Welches Schools principal Kendra Payne just finished her third year at the
helm of the school and she noted her growth over the years includes being
able to build a better schedule and being better able to support students, staff
and parents and helping them work through problems.

“I just feel much more ... stable in terms of what to expect, what to plan for,
what to anticipate,” Payne said, adding that being able to counsel others is “a
really satisfying part of the job for me.”

This summer will see fewer big changes at the school than in years past, when
building security upgrades or changes to scheduling and the start of the
school day took place.

One of the notable differences will be a full day of kindergarten next school
year, which will include music, physical education, media and core academics.

Payne also noted that the Right Brain Initiative, a program that brings an
artist-in-residence to the school to work with classes, will be expanded from
two classrooms this past year to include the entire school.

“I think it’s going to be awesome for everybody to have an arts experience,”
Payne said, adding the staff will also benefit by learning techniques to bring
arts into their classrooms.

The school will also see another influx of technology, thanks to the Welches
Parent Teacher Community Organization (WPCTO), which will provide funding
for more Chromebooks for students and provide an iPad for all classroom
teachers. Payne expects the total number of Chromebooks for the school to
reach approximately 185 next year.

Payne also noted a new elementary teacher will be hired for next year,
following the retirement of longtime teacher Jan Well.

The WPTCO will also undergo some changes for the next school year, as all
four board members will not run for reelection.

The organization is expected to vote for new board members on Wednesday,
Sept. 2, but nominations are currently being accepted at the school. Every
parent who attends the meeting will get a vote.

Clackamas County Elections certified results from May’s election, including
officially declaring former Welches School principal Mike Sutton as the winner
of the Oregon Trail School District’s board of directors position 2 (Boring).
Both Sutton and Tom Mack ran write-in campaigns after no candidate filed for
the election.

Sutton garnered 273 votes as “Mike Sutton,” plus an additional 10 votes as
“Michael Sutton” and six further votes with other variations. Mack received
271 votes as “Tom Mack” and one other vote as “Tom Mac.”