A Time of Regeneration on the Pullman School Board

Allison Munch-Rotolo, Board Director District 2

A school board is the mechanism by which the values and expectations that the community holds for its schools are represented through local governance and visioning. While individual board members have no authority, their combined experiences and perspectives work to support student achievement by performing key functions related to policy, curriculum, budget, facilities, and the employment of a superintendent.

The estimated average minimum time commitment for a school board member is around 10-15 hours per month. Susan Weed’s contributions to public education for students in Pullman and throughout the state of Washington were significant and will be missed. After 17 years (estimated 2,500+ hours) of service, Ms. Weed retired from her position representing Director District 1 in late January. Her 17-year tenure corresponds to the progression of several entire cohorts of students through our 13-year K-12 system. What a legacy!

Upon receiving Ms. Weed’s letter of resignation, the district announced the pending vacancy of the Director District 1 position on January 12, and posted an application for appointment to fill it that was due February 10. During the month-long application period, the district received two applications, one of which was later withdrawn by the applicant. In the last week of February, the board conducted a candidate interview with the one remaining candidate. At the time of this writing, we are looking forward to welcoming a new board member and team member, Dr. Arron Carter, when the appointment process is completed – hopefully by the time you read this.

Any time the composition of a board changes, it effectively becomes a new board. And so, the usual spring metaphors of growth and renewal are especially apt in the case of the Pullman School Board, where the organization, though a stable government entity, is subject to change based on its specific personnel and the ideas, experiences, and priorities they bring with them.

I look forward to working with Dr. Carter through the remainder of my term representing Director District 2, which expires in November. As mentioned by Director Amanda Tanner in her excellent column last month, positions representing Director Districts 1, 2, and 3 will all be up for election in November. Matters of stability and change weigh on all of us in the district, and especially on me, as I am not seeking re-election. I want to do all that I can to ensure that there is an ample supply of candidates who will continue to bring growth and regeneration to our local school board. If you live in Director Districts 1, 2, or 3 and are interested in running for a position on the school board, you must file for candidacy with the Whitman County Auditor in May. For more information, see https://www.pullmanschools.org/ school_board/information_for_candidates

The opinions expressed in Board Reports are those of individual school board members and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of the board as a whole or of Pullman Public Schools.

The Pullman School District Board of Directors and the Pullman School District shall provide equal educational opportunity and treatment for all students in all aspects of the academic and activities programs without regard to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, honorably-discharged veteran or military status, sex, sexual orientation (including gender expression or identity), marital status, the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability, participation in the Boy Scouts of America or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability. The district will provide equal access to school facilities to the Boy Scouts of America and all other designated youth groups listed in Title 36 of the United States Code as a patriotic society. District programs will be free from sexual harassment.

The following employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination: Civil Rights Coordinator and Title IX Coordinator, Assistant Superintendent, (509) 332-3144, and Section 504 Coordinator, Director of Special Services, (509) 332-3144. 240 SE Dexter Street, Pullman, WA 99163 Applicants with disabilities may request reasonable accommodations in the application process by contacting the Personnel Coordinator at (509) 332-3584.

Board of Directors

Arron Carter Director, District 1 acarter@psd267.org

Allison Munch-Rotolo Director, District 2 Amunch-rotolo@psd267.org

Jim Evermann Director, District 3 jfe@psd267.org

Nathan Roberts Director, District 4 nroberts@psd267.org

Amanda Tanner Director, District 5 atanner@psd267.org

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When you join, you help us increase our total membership size.

Membership is vital in applying for grants to enhance the fulfillment of the Whitman County Humane Society goals.

Our membership size helps the Whitman County Humane Society in building relationships with other cities and counties throughout the state of Washington and the US.

All memberships receive:

• Quarterly updates, via email, of Animal Haven news and spotlights on our homeless animals and adoption successes.

• Email notices of upcoming Whitman County Humane Society and Animal Haven events.

• An email invitation to attend, via zoom, the Annual Meeting of the Whitman County Humane Society Board of Directors.

• An annual summary of the Whitman County Humane Society’s accomplishments from the previous year. Visit https://www.whitmanpets.org/membership.html

Kitten Shower

Join us April 15th at Pets are People too for our annual Kitten Shower! A supply drive, foster parent information, a raffle and more. Visit whitmanpets.org for more details.

Opinions are those of individual entities. Questions may be directed to: City of Pullman, 338-3208 Chamber of Commerce, 334-3565 Pullman Regional Hospital, 332-2541

Pullman School District. 332-3581 Washington State University, 335-7628

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Coming up!

• 3 Forks River & Arts Festival, May 14-28

• Memorial Day, May 29

• RTOP Theatre, RTOP’s 2023 Summer Camps

• National Lentil Festival, August 19

Issues of the Pullman Community Update can be found online at https://pulllmanchamber.com/live-in-pullman/

•Climate Across America, NWPB and NOVA, 7 p.m., Kenworthy Performing Arts Centre, see pg 10

•WSU Spring Parents Weekend

•WSU Spring Family Arts & Crafts Fair, Beasley Coliseum, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., pullmanchamber.com/ events

•Pullman Depot Heritage Center, open 1 – 4 p.m.

•WSU, Hasan Minhaj, Beasley Coliseum 7:30 p.m., pullmanchamber. com/events

PSD, Lincoln Middle School Booster Club Meeting, 6:45 p.m. at Building Blocks Child Care Center

Pullman Chamber of Commerce, General Membership Luncheon, noon, see pg 1

•PCM Board Meeting Working Session, 5:15 p.m.

•PSD, Kamiak Elementary PTA Meeting, 6:00 p.m. at KES or via Zoom

•City Council Meeting @ City Hall, 7 p.m.

PRH, Women’s Wellness, 5:30 p.m., Scoozi Pasta, see pg 17

•PSD, Regular Board Meeting, 6:30 p.m. Meeting will be held at Pullman High School.

•PSD, Pullman Greyhound Booster Committee Meeting, 7:00 p.m. at PHS or via Zoom

• Pullman Farmers Winter Market, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Brelsford WSU Visitor Center, see pg 1

• WCHS, Kitten Shower, Pets Are People, Too, Pullman, whitmanpets.org

• Pullman Depot Heritage Center, open 1 – 4 p.m.

• Palouse Habitat for Humanity, Beans ‘n’ Jeans, 5:30 p.m., SEL Event Center WIS, Young Artists, 7:30 p.m., Pullman High School

•Palouse Choral Society & WSU School of Music present “A Classical Collaboration”, 7:30 p.m., Bryan Hall, pullmanchamber.com/ events

• Stream Clean-up, Pullman Good Food Co-op, 10 a.m., Pullman Playfields, pullmanchamber. com/events Pullman Depot Heritage Center,

•City of Pullman, Registration Opens Parks & Rec Summer Activity Guide

•City of Pullman, Arbor Day Event, 2 p.m. @ Pullman Rec Center

•PCM Monthly Board Meeting, 5:15 p.m. City Council Meeting @ City Hall, 7 p.m.

•PSD, Regular Board Meeting, 6:30 p.m. Meeting will be held at Pullman High School.

Abbreviations

• JES = Jefferson Elementary School

• LMS= Lincoln Middle School

• PAFC= Pullman Aquatic and Fitness Center

• PCM = Pullman Community Montessori

• PHS= Pullman High School

•Pullman Depot Heritage Center, open 1 – 4 p.m.

• PDSC= Palouse Discovery Science Center

• PRH= Pullman Regional Hospital

• SES = Sunnyside Elementary School

• SFCC=Spokane Falls Community College