Seeking Career & Technical Education (CTE) teacher

South Bend School District is seeking CTE teacher applications for the 2019-20 school year. 

To be considered, applicants will have strong innovation skills, a vision for equivalency\competency-based crediting, and will appreciate the importance of working with students to teach work ethic, career skills, and teamwork through various trades, field-based learning, and lab/shop experiences.

Required Qualifications:

-Bachelor’s Degree

-Washington State teacher certification in

 Agriculture\Technology Education

-Ability to teach in one or more of the following career clusters:

Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources;

Manufacturing;

STEM

Qualified applicants should contact:

Superintendent Jon Tienhaara (jtienhaa@southbendschools.org), or

Principal Jason Nelson (jnelson@southbendschools.org).

This position will be posted until April 1, 2019.

First Lutheran Church of South Bend providing food for kids, needs support

Chauncey Davis Elementary School in South Bend, Wa

First Lutheran Church of South Bend providing food for kids

Schools in the South Bend, Raymond, and Willapa Valley area are fortunate to have many community-minded organizations and individuals who provide generous support to our educational programs and students.  Kids in our schools are cared for by our communities, and one such example is the Backpack Food Program operated by First Lutheran Church in South Bend.


What is a "Backpack Program"?

Essentially, the program provides weekend food to children in need as well as food when school is not in session.  Each Friday, backpacks are stocked with a variety of food items and left at Chauncey Davis Elementary.  Identified students take the backpacks home with enough food for the weekend.  When school resumes the next Monday, backpacks are brought back to school to be restocked for the next weekend.

Typical backpack with weekend food

The need in South Bend

According to the 2016 Census update, 31% of the residents in South Bend are living in poverty.  With a P-12 student enrollment of approximately 600 students, close to 200 students attending South Bend fall within this spectrum.  According to district data, 74% of our students K-12 qualify for Free & Reduced lunch.

I had the opportunity to talk with Pastor Dale Larson (of First Lutheran) this week and received some good information on the vision of the Backpack Program.  Started in 2015, First Lutheran began providing backpacks for 10 students.  The numbers have grown each year, providing 33 students with weekly backpacks this school year.  "In our third year we were able to expand again to reach as many as 33 students with continued support from the Elks, Kiwanis, and Lions Clubs, the Legacy Community Outreach Fund, and a new gift from the Eagles Club," says Pastor Larson. "With costs rising to an anticipated $380 per student per year, our current caseload of 34 youth requires $18,050 for this current school year."  "We would love to eventually expand the program into other communities," says Pastor Larson, "there is a big need".

The Backpack Program is seeking additional support to sustain the program currently in South Bend.  Anyone interested in providing support can sponsor a child for the year at $475, food for 34 children for one weekend at $425, or food for 34 children for a month at $1870 dollars.  However, any amount folks would like to contribute is welcome.

Questions about this valuable program can be directed to Pastor Dale Larson, Program Chair Deb Sturgill, or Program Coordinator Tina Kebow.  The First Lutheran office phone number is 360-875-5700 and the email address is office@harborlutheran.org.  Tax deductible donations can be mailed to: First Lutheran Church, PO Box 598, South Bend, Wa 98586.

New elementary school moving to next phase

 South Bend's new elementary school moving a step closer

North facing view of new South Bend elementary school

South Bend's new elementary school project moved to the next phase today as school officials and architects submitted plans to South Bend City Supervisor Dennis Houk for building permit review.  The city will work with an outside consultant to review the plans, a process expected to take four weeks.  South Bend School District plans to bid the project in March, 2019.


Getting to the drawing board

City and school officials reviewing design plans

Initial work began almost two years ago when we were (at the time) working to secure substantial funding through the state capital budget.  Passage of the capital budget was ultimately delayed until after January, 2018, and the district received a special appropriation of just under $8-million dollars.  With state match and the passage of a $4.95-million dollar bond initiative last April, the district has an approximate $16-million dollar budget.



After passing our bond last April, the district hired Tacoma-based Erickson McGovern Architects (EMA) to design the new school.  Work began almost immediately in hiring several consultant firms to conduct site studies, including: geotechnical, hazardous materials, topographical survey and utility location, and civil engineering.  In addition, work with building staff began and was completed in June to determine the educational specifications of the new school program.  Initial work with the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) began in July to establish timelines and processes with respect to our unique funding.  Along with the successful sale of bonds in early August, everything needed to begin building design was completed by September.

Rear view of new SB elementary school

Detailed Process

Having the site studies completed by late summer (2018), we began building design.  This phase of the project took almost five months, as all aspects of the project moved through several rounds of specifications, engineering, cost estimating, reductions, and additional value engineering. 

I have been amazed at the amount of planning and analysis our design team at EMA has conducted in conjunction with the project engineers and consultants.  Everything from kitchen design, lighting, security, HVAC, and all systems in between, it has been a long and arduous process getting to this point.  I am very pleased with the work of the design team and feel we will have a building that will support a quality, safe learning environment for our students and staff.  In the end, our goal is to build a functional school our community will be proud of for years to come.

What next?

As soon as the city approves the plans and issues permits, we will put the project out to bid in March.  We are already receiving inquiries from several general contractors, and we hope to have a competitive bidding environment.  As soon as we have a successful bid outcome, we will proceed with the project and accepted alternates--planning to break ground in April.  The project is estimated to take 12-14 months to complete.  This is an exciting time for all of us in South Bend, it will be fun to see construction crews arrive later this spring!

Questions about the project can be directed to superintendent Jon Tienhaara at jtienhaa@southbendschools.org