[{"_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",5977675,"mediaKeyId","5811004-adf2b3cfe6d29546b51c5bc83d6c7f47","parentId",5811004,"title","Board approves routine items and warrants; required approvals pass 5-0, warrants pass 4-0 with one abstention","audioSeconds",45,"startMs",463000,"endMs",508000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5811004-adf2b3cfe6d29546b51c5bc83d6c7f47&start=463&end=508","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5811004-adf2b3cfe6d29546b51c5bc83d6c7f47/thumbnail_463000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/5977675/Washington/Board-approves-routine-items-and-warrants-required-approvals-pass-5-0-warrants-pass-4-0-with-one-abstention","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5977675-eaf4ba6df40bbe9f94bf0e56ba0d6b11/orig.mp4?Expires=1773588100&Signature=CAUi1g8aIIeEya~X5X92b9IGqcjzh-io9K3a7lptjiLczR7eY29w8HDdesSqWLdyU1RPeoV1BjBbKIqR9wJVC3HsbwZmm0IW5RdexiWbfC~35IbyLu6LZQz2OfpRzlFDyua6UjnQkekmiShAlZY0ZNPl~UkBGveq0LYg749zQP7ShD1Ab1pEh-xQroNh92GBqGv39ruAOCSJ5g2l7gLqLVVSlwN6MrkYnTpOD4AqopfjEPKe0vobBlymODxGhAOQEjrI1lmBe312rf9JPsvOttFti8G5zCMsispRi4cczlYZGj9AAndDvOsQII~ZOKb89iuqzbm9tYMYBej8oBUNFA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Othello School District, Washington","date","2025-09-22T00:00:00Z","article","The Othello School District Board voted on routine business items during the meeting: a motion to approve required approvals passed unanimously, and a separate motion to approve Accounts Payable Warrants 2 passed with one abstention.
A board member moved to approve the required approvals and another board member seconded. The board chair called the question; the motion passed 5–0.
A subsequent motion to approve Accounts Payable Warrants 2 was made and seconded; the board approved the motion 4–0 with one abstention. No named roll-call votes were provided in the public transcript excerpt.
These items were recorded as standard consent-agenda business. No further discussion or amendments were recorded in the transcript excerpt for those votes.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Regular Board Meeting - 09.22.2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Othello School District board approved routine required approvals unanimously and passed a motion to approve accounts payable warrants 2 with one abstention.","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},5977680,"Board praises new site-visit tours of operations; staff urge more public participation",663,1601000,2264000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5811004-adf2b3cfe6d29546b51c5bc83d6c7f47&start=1601&end=2264","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5811004-adf2b3cfe6d29546b51c5bc83d6c7f47/thumbnail_1601000.jpg","/articles/5977680/Washington/Board-praises-new-site-visit-tours-of-operations-staff-urge-more-public-participation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5977680-07f8107342199d3730a4f46a8fff2f0f/orig.mp4?Expires=1773588100&Signature=aaVPzEplsA9McF5wSoZUJVvEWJijcTLI~GNs-Uw~lQkYUzBjT2ybW-iz5VPcTOR02ddONR7zq1eseve71Ci7OXasNUpTYi45ilG~~6DPId~VZHLJv33nmrFaZvtMl7HoQHxftrPjxqJVwlmo3oRRLKdPFhuF45mB9JzHp5E5SctAlNuEQEEjQrR5fr-YZqUVYxKBIXb1joEDV7D1q5030UJblGKXBxacIzE4CkJ5-0WWYEuo~LtePK0GddjTcwo650TTbf3o9vyPYumUKVLcRcvg-koSBcViQS7QRB0JJ6rGehmEwPYXkLHhD5s9oNhtDDhinXFSB5gw66c3rt15fw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Board members told colleagues they found a newly redesigned series of district site visits — to the bus garage, the food-service distribution facility and the maintenance compound — informative and useful for planning and public engagement.
Board members described the tours as revealing the complexity of running a school district and said bringing community members on the tours helped outsiders grasp the scope of operations. “My aunt came with us … and she was like, more people need to do this,” one director said. Another director said the visits offered material evidence useful for long-range planning and possible future bond discussions.
