Current school board member Cindy Meyer was re-elected to a second term which expires in 2013.

Meeting date: Tuesday, November 17

Public Sessions: Tuesday, November 17
- 12 noon to 1:30 p.m.: Community (Parents may attend if they can’t participate in the 5 p.m. session)
- 5 to 6 p.m.: Parents (Community members may attend if they can’t participate in the 12 noon session)

Location: District Board Room - 364 S. Park St..

For those not able to attend these meetings, input forms will be available at the district office and each school. An electronic survey is also available online at: www.wwps.org

With the retirement of Dr. Richard Carter, following 10 years as superintendent, the community is faced with the important task of employing a new administrative leader for the Walla Walla School District. To assist the school board in the superintendent search, Dr. John Fotheringham of Northwest Leadership Associates has been employed as the search consultant.

As a part of his responsibilities, Dr. Fotheringham will be in the district Tuesday, November 17 to solicit opinions from staff, parents and community members to help determine the profile to be used in seeking the person most qualified to become superintendent.

“The board of directors desires to have significant involvement of district residents and district staff members in determining the qualities we want in the new superintendent,” School Board President Mary Jo Geidl said. “Please take advantage of this opportunity to participate in the initial phase of the superintendent selection process.”

The following meetings have been set to outline the superintendent search timeline and collect responses necessary to establish the selection criteria. The meetings will be in the school district board room at 364 S. Park Street.

For more information:
District Communications Director Mark Higgins
509.526.6716
E-mail: mhiggins@wwps.org

- October 21 - Position posted on WASA, Walla Walla S.D., WSSDA, NWLA and AASA web sites

- November 17 - Survey of board, parents, staff and community to determine search criteria. Consultant available to discuss search process and selection criteria input with staff and community groups.

- December 29 - Mail Position Announcement Brochure

- March 5 - Application deadline

- March 9 - Search Consultant makes screening report to School Board

- Saturday, March 13 - Preliminary interviews (4 to 6 candidates)

- March 16, 17 and 18 - Full day district visitation for three finalists, one each day
(Each finalist candidate spends the entire day in meetings with staff and community groups)

- March 18 - School Board deliberations commence

- March 23 - New Superintendent hired no later than this date

- July 1, 2010 - New Superintendent reports for duty

Search Consulting Firm
- Northwest Leadership Associates (www.superintendentsearch.com/about.php)

Search Consultant:
Dr. John Fotheringham
360.424.5089
johnf@wavecable.com

Walla Walla Public Schools Board of Directors
- Mr. Max Carrera (Term Expires – 2011)
- Mrs. Cindy Meyer (Term Expires – 2013)
- Mrs. Mary Jo Geidl (Term Expires – 2009)
- Dr. Jim Lehmann  (Term Expires – 2011)
- Mrs. Anne Golden (Term Expires – 2011)
- Mr. Daniel Hess (Term Expires - 2013) - Replaces Mary Jo Geidl, December 2009

Walla Walla High School Head Basketball Coach John Golden says he is proud of Weisner and Winston and is looking forward to working with them again this year as they pursue another state tournament berth.

Each purchase funds our Books for Babes community service program. Books for Babes Coordinator Kay Barga says more than 2500 bags of books to newborn families in the Walla Walla area have been given away thanks to donations and purchases.

“We want to use all the vehicles available to share our messages,” Communications Director Mark Higgins said. “It’s important to do whatever we can to keep our stakeholders informed and engaged in the work of the district.”

District Twitter Page Profile:
Name: WW Public Schools
Location: Walla Walla, WA
Web: http://www.wwps.org/
Bio: Walla Walla Public Schools - Student Achievement #1

Berney: November 10, 1:30 p.m.
Berney K-5 students will celebrate in song, dramatic play, dance and speech to tribute Veterans of present and past. Veterans are invited to attend and be guests and then be recognized and appreciated by our students. A Table of Glory will provide an opportunity for students to display loved ones military photo, name and how they are related to a student at Berney.

Blue Ridge: November 9, 8 a.m.
Blue Ridge will have a short assembly in the gym. Students will be singing and some of their art work will be on display while they sing. Staff and students are encouraged to wear Red, White, Blue to show respect for the Veterans.

Edison: November 10
Music teacher Ronda Gabbard has planned a musical tribute program for grades K-5.

Green Park: In music class, grades 3, 4, and 5 are learning all of the songs of the branches of the military. Classroom activities include stories, read alouds, flag activities, and writing exercises all centered on Veterans Day.

Prospect Point: November 10, 9:30 a.m. - Prospect Point will have a Veterans Day assembly. The choir will sing and a short program will be presented to honor veterans.

Sharpstein: Students and staff will do a musical salute to veterans during morning exercise.

Garrison will have a Veterans Day assembly. As part of that assembly, students may share names of family members who have served in the Armed Forces.

Pioneer: Monday, November 9, 2:10 p.m.
A Veterans Day assembly will include the WWHS ROTC presentation of color; ROTC rifle team will perform a demonstration; a short video as a tribute to Veterans Day, Taps played by a student; a Colonel from the Corp of Engineers will address the students and staff ; Superintendent Carter will recognize district staff who are veterans and he will share other Veterans Day activities taking place in the school district.

Lincoln Alternative High School: November 10
Veterans Day Assembly: Local veterans will be honored with a plaque from Lincoln High School to thank them for their service. Staff and students will also prepare a large card for students to sign that will be delivered to the VA Medical Center.

Walla Walla High School: Tuesday, November 10 at 9:30 a.m.: Veterans Day Assembly for all students.

