Aberdeen Schools
Helping you stay informed about our district.
Aberdeen School District No. 5 -- January 14, 2022
It was Robert Gray Elementary School's turn to present at the School Board meeting on Jan. 11. Principal Sherri Northington and ASB President Calvin Evanson led the directors through a report showcasing the teaching and learning taking place, along with information about the social/emotional program.
Click on the photo above to hear how students start their day at Robert Gray.
On to state for SkillsUSA
Congratulations to AHS senior Logan Sias and sophomore Keara Burns for winning individual titles in the SkillsUSA Olympic Region Technical Contests.
Sias took first place in HVAC/Refrigeration, while Burns won the gold in Major Appliance Repair. Their advisor, Chuck Veloni, notes that both champions now advance to the state competition that will be held in Tacoma in April.
Also qualifying for state in both events are seniors Isaac Henninger and Logen Seguin, he said.
Board of Directors
Summary of the Jan. 11 meeting
Agenda for the Meeting (pdf)
President Jennifer Durney convened the regular meeting of the Aberdeen School District Board of Directors at 5:01 p.m. Tuesday, January 11, 2022, via webinar following guidance for conducting remote meetings in compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act. Directors present were Jessica Jurasin, Annica Mizin, Suzy Ritter and Jeremy Wright, along with Superintendent Alicia Henderson and 30 patrons and staff watching remotely.
The meeting began with the Flag salute.
Minutes, Bills, Trips & Gifts
The Board approved the Consent Agenda, which included:
- The minutes from the regular meeting on December 14, 2021, and the special meeting on January 4, 2022;
- December payroll vouchers totaling $3,590,888.89,
- General Fund vouchers totaling $352,795.00,
- Accepted a donation from the Darrell and Elaine Lokken fund at the Grays Harbor Community Foundation in the amount of $500 for FFA at Aberdeen High School, and
- Accepted the gift of a clarinet in support of the music program at Miller Junior High School from Phil Robinson.
Comments from Board members
The Board conducted a lengthy discussion about the meeting requirements and the timing for returning to in-person meetings. Under the state requirements, meetings are required to be remote, but the Board can add an in-person component. Given that COVID transmission is currently extremely high and prompted the need to return to remote learning for two weeks, it was agreed that the February meeting would remain remote and the March meeting would scheduled in a hybrid format.
The Board rescheduled the March meeting to March 22 to accommodate the superintendent search process.
Director Jessica Jurasin expressed empathy for families, students and staff on the return to remote instruction and asked for a discussion about ways the district can minimize the amount of time people need to be away from work. Superintendent Henderson said the guidance has just changed from a 10-day quarantine to five-days under certain conditions.
Director Suzy Ritter asked if there was a way to reassure students that they will be returning as many are remembering March 2020 when they did not return to school.
President Durney praised the work that teachers have done in shifting to remote, especially in interactions with students.
Director Jurasin commented that one silver lining is that everyone has learned to be flexible.
Superintendent’s Report
School Board Appreciation: Superintendent Henderson read a proclamation from Gov. Jay Inslee in support of the work of school boards and proclaiming January as School Board Appreciation Month. Read the Proclamation
Instructional Program:
Superintendent Henderson provided an update on the instructional programs in the District. She noted that schools were disrupted by snow one week and flooding the next, prompting closures. The district will be applying for a waiver from the state, but won’t know how much of the time needs to be made up until this spring because state Superintendent Chris Reykdal’s office is not accepting waiver applications until March or April.
Superintendent Henderson discussed the decision to transition to remote instruction for two weeks. She said schools have been chronically short staffed all year due to COVID, but the recent surge in cases meant schools could no longer safely operate due to absences. For example, the day the decision to go remote was made, 45 staff members required substitutes and there were only 22 substitutes available. The first priority is to cover classrooms, she said, but schools also need enough staff to supervise recess, lunch, before and after school, and a number of office and support staff were absent. It’s imperative that the school office is staffed, she said. In addition to staff absences, more than a third of the student body was absent – and notably, more than 38 percent of students were out at AHS and 59 percent at Harbor High. The decision to pause in-person instruction for two weeks was made in consultation with the Grays Harbor Department of Public Health and the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, she said.
She praised the work of staff throughout the district to make the transition as seamless as possible. She noted that remote learning is different this time because schools are following their regular schedules remotely. Students are expected to be in attendance during school hours and teachers are synchronously accessible for at least 70 percent of the school day.
Superintendent Henderson said her administration will be working to design alternative operating models so that schools can safely stay open even when the absence rate is high. School resumes in-person on Jan. 25.
Health & Safety:
Superintendent Henderson reported that the Department of Health has issued revised guidance on quarantine rules. The rules are fairly complicated, she said, but a key component will be rapid testing of staff so that they can remain on the job after being identified as a close contact. She praised the district’s health supervisor, Janis Steele, and her team for their ability to quickly and professionally adapt to the changing health guidance.
Yondr at Miller: Superintendent Henderson said the rollout of the Yondr cell phone pouch program will be rescheduled for a time when school is back in session.
