The Battle Ground School District Board of Directors held a special meeting on July 28, 2025, where the focus was on the implementation and impact of the Wayfinder social-emotional learning (SEL) curriculum. The meeting highlighted positive feedback from students, with ratings consistently above 3 on a scale of 0 to 4, indicating a strong positive impact on their learning experiences.

Key discussions included the effectiveness of the Wayfinder program, which received high praise from both students and staff. The data showed that staff found Wayfinder to be engaging and beneficial, leading to a recommendation for its continued use in the upcoming school year. The committee emphasized a careful and gradual rollout, ensuring that the program is not rushed and that feedback from teachers and students is incorporated.

Community outreach efforts were also discussed, revealing limited engagement from families, with only three community members responding to outreach initiatives. However, the feedback received was constructive, with community members expressing interest and raising concerns about specific language used in the curriculum.

The board also addressed funding, clarifying that the AWARE grant allocates $100,000 annually for the SEL curriculum, part of a larger $1 million grant. This funding is crucial for sustaining the program and supporting professional development for staff.

As the meeting concluded, board members expressed enthusiasm for tracking the effectiveness of the Wayfinder curriculum, drawing parallels to previous initiatives like PBIS. The commitment to data-driven evaluation aims to ensure that the program meets its goals of improving student behavior, attendance, and academic performance.

The board plans to continue discussions on the Wayfinder program's rollout and its impact on the district's students, with a focus on maintaining open communication with the community and adapting based on feedback.