Dayton School District Key Communicators group meets

DAYTON-The Dayton School District Interim Superintendent Rich Stewart held the first of what will be monthly meetings called Key Communicators on September 16 with the help of Administrative Assistant Suzi Tasker. He said the purpose is to have two-way communication at a personal level where all are welcome to attend.

About sixteen community members participated at the first meeting held at the Delany Building at noon where lunch was provided by the school kitchen staff. Attendees included Executive Director Jim Pearson and Program Director Shakira Bye from The Club a mix, as well as of parents and grandparents.

Following brief introductions, Stewart acknowledged issues within the district about lack of communication and inconsistent discipline and emphasized the solutions to both involve building relationships. Specifically, regarding discipline, the district will be utilizing PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) which he said provides methods for intervening while keeping kids in school, being consistent and creating a love for learning. Stewart shared from his experience as an elementary principal that most issues at school happen on the playground where he addressed this by interacting with the kids, and playing with them during recess and including kids who seem left out.

As an example of how to create a love for learning he said in the secondary school the district is now offering a STEAM class (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) taught by newly hired Pam Nolan who is Presidential Award Recipient for Excellence in Math and Teaching (2014).

One parent Rachel Hutchens said from her experience in the schools volunteering and substituting on occasion that she sees teachers need help with classroom management. Stewart answered that besides using the program Character Strong for staff development the district has instituted a mentor program for new teachers to have someone experienced in the school to aid them. The principals are also in the classroom and working with the mentors, and he meets with the principals weekly to discuss situations that have arisen. They are also utilizing Character Strong in having Sarah Reser teach two Leadership courses to middle and high school students to teach them about responsibility and serving others.

Stewart also discussed the required comprehensive sex education for which he acknowledged the District is behind on since it was to be implemented for the current term. He offered assurance that there will be no penalty to the district for being delayed and said it is more important to implement it in the right way that is suitable to the Dayton community.

The plan is to form a committee of parents and grandparents, staff, and community members to review curriculums to make a final recommendation to the School Board to be adopted. He said they only must show that certain basics requirements are met for the different age groups to the Office of the Superintendent (OSPI). In the meantime, they will continue with the program they have been using.

Jennie Dickinson said she has seen some success in the past when those skills were taught together with offering an internship program. Stewart said they plan to move in that direction for internship and apprenticeship programs for high school students. He expressed his support of the work study program announced by the OSPI slated to begin next school year where students can earn elective credit towards graduation for working.

Currently, the District has increased the number of CTE, and vocational classes and they are looking for ways to better partner with Walla Walla Community College for high school students.

Suggestions were solicited from those present for future conversations. The topics of the athletic combine, sixth grade transition into middle school, increasing volunteer led enrichment activities, having high school students volunteer in the elementary classrooms, and more exposure to careers all came up. There was a brief discussion about the athletic combine including examining the possibility of a full consolidation of the districts.

Stewart said he is contracted for 108 days during which the School Board is developing a strategic plan for the permanent superintendent to carry out and to continue to bring positive change into the future.