The Board discussed questions and concerns from parents. Director Wright commented that he’s heard from parents who are utterly resistant, including a parent who is instructing their students not to comply. He asked how schools will handle student or parent defiance. Dr. Henderson stated the conversation about complying with a no cell phone policy starts with acknowledging that having a cell phone at school is not a right. She said there have been disruptions, and those are dealt with, but that cell phones have become a universal distraction negatively impacting school climate and the learning environment. Since returning in-person this past fall, there has been an escalation in the amount of disruption, she said.
The Yondr program was selected because of its high success rate and extremely positive outcomes, she said. It is expected that students will actually enjoy school more once the stress and distraction of cell phone activity is not part of their school day. It’s the right thing to do in support of students and teachers, she said. Teaching and Learning Director Traci Sandstrom said the program should also help teachers with classroom management.
Teaching and Learning
Robert Gray School Improvement: Principal Sherri Northington and Robert Gray ASB President Calvin Evanson presented a report on their school.
Sexual Health Education: Teaching and Learning Director Traci Sandstrom presented a report outlining how Aberdeen schools will be complying with Senate Bill 5395 for sexual health education. She noted that a parent night took place last fall and another one will be scheduled in the spring before classroom instruction takes place.
Aberdeen Rotary Business Week: CTE Director Lynn Green provided an update on Business Week, which will include both juniors and seniors this year to make up for last year’s cancellation.
Financial Services
Fiscal Status Report – Executive Director of Business and Operations Elyssa Louderback presented the Fiscal Status Report for December. With 33 percent of the fiscal year elapsed the district has received 27.23 percent of expected revenue and processed 28.25 percent of budgeted expenditures. Read the Report
Miller Site Plan – The Board awarded the contract for development of a paved outdoor area at Miller Junior High School to Rognlin’s Inc. of Aberdeen, which had the low bid of $265,000. The District’s event tent will be erected on the paved area so that students have a covered outdoor area for “mask breaks” even when it’s raining.
New Business
Policy 3245 Students and Telecommunication Devices
An update to the policy regulating cell phones at school was presented for first reading. Superintendent Henderson noted the policy dates to 2007. The policy allows each school to develop its own rules, but to avoid confusion she is recommending that a reference to using cell phones between class and on lunch breaks be removed.
New Club at Miller
The Board approved a request by the ASB at Miller Junior High School to form a new drug prevention club to work with True North.
Community Integrated Health Contract
The Board approved an agreement with Community Integrated Health Services to allow mental health counselors to meet with their student clients at school.
Personnel Matters
Following an executive session, the Board approved the Personnel Report.
Miscellaneous Business
Spectators at Events: The Board discussed the move to remote learning and the decision to continue sports, but with no spectators. Superintendent Henderson will reach out to health officials on the advisability of allowing two individuals per athlete to be in attendance.
March Meeting: The Board continued its discussion from earlier in the meeting on the return to in-person meetings. Superintendent Henderson will explore whether the
March 22 meeting can take place at the Harbor Learning Center so that the Board can resume getting school reports at the school.
Next Meeting
The next meeting of the Board is scheduled for 5 p.m. Tuesday, February 8, via webinar. A special meeting for an executive session to review applications for the superintendent position is scheduled for 5 p.m. Tuesday, March 1.
A truly fresh update to the menu
Students encouraged to give microgreens a try
Students are encouraged to give this new menu item a try.
Our LRCs can help with tech during remote learning
School went remote, but help with technology is just a phone call away.
If you are in need of laptop or student technical support, our ASD5 Learning Resource Center technicians can help.
- Hopkins LRC Helpline 360-538-2181
- AJ West LRC Helpline 360-538-2131
- Central Park LRC Helpline 360-538-2171
- McDermoth LRC Helpline 360-538-2121
- Robert Gray LRC Helpline 360-538-2141
- Stevens LRC Helpline 360-538-2151
- Miller Junior High LRC Helpline 360-538-2101
- Harbor Learning Center 360-538-2181
- Aberdeen High School LRC Helpline 360-538-2041
Staying in touch with Leadership
- Superintendent Alicia Henderson, ahenderson@asd5.org
- Business Office, Elyssa Louderback, elouderback@asd5.org
- Human Resources, Christi Sayres, csayres@asd5.org
- Special Education, Rick Bates, rbates@asd5.org
- Career & Technical Education, Lynn Green, lgreen@asd5.org
- Teaching, Learning & Technology, Traci Sandstrom, tsandstrom@asd5.org
- Food Services, Jaime Matisons, jmatisons@asd5.org
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The Aberdeen School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination: Christi Sayres, Title IX Coordinator and Civil rights Compliance Coordinator, 216 North G St., Aberdeen, WA 98520; (360) 538-2222; csayres@asd5.org; Dr. Richard Bates, Section 504/ADA Coordinator, 216 North G St., Aberdeen, WA 98520; (360) 538-2017; rbates@asd5.org.