Local News

May 31, 2007

Wahkiakum School District officials discussed last week one option for undertaking a remodel of the district's aging high school.
A representative of Educational Service District 112's Construction Services Group, Doug Nichols, outlined the service that group offers, services ranging from facility assessment; assistance with design team selection and contracting; management of budgets, scheduling and permitting; bidder solicitation; quality oversight in construction and other phases, and final warrranty management.
The first step the district should take, Nichols said, is to conduct a study of the building's needs and the needs for future educational programs.
The district should also undertake a financial analysis so that it could calculate possible building bond options.
Nichols added that it appears the district would qualify for its full allocation of state school building funds, which would pay for 53 percent of the project. Overall, in a rough estimate, a full remodel could cost $8-10 million.
Construction would likely take longer than the school's summer vacation, Nichols said, and it would add to the cost if the district tried to do the work in phases so that some classrooms could be used.
Superintendent Bob Garrett said he would have more information on the study and survey for the board's May meeting.

In other business:
--Directors approved resurfacing of the high school track at a cost of $44,000. It has been 18-19 years since the surface was new, and use by athletes, students and the public has caused wear.
"We are at the point that we need to re-surface," said Wahkiakum High School Principal Loren Davis.
"The track is one district facility that has lots of use by the public," Garrett added.
--The board approved fall and winter coaching contracts for 2007-08. Coaching staffs will be: Football--Eric Hansen; assistants Marc Niemeyer and Kevin Patching; volleyball--Patty Anderson; assistant Jeff Rooklidge; middle school football--John Hannah, assistant Rob Cothren; middle school volleyball--Shelley Olsen, assistant to be named; cross country--Mike Riley; cheerleader adviser--Lisa Hannah; high school boys basketball--Bill Olsen, assistant Jared Moore; high school girls basketball--Tim Brown; assistant Dave Hendrickson.
--Garrett announced that ending enrollment was 470.02 full-time student equivalents (FTE's). Average enrollment for the year was 462.63 FTE's, slightly over the level used to calculate the budget for the school year.
--The board approved a new salary schedule for district teachers, reflecting increases funded by the state. Salary levels range from $32,746 for a new teacher with a bachelor degree and no experience to $61,720 for a teacher with 16 or more years experience and a doctorate of master's degree plus 90 hours more of education.