Walla Walla Public Schools Veterans (as reported to Superintendent’s office for this message)
WA-Hi - Bill Bialozor, Army, 26 years, Lt. Col., currently serving at Wa-Hi ROTC Dept.
WA-Hi - Don McCoy, Navy 1965-69
WA-Hi - Vivian Glaeser, Army, 5 years
WA-Hi - Terry Willcuts, WA National Guard, 1971-1980
WA-Hi - Craig Buchanan, Army, 26 years, Viet Nam Veteran, 10-1/2 years active, 15-12/ years reserve, retired Lt. Col.
WA-Hi - Mike Dill, Navy, 1964-1968
WA-HI - Bill Plucker, Marines
WA-Hi - John Stilson, Navy, 4 years
WA-HI - Lynn Waldron, Air Force, 28 years, retired as Lt. Col.
LINCOLN - Tim Bow, Navy 1972-76/Army – 1983-94, 15 years
TRANSPORTATION - Mark Clark, Navy, 29 years
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS - Mark Higgins, Navy Broadcasting/Journalist/Public Affairs, 1990-96
GARRISON - Pete Hernandez, Army 1973-1982
GARRISON - Nate Carrara, Air Force, 1996-2002

Floral Team Results
- Wa-Hi team placed 17th out of 46 teams
- Elise Pettyjohn scored a 20th place finish in the individual category
Fellow team members
- Sarah Fuller
- Desiree Helm
- Brianne Javaux

The Floral contest takes a day and half to complete. Each student takes a 50 question exam and answers 10 problem solving questions. Each student had to identify 40 out of a possible 200 plants. There is also a team activity and each team had to do six practicums, which included: job interview, face-to-face selling, arrangement and corsage making, identify and control a plant disorder and transplant plant cuttings.

FFA Agricultural Issues Team
- Team placed 5th place out of 35 teams
Team members
- Audrey Smith
- Natalie Crum
- McKenzie Sirmon
- Emily Larreau
- Natalie Norby
- Levi Swenson

The Issues team placed first in their heat during the preliminary round and lost to Montana during the semi-finals.

“You always want to win, so I know both teams were a little disappointed,” FFA Advisor Arch McHie said. “However, to place as high as they did is still quite an accomplishment. I was very proud of them. They represented our school and community very well.”

This year’s Trunk-or-Treat event, presented by the Wa-Hi Key Club, was a huge success. More than 550 area children attended and 713 lbs of canned food was collected for the Christian Aid Center.

The winners of the decorating contest were:
1st - FFA with a Haunted House (Winning prize - CD player)
2nd - NHS with a Beach Party (Winning prize - $25 Staples Gift certificate)
3rd - Latino Club with “Day of the Dead” (Winning prize - $15 Staples Gift certificate)

Kiwanis members Jay Gerbino, Sharon Gerbino, Nina Conn and Don Priest served in a variety of capacities from crowd control to serving pizza/soda to the club workers.

Pizza from Big Cheese and donated soda from Pepsi were served for the students working the 17 decorated club vehicles. Special thanks to Shelley Mann for coordinating the event.

Students were nominated from teachers for the following:
- improved academic standing
- helping other students
- civility
- supporting staff
- presenting at school board meetings
- turning in lost money and other property

Go Big Blue!

The new Walla Walla baseball team will consist of 25 college baseball players from throughout the United States competing in a Northwest - all wood bat - league from June through August. Home games will be played at Borleske Stadium.

“Pacific Baseball Ventures, LLC is a group of civic-minded individuals with strong ties to the Walla Walla region and to the game of baseball,” said General Manager Zachary Fraser. “PBV will strive to provide their fans, sponsors, business partners, and investors with the very best in competitive baseball and entertainment, including atmosphere, comfort, food & beverage, safety, competition, fun and value.”

Pacific Baseball Ventures, LLC owners and team officials:
- John Stanton
- Terry Gillespie
- Jeff Cirillo
- Greg Shaw
- Mikal Thomsen
- Peter Van Oppen
- Zachary Fraser

For more information, please visit: www.wallawallabaseball.com

A heroic story of love and heroism evolves into the heroic story of how the Silent Valveless Water Waste Preventer was invented. Inspired by scraps from a Dublin rubbish heap, circa 1918, that blew in front of the tethered goat before blowing away again.

The play is directed by Walla Walla High School drama instructor Brian Senter, with yet another extraordinarily creative set designed by Kevin Loomer. Maribeth Bergstrom has also returned working her magic on the production’s costumes.
Ticket Reservations can be made by contacting the Box Office at 509-526-8813 between 4 and 6 p.m. weekdays now through the end of the production. Tickets are $10 for adults and $6 for students.

Congratulations to the following recipients:
College Place Public Schools
- Nichole Hansen, Kindergarten: She plans to use the funds for a field trip to the Children’s Museum
- Carla Hoachin, Kindergarten. She too plans to use the funds for a field trip to the Children’s Museum

Prescott Public Schools
- A.J. Jacobson, Office Manager: Grant funding to purchase hats and mittens for children in need.
- Jack Smiley, Athletic Director: Grant funding to help defray costs for students in need to attend sports trips.

Dixie Public Schools
- Linda Zavala, teacher: She plans to use the grant to purchase extra reading materials for students.

School employees who are active members of the WWCSE Association will have another opportunity to apply for a mini-grant in January. If you submitted an application this fall and did not win, your name will be included in the spring drawing.

A public service announcement radio spot featuring Barga is now playing on regional stations.