[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6255573,"mediaKeyId","3162229-ce8c213bab9a7bc96bbb26b031d69f4f","parentId",3162229,"title","District warns it pays about $33,000 more than CWAC peers for varsity assistant coaches; board warned to expect debate","audioSeconds",134,"startMs",1031000,"endMs",1165000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3162229-ce8c213bab9a7bc96bbb26b031d69f4f&start=1031&end=1165","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3162229-ce8c213bab9a7bc96bbb26b031d69f4f/thumbnail_1031000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6255573/Washington/District-warns-it-pays-about-33000-more-than-CWAC-peers-for-varsity-assistant-coaches-board-warned-to-expect-debate","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6255573-63feff6a59f2712b0188820f794aab4f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770627508&Signature=mtDEhuOOjNRYPjKz1~fyTGwJbN7WTTFP0qCiBOQlym9~DCykeE4cISBwYtwl92Nw9CFPPOz5kaXiWSO97a6JZsUsQwh2ChNCX0uyDf29RSSntwi4APr3aEMRmNwzKV7qHj~NNnsQ8xQTUMrQD3Dq1wkUvECuD1hQYdwXXR8ePk7tkUu8ER3mW3baB3U8bf8DS0qwrRoQxobidrXiOK4VY-9qE4kfxouxo~C6TzoM9hylaliYiYZTdlr2Lzv~Qk2jAIQcqqDPrFJ8yIAonEsFFyQCC9TpoZyz7zbsPXKM91i9qB9Pxk9ns7wPAvSphrcaDWp5EVNpmACe41vn6LW99Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Othello School District, Washington","date","2025-05-01T01:06:21.8Z","article","District administrators told the board an athletic staffing review found Othello pays about $33,000 more than comparable schools in the Central Washington Athletic Conference (CWAC) for varsity assistant positions.

The analysis, prepared by the district athletic director, compares the number of varsity assistant positions and their salaries across league peers. Administrators said some sports have safety-driven staffing needs based on roster size, but other assistant positions are \"out of alignment\" with league norms and have contributed to higher costs.

A board member asked, \"Like, we're paying $33,000 more than other schools in the CWAC. Correct?\" An administrator replied, \"Exactly. And we we may get down to the road where we determine that's worth our investment.\" The presentation emphasized that no decision was required at the meeting; the board was being alerted so community members and coaches could prepare for possible changes and conversations.

Administrators said future steps include further analysis of safety metrics, participation numbers, and whether the district will keep the current staffing as an investment in programs or align to the conference norm to save funds. Board members were told any future change would likely prompt outreach to coaches, parents and staff before implementation.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Regular Board Meeting - 04.28.2025","oneSentenceSummary","District analysis shows Othello spends roughly $33,000 more on varsity assistant salaries than other schools in the CWAC conference. Administrators flagged the discrepancy and asked the board to consider whether to retain current staffing levels or realign to league norms.","taxTitle","Othello School District, School Districts, Washington","taxId",55334,"location","Washington","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6255577,"Othello students praised welding teacher after on-campus certification opportunity",384,0,384000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3162229-ce8c213bab9a7bc96bbb26b031d69f4f&start=0&end=384","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3162229-ce8c213bab9a7bc96bbb26b031d69f4f/thumbnail_0.jpg","/articles/6255577/Washington/Othello-students-praised-welding-teacher-after-on-campus-certification-opportunity","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6255577-6e2cab97ee719cfd9e2711f5ef00c229/orig.mp4?Expires=1770627508&Signature=Euqgaz9ptdCcXlwxcQ6zo27xgl~RlM1-BJaXr4WIFanxBmNhuJHiezyUQXRS-oRwMK-ae6l~RVpqdC4SEAfurxa5PbMlQv5j0R3P4iIAiiu2Awc~Rb2X3sr9uOnEcexTZuNHEvOMVdXPVAVW0QImuEQp2gtpulR7FgBN~DYb~24kjjm2CCFwqcE6NmBneHZhAGG4cjonGbDHMKB9EgmcC~0z4eb~Buxc73WyEHT-mjspZkdbtgUzsjR7thvT6Ti3Zm8EMMg-2LpphInHQkcLo807jdFrUSBnWIJZmkoDzROWXWH-LpWx3fm-0bfh85J-AT0U6cT8H2~s2C1QSwyRrg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Three Othello High School students were recognized at the board meeting after completing welding certification tests arranged at the high school.

