Letter to the Editor: We Exist as a District to Serve Students Academically

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The Centralia School District is making continual growth and improvement. We are focused on our three priorities for the school year:

- A positive culture in every classroom, school and across our district

- Powerful core instruction

- Comprehensive student support systems

To build a positive culture, we are building additional avenues of feedback and input. We have initiated a District Advisory Council (DAC). The DAC includes parents, community members and staff, and its purpose is to provide feedback and recommendations on the district strategic plan and other major initiatives. We are excited about engaging with this group and know their work will help us continue to improve our services to students.

Engaging students with school and in fun is also important to a positive culture. The elementary basketball program is designed to give students meaningful experiences, build our athletic programs in the future, and build a positive culture filled with fun, pride and success. Over 200 fourth through sixth grade students played in the inaugural elementary season and it was a tremendous success. Special thanks to all of the volunteers and coaches that made the program possible. We also thank the generous donations of the Centralia Community Foundation, Alderson’s Awards West, private individuals, and you. The elementary basketball program is made possible through local levy funds. Thank you for your support. The program benefits students physically, socially and academically. 



We exist as a district to serve students academically, so powerful core instruction is a critical element of each student’s success and our district’s success. Students in kindergarten through eighth grade take the iReady benchmark assessment three times each year to monitor progress and inform instruction. While our data is not where we know it can and will be, we are excited about the growth students exhibited between the fall and winter assessment. We expect to see additional growth this spring.

In another effort to support students academically, we are also offering a K-12 summer school program again this year. Each building will host a program between June 27 and July 22. We know these extended learning opportunities will benefit our students academically and personally. 

We are also working to provide comprehensive student supports so that students can achieve academically. Using the federal ESSER funds, we have hired two temporary mental health support specialists to help address and remove barriers to academic success. We know these supports are important to students’ academic and personal growth.

I continue to be honored to serve as your superintendent. Working together, we will create an environment where every child in the Centralia School District achieves academic and personal excellence.

Lisa Grant, 

Superintendent of Centralia School District