Superintendent’s Report

Back-to-School:

Superintendent Henderson reported that the 2019-2020 school year began August 28 and is off to a smooth start. With 6th Graders moving to Miller, there are some bus schedules being ironed out, but overall, schools are operating smoothly.

Bond and Levy Update:

The Board directed Superintendent Henderson to proceed with due diligence and fact-finding with the goal of asking voters to approve a bond issue for a new Stevens Elementary School and a renewal of the local school levy in February 2020.

Communications Update:

Superintendent Henderson provided an overview of the various communication tools the district employs in the ongoing effort to keep the community and staff informed about our schools. The tools include the annual activity calendar, a periodic newsletter, a regular e-newsletter, social media such as Facebook, and, for emergencies, FlashAlert and BlackBoard.

Miller Modular Update:

Superintendent Henderson reported that portions of the modular building for Miller Junior High School have arrived and are being stored at the Grays Harbor Historical Seaport. Additional sections will be arriving in the coming week with September 9 as the day scheduled for moving the building onto the site.

Data Sharing:

The Board approved a data sharing agreement with the Washington Schools Information Processing Cooperative (WSIPC) to collaborate with Student Data Services on keeping student data secure while creating required reports.

Teaching and Learning Report

Teaching and Learning Director Traci Sandstrom provided her department’s report for August.

• Under Academics, she discussed the new science curriculum; a grant to implement basic coding in K-3; an upcoming review of the K-8 math curriculum; how Imagine Learning software is being made available to all students, and how Edgenuity (formerly Odysseyware) is being used in the district.
• Under Behavior/Social-Emotional Learning she discussed this year’s focus on Tier II strategies, implementation of the Character Strong curriculum, the ongoing partnership with Behavioral Health Resources to provide therapy at the schools, the ongoing implementation of Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS), and the discussions taking place with elementary counselors on priorities following the reduction in staff.
• Under Technology she discussed student Chromebooks, staff insurance for their devices, the updated Acceptable Use Policy, and the new intercom system that will be installed after the Miller Modular building is completed.
• Other topics she discussed included a planned review of how staff obtain clock hours, a planned review of the health curriculum and the secondary trimester system.

Instructional Coaching Contract

The Board approved a contract with ESD 113 for Daniel Kent to provide up to two days per month of math coaching for teachers in exchange for the use of office space in the Stewart Building in 2019-2020.

YMCA / Century 21 After School Contract

The Board approved a contract with the YMCA of Grays Harbor to provide staffing, supervision and support to the 21st Century After School Program.

Skills Center Agreement

The Board approved renewal of the agreement to operate the Twin Harbors Skills Center as a branch campus of the New Market Skills Center in Tumwater.

Early Childhood Services

The Board approved renewal of the agreement with the South Sound Parent-to-Parent Support Program to provide Birth-3 special education services and family support services.

New Speech Language Pathologist

The Board approved a contract with The Hello Foundation to place Susan Ashbury in the district as a speech language pathologist. Superintendent Henderson explained that the therapist will deliver services both in the district and remotely. It’s a new model the district is trying because the position has gone unfilled with no applicants due to the shortage of SLPs.

Personnel Matters

The Board approved the Personnel Report.

Next Meeting

The next regular meeting is set for Tuesday, September 17, 2019, in the Community Room at Aberdeen High School.