Baker School Board meeting highlights

By Shannon Weidemann (McKone) on Monday, May 23rd, 2022 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News

BAKER CITY – Baker School District Superintendent Mark Witty sat down with Elkhorn Media Group News Director Shannon McKone to discuss the highlights of last week’s Baker School Board meeting.

(SM) Thank you for joining me, Mr. Witty. There was a school board meeting yesterday evening. Would you please share some highlights with us?

(MW) Thanks for having me, Shannon. Prior to the school board meeting yesterday, we had our first budget committee meeting to review the proposed budget for the 2022-23 school year, and there was quite a bit of community involvement, which we like to see.

Then, we began our board meeting by recognizing two Promise Students of the Month: Neah Thomas from Baker High School and Victoria Loza from the Baker Early Learning Center.

We also recognized the Baker County YMCA as an Outstanding Community Partner.

Additionally, we were able to celebrate the retirements of Carol CJ Gray, Michele McCauley, Julie Mespelt, Karen Emmons, Deborah Radle, Donna Valentine, and Kathleen Christensen. We are so thankful for their many years of service!

(SM) Wonderful. Were there any other highlights from the meeting that you’d like to pass along to our listeners?

(MW) I’d like to brag about our community a little bit. A plan is in place to bring up to 10 displaced Ukrainian students and a skilled chaperone to Baker City to attend classes at Baker High School as Oregon International School students in the coming school year.

Thanks to many local letters of support, crucial networking, gracious host families, and generous funding from the Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation, Ford Family Foundation, Chaves Consulting, Baker Education Association, and Rotary, these students will be fully supported for the coming year.

Thank you to our partners for making a tangible, positive difference in the world!

(SM) Thank you Mr. Witty for speaking with me today.