAC trend lines, effective instruction/walk-through forms, Second Step/PBIS positive reward, Wednesday early release professional development topics of focus, classroom management and the district’s school-wide referral process. The mandated topics of professional standards, personal safety, and medical information provided by the district’s school nurse, Jolene Erickson, were covered the next day by all staff.

Nelson reported that the first day of school assembly, organized by ASB officers Caitlyn Schuh, Camden Weber, Maddie and Emily Scrupps, and Pilot Weishaar, was a great way to start the school year.

AD report

Athletic Director Bruce Todd reported that practices are underway for both junior high and high school football and volleyball with 22 participating in high-school football, 19 in high-school volleyball, 15 in junior-high football and 11 in junior-high volleyball.

Todd reported that the state football championship games will no longer be played in the Tacoma Dome. The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association will select various sites throughout the state for championship games. It has also elected to move the championship games for spring sports from Memorial Day weekend to the following weekend.

Facilities report

Parr reported that the district has acquired two portable storage units, the refinishing of the gym floors is complete, the football field was in good shape for the start of football practice, buses ran on new routes without any problems on the first day of school and the two new hires, Jeremy Nolden and Kyle Haase, are fitting in well and doing a great job.

Financial report

Read presented the ASB balance sheet for July. He further presented the Financial Activity reports for the General Fund for July showing an unassigned fund balance of $871,919.

Next regular meeting

The next regular board meeting will be held Wednesday, September 25, 2019 at 6 p.m. in the high school library, with a workshop at 5:30 p.m. before the regular meeting.

Minimum basic ed requirement compliance

Read reported the district is in compliance with the number of hours of educational offerings and graduation requirements as required by the State Board of Education.

PSE collective bargaining agreement

Read reported negotiations with PSE representatives have been completed, including an overall 3.5-percent increase in salaries for classified staff which was approved by the board.

OEA collective bargaining agreement

Read reported negotiations with OEA representatives are complete, including a three-percent salary increase for each of the next three years for certificated staff which was approved by the board.

Booster club donation for jackets/sideline capes

The board approved the acceptance of a donation from the booster club of jackets and sideline capes for the football team at a total cost of $4,048.77.