Submitted by Superintendent Lisa Nelson

The Naselle-Grays River Valley School District Board of Directors met for its monthly meeting on December 15. The meeting was held at the Grays River Fire Hall as part of a series of three meetings that will occur in Wahkiakum County throughout the school year.

In personnel business, the board acknowledged the resignation of Kim Eaton, head volleyball coach. The board and superintendent offered their congratulations on past successful volleyball seasons by Coach Eaton and the volleyball team. Board member Lonnie Eaton offered his congratulations to both fall sports’ programs (volleyball and football) in making it to the state tournament.

Four newly elected board members were sworn in representing the following districts: Nick Nikkila, Area 1, Amy Hunt, Area 2, Chuck Hendrickson, Area 3, and Lonnie Eaton, Area 5. Current board members Hendrickson, Hunt and Eaton had previously been filling in as appointees for past board members who had unfulfilled terms.

After being sworn in, the board proceeded to re-elect Hendrickson as chair of the board. Nikkila was appointed as vice-chair and Eaton as WIAA representative.

The board approved the purchase of replacement computer technology not to exceed $19,500 including tax. The equipment replaces eight computers in the vocational lab and three teacher laptops, in addition to one server.

Superintendent Lisa Nelson formally acknowledged and thanked Robert Torppa for his service to the district as a board member for the past several years. Torppa has assisted the board in serving two terms with many of those years as chair of the Board. Torppa reflected on some significant work the board had been through in his last several years.

In other business, Nelson reported that the district had seen three public records requests in the past month; the most significant regarding bus infractions involving physical contact over the past 12 years.

The next regularly scheduled meeting is January 19 at 6:30 p.m. at the Naselle-Grays River School Commons.