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DAYTON–Plans are in the works to restructure school administration positions of superintendent, high-school principal and elementary principal, the Dayton School Board approved March 2.

Resolution 2021-02, “changing assignment for the elementary principal to be a K-8 principal, elimination of the 1.0 FTE High School Principal Position, elimination of the 1.0 FTE Superintendent Position and creation of a 1.0 FTE combined HS principal and Superintendent position was approved. The Board has determined that the restructuring/reduction as stated in the Superintendent’s recommendation is appropriate given our size, enrollment numbers at the high school and funding.”

The board approved, with bias, Resolution 2021-02, the first of Superintendent Guy Strot’s seven recommendations which would change the assignment for the elementary principal and eliminate the high school principal position.

The board revisited Supt. Strot’s seven recommendations, matters which were postponed until further discussion and discovery could be made. One was listed separately as a resolution for approval and called for reorganizing the administrative structure, reducing the district administrative positions from three to two, including eliminating the high school principal position because of declining enrollment. The superintendent would also function as the high school principal.

Following comments from the public, and an Executive Session to discuss potential action, the Board voted unanimously to delay approval of the recommendations but also unanimously in favor of the resolution.

Strot stated that districts with similar enrollment had one to two administrators, including Pomeroy and Prescott. “By making this change, it would be one of the ways to “right-size” the district based on the reduced enrollment and funds,” Strot said.

He pointed out that the trend of enrollment dropping is not new and has been happening over the last 12 years. Updating curriculum, electives and facilities is essential for students to be prepared to compete in the job market after graduation, whether attending college of not. The multiple surveys conducted and student assessments reflect these needs.

The Board reviewed and discussed the seven recommendations. Five of the seven were listed as essential. Labeled as essential, Strot recommended the district evaluate the math and English curriculum. The middle and high school each use two curriculums and the plan suggests to instead choose one each for elementary, middle school and high school.

Assessments show more than 50% of students are below grade level on math. The district will examine the data from the Star and iReady assessment tests. Director Aneesha Dieu added, “We’ll be looking for lots of communication from Guy to staff and see what irregularities there are, things that are conflicting that teacher are not approving of.” The use of a math consultant is also proposed to develop an intervention plan and for eventually offering a third year of math for Career and Technical Education (CTE) credit towards graduation. Dieu suggested that if they were to use a consultant, they consider hiring within before bringing on someone new.

Another recommendation is to engage the students to change school culture and is listed as essential. The district has been using Dr. Molly Kreyssler to evaluate the district through surveys, meetings and data presentations. The recommendation is for her to come for a follow-up meeting with students and staff to collaborate as team to work towards a solution for improving the culture.

Listed as non-essential is the recommendation to update the CTE offerings, beginning with agriculture class facilities such as the greenhouse and the purchase a Computer Assisted Drafting (CAD) laptop lab for shop classes with the goal to teach fabrication. Deiu suggested there could be funding sources available and McCowen mentioned that in the past shop classes auctioned or raffled off fabricated items to raise funds.

Also listed as essential was the recommendation to redo the master schedule for the secondary school students with plans to add electives based on demand utilizing existing teachers or community members to instruct. The plan is to determine which electives will be offered, find teachers to instruct and issue final schedules by the end of the school year for the following school year. Academic Counselor Kristine Warren said the school already does this, and High School Student Trista Villaro expressed concern that teachers are already taxed especially those who are teaching in subjects that are out of their area of endorsement. Jeanne Walter who is advisor for the online program Apex in the high school said it is an effective way to diversify offerings of classes including technology and foreign language.

Another recommendation is to grow the partnership with Walla Walla Community College where all high school students can take their courses either online or on campus.

Strot also recommended the district develop a financial plan to begin immediately and through next year to make budget adjustments because of dropped enrollment. Deiu suggested the remote Business Manager Veronica Perez travel for meetings with the Board to help address the financial needs.

Finally, the recommendation considered essential is to reorganize the administrative structure. This item was listed as a separate action under Resolution 2021-02 and was the subject of most of the 16 public comments made. It includes reducing the administrative staff from three to two while moving the District to a K-8 and high school model where the superintendent would also act as high school principal for the 80 students attending. Two teachers would be placed on special assignment to assist in academic support, and a K-8 Dean of Students position would be created.

Over 50 people attended online and nearly as many in-person for the hybrid School Board meeting on March 2.