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

A parent came to the Wahkiakum School District Board of Directors Meeting on Monday night to voice concerns he and other parents had about allowing eighth grade students to play high school sports.

This year, the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) decided that schools with half the enrollment of the largest school in their classification could use eighth graders to help field their high school teams, according to Superintendent Bob Garrett. Wahkiakum falls into that category.

The parent, Todd Wilson, shared that he had learned that some of the high school students were reconsidering spring sports for fear that they would be losing positions to middle school students. Some were already talking about not turning out for baseball, he said, even though they had played the sport since they were little.

“One of my thoughts was if we had a varsity sport in jeopardy and not being able to field a team, then eighth graders would definitely be able to come up and help the team,” Wilson said, “but now high school students are not seeing playing time because eighth graders are taking that time up. I hate to see high school kids decide not to turn out for a sport because they feel like they have lost their high school positions to middle schoolers.

“It’s not so much that it has affected my kid personally, but there are a lot of kids that youth athletics have been a really big important piece of growing up.”

School board member Paula Culbertson responded.

“I, too, have heard this complaint,” she said. “I am flabbergasted that [the WIAA] make no illusion that it doesn’t have to be a team in jeopardy, that a more talented, early maturing eighth grade student can displace a high school student. Are we here to build semi-pro teams? Are we here to help build self esteem of students? Are we here to make it fun? It is very sad to me just to use the school size to move the early maturing eighth graders up and displace somebody on the varsity team. At what point do you tell your kids you can have it all now or your turn will come? Because that is part of maturing. I’ve seen some devastated kids at the high school because of it.”

Superintendent Bob Garrett pointed out that losing can be hard on a student’s self esteem as well. Principal Stephanie Leitz remarked that perhaps the young athletes were being recognized for their hard work and dedication, as well as their talent.

Another parent, Jason Will, spoke up.

“When we moved here about four years ago,” Will said, “my oldest son was in basketball. We did that to get him acclimated into the community, socializing. That wasn’t his goal to play basketball, so I said let’s do something else. Let’s flex the real muscle. I’m here to not be thrown under the bus on academics. I’d like to see that be pushed forward.”

“I believe there has been a concerted effort over the last several years to raise the bar with respect to academics,” Garrett said in response. “I’m very proud of what has been achieved. We’re trying to reach the whole child and when it comes to who gets to participate in athletic events, it’s tough. Are we playing to have fun? Are we playing to win?

"Typically at the varsity level, you’re playing to win. At the JV, C squad level, you’re playing to have fun and build kids. When it comes to varsity, everyone is hoping that there can be a victory on the scoreboard at the end of the day. And coaches believe that the greatest way to put victories on the scoreboard is to play your most talented players. And if that happens to be an eighth grader, that’s life.”

Garrett suggested that the board table the matter until the next meeting in order to give the public and the coaches an opportunity to voice opinions and discuss the matter further. The board agreed. The next meeting is scheduled for February 21 at 5:30 p.m.

VoAg teacher Kyle Hurley, who was giving a presentation to the board about planning curriculum for his classroom, reported that Lower Columbia College had made it possible for any of his students who showed an interest in welding to become certified for $70 instead of taking the two year course at LCC and paying $250 to be tested for certification. So far, he’s had no takers.

Garrett moved on to the superintendent’s report.

“We’ve received just under $75,000 in revenue from the timber sale,” he said. “Kyle (Hurley) is expecting another $65,000 that should be coming. That is more than I thought we were going to generate from that. Surely by next month we will have received all the money and then we can start a discussion about how to best utilize at least some of that money for his program.”

He also reported that the January apportionment would reflect actual enrollment instead of the projected enrollment. Enrollment has been around 425 this year instead of the projected 440 students.

Auditors have been visiting the school the last couple weeks.

“As far as I know there have been no significant issues,” Garrett said, “just little stuff that is typical. I think we are doing fine.”

The board continued to discuss the tool they plan to use to evaluate Superintendent Garrett. The board accepted Heidi Heywood's resignation as head coach for the track team. It was also time to revisit the board organization. The board voted to retain Shawn Merz as the chair, Sue O’Connor as vice-chair, and Robin Westphall volunteered to be the legislative representative.

Finally, Garrett recognized the school board members for their service with a certificate and a gift from himself and the two principals, Theresa Libby and Leitz.