Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Colfax board, science
High school board
Colfax High School science teachers Christopher Clausen and Kathryn Vogler show school board members items made from the district's new 3-D printer.
The Colfax school board convened in the high school library Monday night for its regular meeting following a board appreciation presentation from high school students.
Matters at hand included personnel changes, eighth-graders practicing with high school spring sports teams, and a question about President Trump’s proposal to arm some teachers in light of the latest school shooting in Parkland, Fla.
Opening the meeting, Superintendent Jerry Pugh gave comments, thanking the board for their work to help pass the $18.9 million facilities improvement bond Feb. 13.
Board President David Nails then made a point to thank Pugh.
“It was kind of a slam dunk, and a lot of it was because of you,” Nails commented.
The board then approved a list of staff resignations, including the upcoming retirement of longtime Colfax teachers Cary Cammack, choir, and Ross Swan, social studies.
“So we’ve got some big shoes to fill,” said Nails.
Other resignations included Ashley Burrow, Title 1; Jennifer Greenberg, English; Cody Leander, social studies; and Shawnna Breach, assistant softball coach.
Pugh explained that, aside from the two retirements, the reasons for others leaving had to do with a spouse getting a job in another area.
The board then approved an $1,800 general donation to the high school from Schweitzer Engineering.
Next before the board was whether to allow eighth-graders to practice with the high school baseball and softball teams.
Colfax High School Athletic Director Nathan Holbrook explained that, as an experiment, the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) is allowing eighth-graders to play on high school teams this year, for rosters of 25 or less players, for schools with no junior high programs.
“What I’m asking is to allow the eighth-graders to practice with them,” Holbrook said, explaining that many or all of the players in question may never be activated.
The board approved.
Pugh then announced that the school district will hold a surplus sale March 31 for a long list of surplus items.
The inventory will range from textbooks to a dented legal-size filing cabinet, a box of Rain Bird sprinkler parts, old basketball uniforms and a three-phase bandsaw.
ASB student representative Kylie Kackman then reported spring sports practices began Feb. 26, the wrestling team’s fifth-place at state and both the boys and girls basketball teams heading to state at Spokane Arena this week.
Kackman concluded with a reminder that the St. Baldrick’s head-shaving event will be April 19 with a stated district goal to raise $15,000 for children’s cancer research.
Board member Brian Becker laid out a $500 pledge to the cause if Business Manager/Head Boys Basketball Coach Reece Jenkin did not shave his head until the event.
“I gotta get through this week,” Jenkin said.
“It’s all about being in solidarity with kids who don’t have a choice,” Becker commented .
“I’m in,” said Pugh. “But you guys are going to have to raise some serious money.”
Moving on with the meeting, Nails asked Christopher Clausen, teacher and Colfax Education Association president, if the teachers’ union has had any discussions on the idea to arm some teachers.
“We have informally talked. We don’t think it’s a good idea,” said Clausen.
Nails also asked if there had been any official stance on the matter from the overall teachers’ union. Clausen said there was not.
The meeting concluded with an extensive discussion on Chapters 11-12 of “Leadership and Self-Deception” (Arbinger Institute, 2000) a book Pugh gave to each board member last fall.
Board appreciation
Before the main meeting, Colfax High School students hosted the school board for high school board appreciation, telling of recent activities and others to come.
ASB officers spoke, led by president Dylan Nails, followed by junior high ASB officers and then presentations given by high school students on classroom projects (Spanish, art, English) and clubs and activities, including FCCLA, FBLA, FFA, Honor Society, Knowledge Bowl and a report on science classes using the district’s new 3-D printer which was bought last August.
Colfax Junior/Senior high school principal Carrie Lipe reported on how the junior high was restructured before this school year, creating a specific wing for seventh and eighth-graders, and changing physical education classes to the end of the day.
“Making showers optional instead of required,” Lipe said.
3-D printer
Concluding the students’ presentation, board members walked down the hall to a high school science lab classroom to see the new 3-D printer, which uses reels of filament wire – made of a plastic composite – loaded into the machine like paper on a standard printer. Once engaged, the plastic is melted into the shape of what is programmed into the printer, then hardens as it dries.
“And we were impressed with electric typewriters,” said board member Terry Huber.
The $2,500 3-D printer was paid for out of the district’s Highly Capable program funding.
Colfax High students give presentations to the board about FCCLA activities, FBLA, FFA and Knowledge Bowl.
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
Reader Comments(0)