Scenic photos of the week

July 21, 2022 / susangifford

River rapids in Olympic National Park — *“Staircase Rapids in Olympic National Park,” by Heidi Brown-Ordillas, LEAP Paraeducator, Roosevelt Elementary School*

OSD employees are encouraged to email the Communications department a photo of their artwork portraying nature (e.g., landscapes, sunrises or sunsets, an interesting cloud formation, a close-up of a flower) for consideration in this staff blog. Your image can be something you captured on canvas, in a photograph, on a textile, in a pencil, charcoal or pastel drawing, with wire — the possibilities are endless!

Guidelines:

Nature/scenic images only (no people or pets please).
Attach a photo of your original art in jpeg or png format to an email and send to communications@osd.wednet.edu. The higher the resolution, the better.
Photos must be in-focus and cropped so the art is visible.
Include your name, title, work location, and if applicable, where the image was taken (you can name the city, for example, or provide even more specific details (e.g. sunset taken from Long Beach, WA). This information will be included with each image published.

Depending on the number of images submitted, we will print one or more in each issue of the staff blog. Photos submitted during the 2021-22 school year will continue to be published over the summer of 2022. In September, we will begin posting new submissions for the 2022-23 school year.

Orange sunset and water at Newport Oregon — *“Sunset at Newport, Oregon,” by Lisa Hall, Transportation Department*

Public records request notice to DRS members

July 14, 2022 / susangifford

The following is a copy of an email sent to all OSD employees on July 14, 2022

The Department of Retirement Systems (DRS) has asked us to share with employees that it has received a public records request that seeks information about all members of the state’s retirement systems, including all retirees and members, for the period of July 1, 2020, to June 30, 2021. The requesting organization is The Seattle Times. All of the information we are sharing with you in this email is also posted on the DRS website.

DRS has requested and received a copy from The Seattle Times of the Declaration of Non-Commercial Purpose pursuant to RCW 42.56.070(8).

View a copy of this Declaration and additional information provided by The Seattle Times.

DRS has reviewed the request and determined that the following information items are subject to disclosure under the state’s Public Records Act.

Full Name
City, State/Province, Country and ZIP/Postal Code
Date of Birth
Retirement System/Plan
Date of Entry
Service Credit
Annual Salary
Average Final Compensation
Date of Retirement Withdrawal
Monthly Retirement Benefit
Retirement Type
Employee Transmittal Code and Description
Employer Name, City, State and ZIP Code

The Department intends to provide the information items listed above to the requesting organization on August 15, 2022.

If you are the subject of this public records request, no action is required of you. If you want additional information or have questions about the request, please contact DRS at 844-704-6780 or drs.pdrnotice@drs.wa.gov.

A note about injunctive relief: Individuals who are the subject of a records request often ask if they can seek a court order to prevent the release of their records. Under state law, an agency could be enjoined from releasing records if a court finds that the release “would clearly not be in the public interest and would substantially and irreparably damage any person, or would substantially and irreparably damage vital governmental functions.” To enjoin DRS from releasing records in the current request, the department would need to be served with an injunction prior to the scheduled release date listed above. State agencies cannot provide advice on whether to seek an injunction or whether such an attempt would be successful.

DRS makes no guarantee regarding the security of the information once in the hands of the Seattle Times, nor do we take any responsibility for how they use it.

Scenic photos of the week

July 13, 2022 / susangifford

Flowering white dogwood tree near Olympia High School pond — “*Flowering Tree,” taken at the Olympia High School pond, by Matthew Murdock, Maintenance Electrician, Support Services Center*

Guidelines:

Nature/scenic images only (no people or pets please).
Attach a photo of your original art in jpeg or png format to an email and send to communications@osd.wednet.edu. The higher the resolution, the better.
Photos must be in-focus and cropped so the art is visible.
Include your name, title, work location, and if applicable, where the image was taken (you can name the city, for example, or provide even more specific details (e.g. sunset taken from Long Beach, WA). This information will be included with each image published.

