Recent math olympiad largest turnout since pre-pandemic

By Sarah McCauley Sta Reporter

FERNDALE — Two weeks ago, 170 students and 40 volunteers packed into Cascadia Elementary School for the annual Math Olympiad event. It was the largest turnout in a couple of years as the event shifts back to how it looked before the pandemic.

“It’s really great to see the kids excited and really wanting to improve their skills and challenge themselves,” said Sarah Steele, a teacher at Central Elementary and coordinator of the ursday, Feb. 23 event. Steele said it was ex- citing to see such a turnout and be back at prepandemic levels. “Between all the schools, it was well represented,” Steele said.

“All the schools and teams that won awards really represented the district well.”

Cascadia eighth grader Solomon Kinser holds up his first place ribbons after competing in the Feb. 23 Math Olympiad for his fourth year. (Courtesy photo)

In an added dimension, on a test basis through 2024, households earning up to 200% of the poverty level may apply for a 15% discount, the council decided. e expected $55,000 cost of program expansion will be paid for out of remaining American Recovery Plan Act money to the city.

Whether the ARPA in ll will continue, potentially through 2026, must be decided in 2024. Otherwise, the assistance will have to be built into the utilities budget and essentially be borne by other ratepayers. “ ere’s a lot of folks just hanging on by their ngernails,” said city communications o cer Riley Sweeney, a sentiment he hears when utility bills hit mailboxes.

Councilor Erin Gunter added her comment that, yes, even the monthly water bill impacts a middle-income family like hers.

With one member absent, the council went through a few amendment votes before settling on a compromise that will require addressing the issue again next year.

In other action:

• e council ended up pushing o for a few weeks any raising of council members’ salaries.

It was proposed that the rise be $200 per month to about $936. at would keep Ferndale above the average for comparable cities in Washington, although not the highest, said City Administrator Jori Burnett.

Councilor Herb Porter was one in favor. “ e demands are a lot more,” he said of council work. “It entails a lot of time.”

See Council on A3