By Lisa Wilcox
Staff Writer
WOODLAND — The Woodland School Board welcomed new member Travis Prashaw to his first meeting on April 8.
This is the first time that Prashaw, originally from Massena, NY, has served on a school board. He credits board member Wanda Anderson’s encouragement and his desire for his children to have a quality education as the main reasons he decided to run for office. Prashaw replaces former board member Ann Doody.
Prashaw and his wife, Wendy, have lived in Woodland for five years and have two children. He is employed by Soderberg Construction as a project manager.
“I am excited to be on the board,” Prashaw said. “Woodland has a great school system and I look forward to working with the other board members.”
During the meeting, Principal Susie Schloeman informed the board that a student from each grade level won a penmanship award on the state level from publishing company Zaner-Bloser. The winners received a certificate and medallion and have the chance to compete at the national level as well.
Schloeman also discussed the reasoning behind a slight decline in the school’s enrollment, stating that most of the students had moved to another school district.
The board held a brief impromptu discussion about fundraising for textbooks, pointing out that it has been several years since they’ve gotten new books. They discussed the least expensive options for purchasing books from publishers and the pros and cons of electronic books, which may eventually be all that is available.
Interim Superintendent Roland Caron advised that the school has the opportunity to purchase 39 laptops from the state for $47 each. The board unanimously approved the purchase.
Anderson addressed the ongoing search for a permanent superintendent. She advised that applications for the position have been trickling in and occasionally a viable applicant crops up. Anderson will be following up with a couple of applicants in the near future.
The meeting closed with discussion of Senior Citizens Day, which will be held on Tuesday, May 7. Students’ grandparents are invited to the school that day for an assembly and lunch. Schloeman said it was a great day for the students and the grandparents and that they look forward to it every year.
The next Woodland School Board meeting will be held Monday, May 13, at 6:30 p.m.
