Rainier School Board holds first meeting since conclusion of school year

The Rainier School District Board of Directors held a 40-minute regular meeting on Wednesday, June 18, before breaking into an executive session to discuss real estate.

Before the executive session, the board announced and unanimously approved the hiring of Jordan Hunt, the new high school girls basketball coach. Hunt will not be a member of the teaching staff, at least for this year.

The board recognized the resignation of Reid Vasek, former coach of the middle school girls volleyball team.

The board unanimously approved the July 1 administrative contracts, but did not announce specifics. The board had previously held a meeting to review the superintendent’s contract on June 16.

Policy 6217, which pertains to an electronic funds transfer and was recommended by the district’s auditor, was held over to next month for a second reading.

The board unanimously approved a donation of $1,467.63 from the external account of Brandon Eygabroad and Rainier Girls Youth Basketball to the district’s high school girls basketball program.

During a presentation by Rainier Elementary School Principal Rita Meldrum and elementary teacher Erin Marvin, the two educators recommended the adoption of the i-Ready curriculum for math for grades K-5. A motion was made by Rebecca Stillings and seconded by Edgar Ooms to adopt the curriculum. The motion passed unanimously.

Citing a rise in food costs, Debi Holmes, the district’s outgoing business manager, recommended a 10-cent increase for the cost of lunch for elementary schoolers, middle schoolers, high schoolers, and adults, along with a 15-cent increase for the cost of breakfast for elementary schoolers, middle schoolers, high schoolers and adults.

In 2024-25, the price for middle school and high school breakfast was $2.10. Lunch was $3.85. Adults paid $3 for breakfast and $4.90 for lunch. Lunch was free for elementary school students.

The Rainier School District again qualified for free lunch for elementary students for 2025-26 under House Bill 1238, known as Meals for Washington Students. In other words, the increase in lunch cost will not apply to elementary students for next year.

The board unanimously approved the price increases.

During his superintendent report, Bryon Bahr provided an update on the track project, saying the new pavements surrounding the long jump and high jump pits have been completed. The new pole vault box is next on the list. New water lines have been installed and the old rubber track surface has been removed.

The projected cost of the entire project is $712,795. The renovations are on schedule for completion.

The public budget hearing is currently set for July 30 at 5:30 p.m. The budget will be available online for review.