A student who spoke at the meeting thanked their welding teacher, Mr. Hay, saying the certifier \"came in and take his time, which took about, like, 6 hours or 7 hours\" and that completing the test at school \"we can just do it here at the school for free and we have all the time to do it so we don't feel rushed.\" The student described the class as an entire trimester of instruction with safety training at the start and said the certification opportunity followed an advanced course. The speaker also noted that one sophomore, Alvarez, became certified at about 15 years old.

Administrators told the board the in-school certification was possible because of Mr. Hay's professional connections and volunteered time. Superintendent Perez added that even when on-campus certificates do not immediately produce direct employment, \"employers will reach out to our kids and say, 'Wow, they've had that training.'\" District staff said the career and technical education program has grown in recent years and the district is considering investments to expand capacity, including additional equipment or vehicles to help students meet clock-hour requirements in other CTE areas such as CDL training.

Board members took a photo with the recognized students and praised the program as an example of hands-on CTE experience that can lead to post-high-school opportunities.","Three Othello High School students received welding certifications after a volunteer certifier came to campus at the request of their teacher, Mr. Hay. Administrators said such CTE experiences can improve students' job prospects and that the district is expanding CTE capacity.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6255581,"Othello to fold Desert Oasis students into OHS, create 'Husky Hub' and success teams to reduce dropouts",938,5721000,6659000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3162229-ce8c213bab9a7bc96bbb26b031d69f4f&start=5721&end=6659","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3162229-ce8c213bab9a7bc96bbb26b031d69f4f/thumbnail_5721000.jpg","/articles/6255581/Washington/Othello-to-fold-Desert-Oasis-students-into-OHS-create-Husky-Hub-and-success-teams-to-reduce-dropouts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6255581-b232a0043f3b8d7d3effab72afcd1a4b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770627508&Signature=gp-6H05TK3J6DOaChvX7bYEnY6SBYFzQbgaTNgbdMIieky1BgYZNzHh77to6L4AtBxLJg4zgCZrgCBuLK37TJ~ntjcIHmRhm09uqpKpAYoLZwpRACjeYH92wWa2h6o8i8O5oXAAdszlI0ehfV9kCsa5jStEhD5vISepdib14ZVNT-v-NkPfs0yGlVnl~nxdHshl2vxOQC9s2WJccfQxPr19BkcQdPO03iDeT7PdJd9s2qzCEjVDr6isfdJR9wFHz5jgKk73-YJggyoP84akzGY~TuADrNcaeHeuFMsJMSKoGNNBy6FcPvcMgmlnRDHXksluZm~QUTq7m-afYD-VATw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Othello School District presented a transition plan to integrate Desert Oasis High School students and programs into Othello High School for next year and to expand targeted student supports through a newly named \"Husky Hub.\" The hub is planned for the district’s technology building near the tennis courts and will host staff and services to support students with short- and long-term needs.

Josh Tovar, principal of Desert Oasis High School, said the presentation would be DOHS’s last in its current standalone form and thanked former staff and community partners for the program’s history. \"This is our last presentation for Desert Oasis High School. And I have the privilege of being the principal at this school,\" Tovar said during the meeting.

Administrators described three core aims for the integrated model: strengthen relational trust and student support; align services so interventions match student need; and make students’ status visible across attendance, behavior and academics. Staff proposed weekly \"success team\" meetings that include counselors, administrators, an ESD student assistance professional, school psychologist, career partners and partner agencies such as SkillSource to triage students in \"green/yellow/red\" buckets and assign supports earlier than the end of grading windows.

The Husky Hub will provide alternative scheduling and a supervised learning space for students who struggle with a full school day, brief suspensions or short-term crises. District leaders said the hub will host staff to provide on‑site instruction and counseling so students can continue course work while receiving supports. Administrators also said current DOHS students will be \"grandfathered\" into DOHS graduation requirements if needed, and that credit alignment and online/digital programs (Edgenuity, Odysseyware) will continue to be offered as options.

Principal Kat Atchison described visits to Sunnyside High School to study a similar model and said Sunnyside’s practices influenced the hub and success-team design. The district plans to take students to Sunnyside for further learning and to finalize the first 45 days plan for integrating DOHS students. Board members asked whether a combined graduation ceremony would proceed; administrators said the decision was pending but that combining ceremonies would both recognize all district graduates and reduce duplicative family expense.

