Columbia School District #400

February is here, and with it comes a meaningful milestone in our school year. As we move through the winter months, January 23 marked the official halfway point and 50% of the 2025–26 school year is now complete. This is a natural time to pause, reflect, and look ahead as our students and staff continue the important work of learning, growth, and connection across our schools. In this month’s newsletter, we’re excited to share updates on community safety efforts, recent staff learning, and a few important reminders.

This past Fall, Columbia School District began working with Walla Walla County Public Works on a student safety project. The County’s Public Works department received grant funding through WSDOT’s Active Transportation Assistance Program to design pedestrian and bicycle improvements near Columbia School District schools. Planned areas include portions of Humorist Road, Columbia School Road, Main Street, 5th Street, and Cherry Street in Burbank. These proposed improvements are intended to create safer walking and biking routes for CSD students and families traveling to and from school. This project, once constructed, will significantly improve access and safety across our district. Community members are encouraged to review the preliminary plans and provide feedback, which will help the county compete for future construction funding. Additional details and ways to submit comments are included as a separate article within this month’s newsletter.

On Friday, January 9, CSD staff participated in a districtwide professional development day focused on strengthening Tier II student supports. Teams from Columbia Elementary, Middle, and High Schools worked together on systems such as Check-In/Check-Out, consistent discipline practices, and the use of attendance, academic, and behavioral data to better support students who need additional help. This work is part of our ongoing Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) implementation and helps ensure our schools are using common tools and shared data to respond early and effectively to student needs. The learning from this day will continue to guide our work during upcoming professional development sessions later this spring.

February also brings an important reminder for our community regarding the upcoming February 10th levy election. Columbia School District voters will be asked to consider two separate levy propositions: one for Educational Programs & Operations (EP&O) and one for Capital (Technology). These local levies help maintain programs, staffing, classroom resources, technology, and day-to-day operations that are not fully funded by the state. As always, this information is provided to ensure our community understands what is on the ballot and how these levies support our schools. If you have any questions regarding the upcoming levy requests, please contact the CSD District Office at 547-2136 and we would love to answer any questions you may have.

Thank you for your continued support of Columbia School District and our students. As we move closer to spring, we look forward to the many activities, learning opportunities, and celebrations that the second half of the school year brings. Your partnership plays a vital role in the success of our schools, and we are grateful to serve such a supportive community.

Go Coyotes!

Sincerely, Todd Hilberg,

Superintendent