Aberdeen Schools

The elementary school counselors teamed up to help students throughout the district celebrate kindness for a week. Each day featured a focus on kindness with students participating in activities such as collaborative posters, cards for others, a Be Kind 5k Run, Kindness Craft Night, and kindness posters to affix to pizza boxes, among other activities.

The counselors' time in classrooms included lessons with a focus on being kind. The counselors said it was a very fun week to be a counselor – and the students had fun, too!

Many thanks to our elementary counselors, from left, Danielle Rosetta at Stevens, Katherine Kim at Robert Gray, Tracy Miner at McDermoth and Central Park and Marnie Ranheim at A.J. West, for teaming up for the sake of kindness!

The winter sports season has concluded on a high note at Aberdeen High School, including freshman Xela Kowoosh capturing the Bobcats’ first-ever state championship in girls’ wrestling and longtime wrestling coach Craig Yakovich being named the WIAA State 2A Coach of the Year.

Four teams sent 42 athletes to the state tournaments: girls’ wrestling, boys’ wrestling, boys’ swim and the competitive cheer team.

In addition to Kowoosh capturing the wrestling title in the 125-pound class, Landon Hamblin, a senior and Ryder Lessard, a sophomore, took second in their weights in boys’ wrestling; Jimmie Gertson, a junior, took eighth in boys’ wrestling, swimmer Cole Nylander captured fourth in the 100-yard breast stroke and the cheer team placed third in the state co-ed sideline category.

Boys Swim Coach Rob Burns was named the 2A District Coach of the Year.

Congratulations to all of our state-qualifying athletes:

• Girls Wrestling: Brooklyn Brown, Camrynn Wright, Daisy Vessey, Jasmine Jo Lock, Kayleen Rouska, Micah Turpin, Myah Davis, Paisley Floch, Sophia Rico, Stella Cortez, Taylor Hatton, Xela Kowoosh (1st) and Yvanna Servellon Marll.
• Boys Wrestling: Adonis Hammonds, Adrian Nunez, Bryan Sanchez, Glenny Black, Jaidon Williams, Jimmie Gertson (8th), Landon Hamblin (2nd) and Ryder Lessard (2nd).
• Boys Swim: Cole Nylander (4th/100 yd. breast stroke), Cooper Gill, Emmett Johnson, Jackson Cihak, Merritt Steele, Toby Nelson and Zeke Olson.
• Competitive Cheer Team: Aaliyah Schamber, Alanna Schamber, Alexis Rajcich, Dharma Rosetti, Gabriella Abruscato, Izzabella Dally, Jaylynn Lujan, Justin Jacobs, Lucy Rodgers, MacKenzie Case, Madilynn Brotzel, Michelle Gibson, Peyton Marchie and Shyann Bratt.

Coach Craig Yakovich, right, accepts the Coach of the Year Award at the WIAA 2A State Girls Wrestling Championship. He has been coaching the girls' team since 2012 and holds a strong track record of seeing wrestlers advance year after year to the finals. He was even a coach for several years in the 1990s. Those familiar with Bobcat wrestling know that if there was an asssistant coach of the year award it would go to his spouse and assistant coach, Tamar Yakovich.

Congratulations, Coach Yakovich!

President Jennifer Durney convened the regular meeting of the Aberdeen School District Board of Directors at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in the Community Room at Aberdeen High School. In attendance were Vice President Suzy Ritter, Directors Mardi Emard-Colburn, Jeanne Marll and Annica Mizin, along with Student Representatives Kassandra Kumarasinghe and Leticia Alvarenga, Superintendents Lynn Green and Traci Sandstrom and 15 patrons and staff.

The meeting began with the flag salute.

Consent Agenda

The Board approved the Consent Agenda, which included:

1. Minutes from the regular meeting on February 17, 2026, and
2. Overnight and Out-of-State Trip Requests for

• The AVID class at Aberdeen High School to travel to Eastern Washington to visit several colleges on March 11-13, and
• FBLA at Aberdeen High School to travel to Spokane to take part in the state conference on April 21-24.

Student Representatives

Student Representatives Kassandra Kumarasinghe and Leticia Alvarenga provided updates on activities and events at the Harbor Learning Center and Aberdeen High School.

Comments from the Public

Jerry Salstrom, retired district administrator, announced a town hall that Harbor Strong is hosting for parents on March 4 – “Hidden in Plain Sight.”

Winter Athletics Report

Athletics Director Doug Farmer presented an overview about the 2025-26 winter athletics season for sports throughout the district.

Old Business

Policy 5010 Discrimination-Free Workplace

The Board adopted an update to Policy 5010 – Discrimination-Free Workplace, as revised.

