The Wahkiakum County Eagle - Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891

Wahkiakum School District's board of directors heard a complaint from a parent and acted on other business in a short meeting January 20.

Parent Sharin Cothren, who said she prefers be known soley as Sharin, told the board she was unhappy with the way a teacher had implemented Tae Bo into the middle school physical education curriculum. Tae Bo is aerobic exercise based on the Korean martial art tae kwon do. Sharin said the teacher described how some of the movements could be used for self defense, including preventing rape.

She said she objected to mentioning rape because of its sexual connotation, and she objected to teaching children violent techniques when she is trying to teach her children to exist peacefully with other people.

She faulted the teacher and district for not sending written notification to parents about classes involving sexual topics.

Superintendent Bob Garrett reported that he had talked with the teacher about using different terminology in the future and thought the matter was settled.

"We have instructed the teacher not to use the term 'rapist,'" he said. "It won't happen again."

Sharin asked if there would be a public apology, and Garrett asked Sharin to follow the district's policy for complaints: Meet with the teacher, and in order, if not satisfied, with the principal, the superintendent, and finally the school board.

"This is the way the process is supposed to work," he said.

"Okay, thank you," Sharin said. "I'll do that."

In other business:

--Garrett reported that January enrollment averaged 444.35 full-time student equivalents (FTE's). The student FTE count is the basis for state funding. The district started the year with 443.75 FTE's; Garrett based the 2009-2010 budget on a total of 439 FTE's.

--Garrett commented that January is School Board Appreciation Month and presented directors with cards and a token of appreciation for their service.

Directors are "serving kids and the community," he said, "and you're not micromanaging the staff."

Directors are Chair Tony Boyce, Tina Schubert, Mike Quigley, Lee Tischer and Michelle Budd.