Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
colfax school board
Colfax Junior-Senior High School Principal Carrie Lipe goes over state assessment data for the school board in Colfax.
Colfax School Board Monday night heard input and made decisions on topics ranging from state assessment data to student transfers and board compensation.
The meeting followed a work session with presentations by Colfax High School Principal Carrie Lipe and Jennings Elementary Principal Travis Howell regarding state testing assessments.
Giving an overview of the data projected in slides on a pull-down screen, Howell went over the high numbers for Jennings, praising the ongoing work of teachers and staff. The data included numbers for English and language arts, math and science, covering three years. Howell is in his second year as Jennings principal.
Lipe then talked about the seventh through 12th grade numbers, pointing out that scores dip in junior high and rise again in high school.
To address this, in part, she noted that, new to the district this year, seventh and eighth graders will be MAP (Measure of Academic Progress) tested.
Board member David Nails asked about any correlation with the seventh and eighth graders' move four years ago from the Jennings building to the high school.
Board member Brian Becker said he thought, “It's just a hard age.”
“It's not uncommon to see a dip,” Lipe said. “We're just seeing it deeper.”
The board's regular meeting convened following the work session. Superintendent Jerry Pugh opened with some news that Jennings Elementary has started a running club on Tuesdays and Thursdays during afternoon recess. The kids have logged 214 miles so far, running around the practice field at the high school. The program was spurred by a new parent in the district, Robin Garnica, who contacted Howell with the suggestion. The event leads up to a Nov. 23 Turkey Trot on the new track, lead by fifth-grade teacher Carey Fulfs.
Pugh reported on a smooth homecoming week and praised Christopher Clausen, who oversaw the slate of events.
He then reported how, the previous Monday, a group of students and administrators went to Rosauers as an act of appreciation for its support of the school. They bagged groceries, decorated sacks and boxed and faced shelves.
“Look for more to come,” Pugh said of the work of the new committee, formed this year at Jennings for community engagement.
Another group will be back at Rosauers Nov. 3.
Nails then complimented the Jennings second and third graders who he worked with Oct. 5 at the Inaugural Recycling Education Field Trip at the Moscow Nature Center. The event was coordinated by the Palouse Clearwater Environmental Institute (PCEI). Nails said he read all the thank-you notes.
“There was only a couple I couldn't read,” he said.
Pugh then gave a report on choice transfers and home-school numbers for the district.
Last year's total for students leaving the district was 86, with 71 for 2016-17. These numbers reflect those students who filled out a choice-form. Not all of them did.
“It is higher,” Pugh said of the actual number.
Students choosing to come in to the district was up two students from last year.
Pugh noted that “every opportunity we can” he talks with parents in the district who send their kids outside.
“What we see... is a lot of people who move to Colfax from Pullman, for example, choice their kids back to Pullman to stay with their friends, their previous school,” Pugh said. “I haven't heard any disgruntled parents. I don't have a solid answer to bring people back.”
Policies, ASB report
The board then went over three WSSDA (Washington State School Director's Association) policies, approving them with removal of some language on one.
ASB representative Jayden Burt, a senior, followed with his report, opening by saying he tried something different this time in gathering information from the various clubs and groups at the school. He sent each advisor a letter as opposed to e-mail, as he had been doing.
The improved response yielded updates on FBLA's regional meeting last week, FFA's trap shooting preparation for the Nov. 5 event and soil-judging Nov. 22. He also reported FCCLA held its regional meeting Wednesday, Oct. 19, at Colfax.
Next up were four policies for first reading, which Pugh introduced, for the board to consider for its next meeting, Nov. 14. The policies regard meeting procedure. A fifth policy to consider was board member compensation.
Pugh told the board that, by state rules, they may elect to be paid $50 per meeting/other activity, for up to $4,800 per year per board member. He presented the matter to see if the board would want it brought up as a first reading.
“I don't think anyone's here to be compensated in any way,” said board member Terry Huber.
“It would just put me in that higher tax bracket,” said Nails, to laughter.
Thus, the board let Pugh know they were not interested.
The superintendent concluded with an update on the athletic complex and a reminder about travel plans for the board members' trip to the annual WSSDA conference, Nov. 16-19 in Spokane.
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
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