Full moon in partial cloud cover taken in Olympia neighborhood — *“Full Moon,” by Phyllis Price, LPN, School Nurse, Garfield Elementary School*

Huffman named new school board vice president; recruitment to begin for District 2 seat

July 13, 2022 / susangifford

Board members, including student representatives, make comments during June 2022 board meeting

Darcy Huffman, who joined the Olympia School Board in December 2021, is the new board vice president and will serve in that role until the next school board reorganization in December 2022.

Huffman assumed the role of vice president at the June 23, 2022 regular board meeting following a unanimous vote by the board. Previously, the role was held by Director Justin McKaughan, who recently announced his resignation as a board director, effective August 31, 2022. McKaughan announced he will move out of District 2 and will no longer be eligible to serve on the board after August.

McKaughan was elected to the Olympia School Board in 2019. His four-year term expires in 2023. The board will follow district policy, which states that the vacancy be filled by board appointment.

President Maria Flores noted that the board has 90 days to appoint someone to fill McKaughan’s vacancy after his departure on August 31, 2022. The board is currently in the planning phase of the recruitment process for the District 2 board seat.

Flores added that the board will receive applications from qualified individuals interested in filling the District 2 seat until the next regularly-scheduled board election. Details about the application process will be announced in district communications.

Scenic photos of the week

July 6, 2022July 6, 2022 / susangifford

Sun setting with field in the foreground at Mt. St. Helens National park — “*Mt. St. Helens National Park at Sunset,” by Divina Clark, Art Teacher, LP Brown Elementary School*

OSD employees are encouraged to send us a photo of their artwork portraying nature (e.g., landscapes, sunrises or sunsets, an interesting cloud formation, a close-up of a flower) for consideration in this staff blog. Your image can be something you captured on canvas, in a photograph, on a textile, in a pencil, charcoal or pastel drawing, with wire — the possibilities are endless!

Guidelines:

Nature/scenic images only (no people or pets please).
Attach a photo of your original art in jpeg or png format to an email and send to communications@osd.wednet.edu. The higher the resolution, the better.
Photos must be in-focus and cropped so the art is visible.
Include your name, title, work location, and if applicable, where the image was taken (you can name the city, for example, or provide even more specific details (e.g. sunset taken from Long Beach, WA). This information will be included with each image published.

Swirls of white clouds against a blue sky with buildings in downtown Olympia in the foreground — *“Downtown Sky,” by Constance Phegley, paraeducator at Capital High School and VAO instructor*, *taken in downtown Olympia.*

Check out the latest edition of Spotlight on Success

July 6, 2022July 6, 2022 / susangifford

Madison Principal Domenico Spatola-Knoll plays guitar for students and staff on the last day of school while wearing a lion blow-up costume.

Don’t miss the articles, photos and videos in the June issue of Spotlight on Success.

In addition to articles featuring students around the district, the June issue includes links to livestream recordings and photo albums from all of this year’s graduation ceremonies. There are also links to 18 photos albums showcasing events around the district in May and June.

The Communications and Community Relations department publishes the e-newsletter from August through June. Each issue is emailed to OSD staff, families and Friends of OSD.

Flags lowered to half-staff until July 11, 2022

July 5, 2022 / susangifford

Pursuant to a Presidential Proclamation, Governor Inslee has directed that Washington State and United States flags at all state agencies, including schools and support buildings, be lowered to half-staff immediately, in honor and remembrance of the victims who tragically lost their lives on July 4, 2022, in Highland Park, Illinois.

Flags will remain at half-staff until first thing Monday morning, July 11, 2022.

Scenic photos of the week

July 2, 2022 / susangifford

Mud Bay surrounding by trees, morning mist and a cabin — *Mudd Bay, by Ruth Middlebrook, Director of Student Support Secondary, taken off Highway 101*.

Guidelines:

Nature/scenic images only (no people or pets please).
Attach a photo of your original art in jpeg or png format to an email and send to communications@osd.wednet.edu. The higher the resolution, the better.
Photos must be in-focus and cropped so the art is visible.
Include your name, title, work location, and if applicable, where the image was taken (you can name the city, for example, or provide even more specific details (e.g. sunset taken from Long Beach, WA). This information will be included with each image published.

Depending on the number of images submitted, we will print one or more in each issue of the staff blog. Photos submitted during the 2021-22 school year will continue to be published over the summer. We will then begin posting new submissions for the 2022-23 school year.