School board OK’s golf team trial

Wahkiakum School District board of directors heard a variety of reports and inputs when they met February 20.

The board approved a one-season trial period for a spring season high golf team.

Bill Olsen, varsity basketball coach and assistant middle school track coach, will coach the team, with practices starting at 5 p.m. after middle school track.

The team will turn out at Skyline Golf Course.

Superintendent Bob Garrett, also district athletic director, said a competition schedule isn’t completed, but there are Class 2B golf teams at several Pacific League schools.

The board also heard a proposal from Vocational Agriculture teacher Kyle Hurley to remodel the Vo-Ag Shop.

Hurley wants to relocate welding stations to improve supervision and ventilation. With improved lines of sight, more students will be able to work in the stations.

Garrett said the logging project in the school’s Farm Forest has so far gnerated $126,000 which will cover the remodeling and have funds left over.

The board approved the following spring sport coaching contracts: Head baseball, Jeff Rooklidge; assistants, Kyle Hurley and Fred Hoven; head softball, Cindy Fudge, assistant, Tiffany Niemeyer; head track, Mike Riley; assistant, Mary Moonen; middle school track, Shelley Olsen; assistant, Bill Olsen.

Principals Theresa Libby, elementary and middle schools, and Loren Davis, high school, reported that testing for the Washington Assessment of Student Learning, will start this month. High school writing will be March 13-15, reading March 19 and 20, and math and science, April 17-20. Elementary and middle testing will occur April 16-May 4.

The board heard a report from Judy Bright and Chris Holmes of Wahkiakum County Health and Human Services on a six-year plan to combat substance abuse, and the board held more discussion on the future of the Old Gym.

Maintenance Supervisor Robert McClintock presented an extensive report on maintenance needs that have been deferred; board members said they would study it for discussion at their March meeting. Identified needs total an estimated $872,000.

Enrollment, the basis of state appropriations, dipped from 462.6 full time student equivalents (FTE’s) in January to 461.72 in February. Average enrollment to date is 461.67 FTE’s, close to the level used to calculate the budget for the year, Garrett said.