After the Seaside School District board emerged from executive session on Aug. 16, board member Chris Corder suggested saying the Pledge of Allegiance before board meetings.

“I don’t see why not,” said Board Chairman Brian Taylor.

Seaside School Superintendent Susan Penrod added that many school boards say the pledge at their meetings.

Corder’s motion was seconded and voted on unanimously by Taylor, Brian Owen and Mark Truax. Shannon Swedenborg, Michelle Hawken and Sandra Gomez were absent.

Board officers

With three board members absent at the August board meeting, Taylor, Owen, Truax and Corder chose officers for the board of directors. Taylor was reelected board chairman and Truax board vice chair.

Hiring fair

The district held a hiring fair on Aug. 18. “We have some positions that are hard to fill,” Penrod said.

Those positions are mostly instructional assistants and bus drivers, she said.

After receiving a one-year retention and recruitment grant from the Oregon Department of Education, the district planned to offer retention bonuses and recruitment grants for qualified candidates. Job applicants had the opportunity to fill out applications and be interviewed on the spot.

The job fair was successful, she said after the job fair. “We have hired one instructional assistant and other candidates are in the process of completing paperwork.”

Grand opening

Staff returns on Aug. 29 and elementary students will begin class on Sept. 6. Classes officially start on Sept. 7, K and pre-K classes start on Sept. 12.

A campus “grand opening” is scheduled Sept. 30 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., prior to the homecoming football game. The program begins with a ribbon-cutting and opening celebration at the gym. At 5 p.m., tours begin at Seaside High School, the middle school and Pacific Ridge Elementary.

The Homecoming Parade starts at the old Seaside High School, then south along Holladay before ending at Broadway Field. The homecoming football game and barbecue takes place at Broadway Field at 7 p.m.