Staff members invited to discuss the tours — identified in the meeting as Mandy, Greg and Marion — said principals and community guests benefit from seeing operations behind the scenes. Greg (staff) and others noted many district departments collaborate but seldom get to observe each other’s day-to-day work: maintenance stores bulk supplies, transportation coordinates bus exchanges and food service handles large storage and distribution logistics.
Board members described concrete moments from the tours: watching a bus exchange at Hiawatha, observing breakfast service, and seeing surplus and storage operations at the maintenance facility. Staff said the tours help correct misconceptions that school work is limited to classrooms and can show why the district might ask voters to support levies or bonds.
The board encouraged expanding the program to include principals and more community members, and staff offered to host more tours. No formal action or funding decision was taken; the item was presented as informational and as groundwork for community outreach and possible future ballot planning.","Board members described recent tours of the district's bus garage, food-service facility and maintenance operations as eye-opening. Department staff said behind-the-scenes visits help the community and principals understand operational needs and can support future bond or levy conversations.",{"_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},5977685,"Parents and students report translation problems at senior meeting; district pledges follow-up",281,2000,283000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5811004-adf2b3cfe6d29546b51c5bc83d6c7f47&start=2&end=283","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5811004-adf2b3cfe6d29546b51c5bc83d6c7f47/thumbnail_2000.jpg","/articles/5977685/Washington/Parents-and-students-report-translation-problems-at-senior-meeting-district-pledges-follow-up","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5977685-f64bdf934b486a26794861da3574fa38/orig.mp4?Expires=1773588100&Signature=V8J9Rppqe8PS9TrbN0vKUw0Ls3qi240qIrFZicwBprUZhETqMqkUTX3503fcMMaAkJG19D9CVFaoLcQgA6-MYzcSxt3KhTJCc826-Ey3EL53vPLF2YMCzOOW9FoF66W85xi2udUveHD1D62XuFvTf~IOU8tXfq4AtimuF3SXP3tBXCTIAdMBfJJn~YfEHJSgN7X19LjT7qrvKohl2CDKH2BCm9xHO24zexf4OlUS7~8Ttrbx96GBuGANo9e-bzrVFtyyppUMN7nbu36RPSf0qHALrVtAKMtc8F3ys6EJErQjLsCVpKyUpQjEHs4vgg6lKFwzsfdOCTxvKuAuv-IDBg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several students and a parent told the Othello School District Board that a recent senior meeting intended for families was split between rooms and that translation services did not provide a full bilingual presentation.
A student commenter said the counselor “spoke Spanish, but they had the whole presentation in English,” and added that technical difficulties hampered listeners who relied on translation. The student said the meeting began at 5 p.m. and that staff split attendees so parents using hearing aids or translation equipment would go to the library.
Superintendent Dr. Perez acknowledged the problem and told the board he would follow up. “I'll go back and check on some of those things and follow-up with them and see if we need to … make sure we do better,” he said, apologizing for the family’s experience and noting that senior-year information can be critical.
A district staff member described the district’s usual model for live interpretation: “We have experts like Dorothy in the back and we would hand out a headset. She would be listening to the conversation that we're having, translating that and interpreting that … and that's what should occur.” The staff member said interpreters listen to questions in Spanish and relay them in English so the meeting does not lose its flow.
Board members asked if the equipment might have been uncharged or outdated; staff said the equipment is typically adequate and they would investigate whether a charging or setup issue caused the failure.
The board treated the item as public comment and an informational matter; no formal action or policy change was taken that evening. District staff committed to check the specific meeting logistics and the availability and functioning of interpretation headsets and to return if necessary with corrective steps.
