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The Milepost: Informing and Engaging Our Community

Posted Date: 11/05/26 (05:00 PM)
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The header for The Milepost newsletter features a collage of photos of students, staff and parents with the words Chehalis School District The Milepost Preparing Students for the Journey Ahead

Our Commitment to Community

How we're informing and engaging this year

November 5, 2026
The Chehalis School District does not travel the pathway to preparing students for the journey ahead alone. Parents, families, alumni, community leaders, business partners and our general community are on this journey with us.

Honest and transparent communication between a school district and its community builds trust, strengthens partnerships and helps families feel informed and valued. When districts clearly explain decisions, challenges, goals and available resources, community members are better prepared to participate meaningfully to support student success. Transparency also encourages accountability, reduces misinformation and creates opportunities for constructive feedback. In this edition of The Milepost, learn about some of the ways we're informing and engaging our community this school year.

Milepost Live Debuts Nov. 12

Logo for Milepost LIVE, Community Conversations with the Chehalis School District, featuring a compass graphic.
True community engagement requires two-way communication. While we love telling you about all of the great things going on in our district, it is equally important that we hear what you think and answer any questions you have.

On Nov. 12, we will debut a series we're calling Milepost Live: Community Conversations with the Chehalis School District. Just like our Milepost newsletter is a source for community information, Milepost Live will be a source for community engagement.

Our first Milepost Live Session will be held 7 p.m. Nov. 12 as an online-only webinar. Our topic of discussion will be Career and Technical Education. Tune in to hear from some of our CTE teachers about what CTE is, what we have going on in CTE and some things you may be surprised to learn about our CTE programs.  

There will be opportunities to ask questions during the Milepost Live webinar. If you have questions about CTE you would like to submit beforehand, please send an email to communications@chehalisschools.org by Friday, Nov. 6.

Please use the link below to register for Milepost Live. After submitting your short registration form, you will receive a confirmation email with more information about how to join us. If you are unable to join us on Nov. 12, you may still register and you will receive a recording after the event concludes.
Register for Milepost Live HERE

Annual Report 2025-2026

Accountability is an important part of our commitment to open communication with our community. Each year, we publish an annual report to celebrate the successes of the past year and also provide accountability for our work. 

In this year's report, read about: strides made toward our student achievement goals; our budgeting work and priorities; the work of our buildings and programs; and much more!

Communications Plan and Survey Results

Thank you to the more than 130 respondents who took the time to fill out our annual Communications Effectiveness Survey in July. Your feedback is invaluable to ensure that our communications are as effective as possible. 

Here are our major takeaways from your survey answers:
  • You're getting comfortable with ParentSquare but want less volume of notifications
  • You think our website could be easier to navigate
  • You want to know how to communicate with your student's teachers and staff at your student's buildings
  • You want district communications to respect families' limited time by streamlining messaging

Here's what we're doing with this feedback:
  • We're changing the way we use the ParentSquare platform to include more thoughtful conversations about "What goes where?" Major announcements go on ParentSquare. Fun posts with pictures go on social media.
  • We're re-imagining our website - looking with new eyes at where we locate features, what we call them and how we help you find what you need
  • We're continuing to deepen staff members' understanding of the ParentSquare platform and making sure everyone is connected the way they want to be.
  • We're following delivery metrics to show us when families are most active and tailoring our message timing to reach you when you want to be reached.

 

In Other News ...

Community Donors Bring Beauty to Elementary Schools

We recently had the honor of dedicating a new sculpture near the entrance to James Lintott and Orin Smith elementaries. This beautiful globe adorned with two young children reading is a wonderful symbol of our district's motto: Preparing Students for the Journey Ahead.

Many thanks to community members Mike and Susan Austin, Ben and Kristy LaCrosse and Steve and Carol Kostanich who generously donated this sculpture and dedicated it to the students of James Lintott Elementary and Orin Smith Elementary. 

Thank you also:
  • Director of Operations BJ Kuykendall and our facilities crew for helping choose a spot and install the donation.
  • W.F. West signmaking teacher Cy Bunker for creating the dedication plaque for the statue. 
  • Orin Smith Elementary ASB representatives for helping Communication Assistant Jesse Smith create some wonderful photos as gifts for the donors (see below). 
  • Mail Plus of Chehalis for donating the canvas prints of these photos that were given to the donors as well as few extra prints that were installed in our School Board meeting room.
A wide-angle, top-down view of a large group of smiling children gathered in a circle outdoors, waving up at the camera.
A large group of children wave cheerfully outside a modern red school building under a clear blue sky.