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Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Davenport school board swears in Schreck, farewells Panke and Sweet
New Davenport school board member Janie Schreck (right) is sworn in by Davenport superintendent Jim Kowalkowski (left). Schreck officially joined the board at the board's Nov. 29 meeting.
Outgoing Davenport school board members Heather Panke (left) and Brad Sweet (right) pose with their parting gifts after signaling an end to a combined 26 years on the school board Nov. 29.
DAVENPORT-In the span of about 10 minutes, the Davenport school board went through some drastic (albeit planned) changes at its Nov. 29 meeting. The board elected a new chair and vice chair, swore in a new member and saluted two outgoing members goodbye.
The board also approved a contract for its new superintendent and business manager.
Consent agenda OK'd
The board first approved its consent agenda. That included the contract for incoming superintendent and current high school principal Chad Prewitt effective July 1, 2022 after Jim Kowalkowski's retirement and new business manager Dana Telecky effective Nov. 30, 2021 after Leslie Oliver's resignation.
In a true sign of the times, Telecky appeared to greet the board via Zoom after contracting COVID-19 during discussion time. She said she hopes to be in the office by Dec. 6 if her recovery goes according to schedule.
New paraprofessional position approved
The board held a discussion regarding administration's request to create an additional special education paraprofessional. Specific contract details weren't provided, which initially created some hesitation for board members Garrett Husky and Brad Sweet. However, members Deanna Fitzpatrick and Tami Odenrider voiced their strong support for the position, saying it's one special education students may need throughout their grade school experience.
Bethany Orvis also recommended the hire during public comments. Eventually, the board unanimously approved the creation of the position.
Kowalkowski also told the board he hopes to have recommendations for hire in December for a full-time registrar and district office assistant and part-time food service assistants and health-room specialists.
Schreck sworn in
New board member Janie Schreck, who is replacing outgoing board member Brad Sweet for one of the board's at-large positions, was sworn in Monday by Kowalkowski.
Schreck, a lifelong Davenport resident who works for Microsoft in its event industry, has two daughters who attend Davenport Elementary School.
"Originally, I wanted to be an educator, so this was a way I could be involved in the school," Schreck said. "I wanted to make a difference in the school and the district."
Schreck took her new seat after being sworn in.
The district has yet to find a board member for its current vacancy, but hopes to fill the position by the new year.
Panke, Sweet depart
Monday's board meeting was the final for longtime, outgoing members Heather Panke and Sweet, who both didn't run for re-election this year.
Panke, the board's chair and a 16-year member of the board, was presented with flowers. Sweet, a 10-year board member and the board's vice chair, was given an oversized coffee cup.
"There's no doubt you've both made this place better for kids," Kowalkowski told the pair as the meeting concluded.
The board moved to elect Fitzpatrick as the new chair and Husky as the new vice chair moving forward.
The final board meeting of the calendar year is Dec. 13 at 5 p.m.
Drew Lawson is the editor of the Davenport Times. He is a graduate of Eastern Washington University.
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