Local former teacher donates baleen plate to Mount Vernon High School

A former Mount Vernon science teacher brought an unusual piece of natural history to the board meeting and asked the district to accept it for display at the high school.

Alan Helser told trustees he acquired a scrimshawed baleen plate from a bowhead whale while working with communities on Saint Lawrence Island, Alaska. "This is a piece of baleen out of a bowhead whale," Helser said, describing the plate's original length (about 8½ feet before he trimmed it) and the cultural context in which it was given to him as a going‑away present. Helser asked that the district consider placing the item in a public hallway or science area with a descriptive placard so students could learn from it.

Trustees and staff asked practical questions about display logistics, where to place it so students could view it and whether to include photos and an explanatory plaque. One trustee suggested hanging it high in a hallway so all students could see it; Helser agreed he would coordinate with district staff. The board later acknowledged the gift again during fiscal services and thanked Helser for his generosity.

The board did not vote on a formal acceptance during the meeting but discussed next steps for coordination with high school staff and facilities. Trustees said they appreciated the opportunity to give students a tangible artifact to support science and cultural learning.