DAYTON-The Dayton School Board approved the consent agenda which included the reassignment of Sam Korslund from the athletic director for DW Combine to being solely the director of Dayton Middle and High School at the meeting on December 7. The Board also voted to select from two firms to aid in the search for a permanent superintendent, and heard two brief presentations from McKinstry with updates on funding and the capital improvement plans, as well as one from Jana Eaton who gave a food service presentation.

The consent agenda was approved that accepted the resignation of Korslund as the athletic director for the DW Combine which they voted to dissolve during the November 16 meeting. He was also approved as the director of Dayton middle and high school athletics.

The following day, an announcement went out from Korslund that the WIAA (Washington Interscholastic Activities Association) voted to accept both Dayton and Waitsburg individual teams into the District 9 1B League beginning the 2023-2024 school year. According to Korslund, this will give the teams the same benefits they had before, and they will play against schools "that are at a similar competitive level and much closer to home."

The league is comprised of two divisions: Wheat and Grape. Dayton will be part of the Wheat Division with teams from Colton, Garfield-Palouse, Oakesdale, Pomeroy, St John/Endicott/Lacrosse, and Tekoa-Rosalia. Waitsburg will be part of the Grape Division with DeSales, Liberty Christian, Prescott, Sunnyside Christian, Touchet, and Yakama Nation. He added, "Planning is also already underway for Spring camps for both volleyball and football as we prepare to usher in a new era of Dayton Bulldog Athletics. We are also posting coaching positions as needed for anyone interested in taking on those roles."

The Board met previously with representatives from two firms to aid in finding a permanent superintendent. Board Director Zac Fabian made a motion to select Northwest Leadership. Board Director Aneesha Dieu requested discussion. She pointed out that Macpherson & Jacobson LLC is a larger firm and would cost less and wanted to hear what the reasons were for choosing Northwest. The others answered that Northwest was more experienced in the region and would have two people conducting the search with the potential of finding up to 15 candidates. Board Chair Jeff McGowen agreed and seconded the motion. All but Dieu voted in favor of Northwest.

Representatives from McKinstry updated on the funding and capital improvements plans. The first items they will work on is water heaters and replacing the heat exchanger likely to be done during the holiday break. There will also be some work done to fix an issue with steam escaping from the pipes with plans to replace them when they can.

The electrical upgrade in the elementary school will start during the next school year. Meanwhile, they are upgrading the electrical service from the power company. They are waiting to be awarded the grant from OSPI which comes in two portions–one for planning and one for construction.

The HVAC is in the plan and ventilation into the elementary, as well as the controls to the schools. Other grants are being considered including the next rural grant coming up from OSPI which is 100% funded at a maximum of $5 million, and from federal funds through an energy grant which is 95% funded and has no maximum.

School District Business Manager Jana Eaton provided a food service presentation for Allicia Stapleton who was out sick. They are working on creating a training guide for new hires. They are also using a menu planning system to help in meeting the nutritional requirements. Everything on the menu portioned out for the different age groups allowing balanced combinations of items. Eaton said it is challenging planning for the tastes of all the ages that they serve, as well as accommodating special diets, but that "the ladies in the kitchen do an excellent job."

The kitchen recently bought with grant funds a new stove with a griddle, a milk cooler, and a warming cabinet. With COVID funds last year they purchased a double oven. They also have plans to buy a chilled merchandizer for those in middle and high school and staff that would offer selections like yogurt and juice. Stewart emphasized that he wanted the Board to learn all that was involved with food service that changed under the leadership of former First Lady Michelle Obama.