Aberdeen Schools

Jerry Salstrom, center, is flanked at left by Superintendent Jeff Thake and Directors Jessica Jurasin and Jeremy Wright, and at right by Directors Annica Mizin, Suzy Ritter and Jennifer Durney.

The Aberdeen School Board presented the Jane F. Goldberg Distinguished Service Award to Jerry Salstrom at its meeting on Tuesday to recognize his years of dedication to the children of Aberdeen and the community as a whole.

Mr. Salstrom’s service in the Aberdeen School District dates to 1969 when he was hired to teach math. He was the principal at Miller Junior High School from 1989 to 1999. In his retirement, he has continued to work and volunteer in various roles. He currently is the math tutor in the GEAR UP program at Aberdeen High School.

Most recently, Mr. Salstrom spearheaded the Miller Junior High Centennial Celebration, which became a community-wide event that packed the gymnasium on Jan. 28.

Mr. Salstrom had been asked to attend the School Board meeting to report on the celebration.

In his report, he focused on the student and community partnerships that were forged in the months leading up to the event. He recapped the work of the students, teachers and the community members, and he also shared photos from the event. The goal was not just to hold an event. “We wanted it to be an experience – and a lasting experience,” he said. “And most importantly a connection with our entire community. … It truly was a community effort.”

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Wearing their t-shirts commemorating 1924 to 2024, the entire student body and staff at Miller Junior High School gathered for a group photo the morning after the Centennial Celebration.

Mr. Salstrom teamed up with the PTO to make sure every student received a shirt.

Agenda (pdf)

President Jennifer Durney convened the regular meeting of the Aberdeen School District Board of Directors at 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, January 16, 2024, in the Community Room at Aberdeen High School. In attendance were Jessica Jurasin, Annica Mizin, Suzy Ritter and Jeremy Wright, along with Superintendent Jeffrey Thake and 18 patrons and staff.

The meeting began with the flag salute.

Consent Agenda

The Board approved the Consent Agenda, which included:

• The minutes from the regular meeting on January 16, 2024;
• Annual letter from the Marian Weatherwax Endowment Fund at the Grays Harbor Community Foundation reporting an annual distribution in the amount of $62,000.00 in support of local programs;
  
• Gift from the Marian Weatherwax Scholarship Fund at the Grays Harbor Community Foundation in the amount of $4,000.00 for valedictorian and salutatorian prizes at Aberdeen High School, and
• Gift from Emily Jones of Aberdeen, a 2009 Kia Rio valued at $2,240.00 for use in the automotive program at Aberdeen High School.

Comments from the Board

The Board welcomed student representatives Harnoor Jandu of Aberdeen High School and Mikyla Gunter of Harbor High School.

Director Jurasin reported on her attendance at the annual WSSDA Legislative Conference and shared ideas for greater engagement in the process.

Presentations

Miller Centennial Report / Goldberg Award

Retired Principal Jerry Salstrom gave a report on the successful centennial celebration that took place at Miller Junior High School on Jan. 28.

Following Mr. Salstrom’s report, the Board announced it was presenting him with the Jane F. Goldberg Distinguished Service Award in gratitude for his many years of support for the District’s schools and programs, which was exemplified most recently by his tireless efforts leading up to the Miller Centennial Celebration.

Hopkins Preschool Annual Report

Principal Darby Carroll presented Hopkins Preschool’s annual report and school improvement plan. The Board expressed appreciation at the breadth of services offered to preschool students and families.

Superintendent’s Report

Levy Update

Superintendent Jeff Thake provided an update on the 2024 enrichment and operations levy and the capital projects levy. Ballots are due before 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 13. He noted that he is hosting one more informational meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 8, in the Community Room at Aberdeen High School.

New Business

Policy 2401 Financial Education Mastery

Following a presentation by CTE Director Lynn Green, the Board accepted for first reading a new policy, 2401 Financial Education Mastery.

Policy 2413 Equivalency Credit Opportunities

Following a presentation by CTE Director Lynn Green, the Board accepted for first reading a new policy, 2413 Equivalency Credit Opportunities.

School’s Out Washington Contract

Following a presentation by CTE Director Lynn Green, the Board approved a contract with School’s Out Washington to provide required observations and data collection as part of the 21st Century After School grant.

Surplus Equipment

The Board approved a recommendation to declare as surplus an obsolete car lift in the automotive program at Aberdeen High School and an inventory of other items provided by the Business Office.

Personnel Report

Following an executive session, the Board approved the Personnel Report.

AEA Co-Curricular Schedule

The Board approved an agreement with the Aberdeen Education Association to add a stipend for Honor Society to the co-curricular schedule.

