Aberdeen Schools

Student Representatives Leticia Alvarenga and Kassandra Kumarasinghe, front and center, helped represent the Aberdeen School District at the annual conference of the Washington State School Directors' Association this past week. They are pictured with, from left, Director Mardi Emard-Colburn, co-Superintendent Lynn Green, Directors Suzy Ritter and Annica Mizen, co-Superintendent Traci Sandstrom and Director-elect Jeanne Marll,

Leading with Purpose was the theme for this year’s annual conference of the Washington State School Directors’ Association -- and a major underlying theme featured the purposeful inclusion of student voices in the decision making process.

The Aberdeen School District was fortunate that both student representatives – AHS juniors Leticia Alvarenga and Kassandra Kumarasinghe – were able to attend.

“The WSSDA Conference was a wonderful experience that allowed me to collaborate with fellow representatives to ensure we are constantly improving our school districts,” Rep. Alvarenga said. “I look forward to incorporating ideas I’ve learned from sessions back into Aberdeen schools.”

Rep. Kumarasinghe said it was a “very exciting” trip. “I’m glad I was able to collaborate with other school board members and their student representatives,” she said, adding that she also looks forward to putting information she learned at the conference into practice in her role as a representative. One of her key takeaways will be “improving on student to staff to board communication.”

Thank you Representatives Alvarenga and Kumarasinghe for your leadership!

Students in Denise Roberts’ third-grade class at Robert Gray Elementary School had their first “Reading Buddies” session on Nov. 20 this week. Ms. Roberts didn't have to think twice when the preschool teachers Leslie Gadwa and Jenna Doll approached her with the idea. “I thought it was an incredible chance for all of these students,” she said. “It was beautiful to watch.”

Director Suzy Ritter convened the regular meeting of the Aberdeen School District Board of Directors at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, November 18, 2025, in the Community Room at Aberdeen High School. In attendance were Directors Mardi Emard-Colburn, Annica Mizin, along with Superintendents Lynn Green and Traci Sandstrom and 18 patrons and staff. President Jennifer Durney and Director Jeremy Wright were excused.

The meeting began with the flag salute.

Consent Agenda

After adding two trip requests from Aberdeen High School, the Board approved the Consent Agenda, which included:

• Minutes from the regular meeting on November 4, 2025;
• Payroll vouchers totaling $4,271,614.70;
• General Fund vouchers totaling $647,705.22, ASB Fund vouchers totaling $24,193.88, Capital Projects Fund vouchers totaling $717,905.84, and
• A trip request from the AHS football team, which traveled to Spokane on Nov. 7-8 to take part in a postseason game.

Comments from the Board

Director Mardi Emard-Colburn commented on how fun and inspiring it was to take part in various Foodball events the previous week and that she was very proud of the effort put forth by Aberdeen students.

Student Representatives

Student Representative Kassandra Kumarasinghe reported that the district will be sending a Knowledge Bowl team to compete at a tournament in Tumwater.

Representative Leticia Alvarenga shared information about the success of the 45th annual Foodball that raised a combined total of more than one million pounds of food and monetary donations. She said students are very grateful to the community and very proud of the results. She also reported that the National Honor Society will be sponsoring a Giving Snowman at the high school from Dec. 1-12.

Presentations

Aberdeen High School Annual Report
Principal Aaron Roiko, Assistant Principal Rachel Wenzel and Sal Albruscato, MTSS coach, presented the annual report for Aberdeen High School.

Athletic Director’s Report

Athletic Director Doug Farmer presented a report on participation throughout the district in fall athletics.

Superintendents’ Reports

Seismic Safe Schools and Capital Projects
Following an update from Superintendent Lynn Green on the work of the School Design Advisory Committee and a presentation from Manuel Saldivar-Aguirre of ESD 112 Construction Services Group, the board approved the following resolutions:

1. Resolution 2025-12 accepting the Value Engineering Study and Recommendations for the new Harbor Learning Center.

2. Resolution 2025-13 accepting the educational specifications and approving the schematic design for the new Harbor Learning Center.

Foodball
Superintendent Green reported that additional funds have come in since the Friday, Nov. 14, weigh-in for Foodball, pushing the total amount of money raised to more than $110,000. She also noted that AHS students will be at the Coastal Harvest Foodbank Center in December to help pack food boxes for holiday dinners.

WSSDA Conference
Superintendent Traci Sandstrom discussed the upcoming annual conference of the Washington state School Directors’ Association. The board approved the participation of director-elect Jeanne Marll.

Portrait of a Graduate
Superintendent Sandstrom provided an update on the work taking place to implement the Portrait of a Graduate in the district. She noted that focus meetings have been ongoing and that principals have identified projects to work on this year.

Financial Services

2024-2025 Year-End Financial Report

Executive Director of Business and Operations Elyssa Louderback and Business and Operations Manager Courtney Sandstrom presented the Year-End Financial Report for 2024-2025. They reported an ending fund balance of $4,925,113 which is within the 5 percent goal set by the board. Director Louderback said enrollment will be closely watched as a declining trend continues, with the 24-25 annual FTE of 3,104.73 less than the 3,148.52 for 23-24.

Fiscal Status Report

Director Louderback presented the Fiscal Status Report for October. With 16.67 percent of the year elapsed, the district has received 16.42 percent of budgeted revenue and incurred 17.42 percent of expenditures.

New Business

Policy 2023 Digital Citizenship

Superintendent Traci Sandstrom reviewed a new policy, 2023 Digital Citizenship, for first reading. She noted that the district has already been practicing the intent of the policy through its use of the Common Sense Media curriculum.

21st Century Evaluator

The board approved a contract with Jan Gravley to serve as the district’s evaluator in the 21st Century After School Program.

YMCA 21st Century Contract

The board approved a contract with the YMCA to provide staffing and support in the 21st Century After School Program.

YMCA After School Program

The board approved a contract with the YMCA to provide staffing and support at schools with before and after school programs using YMCA grant funds.

2025 Chromebook Purchase

The board approved the purchase of 1,250 new Chromebooks to replace student devices that are no longer eligible for support or upgrades.

Personnel Report

Following an executive session, the board approved the Personnel Report.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.

You can find the full Fiscal Year-End Report for 2024-2025 here.

The next regular meeting of the School Board is at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 16, at McDermoth Elementary School.

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.

• 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

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

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.

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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.