EVSD begins search process for superintendent
East Valley School District board members took a step this week toward starting a superintendent search.
Board members on Tuesday heard presentations from three superintendent search consulting firms: Cascade Consulting, Principled Leadership and McPherson and Jacobson, said board chair Kerri Lunstroth. The board now has a target of deciding which of these firms to hire during another special meeting, tentatively the week of Dec. 17, according to Lunstroth.
The district board plans to start the superintendent search process by early 2008.
“The first thing will be getting some community input from employees, parents and others in the community,” Lunstroth said. “I believe the intent will be to do a national search. I think first we have to talk to our community. What do they want?”
The district plans to post upcoming meetings on its Web site, at www.evsd.org, and use a new automated call system for families with students enrolled in East Valley schools to notify them about board meetings. The calling system was used this past week to inform families about Tuesday’s special meeting.
“We want to have the community involved,” Lunstroth added.
Cascade Consulting is based out of Bellevue, Wash.; Principled Leadership, Woodland, Wash.; and McPherson and Jacobson, a national firm operating from Omaha, Neb.
The board is selecting a superintendent following the retirement of Christine Burgess that was announced this past May. The board then appointed Debra Howard as the district’s interim superintendent.
FBLA hosts Freeman Cares 4 Kids
Freeman High School’s Future Business Leaders of America students have the answer for busy parents who need a kid-free shopping day. They are hosting their fifth annual Freeman Cares 4 Kids day Sunday offering an afternoon of child care.
From noon to 5 p.m., high school students will be running basketball, whiffleball, crafts, movies, games and other fun activities for children ages 5 and up. Snacks and beverages will be provided. Parents can take advantage of this opportunity to get shopping done, decorate the house or just take in a movie.
For more information, contact Scott Moore at Freeman High School at 291-3721, ext. 201 or at smoore@freemansd.org. People also can register at the door. The FBLA group is taking donations to cover the cost of this program in addition to raising funds for the Freeman FBLA chapter. FBLA helps students prepare for careers in the business world.
Evergreen students talk with state officials
Twenty-nine leadership students at Evergreen Middle School recently met with two Washington State government officials. Adjutant General and Washington National Guard Commander Major General Timothy Lowenberg and Washington State Secretary of Health Mary Selecky held a conversation with the students through Governor Chris Gregoire‘s Priorities of Government initiative to gather statewide public input.
Major General Lowenberg and Secretary Selecky emphasized the importance of leadership to the group of 13- and 14-year-olds. Tobacco prevention also was one of several public health topics Selecky discussed with the students. Meanwhile, the students asked questions about current health topics, including drug-resistant staph infection, school lunches and childhood obesity.
Additionally, Lowenberg and Selecky talked to the students about their stepped-up emergency preparedness joint work since Sept. 11, 2001.
When prompted for their input, the students presented a range of topics for Selecky to share with Gregoire, including asking for her opinion on a military draft, what can be done about global warming and how to create unity in government.