Administrators emphasized that the hub and success teams are district-wide supports, not a program only for DOHS students. \"This is going to meet the needs of all students,\" an administrator said, noting the model will be used to identify and intervene for students across the high school population.","The board heard final Desert Oasis High School (DOHS) transition plans: students will be integrated into Othello High School, a new \"Husky Hub\" will provide targeted short- and long-term support, and a weekly success team will coordinate interventions for attendance, behavior and academics.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6255587,"Othello district split on standards-based grading; staff recommend testing Skyward as alternative to Empower",3085,1321000,4406000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3162229-ce8c213bab9a7bc96bbb26b031d69f4f&start=1321&end=4406","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3162229-ce8c213bab9a7bc96bbb26b031d69f4f/thumbnail_1321000.jpg","/articles/6255587/Washington/Othello-district-split-on-standards-based-grading-staff-recommend-testing-Skyward-as-alternative-to-Empower","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6255587-d0efb6837bf23cb65f2ba0e81194ab88/orig.mp4?Expires=1770627508&Signature=Zg2ZWWHjorg1GnbYSeRF1KS0AYNHjC8Q6aGcWje3q0LVjSKxaFwchbeGAWlAAUd1alXQgMru8axrGlsLslfr7TN44M9CfctetHKfzsRmGY~nme~4o6kFjbOQ95MdH8IT7stjw~O13bub5Lpc4UaFvQf2hQRRDy~cMroPzvJFVPsmYRNLJxlmTihj7kzxdhMvik5vj4wptLxb3SI1iDxOInwdgbJRNqhBxejqTNUcUSRmDkIUNQ~Hmo7p61j5Dpjh1cXiZokNyJVWruwIKhRNpwovI9Wy-rFAVFCjoygK0SZzoPrN4Xf-MWhC1Rfquj4qZA6KoTB1nDJqwO7kzo5SiA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Othello School District officials told the school board they have not yet settled on how to standardize grades under a standards-based grading model and plan a short-term test of Skyward to see whether it can replace Empower for reporting.

The update, led by district administrators and staff who visited peer schools and ran a teacher \"listening tour,\" summarized teacher feedback and implementation problems: confusion for parents, inconsistent use across classes, workload for teachers, and disagreement about late-work policies and athletic eligibility tied to grading.

Superintendent Perez told the board the district gathered teacher input on three possible paths: keep the current course and continue with Empower; stop using Empower but press ahead with SBG using Skyward; or give departments choice while setting minimum consistency requirements. \"25% said keep going. Another 25% said, hey, let's think about this and let's stop using Empower,\" Perez said, and summarized the staff split as “50 percent.”

Administrators said Empower offers strong longitudinal data on student learning standards but that many teachers and families find it complex and sometimes unreliable in the district’s current use. Board members and administrators repeatedly raised concerns about parents and students being unsure how their progress appears in a trend-based SBG tool and how late submissions are handled.

District staff described common implementation issues reported by teachers: unclear proficiency scales, inconsistent department-level adoption, and insufficient administrative support for communicating changes to families. The presentation noted the district has tightened its late-work window this year from a six-week policy toward a shorter deadline; teachers on the listening tour recommended further tightening in some cases.

To gather more evidence before a full decision, the district will run side-by-side tests of Skyward and Empower with teacher volunteers and return to the board with results. Perez said the immediate next step was to \"spend a few hours\" letting teachers test both systems before locking in a model and to continue targeted professional development on proficiency scales and common assessments.

Board members and students pressed administrators on practical consequences: whether transcripts will translate to letter grades (administrators said SBG results are converted to letter grades for transcripts under state rules), how athletic eligibility will be defined, and how the district will prevent the system from encouraging procrastination. Administrators said the work aims to give students deeper mastery of fewer standards rather than accumulation of points from many low‑value assignments.","District leaders presented a standards-based grading (SBG) update after a teacher listening tour. Staff reported mixed teacher feedback, identified communication and late-work issues, and said 50% of respondents favored either continuing or modifying the rollout. The district will test Skyward reporting alongside Empower before deciding a path.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

District warns it pays about $33,000 more than CWAC peers for varsity assistant coaches; board warned to expect debate

Othello students praised welding teacher after on-campus certification opportunity

Othello to fold Desert Oasis students into OHS, create 'Husky Hub' and success teams to reduce dropouts

Othello district split on standards-based grading; staff recommend testing Skyward as alternative to Empower