Superintendent Reports

• New Clubs – The Board approved the formation of two new ASB clubs – Club America at Aberdeen High School and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at Miller Junior High School.
• Budget Update – Superintendent Sandstrom presented an update on budget planning for 2026-2027. She noted the district is planning for a 2 percent reduction in enrollment. The Board set 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 24, for a budget workshop to be conducted via Zoom for discussion on the benchmarks and priorities being used to build the budget. A link to the meeting will be available to the public.
• Seismic Safe Schools and Capital Projects – Superintendent Green provided a brief update on the seismic and other capital projects taking place in the district. She noted the district’s team met with officials at the City of Aberdeen to begin discussions on infrastructure, particularly road access to the undeveloped site off Lomax Street.
• Legislative Update – Superintendent Sandstrom provided an update on education-related bills and proposals that are currently under consideration in the Legislature. She noted estimated financial impacts should be more clear after adjournment scheduled for March 12.
• Portrait of a Graduate – Superintendent Green provided an update on the work taking place to implement the mission, vision, values and goals embedded in the Portrait of a Graduate. She noted that the Board will take part during the workshop on March 7.
• Special Olympics – Superintendent Sandstrom announced that the district waived the facility use fee for a fundraiser to benefit Special Olympics.

New Business

Resolution 2026-01 WIAA Authority

The Board adopted Resolution 2026-01 delegating authority for the governance of athletics to the Washington Interscholastic Athletics Association.

Special Education Contracted Services

The Board approved the list of vendors selected to provide contracted special education services when needed in 2026-2027.

EWU Affiliation Agreement

The Board approved an agreement with Eastern Washington University designating Miller Junior High School as a field experience site for a staff member who is working toward an administrative credential.

2026-2027 New Market Agreement

The Board approved renewal of the interdistrict agreement with the New Market Skills Center at Tumwater for 2026-2027.

Bates Technical Agreement

The Board approved renewal of the inter-local agreement with Bates Technical College for 2026-2027.

Special Services Placement

The Board approved an agreement with Soliant Health, LLC, to place Jenny Hasson in the district as an occupational therapist.

2026 E-Rate

The Board approved the results and recommendation of the E-Rate bid and authorized a contract with Tommy TQL for network wireless access point equipment in the amount of $62,801.50.

Surplus Vehicles

The Board approved a recommendation to declare surplus three vehicles no longer needed in the automotive program at Aberdeen High School.

Personnel Report

Following an executive session, the Board approved the Personnel Report

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.

The next regular meeting of the School Board is at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 17 at Robert Gray Elementary School.

In addition, at 9 a.m. Saturday, March 7, in the Community Room at Aberdeen High School, the Board will be in a workstudy session for Portrait of a Graduate mission and vision work, safety discussions and discussion about conducting a community survey.

A budget workstudy is planned for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 24, via Zoom.

Those who attend regular meetings are welcome to sign up at the meeting to provide public comment on agenda items. Written public comment for the record can also be submitted up to noon the day of the meeting by writing to schoolboard@asd5.org. Comments or concerns not on the agenda can be brought to the attention of the district by contacting the Superintendents' Office or by contacting individual board members.

Keeping our youth safe online is a priority. Check out the resources gathered by the Harbor Strong coalition to help in this effort.

A.J. West Elementary School

• Office Hours: 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
• (360) 538-2130 / Principal Nani Villarreal

Central Park Elementary School

• Office Hours: 8:15 a.m. - 4 p.m.
• (360) 538-2170 / Principal Ruth Erwin-Svoboda

McDermoth Elementary School

• Office Hours: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
• (360) 538-2120 / Principal Mindi Hammill

Robert Gray Elementary School

• Office Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
• (360) 538-2140 / Principal Daniel Olson

Stevens Elementary School

• Office Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
• (360) 538-2150 / Principal Tosha Love

Harbor Learning Center

• Office Hours: 7:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.
• (360) 538-2180 / Principal Lisa Griebel

Miller Junior High School

• Office Hours: 7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
• (360) 538-2100 / Principal John Meers

Aberdeen High School

• Office Hours: 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
• (360) 538-2040 General / Principal Aaron Roiko
• (360) 538-2060 Attendance Line

• Co-Superintendent Lynn Green, lgreen@asd5.org
  Co-Superintendent Traci Sandstrom, tsandstrom@asd5.org

• Business Office, Elyssa Louderback, elouderback@asd5.org
• Human Resources, Christi Clinkingbeard, cclinkingbeard@asd5.org
• Special Education, Stefanie Lamont, slamont@asd5.org
  
• Career & Technical Education, Lynn Green, lgreen@asd5.org
• Teaching, Learning & Technology, Traci Sandstrom, tsandstrom@asd5.org
• Food Services, Jaime Matisons, jmatisons@asd5.org

Columbia Wellness, a behavioral health agency serving Grays Harbor and Cowlitz counties, has launched a Youth and Family Mobile Crisis Team on Grays Harbor. A PowerPoint presentation explaining Columbia Wellness and how you can access services in a crisis is posted on the ASD5 website. Visit the Columbia Wellness site here.

****************************

The Aberdeen School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination: Christi Clinkingbeard, Title IX Coordinator and Civil rights Compliance Coordinator, 216 North G St., Aberdeen, WA 98520; (360) 538-2222; cclinkingbeard@asd5.org; Stefanie Lamont, Section 504/ADA Coordinator, 216 North G St., Aberdeen, WA 98520; (360) 538-2017; slamont@asd5.org.