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Shake-up in Ward 1

Seaside’s City Council Ward 1 race took a turn as candidate Duane Solem announced his withdrawal from the race. Solem, a postal carrier, cited family reasons. “I was hoping to get in and rattle some cages and have some fun with this,” he said Thursday. “I guess fate has a different mission in store.”

That will leave Steve Dillard the sole candidate for the seat, although Solem’s name will appear on the ballot.

Solem said he may consider candidacy in a future election.

Read more here, and follow all our 2022 local Seaside and Gearhart election coverage.

Field plans stalled

The Seaside School District’s drive to meet a federal Office of Civil Rights deadline ran into a wall Monday night at the Seaside City Council meeting. School district representatives had hoped to emerge from the meeting with approval for a conceptual site plan for a softball reconfiguration at Broadway Field consistent with an agreement between the district and the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights.

But councilors, donors to the Herche Family Training Facility at Broadway Field, members of Seaside Kids and others led to tabling the project redesign at Broadway Field even as the federal deadline for the school district to remedy Title IX gender-equity violations looms in a little more than nine months.

They said that the decision hadn’t received public input, the consent of all partners at Broadway Field — including the city and the Sunset Empire Park and Recreation District — and would undo fundraising efforts for Seaside Kids Inc.

This is an issue with big stakes for the district — with possible administrative enforcement proceedings or federal court action.

First day

Heading into the 2022-23 school year, there’s a great sense of optimism within the Seaside School District.

Katherine Lacaze provides an overview of this year’s focus on wellness, collaboration and support.

For students, it means a focus on student voices and intervention support. For community members and families, it means partnerships and liaisons; habitually gathering their thoughts and ideas; and a continuation of in-person learning.

“The overall vibe is really positive and markedly different than the past two years, both from staff and students,” Principal Jeff Roberts said. “It’s tough to pinpoint what that feeling is; it’s just really, really different and really, really positive.”

And check out Lacaze’s wonderful first day photos!

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