School board

The board workshop held in the Odessa School District office at 6:30 p.m. January 25 to discuss facilities issues was attended were superintendent Dan Read, principal Jamie Nelson, board chair Ed Deife, board members Heather Valverde, Chris Crossley and Janie Steward and facilities supervisor Justin Parr.

At 7 p.m., the group moved to the high school library for the general meeting and was joined by business manager Juli Weishaar, athletic director Bruce Todd and second-grade teacher Kim Todd.

Read called for nominations for reorganizing the the offices and committees of the board members. Ed Deife. was nominated and then elected to continue as the board chairman.

Heather Valverde was nominated and elected vice chair. Nominated for WIAA representative was Ed Deife, who was elected unanimously. Chairman Deife appointed board members to serve on the following committees:

• Facilities – Ed Deife

• Curriculum – Chris Crossley and Janie Steward

• Negotiations – Heather Valverde and Chris Crossley

Second-grade teacher Kim Todd, who is resigning her position at the end of the school year, thanked the board for 20 years of employment with the district. She said it all started when she obtained a long-term position as a substitute teacher in the ag shop, which then led to the elementary position she is going to vacate. She said she is looking forward to pursuing a position/career change.

The board approved the consent agenda, including the minutes of the December 14, 2016 meeting; bills and payroll warrants #609560 to 609564 and direct deposit warrants #900005243 to 900005303 for $234,628.15; general fund warrants #609586 to 609635 for $92,939.68; ASB fund warrants #609636 to 609647 for $6,823.54.

Also approved were the resignations of Kim Todd as the second-grade teacher as of June 2017, Ellen Holman as the fall cheer squad advisor, director of the school musical and the senior class graduation advisor (also as of June 2017) and Michael Cronrath as the junior-high head track coach.

Read reported that enrollment had declined somewhat to 232.1 full-time equivalent students.

Read also reported that the district had received two applications to date for the position vacated by Roland Singer. The closing date for receiving applications is January 31, 2017.

Due to inclement weather, the district currently must make up three school days. Read said schools can request a waiver from the state for the days missed but must remain in session until June 14. Students will make up the snow days on March 3, June 14 and June 15. The last day is an early release day.

Nelson reported a headcount enrollment of 256 students in preschool through grade 12. She told the board that students in grades 9-12 gave their scientific research presentations, practice began for the school musical under the direction of Ellen Holman, early release for the end of the quarter was scheduled for Friday, January 27, and an all-school academic assembly was to be held February 2.

Upcoming activities included the FBLA winter conference, FFA trip to the Ag Expo in Spokane, Knowledge Bowl competitions and numerous FLOCK activities.

There were no reports from individual board members, nor was there a legislative report.

Facilities director Justin Parr reported there have been some leaks in the roof due to ice backing up during the recent thaw. He also said that the lighting project for which the school will receive an Avista rebate is nearing completion.

Parr reported the majority of recent custodial and transportation issues have been the result of the snowy weather conditions. Keeping buses running and sidewalks/walkways clear and safe have been a priority for his team in recent weeks.

Read presented the ASB balance sheet for December, as well as the financial activity reports for the general fund showing revenue at $344,730 and expenditures at $274,919 for an ending balance of $720,685.

The next regular board meeting will be held Wednesday, February 22, 2017 at 7 p.m. in the high school library. The board scheduled a special meeting to conduct board member applicant interviews at 5:30 p.m. before the regular meeting.

The O-H Athletic Co-op winter board meeting was re-scheduled for February 1, 2017, at the Harrington school multipurpose room.

Read reported that the Odessa FBLA chapter was awarded $3,000 by the Spokane Teachers Credit Union, as the winner of the $100 Project, for their Toasty Tots clothing campaign. The FBLA chose to donate their award to the Friends of the Pool, a local civic organization whose mission is to support the community swimming pool. The board moved to accept the award from STCU and to approve the FBLA’s $3,000 donation to the Friends of the Pool.

To thank them for their service, certificates of appreciation were presented to the board members by the superintendent. January has been declared School Board Recognition Month.

Chairman Deife announced the board would be entering into a 10-minute executive session beginning at 7:25 p.m. to consider employment of a public officer or employee per RCW 42.30.110, with no action to follow.