The Washington School Board accepted resignations from instructional assistants Kaylee Smith and Ashlyn Krigbaum and approved hiring Jenna Burton as an instructional assistant.
The Board also approved sending Assistant Superintendent Peterson and WHS computer and robotics instructor, Matt Riney, to the Project Lead the Way National Conference in Orlando, Florida Oct, 28 through Oct. 30. Project Lead The Way has recognized WHS’s success, and Peterson and Riney have been asked to be presenters at the national conference. The Board also approved attendance for staff and students at Dual Language Immersion training (paid by a state grant), the National FFA Convention, the State Beta Club Convention, and the Board approved sending two faculty members, at no cost to the schools, to the International Teacher Convention in London.
In other business, while no final decisions have been made, the Board is exploring the possibility of making updates and improvements at Hatchet Hollow. The school system has bonds which will be paid in full, which will allow some improvements to be made without impacting taxpayers. The Board voted to hire an architect and a surveyor to get some preliminary ideas about the potential project.
During the public comment section of the meeting, Dale Smith questioned the board about the purchase of ground on SR 257. The board said the land became available and was purchased to provide better access to the ground already owned by the school. Smith asked about plans to build a school on the property. Superintendent Kevin Frank said that a new school is not in the immediate plans, but it is something that will need to be looked at in the next five to ten years due to the school system’s continued growth and overcrowding issues. The next board meeting is scheduled for October 20.