The comments underscored broader board remarks that district communications should be accessible in parents’ languages, particularly for events where questions and answers are relevant to all attendees.","Students and a parent told the board that a recent senior meeting split attendees and presented English-language slides while the counselor interpreted in Spanish. District staff said headsets and live interpreters are available and will investigate the reported problems.",{"_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},5977690,"Skootenay principal updates board on two-year 'Kinder Strong Start' pilot, district to collect data before decision",1003,509000,1512000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5811004-adf2b3cfe6d29546b51c5bc83d6c7f47&start=509&end=1512","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5811004-adf2b3cfe6d29546b51c5bc83d6c7f47/thumbnail_509000.jpg","/articles/5977690/Washington/Skootenay-principal-updates-board-on-two-year-Kinder-Strong-Start-pilot-district-to-collect-data-before-decision","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5977690-31749aa50e170f784c5d8cbc049e96a1/orig.mp4?Expires=1773588100&Signature=SNCLz8rDbOGpbmoWNeoVezOZphV5RwFcePeTZKkjk2PCuxSB0HQ1L28S-i9yq70QYes833~5m8dENQJyjYRbjJN8DU1WqRhgUgE0d3i2jxBcGg7he2QRTyCvQThY3ZG4xGUVewaQ3fLNdk5ejLsf0SUT0qI-JFENZZ9SF8DTm6NWN28rF34W6rVgB1N7-FT08CEp7LQxm8A1JkVYWJVB2NFjW5K8MzqclMBpQoLMfPIfl2mrtLGRkcyK7n0vMw0VKoL86Za~EFlfcbHRl1qiyOhMVzat83V3RD9JymD6~giEFHojzVvpanpBmLOD5MU10bgHsgdv1La-5E8sBrVYRA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Denise Meersch, principal at Skootenay, told the Othello School District Board of Directors on a recent night that the district's two-year Kinder Strong Start pilot used smaller groups and shortened initial days to help kindergarten students adjust to school.
The program, she said, was designed to build routines, reduce transition anxiety and give teachers more time for early observations and relationship building.
Meersch said the pilot began two years ago after staff noticed incoming kindergarten students with high needs — including many on individualized education programs, students receiving speech therapy and a large number of multilingual learners. “We thought if they only went two days a week, they could get in and learn the routines,” Meersch said. “Fewer students, you could give them more individual attention and therefore start really building those relationships.”
Meersch described how the first year used a two-week staggered schedule (groups A and B on different days) and that staff later reduced it to a one-week stagger because teachers felt they could accomplish the same goals more quickly. She said the work was intentionally “go slow to go fast,” bringing smaller cohorts first to build classroom stamina before integrating all students.
The principal explained how the district assesses kindergarten readiness. WA Kids, a statewide developmental assessment, covers six domains — social-emotional, physical, language and others — and is largely observational. “When we give kinders assessments … it’s really observational, and it’s through play,” Meersch said. She added that the STAR assessment is the only part that typically uses computers and takes about 10 minutes.
Board members pressed Meersch on how the district will measure student experience, not just adult opinions. One director asked, “How are you going to get that data? Not from the parents or teachers, but from the kids?” Meersch replied that much of the evidence is observational and gathered during the first weeks and through required state tools; she said some measures must wait until students have been in class long enough to be meaningfully assessed.
Superintendent Dr. Perez told the board the district will collect feedback from teachers, parents, students and administrators and use the resulting data to recommend whether to continue or change the model for the 2026–27 school year. No policy change or formal vote occurred at the meeting; the item was presented as an informational update.
Board members also asked for district data about teacher certifications for early grades and for a clearer count of staff with early-learning preparation; staff committed to provide that information.
Meersch concluded that, while final evaluation is still pending, the staff saw a generally positive start this year and will use both qualitative feedback and assessment timelines to make a recommendation to the board.
Looking ahead, district staff said they will present gathered data and teacher/parent feedback before the board decides whether to adopt, modify or end the Kinder Strong Start model for the 2026–27 school year.","Denise Meersch, principal at Skootenay, told the Othello School District board the two-year Kinder Strong Start pilot aimed to ease kindergarten transitions by staggered, smaller-group start weeks. The district will gather teacher, parent and student feedback and assessment data before deciding on 2026–27 plans.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board approves routine items and warrants; required approvals pass 5-0, warrants pass 4-0 with one abstention

Board praises new site-visit tours of operations; staff urge more public participation

Parents and students report translation problems at senior meeting; district pledges follow-up

Skootenay principal updates board on two-year 'Kinder Strong Start' pilot, district to collect data before decision