DW sports practices to start October 19

DAYTON–Superintendent Guy Strot provided updates on the return of athletic practices on October 19-November 27 with basketball season starting December 28 and the roofing project in the elementary school play area during the recent Dayton School District Board Work Session.

Strot reported plans for Dayton and Waitsburg to start volleyball, football, girls' basketball, and boys' basketball with practices of conditioning and drills from October 19–November 27. He said for athletics, there is typically a summer season "where teams have 20 organized practices."

Martha Lanman, Columbia County Public Health Administrator, has worked with the districts to set up safety guidelines. At present, Dayton and Waitsburg athletes will be kept separate and will only practice at their respective schools. Only 10 people will be allowed at any practice including coaches with no spectating allowed. There will not be middle school sports at this time, but the district hopes to in the future. The basketball season is scheduled to begin on December 28 with games beginning in January according to Strot.

The roofing is almost complete other than the fascia and one part over the door going into the school. Construction activities caused damage to the asphalt to the play area which will need to be addressed, according to Strot.

The discussion of a mascot is back on the table with the return of athletics. The staff at the Dayton School District want to honor any decision made by the students last year, but after meeting with the Associated Student Body (ASB), they were questioned and said that the voting process was not fair. Strot plans to propose that both schools' respective ASBs "let the kids decide on the process where we survey the communities and we come up with a list of names. The two ASB groups take the five top names, come up with the same ballot and everyone is going to vote in both schools in the same fashion and tally up the votes." Strot also said, "I'd like a mascot before the start of basketball."

Ginger Bryan, educator and member of the English Language Arts Curriculum Committee, reported on the proposal to adopt new curriculum for second grade through high school. The current curriculum has been used for the last 20 years. Teacher Dawn McGhan contributed to the discussion stating that it is a "fabulous curriculum" and that it is research based. She said it goes beyond meeting the criteria.

Senior Mackena Culley reported about the ASB plans for October for a Halloween Spirit Week with class dress-up days, decorating face masks and classroom Trick-or-treating. In November, the ASB will be promoting mental health awareness providing kits to students.