Local News

The Wahkiakum School District board of directors discussed and acted on a variety of issues at their April 18 board meeting.
Assistant Wrestling Coach Keith Burns asked about intentions regarding the sharing of the wrestling room and PE weight training room in light of the board’s decision at their previous meeting to plan a remodel of the high school.
Earlier this year, Head Wrestling Coach John Hannah had proposed a remodel and expansion of the wrestling room, but with the remodel, that plan is off the table.
Superintendent Bob Garrett said programs would have to continue sharing as they have been for two or three more seasons.
“I just want to know for sure that there’s a place for the wrestling team,” Burns said.
“As far as I’m concerned, you have one,” Garrett said.

In other business:
—Puget Island resident Mark Vik asked for details behind the board’s decision to have the Old Gym declared surplus and set to be razed. School officials are checking with fire department officials to see if firemen would like to burn the building for training purposes.
To the eye, he said, the roof and walls seem straight, not sagging, the signs of a deteriorating building.
The damage, said Directors Willie Johnson and Mike Quigley, is in the floor, foundation and fixtures.
Vik asked if the building could be available for salvage.
“We’ve had this discussion; the building is dangerous,” Quigley said.
“If our maintenance supervisor doesn’t feel its safe, I don’t see how we can let someone into it,” said Director Tina Schubert.
“There’s a lot of good material in that building; that’s a fact,” Vik said.
—Vik also asked what the district is doing about athletic code policies relating to students who are accused or convicted of felonies.
It appears a star athlete can commit a felony and not be dropped from athletics.
Garrett, who is also athletic director, said the code isn’t clear about students who are accused but not yet convicted of crimes.
“My take is if I have to err, I’m going to err on the side of the student,” he said. “I let the courts rule before I make the decision. Once they’ve been convicted or plead guilty, that student will be removed.”
He added that an athlete accused of crimes had recently pled guilty to charges, and that the athlete is no longer participating in spring sports.
—Enrollment averaged 463.02 full time student equivalent students (FTE’s) in April, Garrett said, slightly above the 459 figure used as a basis for the 2006-07 budget.
Enrollment has averaged 461.71 FTE’s for the year.
Elementary school Principal Theresa Libby reported a large family had moved into the district and enrolled several students after the monthly counting date.