County schools earn state awards

The Washington State Board of Education honored several Whitman County schools for the 2017-2018 school year.

In the first phase of the school recognition system, 216 schools across Washington were recognized for three different categories: closing gaps, growth and achievement.

“This is a new recognition program,” Jake Dingman, Oakesdale superintendent and principal, said. “They haven’t done this before.”

Dingman said Oakesdale was recognized because the large amount of ninth graders on track to graduate, high attendance records and the school’s dual credit program.

Colton School was awarded f...