Check out the latest news from Washougal Schools! 
- Superior Court Judge rules that Washington state has failed duty to fund education (posted 2-5-10)
On February 4, an important court ruling was announced in favor of school districts and full state funding for education. The ruling was in regard to the McCleary vs. Washington State lawsuit which argued that the state had failed its constitutional duty to provide an adequate, stable funding system for schools. The suit was filed in 2007 and was heard in King County superior court in 2009. McCleary is the name of the parent and employee of Chimacum School District who filed the suit. For more information on the lawsuit, click here.
The ruling this week was issued by King County superior court judge John Erlick who found the state of Washington to be out of compliance with the state constitution by failing to amply fund education, which is the paramount duty of the state. The court decision did not set a timeline for legislative compliance, but the legislature passed House Bill 2261 in January 2009 that calls for full funding by 2018. It is anticipated that the state will appeal Judge Erlick's decision to the state supreme court.
Superintendent Teresa Baldwin met on Friday, February 5, with other Clark County superintendents to discuss the ruling. Their best thinking is that the appeal and supreme court hearing could delay a final decision until the next legislative session in January 2011. Any action taken during that session would be with regard to the 2011-2013 biennium. Superintendent Baldwin said, "Judge Erlick's ruling is over 100 pages and is well thought out, so local superintendents are optimistic that the supreme court will uphold the decision. However, any budget relief is at least a year away, and maybe longer."
For news articles related to this topic, click here.
- WHS Parent Advsiory Committee Meeting 2-8-2010 (posted 2-2-2010)
The next meeting of the Washougal High School Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) is Monday, February 8, 2010, at 6 PM in the Career Center. To view the agenda for this meeting, please click here.
- Superintendent Baldwin's Presentation of Levy Facts Online and on Comcast Channel 28 (updated 2-2-2010)
Superintendent Teresa Baldwin presented facts about the February 9 levy election at a series of public meetings this fall and winter. You can view this video on Comcast Channel 28, at 10 AM and 7 PM every day. It plays during a half-hour slot along with video from Evergreen and Vancouver School Districts.
This video is also available online. Click here to view the video on TeacherTube.
- WHS 8th Grade Curriculum and Course Entry Night 2-9-10 (posted 1-28-2010)
8th grade students and parents please join us for a special night of information on graduation requirements, Curriculum Fair, and course selection on Tuesday February 9th from 6:30 to 8:00 PM. Here is the schedule for the evening:
-- 6:30-7:00 Graduation Requirements- counselors will present important graduation requirements for the class of 2014 and discuss the forecasting process (in the Washburn Performing Arts Center).
-- 7:00-7:30 Curriculum Fair- teachers will have information tables set up and available to share details about their classes (WHS Commons).
-- 7:30-8:00 Course Entry- students and parents will enter their courses into the computer (WHS Computer Labs).
WHS counselors Lemecia Lindsay and Deanna Hogan will be available to meet with parents and students individually and to provide extra support and guidance regarding course selection. For further information about this event, please contact Lemecia Lindsay at 360-954-3113.
- Washougal High School Women’s Wrestling Team in First Place (posted 1-28-2010)
Congratulations to the Washougal High School women’s wrestling team and coach Heather Santos for an outstanding record this season. The team is ranked first in the Greater St. Helens League and took first place at the Washougal Wrestling Invitational, the Clark County Wrestling Invitational and at a tournament in Puyallup School District.
For an exciting day of men’s and women’s wrestling, the sub-district tournament will be held in the Washougal High School gymnasium, February 6th, from 10:00 a.m. until the end of the day. It will be a great day to see the wrestling Panther teams in action!
- Long-Serving Board Members Honored at Board Meeting (posted 1-25-2010)
Washougal School District Board Members Thomas Huffman and Dr. Orlan Gessford were honored for their service to students and schools in Washougal. Dr. Gessford has served on the school board for 25 years, and Mr. Huffman has served for 18 years. Superintendent Teresa Baldwin presented each of them with a plaque thanking them for their years of service. For more information, please view the full article on the Camas-Washougal Post-Record site.
- WHS Drama Presents: The Awesome '80s Prom Jan 29-30, Feb. 5-6 7:00PM
(posted 1-22-2010)
The Awesome 80’s Prom is almost here! Voted best interactive play in New York when it premiered in 2006, this is a play unlike anything else we’ve done at Washougal High. In the tradition of interactive shows like Tony and Tina’s Wedding, Awesome 80’s Prom invites the audience to be a part of an experience, not merely sit and watch a traditional play. The audience can dance, mingle, vote for Prom King and Queen, play air guitar, or just sip punch and enjoy the show. Scenes take place all around the room, not just on the stage.
The show features 40 great WHS students representing a number of 80’s movie character types – from the jock and the cheerleader to the troublemaker and the foreign exchange student. So come on out January 29 and 30 and February 5 and 6 at 7:00.
Tickets are only $6 for adults and $5 for students and include light refreshments and some giveaways. And yes, there are tables for those who simply wish to watch and not be “interacted with.” See you at the Prom!
Washougal students write winning patriotism essays
The Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Ladies Auxiliary recently presented awards to winners of the annual patriotism essay contest. Twenty-one students from Clark County received these distinguished awards. Washougal award winners shown in the photo with superintendent Teresa Baldwin are Karalynn Schmid, a senior at Washougal High School, Paige Moore, a sixth grader at Canyon Creek Middle School and Jacob Haas, a fourth grader at Hathaway Elementary School. The essays written by Jacob Haas and Paige Moore won first place and will move to the state level competition. Congratulations to these students!
- H1N1 Vaccine Now Available to Everyone (posted 12-9-09)
Clark Public Health has lifted the restriction on H1N1 vaccines to priority groups. While they are still encouraging these priority groups (pregnant women, healthcare workers, children 6 months through 24 years old, parents and care givers of children under 6 months, and people suffering from chronic health conditions) to get vaccinated, the vaccine is now availabe to everyone. The vaccine is available at many local pharmacies and doctors offices. For more information, please read the attached flier from Clark Public Health.
- Snow Routes Posted on Transportation Page (posted 11-30-09)
The 2009-2010 snow routes for all bus routes are posted on the Transportation page.
- Parents: Sign up for low-cost and free health care coverage for kids through the Washington Apple Health for Kids program.
For more information, contact Parent Help 123 or (360) 397-8000, x7227. Download an informational flyer (pdf) here: English, Russian, Spanish.
- Superintendent's Email Newsline--Voluntary Sign-up Now Available
Are you interested in keeping up with things going on in the district on a more frequent basis than the patron newsletters? Superintendent Baldwin’s Newsline will provide frequent updates from Teresa's office. You may subscribe for automatic email distribution. To sign up, click on the Newsline logo to the left. This will not be a discussion forum, just an informational broadcast to individuals who subscribe. Each email message will include directions on unsubscribing. Email addresses will remain confidential in a secured network and will not be accessible to anyone other than the district's network administrator.
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