Enumclaw High School student Justin Berggren and others have been gathering signatures on behalf of band teacher Eric Stevens to show how much the first-year EHS teacher has done for the school’s music department and the students.
“We want him to keep his job,” the petition they presented to the Enumclaw School Board at its April 20 meeting stated.
Stevens’ name was not part of the personnel decisions for the April 20 meeting and district leaders cannot comment as personnel issues are treated as confidential.
Seven students addressed the school board and presented the petition of support, which they said had 127 signatures. The students at the meeting said they believe Stevens, who replaced Roger Breakfield, is a good teacher. They said it is hard to build relationships with instructors and have a consistent program without constant leadership. The students said it takes time to adjust to instructors and form connections with a director.
In other business, the board:
• reminded the audience of Sunday’s full-day kindergarten scholarship fundraiser and noted organizers are relocating the event to the Enumclaw Expo Center fieldhouse.
• heard from April Gallagher and her daughter, who are leading a fundraising effort for sixth-grade camp. The two said fifth-grade students will be out selling coffee in the coming weeks and there will also be a fundraising garage sale May 15 at Hillside Community Church in Enumclaw.
• noted 5 percent of Lindon Bookstore’s May sales will benefit Enumclaw School District libraries.
• recognized the May 7 Your Enumclaw Area Stadium (YEAS) tailgate fundraiser at Pete’s Pool.
• was updated on plans for the second Day of Outreach, May 16, where school district staff canvas the community with information about the school district.
• held a public hearing for Initiative 728 funds. Superintendent Mike Nelson explained the hearing is required by law, however, the state’s latest budget proposals call for cutting I-728 funds. The district did not have numbers to report to the board, but anticipates its I-728 funds to drop significantly.
• heard from Kibler Elementary School Principal Julene Miller and teachers Pat Anderson, Cindy Killip, Sherrie Hardersen, Julie McGrath, Sara Lee Rasmussen and Rose Becker about the school’s Arts Impact program. The program, which pairs the teachers with an artist-mentor in the visual arts, is part of a two-year commitment paid with grants.
• accepted a $1,000 donation from Cascade Foothills Chorale to the EHS music program to purchase sound shells and a $1,500 donation from the Muckleshoot Charity Fund to Southwood Elementary School to be used for art studies field trips.
• approved a field trip for EHS DECA winners to attend the National DECA Competition in Anaheim, Calif.
• noted its next business and work study meeting will be at 7 p.m. May 11 and the next regular meeting is 7 p.m. May 18, both in the board conference room.
• presented Enumclaw Education Association representative Mike Sando with a certificate for the membership acknowledging their efforts during Certificated Staff Appreciation Week, May 4-8.
• accepted the retirement of Westwood Elementary School teacher Maureen Dean.
• accepted resignations from Black Diamond Elementary School counselor Melissa Russell, Southwood teacher Ashley Stuenkel and Kibler teacher Carley Watson.
• OK’d a leave of absence for EHS teacher Curtis Cheney.
• hired paraeducator Laurie Miller at Thunder Mountain Middle School and office manager Vickie Click at Enumclaw Middle School.
Reach Brenda Sexton at bsexton@courierherald.com or 360-802-8206.
