Aberdeen Schools
Helping you stay informed about our district.
Aberdeen School District No. 5 -- July 23, 2020
Sports seasons for 2020-2021 announced
Football, volleyball, soccer will compete in the spring
And now the news student athletes have been waiting for:
Yes, there will be fall sports.
However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the “high risk” sports – football, volleyball and soccer – have been moved to the spring.
The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association has announced changes to the sports calendar, creating four athletic seasons for 2020-2021, instead of the traditional three.
Season 1, Fall (Sept. 7 to Nov. 8)
Cross Country, Slowpitch, Boys’ Golf and Boys’ Tennis.
Girls’ swimming is dependent on more information from the Department of Health. If not in the Fall, it will move to Season 3.
Season 2, Winter (Jan 4 to March 7)
Basketball, Bowling, Boys’ Swimming, Wrestling.
Season 3, Early Spring (Feb. 22 to May 9)
Football, Volleyball, Girls’ Soccer.
Season 4, Late Spring (April 26 to June 27)
Baseball, Fastpitch, Track, Girls’ Golf, Boys’ Soccer, Girls’ Tennis.
Athletes are asked to remain flexible as this information could change. In its announcement, the WIAA executive board stated that it “recognizes that participation in any fall sports will depend on county progression through the phases laid out in Governor Inslee’s Safe Start plan over the coming weeks.”
Benchmarks are being drafted for release on July 28 in order for WIAA Season 1 to take place. If the benchmarks are not met, the WIAA will move the remainder of fall sports to Season 3.
“Since March, the philosophy of our Association has been to allow students every chance to participate,” WIAA Executive Director Mick Hoffman said.
Superintendent Alicia Henderson said these guidelines for sports will be used to guide ASD5 discussions on the remaining extra-curricular and co-curricular activities in the district.
Reopening Task Force still working hard
Work on the Reopening Plan continues in earnest, with many thanks this week to the families who filled out Survey No. 2 to help inform the Reopening Task Force and work groups.
Responses for more than 1,300 students were received, with the following important information:
- 5.6 percent report inadequate access to the internet;
- 34 percent need transportation;
- 71 percent prefer an in-person model;
- 29 percent will be opting for a distance-only option.
“This is important information for the Task Force as it continues to develop the reopening plan,” Superintendent Alicia Henderson said. She noted that principals are putting together teams to contact families that did not respond to the survey. “We need to hear from 100 percent of our families,” she said.
The Task Force is preparing for multiple back-to-school scenarios and looking at various stages of return. A focus area is special education students with high needs. Currently, the plan is for all students to access their teachers via Canvas, with the option of accessing the platform at school or remotely.
“We know we will need additional support staff,” Dr. Henderson said. “But these positions will look different than our traditional model. Our workforce needs have changed.”
The focus has been on restructuring for 2020-21 and beyond. Three new positions have been created:
- Student Family Support Worker (a bilingual position at each school working closely with principals to engage families);
- Health Assistant (a versatile position that many districts have had in place for quite some time);
- MTSS Assistants (Multi-tiered Systems of Support. ASD5 was implementing more supports for students prior to the pandemic, and this position strengthens that commitment.)
The Reopening Task Force was meeting tonight (Thursday) to continue review and discussion of the reopening plan, which is scheduled to be presented to the School Board on August 11.
“The quality of the work that is taking place this summer is phenomenal,” Dr. Henderson said. “Our school district is very fortunate that so many parents, staff and community members are devoting time for a safe, successful return for both students and staff.”
Dr. Henderson asks that everyone keep in mind that the situation could change. “We continue to plan with the best information available. Circumstances could change and we need to be flexible,” she said. “We are watching, listening and learning from a multitude of sources to guide our next steps."
Going live with online registration
If you know of a new family that has moved into our district, please let them know that they can request registration materials online under the For Families/Students and Families tab on the district website.
Traditionally, new registrations were not accepted until school offices opened after the summer break. But this year, it’s more important than ever that we know how many students will be coming to school.
Any assistance you can give to guide families to the ASD5 website will be appreciated. Also, please reassure families that final decisions about online or in-person do not need to be made at this time. We just need to know their current preference and that they are now part of our ASD5 community.
Aberdeen School District Board of Directors
Summary of the July 21 meeting
Agenda for the July 21 meeting (pdf)
Includes 2020-2021 budget summary
President Sandra Bielski convened the regular meeting of the Aberdeen School District Board of Directors at 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, July 21, 2020, via webinar following guidance for conducting remote meetings in compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act. Directors present were Bill Dyer, Jennifer Durney, Jessica Jurasin and Suzy Ritter, along with Superintendent Alicia Henderson and up to 62 patrons and staff watching remotely.
The meeting began with the Flag salute.
Public Hearing 2020-2021 Budget
Following an overview by Executive Director of Business and Operations Elyssa Louderback on the budget process, the enrollment projection and additional assumptions built into the budget that produced the revenue and expenditure projections, President Bielski asked for public comment. There was no public comment and the hearing was closed.
