School levies to remain at prior levels

The Odessa School Board met on November 20 in a workshop prior to the regular board meeting to discuss the upcoming levy.

The board approved the following:

*submission of a Replacement Maintenance and Operation Levy to voters on February 11 at the same level ($698,000) at which it has run for the past five years. Due to increases in property values within the school district, the levy will cost homeowners $0.69 less per $1,000 assessed value than it did two years ago.

*submission of a replacement Capital Projects Levy to voters at the same level ($110,000) at which it has run for the past five years.

*adoption of “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee as a literature selection for the ninth-grade English class after teacher Laura Caler explained how she will use the novel with her students. She reported the novel is in widespread general use in secondary schools throughout the country. She believes the novel also meets the Common Core State Standards in many areas.

*declaration of the 1998 Taurus as surplus; the district will now proceed with the process for selling the vehicle.

*contracts for LaRee Kuchenbuch as assistant high-school girls basketball coach and for Craig Holman and Ellen Holman for directing the K-12 musical.

*policy changes allowing board members to participate in meetings using telecommunications if their physical presence is not possible; changing the rules for interscholastic eligibility to include prohibition of the use or possession of marijuana; approving the new state definition for the highly capable academic program; providing a policy for community service; amending the student rights and responsibilities to comply with state law; adjusting the nondiscrimination policy to include additional groups as required by state of federal law; and adjusting language for interviews and interrogations of students on school premises.

Principal’s report

Principal Ken Schutz reported on the parent/teacher conferences, which resulted in a great turnout of parents. Schutz said discussions about the conferences with the teaching staff brought up a few changes to be made for next year. Conferences are scheduled for three days during the academic year, with one day for fall and two days for spring conferences this year. Next year, staff requested scheduling all conferences in the afternoon and evening to better accommodate working parents.

Schutz reported that this year’s junior class will take the ACT test at Odessa High School on December 14. The junior high girl’s basketball team has already played some contests and high school basketball practice has started.

Superintendent’s report

Superintendent Suellen White reported on the progress of efforts to implement College in the High School or Running Start in the High School by partnering with Big Bend Community College (BBCC) in Moses Lake. The Odessa School District received a Dual Credit Grant to help with the cost of developing classes to accelerate the academic progress of students capable of doing higher level work. To this end the core high school teachers met with the Dean of Education and Vice President of Academic Affairs of BBCC.

White reported on the use of early release time since the last board meeting. The staff received iPad training by a staff member from the Northeast Washington Association of School Administrators (NEWASA), and several teachers and paraprofessionals were involved in a webinar that provided training for the new library circulation system recently installed. The PE grant is still in process of determining what we need to do. The ESD should be letting us know the next steps soon.

White and Schutz attended a Vocational Advisory Committee meeting to discuss the need to revamp the curriculum to meet the needs of students for post-high-school and career success. Discussion centered on the need for both revision of the current curriculum and enhancement of the program.

A legislative dinner for Lincoln county schools was scheduled for November 25 for Lincoln County school superintendents and board members. Ed Deife, Joe Schlomer, Marcus Horak and Travis Wagner indicated they would join Schutz and White at the dinner.

Justin Parr told the board he had been dealing with plumbing difficulties all the past week. He will meet with town officials to discuss winter snow plowing and maintenance schedules.

The financial report showed enrollment at the same level as when school started. We ended October with a $624,480 cash balance.

The next board meeting will be on December 18.