The Yelm Community Schools Board of Directors approved several items during a board meeting on Thursday, May 28, including a new contract for Superintendent Chris Woods, the acceptance of several gifts, the approval of out-of-district travel and more.
The conclusion of the meeting on Thursday, May 28, saw an executive session take place where a discussion was held relating to “review the performance of a public employee.” Following the executive session, which was held off-camera and away from the meeting chambers at Yelm District Office, the school board unanimously approved a new contract for Woods. However, despite the approval, no further information regarding the new contract was provided following the executive session. Additionally, school board president Casey Shaw was absent from the meeting and vote.
The packet from the meeting was not readily available with more potential information on the contract prior to the NVN’s press deadline.
Earlier in the meeting, Woods highlighted some of the donations and gifts to the district from local entities and families. The list of gifts included: Yelm FFA Alumni donated $10,000 for FFA state convention; Fort Stevens Booster Club donated $1,600 for Science on Wheels; Rebecca and Dan Huttmann donated $200 for FFA state convention; Sutter Metals donated $100 for Lackamas Elementary School ASB; Harmony Lodge No. 18 donated $1,500 for Bikes for Literacy at all YCS elementaries; Gamer Graph-x donated $250 worth of t-shirts for the sports medicine team; and Washington Rock Quarries donated $500 worth, or five yards, of dirt for a playground at Southworth Elementary School.
“We’ve said this many times, how impressive it is every board meeting to see the generosity of this community,” Woods said. “I think FFA alumni are on here every single board meeting. It’s pretty amazing, a $10,000 gift. I think it’s very impressive to see the generosity in the community.”
The acceptance of gifts was unanimously approved by the school board. Additionally, school board student representative Sofie Miera commented on the generosity of local entities towards the conclusion of the meeting.
“Thank you to all of our donors that are helping the schools out,” Miera said. “We would not be the same without them. We see FFA on here everytime. It’s such a big program and it’s amazing to have donors help us out.”
Additionally, the school board approved out-of-district travel for two entities at YHS. The first is a YHS FBLA trip to San Antonio, Texas, from June 27, through July 3. Two students, accompanied by a chaperone, will attend and participate in the National Leadership Conference.
The second out-of-district travel item that was approved is for YHS choir to travel to Los Angeles, California, from May 13, 2027, through May 17, 2027, as part of the southern California performance tour. 60 to 80 students, accompanied by “multiple chaperones,” will attend the self-funded trip.
“The first one looks familiar — the National Leadership Conference for FBLA,” Woods said. “The second one, as you recall, our choir teacher, last year, took a group to New York, fully fundraised, to go perform and also do some learning while they were there. Next year, he would like to take a group to Disney in California. They would get to perform and also get some time to learn while they’re down there. Fully fundraised. So obviously the trip is contingent upon them raising the dollars.”
Woods also addressed this month’s student enrollment reports, highlighting the district’s enrollment numbers in a time where the district isn’t allowing many incoming transfer students due to quadruple levy failure and ongoing financial struggles.
