First School Board Meeting of the New School Year

The September 13^th Cascade School Board meeting, a hybrid of in-person and Zoom, was well attended. Not only did it include all current board members, the regular attendees that represent various district departments, but also included six community members and four challengers for board positions in the upcoming November election. These challengers are Misha Whitfield and Mike Worden running for district 1, Marty Young who is contending for district 5 against current board chair, Trey Ising, and Cody Burgess-Bench, who is running against incumbent Zach Miller for district 3. These contenders did not speak during the meeting; they listened and observed.

The meeting began with an opportunity for public input. Zeke Reister, a retired CSD teacher and also a City of Leavenworth council member, shared his gratitude toward all CSD staff and the school board for starting the school year on time, in person and prioritizing health safety. He remarked on the hard work and determination required. “It’s a celebration that you pulled it off,” he said.

Beth Fry, who is a parent of an elementary student and a high school student, wanted to share with the board a good source of data-driven science to inform their COVID-19 decision-making. She recommended the covidunknowns webinars put out by the British Medical Journal. Superintendent Tracey Beckendorf-Edou said she would appreciate seeing the link.

The school board then approved an overnight trip of the high school cross country team on September 17^th to 18^th for an invitational meet on Whidbey Island. Beckendorf-Edou explained that elaborate health protocols were in place, modeled somewhat after those established by Lake Wenatchee’s YMCA summer camp.

Under personnel, the school board approved seven resignations and five hires. The reasons for resignation varied widely, and only one (so far the only one in the district) was in response to the state mandate about staff vaccination. Notable among the hires included Dean Leonard for the position of special education teacher at Peshastin Dryden Elementary. PD principal Emily Ross said he came with years of experience, both international and serving in schools in Yakima. Additionally, Brooke Mott will serve as a new PD special education paraeducator, and Ross said she is an accredited teacher who is working on a master’s in special education, implying she is well qualified.

The policy review portion of the meeting was made up of six second readings on policies related to board training, Disability History Month, student fees, a sexual harassment policy, and safety, operations and maintenance of school property. There was little discussion and full approval of the policies as updated.

Finally, Beckendorf-Edou shared that the district won two $1000 grants from the Confluence Health & Wenatchee Valley Medical Group Community Health Partnership Fund. One will cover some costs of the greenhouse, which is under construction on the field between Icicle River Middle School and Cascade High School. The second grant will aid efforts for trail building on Rattlesnake Hill for better access and utility by school groups and others. Brett Johnson, who is helping spearhead the district’s Rattlesnake Hill project, is seeking more funding sources before it can be completed.

Also, Washington State has waived the College in the Classroom credit fees this year. Normally each such course cost $375, $250 of which was covered by the district and $125 was paid by the student’s family.

For the good of the order, the superintendent shared that enrollment was up from 1169 last school year to 1196 this year.