School Board hears program, sports updates

Data was the name of the game – along with a fall sports update – when the La Conner School Board met Aug. 22 in a 90-minute hybrid session on campus.

Director of Special Programs Andy Wheeler and Teacher and Learning Director Beth Clothier took lead roles. Clothier provided her update via Zoom on staff summer training for the new all-grades math curricula.

Clothier said more than 50 staffers had participated in nine days of math curricula training this summer. The trainers commended the La Conner staff, ranking it ahead of “90% of other staffs” delving into the new curricula, she reported.

Wheeler reported contractual obligations require the district pre-school program be staffed by three classified instructors rather than one certified teacher and a paraeducator as originally planned.

“There will be no added cost to the district,” Wheeler said. “Having three classified (instructors) will be about the same cost.”

Elementary school Principal Heather Fakkema-Hovde said interest in the district pre-school format continues to grow with parents of 13 or 14 children expressing interest.

For the district’s summer school program, which received Swinomish Indian Tribal Community support, Wheeler said the credit retrieval component was especially productive.

Middle and High School Principal Christine Tripp reported on student fall sports participation.

She said that “on paper” 20 students signed up for football, though only about half that number attended the first week of practices.

“It’s always difficult in a small school when you’re doing different sports at the same time,” Tripp explained. “For the boys, we have football and soccer. And with the girls we offer volleyball and soccer in the fall. So, it’s been a struggle a lot of years.”

Head football coach Charlie Edwards was optimistic that the roster could grow as summer jobs and vacations wound down.

Superintendent Will Nelson raised the possibility of eight-man football, a move Darrington and Concrete have made.

Tripp said the boys’ soccer team has 20-22 players turning out, while the girls’ team has 14 players on its roster.

The state champion volleyball team had 18 players report to two-a-day workouts, she added.

The board also approved 2022-23 student fines and fees schedule and accepted a Department of Commerce Energy Efficiency grant and Comprehensive School Counseling Program.

Director of Operations and Planning Bobby Vaughn was designated as the district’s Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act contact person.