School board organizes High School Task Force

I will be representing the Walla Walla School Board of Directors as the Co-Chair of the recently formed High School Facilities Task Force. We have assembled a dynamic group of Walla Walla leaders to help us study our district high school needs and issues. Please see a list of the Task Force members below.

We want to thank these committed community members for their willingness to serve on this Task Force. It is a major commitment of their time and we really appreciate it. Our school board believes school organizations function best with community involvement. This group has a comprehensive topic before them and their interests, passions, and expertise will make a difference in the direction the school board and district may take.

The high school experience for the children of Walla Walla is our topic of research. After the 2006 failed bond and during the "Were Listening" campaign, it became apparent our community wants a well researched, thoughtful study of our high school programs and what they should look like to meet the needs of our students in the 21st century. The school board understands we need a community approach to find solutions to this multi-faceted issue.

During our first meeting Wednesday, June 20, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. in the district office board room, we will start this journey. During this first meeting, we will select one other person to co-chair this committee with me. The co-chairs, the superintendent, communications director, and Dave Teater -- a private consultant -- will form the steering committee. The steering committee will work throughout the summer building agendas and timelines for the Task Force.

Community input from the "Were Listening" campaign fell into six areas of study.

- Replace vs. remodel existing Wa-Hi buildings

- Second high school option

- College Place High School (future potential)

- Alternative Education

- Vocational Education

- Athletic facility options

We were delighted at the outpouring of support for this study and the large number of community members interested in participating. In order to keep the Task Force efficient and effective, we had to limit the number serving.

Although some were not selected to serve on the core group of the Task Force, we would like to use their expertise and input later in the process, as a member of a sub-group focusing on a specific area of study. We will be calling on them next school year to help. On behalf of the Board of Education and the district, I thank everyone involved for committing their time and thoughts to this worthy project.

Darcy Weisner

Scott Krivoshein

Lawson Knight

Jim McCarthy

Mike Pettyjohn

Jody Schneidmiller

Jim Hayner

Cindy Widmer

Clint Gabbard

Mindy Meyer

Jim Sporleder

Rob Ahrens

Max Carrera

Everett Knudson

Nanqi You

John Butenhoff

Dave Warkentin

Ruth Russo

Ruth Ladderud

LaDessa Smelcer

Carrina Stillman

John Rowley

James Payne

Dick Cook

Jim Sanders