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

South Bend Board recognized as State Board of the Year

From Left Directors Dave Eastham, Todd Strozyk, Steve Rogers, Chuck Spoor, Andy Seaman

South Bend School District's Board of Directors was named a Board of Distinction and subsequently 2018 State Board of the Year at the annual WSSDA (Washington State School Directors Association) Conference in late November.  The board was recognized at their latest meeting in January in conjunction with Board Appreciation month as proclaimed by Governor Jay Inslee.

The Boards of Distinction recognition program awards school boards that demonstrate alignment with the Washington School Board Standards. Any board that applies is eligible to become a Board of Distinction if they meet certain scoring criteria. The top scoring boards in small, medium and large sized school districts may be honored as Boards of the Year.

Board of the Year judges recognized the South Bend board for demonstrated willingness to listen to staff, review data, and make decisions in order to bring about positive change.  Among other outcomes, this led to the adoption of new curriculum in South Bend, supports for ELL (English Language Learner) students, and hiring a school social worker for the elementary school to implement evidence based programming to address barriers to successful learning.

In addition, South Bend school directors were honored for their work in providing high quality facilities.  This work (beginning in 2016) resulted in the district's ability to replace the aged Chauncey Davis Elementary School, through securing state capital budget funding and the overwhelming passage of a $4.95 million dollar capital project bond last April, 2018.  The project is slated to break ground Spring, 2019.

South Bend board members have tremendous experience in working with the public (two board members are current police chiefs, one a fire chief, one a county employee, and one a retired school teacher, principal, and county commissioner).  The knowledge they bring from their careers to their role as school directors is extremely beneficial, and provides a solid grounding for the work they do on the board.  

As superintendent, it is a privilege to work with a board who understands and acts on the responsibility of providing for the needs of students.  In working with our board these last five years, they have not wavered in their goal of putting students first and working to ensure students have a positive educational experience.

South Bend schools initiated a building Lockout

This morning (January 14, 2019) at approximately 10:15, South Bend Schools went into Lockout.  Lockout results in the securing of all campus exterior doors, where staff and students remain inside their respective buildings.

Just prior to the Lockout, superintendent Jon Tienhaara received word from South Bend Police Chief Dave Eastham about a threat.  The threat was made from a student who attends a neighboring school and allegedly was directed toward a South Bend student.  At the time, the whereabouts of the student who made the threat were unknown.

Upon receiving this information, a decision was made to go into an immediate Lockout at all SB campus buildings.  Within two minutes, all school exterior doors were secured and students and staff were safe in class and in normal operation.

At approximately 10:30, South Bend police were notified that the threat was NOT directed at a South Bend student.  Instead, the threat was directed toward a student at a neighboring district.  Police Chief Eastham reported to South Bend administrators that no South Bend students were in danger.  After confirmation, the Lockout was ended.

South Bend School District wishes to thank Chief Eastham and the Pacific County Sheriff's Office for their immediate action from the perceived threat made toward our school.  Due to preparation efforts made by South Bend teachers, staff members, and administrators, we were able to act swiftly and effectively, securing our students from the perceived outside danger.

Further information on the Standard Response Protocol used by South Bend School District can be found by clicking here.

If there are any questions, please feel free to contact your school office or superintendent Tienhaara at 360-875-6041.