There are a number of things the Enumclaw School District is doing well and a few things it needs to work on and that is exactly what district officials were hoping to find as the results of their first “climate survey” have been sorted.
District Director of Human Resources Kathleen Lockyer presented survey highlights to the Enumclaw School Board at its regular meeting Jan. 20. The survey was presented to community members, parents, staff and students in the fall.
Lockyer noted, survey results pointed out, the district hires well qualified professionals to improve student learning; parents feel welcome at the district; children feel safe; communication is improving and complaints are handled effectively.
On the flip side, the district needs to work on its communication and class choice offerings. Lockyer said there was also a thread about behavior that interferring with the education of students that came up a number of times.
Technology, facility improvement and curriculum and supplies were also on the areas of improvement list. All issues the district plans to deal with after its Feb. 3 technology and capital facilities levy.
Board member Corey Cassell said it was reassuring to tap into the community and get information that suggests the district is on target.
Principals and department directors will receive the information next and share it with their staff to celebrate the things that are going well and make their own improvements in any outlined areas, Lockyer noted.
More information is available on the district’s Web site at www.enumclaw.wednet.edu.
In other business, the board:
• was updated on the district goals by Superintendent Mike Nelson. Nelson said he and staff are making progress in the areas he and the board have adopted – math and assessment, facilities and technology and community relations. He briefly walked through that progress with the board. A detailed report is available at its Web site.
• listened to Black Diamond Elementary fifth-grade students Megan Wolgamot and Lilly Fuentes who read a self-published piece titled, “The Jolly Principal,” for the board. The two were part of a larger group that was scheduled to represent Black Diamond’s presentation in December, but was canceled due to weather.
• heard from Sunrise Elementary School third-grade teachers Judy Craighead, Judy Manus and Nicole Leahy on a math assessment program they have implemented at their school. Together they assessed nearly 70 students. They then analyzed the data and grouped those students in three areas. The found nearly 60 percent of the students were meeting grade-level expectations in that particular tested area in math. The other students received individual and after-school help to master the skill or show growth. The teachers found success working together with this method and plan to continue the process with other specified areas.
Sunrise students Gabe Larsen, Victor Martin Del Campo, McKenna Molieri and Jadyn Decker presented the school’s weather program and how they use technology to make a daily forecast for classmates.
• accepted a donation of $17,000 from Anita and David Cummings for the purchase of technology, a mobile computer lab, at Black Diamond and $1,000 to Kibler Elementary School from the Qwest Foundation for volunteer work performed by Peggy Laush.
• gave 55 Enumclaw High School choir students the nod for a six-day spring tour of San Francisco, where they will perform and at several locations along the way. The trip is paid for through Associated Student Body funds, individual students and the choir booster organization.
• accepted resignations from Westwood Elementary School licensed practical nurse Jennifer Stroh and kitchen assistant Marjorie Ledford.
• rehired Kibler Elementary School paraeducator Kathryn Adderson and health room professional Tina Rosenthal.
• granted a non-continuing probation period to Black Diamond Elementary School lead Early Childhood Education Assistance Program lead teacher Susan Hobbs.
Reach Brenda Sexton at bsexton@courierherald.com or 360-802-8206.
