RA Long named AVID national demonstration school; Rotary donates 3,835 books as district builds student‑voice strategic plan

Brooklyn Stevens, senior RA Long student representative, told the Longview School Board that RA Long High School has been named an AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) national demonstration school, one of about 203 nationwide and one of five in Washington.

“AVID not only prepares for future success, it also helps students to demonstrate strong organizational critical thinking and study skills,” Brooklyn said, describing AVID’s school‑wide implementation and recent visits by other districts and schools to observe RA Long classrooms and practices.

Earlier in the meeting a district staff member reported the Rotary donated 3,835 books — valued at $11,861 — to seven of the district’s eight elementary schools and presented a plaque to recognize the partnership. The staff member noted Columbia Heights receives books from a different partner, which is why seven rather than eight schools received Rotary books.

District leaders also told trustees that principals worked this spring to create an initial artifact for the district strategic plan: each principal met with 20–30 students to collect student input about belonging, barriers to belonging, and supports that help students succeed. Staff compiled those themes into a draft vision for the student experience, which will be refined with Scholar First and presented to the board at a future work session with Dr. Campbell.

Board members praised the student presentations and collaborative classroom projects described at RA Long — including cross‑program work between advanced marketing and culinary arts — and thanked the students and staff for their work.

No formal action was taken; the items were presented as information and will inform upcoming strategic‑planning work.