Schools at Mattawa get a re-set

MATTAWA - Wahluke Schools Superintendent Aaron Chavez has excitedly reported that all Wahluke schools, from eighth grade down, have been re-set for the coming school year as a result of restructuring.

That means the schools are no longer considered to be at step 5 by the State Superintendent of Public Instruction. The news, which came by email, said all three elementary schools and the junior high are at zero.

"I just had to take a run around the district office, I'm so pumped." Chavez said.

Step 5 is commonly referred to as the death penalty in state eduction circles. It means the state can step in and take over.

"We were one of the 50 lowest schools in the state," Chavez said.

By restructuring, the district addressed two problems. One was the ranking. The other was over-crowding. Now there are three K-5 schools and one 6-8 school.

"To a lot of our staff, community and parents this means we're heading in the right direction," Chavez said.

- Staff report