Our Mission
The mission of the Chehalis School District, in partnership with the community, is to meet the individual learning needs of students by providing a comprehensive student-centered educational program that inspires and prepares them to become responsible, contributing citizens.
Chehalis School District History
The first schools in Chehalis were likely started in the 1860s but the first recording of a school being built through action of a school board was in 1876. The one-room schoolhouse was located at the corner of State and Center Streets and cost $600 to build. The next school was built in 1888 in the northwest part of town and was known as East Side School or just “The High School.” A new high school at Market and North streets replaced it in 1909. The current location of W.F. West High School was gifted to the Chehalis School District by William Francis and Blanche West after an earthquake in 1949.
Chehalis Middle School was opened in 1989. The now closed schools of Cascade Elementary (opened in 1922), R.E. Bennett Elementary (built 1928) and Olympic Elementary (opened 1960) were all closed in 2018-2019 and replaced by our current Orin Smith Elementary (grades 3-5) and James Lintott Elementary (grades K-2). The Cascade and R.E. Bennett properties were sold in 2021. Today, Olympic Elementary houses a number of programs, including Cornerstone.
Chehalis School District Administrative History
| Superintendent | Dates |
|---|---|
| R.E. Bennett | 1925 – 1936 |
| Chester Rhodes | 1949 – 1970 |
| James Fugate | 1970 – 1973 |
| Don Mitchell | 1973 – 1988 |
| Gene Sharratt | 1988 – 1991 |
| Dr. Mike Boring | 1991 – 1995 |
| Dr. Greg Kirsch | 1995 – 2010 |
| Edward Rothlin | 2010 – 2020 |
| Dr. Christine Moloney | 2020 – Present |
| Assistant Superintendent | Dates |
|---|---|
| Don Mitchell | |
| Bob Close | 1973 – 1998 |
| Dan Steward | 1998 – 2005 |
| Joe Bremgartner | 2005 – 2009 |
| Mary Lou Bissett | 2009 – 2019 |
| Dr. Brian Fox | 2020-2022 |
| Trisha Smith | 2022 – Present |
James W. Lintott Elementary School built in 2018
| Principal | Years | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Bob Hunt | 4 | 2018-2022 |
| Brenda Pohlman | 2022 – present |
Orin C. Smith Elementary School built in 2018 (opened May 1, 2019)
| Principal | Years | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Brett Ellingson | 3 | 2018-2021 |
| Rachel Dorsey | 2021 – present |
Chehalis Middle School built in 1989
| Principal | Years | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Jerry Pierson | 5 | 1989 – 1994 |
| Jim Budgett | 18 | 1994 – 2012 |
| Chris Simpson | 2012 – present |
W.F. West High School built in 1951, remodeled in 1992
| Principal | Years | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Rosco Mitten | ||
| Larry Norwood | ||
| George Murdock | June 1982 | |
| Rainer Houser | 7 | 1982 – 1989 |
| Dr. Linda Smith | 22 | 1989 – 2011 |
| Bob Walters | 14 | 2011 – 2024 |
Cascade Elementary School built in 1922 and closed during 2018-19 school year
| Principal | Years | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Les Scroup | 32 | 1938 – 1971 |
| Glynn Gibson | 23 | 1971 – 1995 |
| Sandy Albertson | 6 | 1995 – 2001 |
| Joyce Bacoccina | 5 | 2001 – 2006 |
| Chris Simpson | 6 | 2006 – 2012 |
| Bob Hunt | 6 | 2012 – 2018 |
R.E. Bennett Elementary School opened in 1928 and closed during 2018-19 school year
| Principal | Years | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Bill Webber | 35 | 1934 – 1970 |
| Jerry Pierson | 5 | 1970 – 1975 |
| Ray Gundersen | 23 | 1975 – 1998 |
| Joe Bremgartner | 7 | 1998 – 2005 |
| Kimberly Camren | 7 | 2005 – 2012 |
| Trisha Smith | 6 | 2012 – 2018 |
Olympic Elementary School built in 1960; 5th Grade Wing built in 1970; closed during 2018-19 school year
| Principal | Years | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Walter Hotsko | 12 | 1960 – 1972 |
| Frank Deebach | 3 | 1972 – 1975 |
| Jerry Pierson | 13 | 1975 – 1988 |
| Don Rash | 7 | 1989 – 2003 |
| Ray Gundersen | 1 | 2005 – 2006 |
| Brett Ellingson | 12 | 2006 – 2018 |