Rich Stewart named interim supt.

DAYTON-Former Dayton superintendent Rich Stewart will serve as interim superintendent, the Dayton School Board approved. Stewart was superintendent here from 2004-2009.

The School Board approved an amendment to the district administration restructuring to allow for either a previously approved combined position of superintendent and high school principal or two part-time positions during the work session on June 1. They later approved the hire of Stewart as part-time interim superintendent as well as other new hires for the district, the resignation of Brenda Henderson and the trial use of a new math curriculums for the elementary and secondary schools. In other business, recommendations were provided for the athletic facilities and general maintenance.

An amendment to the previously approved resolution 2021-03 for the administrative restructure. The original was that the district superintendent and the high school principal would be a combined position. The amendment also allows for the option to have two part-time positions. Following approval later in the meeting the Board approved the hiring of Richard Stewart as a part-time superintendent. When inquiring about Stewart, School Director Aneesha Dieu said he served as Dayton's Superintendent for several years during the mid-2000s. He has spent nearly a dozen years working as an interim superintendent to help "fix schools" by reorganizing districts and establishing communication. He is partly retired and will work part-time three days a week.

The Board approved the resignation of Brenda Henderson, and they also approved the hiring of Martin Surridge to teach high school English and Pam Nolan Beasley as an elementary STEM teacher.

Math curriculums were presented to the Board for use for a trial year for elementary, middle, and high schools with plans to fully adopt at the next regular meeting on June 15 after they are made available for the community to review.

Strot then recommended that the gymnasium and athletic fields be open to the youth in the community. Korslund said that fields need some leveling and new lighting which is estimated cost of $150k though the district could seek donated fill dirt and volunteer help which would reduce the cost. Over the summer, the upper deck in the gymnasium will be converted to an area for strength training and conditioning and will need some updated equipment which could cost about $52k unless they are able to get some surplus equipment for less. Mention was made that the softball dugouts need some maintenance and that the outfields are not deep enough if dual games are going.

Head Custodian John Delp provided a list of maintenance needs for the campus that could be included in the summer projects including updating door security, the electrical system and adding lights to the playground of the elementary school, work on the parking lot behind the gymnasium, concrete work in various locations, replacing some of the fleet vehicles and looking at other options instead of boiler heating with the increased cost of fuel. The previous school levy that was passed was in part for funding an irrigation system which needs to be pursued. Director Grant Griffen requested a priority list with a budget of proposed summer projects for the Board to review and decide what can completed. The OSPI grant application through McKinstry needs to be submitted by the end of the month and if awarded will fund many additional projects.