Minutes, Bills, Trips & Gifts
The Board approved the Consent Agenda, which included:
- The minutes from the regular meeting on June 16, 2020;
- Payroll vouchers totaling $3,509,292.83;
- General Fund vouchers totaling $678,881.39;
- ASB Fund vouchers totaling $4,592.88;
- Private Purpose Trust Fund voucher in the amount of $631.00; and
- A letter from an Aberdeen resident asking for consideration of a name change at Robert Gray Elementary School.
Comments from Board members
- Reopening Task Force: Directors Jennifer Durney and Suzy Ritter commented they have been attending the Reopening Task Force meetings, and said they are grateful and impressed with the work taking place by the many staff and community members on the Task Force and work groups this summer to plan for school, even as information continues to change. President Bielski said she has been able to listen to the meetings after they’ve been posted to the web site and also appreciates the complex work taking place. Director Dyer said he echoes their comments.
- Request for Name Change: The Board discussed placing a request to consider changing the name of Robert Gray Elementary School on the agenda at a future meeting.
Public Comment
- Carrie Erwin
Superintendent’s Report
- Reopening Task Force: Superintendent Alicia Henderson provided an update on the work of the Reopening Task Force. Results of a family survey are still being compiled, but she noted that initial results show that 71 percent of families would prefer an in-person model for school in the fall, while 29 percent indicated they will choose a remote model. She said principals will be reaching out to families that didn’t respond to the survey in an effort to hear from 100 percent of families.
- COVID-19 Response: Superintendent Henderson provided an update on the district’s ongoing response to the COVID-19 crisis.
- Special Meeting: Superintendent Henderson reported that the Board’s interest in conducting a workshop for continued discussion of governance and self-evaluation is confirmed for August 4.
- Fall Sports: Superintendent Henderson reported an announcement is expected Wednesday, July 22, from the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association regarding the status of fall sports.
Fiscal Status Report
Executive Director of Business and Operations Elyssa Louderback presented the Fiscal Status Report for June. With 83.33 percent of the year elapsed, the district has received 77.79 percent of budgeted revenue and 80.48 percent of expenditures.
2020-2021 First Aid Contract
The board approved a contract with Denny Bickar to provide first aid training in 2020-2021t
Puget Sound Joint Purchasing Co-Op Agreement
The board approved renewal of the interlocal agreement with the Puget Sound Joint Purchasing Co-Op.
Alternative Routes to Certification
The board approved renewal of the agreement with City University of Seattle to offer alternative routes to certification for teachers.
2020-2021 Paper Bid
The board awarded the 2020-2021 paper bid to the low bidder, Aberdeen Office Equipment.
Personnel Report
Following an executive session, the board approved the following personnel matters:
- Certificated and Classified matters;
- 2020-2021 Substitute Schedule;
- Added Health assistant to the Unaffiliated Salary Schedule;
- Added Behavioral Support Specialist to the PSE Salary Schedule, and
- Approved 2019-2020 assignment exceptions for Heidi Armenta, Pamela Brown, Lizette Daniel, James Eddy, Kelly Hamblin, Laci Hunsaker, Brian King, Graham Laur, Marshall Lentz, Tricia Matisons, Teneka Middleton, Cheryl Ray, Juan Sanchez, Ann Tracey, Chelsea Van Klaveren, and Theodore Wiseman.
Next Meeting
The next regular meeting of the board is set for 5 p.m. Tuesday, August 11, 2020, to be conducted remotely with proper notice and access provided under the governor’s emergency provisions of the Open Public Meetings Act.
There will be a special meeting at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, August 4, for continued discussion of board governance under Policy and Procedures 1620 and to review the annual self-evaluation.
School Board Schedule, Budget Adoption and Reopening Plan
4:30 p.m. Tuesday, August 4: Special meeting for continued review of board governance and self-evaluation to update Policy and Procedure 1620,
5:00 p.m. Tuesday, August 11, School Board meeting and presentation of the Reopening Plan
5:00 p.m. Tuesday, August 25, School Board meeting
Was your application for $399 grocery card denied?
Many families around the state have been improperly denied the P-EBT grocery card after completing the online application. If your application was denied, please contact your school principal or our Food Services Manager Jaime Matisons, jmatisons@asd5.org, to let us know.
In our district, every student who was enrolled when schools were closed is eligible for this $399 grocery card.
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
Next edition
The next edition of the ASD5 e-Newsletter is scheduled to appear Thursday, July 30.
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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: David Glasier, Title IX Coordinator and Civil rights Compliance Coordinator, 216 North G St., Aberdeen, WA 98520; (360) 538-2222; dglasier@asd5.org; Dr. Richard Bates, Section 504/ADA Coordinator, 216 North G St., Aberdeen, WA 98520; (360) 538-2017; rbates@asd5.org.