At its meeting Oct. 24, the La Conner School board heard reports from middle school and high school students who attended Cispus Leadership Camp in Randle, near the base of Mount Rainier, last summer. The students reported enjoying the experience, saying they had been introduced to problem-solving and leadership skills, gleaned new fundraising ideas, were encouraged to brainstorm and received instruction in how to promote inclusion, kindness and empathy.

“I think we all grew a lot,” said high schooler Hadley Shears.

La Conner was the smallest school represented at the Cispus, which principal Christine Tripp said, “has a great tradition of leadership camps.”

The board accepted a sizable donation from the Rick Epting Foundation for a new kiln.

Additionally, members approved a memorandum of understanding allowing teacher Daniel Castillo and his construction class to build a tiny house on campus this school year.

The board tasked district finance director Brian Gianello with presenting specific and detailed analysis and a comparative salary schedule for use in establishing updated compensation levels for five positions not represented by either of the district’s two labor unions at its November meeting.

Salaries for those five positions need to be adjusted, said Cram, “so we don’t lose good employees.”

Elementary school teacher Jan Auman provided a progress report on both teachers and students embracing the new math curriculum. It has a format of 60-90 minutes of daily lessons emphasizing hands-on critical thinking skills.

“Kids are starting to like math more,” she said. “The conversation is changing. Kids are saying math is their favorite subject.”

Hosting a public Math Night is on her to-do list.

The board also slightly revised its new students and telecommunication devices policy, adding language that brings smart watches, cell phones, headsets and ear buds under the campus code.

Indigenous Peoples Day observed Oct. 10

The board took a break from its three-hour public session Oct. 10 to attend an Indigenous Peoples Day program in Landy James Gym and met with middle school students to hear their impressions on how the academic year is going.

Superintendent Will Nelson – a member of the Blackfeet Nation of Montana – was ushered to midcourt by Swinomish Director of Cultural Events Aurelia Bailey while the Swinomish Canoe Family drummed and sang. Soon after, tribal students were dancing around the district’s lead administrator.