Board approves multiple routine items, postpones secondary science adoption to Oct. 22

The Prosser School District Board of Directors approved a string of routine motions by voice vote and postponed the recommendation to adopt new secondary science curriculum until its Oct. 22 meeting.

The board approved a consultant services agreement with Picture This Photography for homecoming, approved the formation of the “Love Our Elders” student club at Prosser High School, approved a memorandum of understanding with the Princess Theater for upcoming student performances, accepted travel for the district’s special services director to a special-education law conference, approved vouchers and payroll, and approved consent items 1 through 4. Each of those items was decided by voice vote; board members responded “aye” when asked and the chair declared the motions carried.

On the secondary science adoption recommendation, board members debated the plan and the timeline for review. A motion to postpone the adoption until the Oct. 22 meeting passed by voice vote so trustees can review the materials and give the wider community additional time to examine the proposed curriculum.

The meeting record does not include a roll-call vote or numerical tallies for these motions; each passage is recorded as approved by unanimous voice vote with the chair saying “motion carries.”

Why it matters: Several of the passed items affect near-term student activities (homecoming photography, a musical at the Princess Theater and a new student club) and routine district operations (payroll and vouchers). The postponement of the secondary science adoption gives trustees extra time to review materials and provides an opportunity for parents and the community to comment before a final decision.

Details of board actions and outcomes

- Consultant services agreement with Picture This Photography for homecoming: approved (voice vote; tally not specified). Motion text in packet; students pay for photos; district did not list a direct cost in the board packet.

- Formation of the Love Our Elders student club at Prosser High School: approved (voice vote). Student Olivia presented the proposal, describing letter-writing, community events and planned elementary-school outreach.

- MOU with Princess Theater for The Addams Family musical: approved (voice vote). According to the packet discussion, the current arrangement reflects a compromise on dates and fees; Kim said the cost moved from $5,000 per school to $6,000 for both schools, a Rotary donation of $3,000 will offset part of the cost, and ASB funds and other building funds will cover remaining amounts.

- Travel authorization for the special services director, Dr. Jennifer Allen, to attend an in‑state special-education law conference: approved (discussion noted the conference is in-state and that the director had to justify the travel given a general no-travel posture earlier in the year).

- Vouchers and payroll: approved (voice vote; tally not specified).

- Consent items 1–4: approved (voice vote).

- Secondary science adoption recommendation: postponed to Oct. 22 (motion passed by voice vote). The administration said teachers piloted multiple curricula, the recommended package includes teacher materials and options for Spanish print materials, and the total estimated cost rose in discussion (see clarifying details). Trustees asked for additional time to review the materials in-person and via district communications before ordering.

What the board did not record: The meeting used voice votes for these items; the transcript does not include named yes/no votes or a numerical tally for any motion.

Ending: The board scheduled its next regular meeting for Oct. 22 at 6 p.m., when trustees expect to revisit the science adoption and other follow-ups.