(DLC Media)-Washington Community is one of the few rural and small town school systems to see a growing student population. While that is a positive statistic, it also means that Washington’s four elementary schools and the junior high school are either at capacity or over-crowded. North Elementary was built 63 years ago, the Griffith and Veale buildings are both over 50 years old, and Lena Dunn, the system’s newest building is 40 years old.
School Superintendent, Dr. Daniel Roach, said that the lack of classroom space is forcing two schools to use temporary portable classrooms. Roach says the decades old designs of current buildings do not meet new federal and state mandates.
The school board last night heard a feasibility report from Administrator Assistance. A task force headed by Steve Wittenour and retired area administrator Joan Keller who interviewed Washington parents, community leaders, teachers, and sent out 550 questionnaires. Only 83 were returned. Roach talked with us about the recommendations in the report…
No decisions have been made as the issue will continue to be addressed.
Also at last night’s meeting, the board approved the hiring of eight new teachers. The Board approved contracts for Catherine Lange, secondary English; Michael Miller, junior high art; Steve Smith, high school FACS; and elementary teachers, Adair Hedrick, Amy Hixson, Autumn Humbaugh, Whitley Kluesner, and Jillian Herb. Dr Roach said that with the hires the faculty was complete for the start of school August 3.
