Gary Begin, Managing Editor
CHELAN – The Lake Chelan School District Board of Directors met via Zoom Dec. 8 and discussed the following topics:
• The hiring of Jess Poland as a Chelan High School Business and Technology teacher.
• “Teaching & Learning” update by Director of Teaching & Learning K.C. Knudson. Knudson stated he was impressed by the “positive energy” shown by teachers. He described the “mask breaks” as a “cross between PE and recess.” Knudson also discussed “in-person learning,” support beyond the classroom and paraeducators. He emphasized that paraeducators were attending continued training and that all participated.
• Student Services director Sarah Clarke started her presentation by saying she was happy to get a chance to use her degree in French Literature with a quote from French existentialist philosopher Albert Camus, “There is no sun without shadow and it is essential to know the night.”* She then launched into a discussion about meals served to students over the last few months and stated 64% of the students were considered low income. Clarke also listed 32 students as “homeless” as compared to 18 “homeless” in 2019.
• Clarke stated there was at least one inappropriate computer search by a student for “how to die” that was flagged on the Morgan Owings Elementary (MOE) monitoring system. The “inappropriate searches” being flagged mostly occurred at MOE among 4th and 5th graders. Clarke also spoke about suicide rates being 1.5 times higher in rural areas than urban student populations. She also mentioned community support played a role when students discuss self-harm. LCSD Superintendent Barry DePaoli said it was a balance between helping kids and dealing with the pandemic.
• Chelan Middle School Principal Brian Wood said he might keep some of the COVID-19 protocols after the pandemic, when in class learning is reestablished.
• Chelan High School Principal Brad Wilson said there were about 10 students average per classroom in person learning with the rest being online participants.
• DePaoli said it took a “lot of work setting up logistics” to effectively deal with pandemic issues.
• DePaoli also stated a “COVID-19 dashboard” has been established and will be updated daily to let the community know of any changes in the District in regards to pandemic issues.
• Regarding Senate Bill 5395, which “requires all public schools to provide comprehensive sexual health education (CSHE) by the 2022–23 school year, DePaoli said parents can opt their children out of CSHE classes by giving notice to District administrators.
• Approximately 39 participants “attended” the Zoom meeting.
*From Camus’ book The Myth of Sisyphus
Gary Bégin,Managing Editor
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