The next regular meeting of the Board is scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 20, in the Community Room at Aberdeen High School.

Those who attend regular meetings are welcome to sign up at the meeting to provide public comment on agenda items. Written public comment for the record can also be submitted up to noon the day of the meeting by writing to schoolboard@asd5.org. Comments or concerns not on the agenda can be brought to the attention of the district by contacting the Superintendent's Office or by contacting individual board members.

The City of Aberdeen announced this week that Cristal Ramirez Garcia, a senior at Aberdeen High School, is the city's nominee for one of three Association of Washington Cities' Center for Quality Communities scholarships.

Ms. Ramirez Garcia would like to earn a bachelor's degree in elementary education. City Administrator Ruth Clemens said that Cristal shared with the selection committee that she is inspired to teach because of the "wondershul experience she had in Aberdeen schools as a young child where teachers and staff went above and beyond to help her succeed."

Each AWC member city can nominate one student to compete for a $3,000 scholarship, Clemens said, adding that AHS provided the committee with a pool of very qualified candidates. The recipients will be announced in March.

Cristal's parents are Imelda Garcia Herrera and Carmelo Ramirez Garcia.

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Voters in the Aberdeen School District have two special levies on the ballot. Voters have until Tuesday, Feb. 13, to drop off or mail their ballots. Mailed ballots must be postmarked on or before Feb. 13 to be counted.

Superintendent Jeff Thake shares information about the proposed Educaton Programs & Operations Levy and the Capital Projects Levy during a community meeting at Aberdeen High School on Thursday.

The two measures the community will decide are:

1. Renewal of the Education Programs & Operations Levy, (aka the EP&O levy). This levy funds local programs and activities that are not funded by the state, especially athletics, music, other extra-curricular activities and maintenance. Voters approved this levy four years ago at a rate not to exceed $2.50 per $1,000 of assessed valuation. The renewal request is for the same tax rate.
   
   
2. A Capital Projects Levy. This is new. The bonds for the high school have been paid off and the School Board is requesting a $1 per $1,000 four-year levy for investment in our aging facilities. Capital funds are for projects that improve, upgrade or modernize buildings, which is different than the day-to-day maintenance funded by the regular levy.

How much will it cost?

The estimated combined tax rate of $3.50 per $1,000 assessed value for both levies is less than the current rate of $3.82 per $1,000 of assessed value. It is estimated the combined rate will decrease to $3.32 per $1,000 by the fourth year.

Scholarships are open to any student who has graduated from a high school on Grays Harbor or who currently resides on Grays Harbor. There are no age restrictions and you can attend programs, colleges or trade schools throughout the United States. Scholarships are available for

up to four years.

• Superintendent Jeffrey Thake, jthake@asd5.org

• Business Office, Elyssa Louderback, elouderback@asd5.org
• Human Resources, Christi Sayres, csayres@asd5.org
• Special Education, Rick Bates, rbates@asd5.org
• Career & Technical Education, Lynn Green, lgreen@asd5.org
• Teaching, Learning & Technology, Traci Sandstrom, tsandstrom@asd5.org
• Food Services, Jaime Matisons, jmatisons@asd5.org

A.J. West Elementary School

• Office Hours: 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
• (360) 538-2130 / Principal Nani Villarreal

Central Park Elementary School

• Office Hours: 8:15 a.m. - 4 p.m.
• (360) 538-2170 / Principal Ruth Erwin-Svoboda

McDermoth Elementary School

• Office Hours: 8 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
• (360) 538-2120 / Principal Mindi Hammill

Robert Gray Elementary School

• Office Hours: 8 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
• (360) 538-2140 / Principal Sherri Northington

Stevens Elementary School

• Office Hours: 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
• (360) 538-2150 / Principal Jamie Stotler

Harbor Learning Center

• Office Hours: 7:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.
• (360) 538-2180 / Principal Lisa Griebel

Hopkins Preschool

• Office Hours: 8 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
• (360) 538-2190 / Principal Darby Carroll

Miller Junior High School

• Office Hours: 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.
• (360) 538-2100 / Principal John Meers

Aberdeen High School

• Office Hours: 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
• (360) 538-2040 General / Principal Aaron Roiko
• (360) 538-2060 Attendance Line

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The Aberdeen School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination: Christi Sayres, Title IX Coordinator and Civil rights Compliance Coordinator, 216 North G St., Aberdeen, WA 98520; (360) 538-2222; csayres@asd5.org; Dr. Richard Bates, Section 504/ADA Coordinator, 216 North G St., Aberdeen, WA 98520; (360) 538-2017; rbates@asd5.org.