Kelsi Hamilton, Chehalis School Board Director

08/27/2026

There was such great energy and inspiration this morning as district staff kicked off the new year. I’m excited for this year and grateful for the amazing faculty and staff that will be working with our kids and families. The theme of the year is a great one for all of us to reflect on as parents and community members as well.

As the first day of school gets closer, a new school year is beginning to take shape—and with it comes a new opportunity to learn, grow, dream, and make a difference.

This year, the Chehalis School District is Powered by Purpose.

Purpose is what gives our work meaning. It’s the reason we show up, the reason we keep going when things get hard, and the reason we believe in what’s possible.

For our students, it might mean discovering a passion, reaching a goal, making a new friend, or simply believing in themselves a little more than they did yesterday.

For our families, it means being the support system, the encouragement, and the reminder that every child has something special to offer.

And for our staff, it means creating opportunities, building relationships, and helping every student discover the purpose that can propel them forward.

As we begin this school year together, let’s remember: We are not just preparing students for the future. We are helping them discover the purpose that will shape it.

To our students and families—welcome back. A new year is here, and there is so much possibility ahead.

Let’s make it a great one.

❤️💙 Chehalis School District — Powered by Purpose.

07/28/2026

Earlier today, we held our 2026–2027 Budget Adoption Hearing and unanimously approved the district’s budget. I am incredibly proud of the work that went into developing this budget and believe our community should know the story behind it.

When Superintendent Goble accepted his position two years ago, he identified the budget as an area he wanted to better understand. Rather than simply relying on others, he took it upon himself to dive into the details, challenge himself, and build a deeper understanding of our district’s finances. As part of that process, he personally developed our four-year budget outlook, using it as both a learning opportunity and a strategic planning tool to better serve our students, staff, and community. In doing so, he once again demonstrated thoughtful leadership and commitment.

This budget represents meaningful progress toward our long-term goals during a time of significant financial challenges. Despite reductions and changes in state funding, persistent inflation, and declining student enrollment, our district continues to move forward with fiscal responsibility. While many school districts across the state are entering binding conditions or facing significant financial uncertainty, Chehalis is finding ways to balance its budget while continuing to invest in the priorities our community values most.

This budget is a reflection of careful planning, disciplined stewardship, and a shared commitment to doing what is best for our students and our community.

Also a huge thank you to CFO Heather Pinkerton and all the other individuals that contribute to this work.

07/20/2026

I’m grateful we were able to move this meeting by one week. I’m traveling for work this week and the budget is a big deal. We have our budget hearing prior to the meeting and it’s posted on the district website.

Due to board member scheduling conflicts, we've rescheduled the Chehalis School Board meeting by one week. This is our annual budget hearing for the 2026-2027 budget and community involvement matters to us. The School Board will now meet at 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 28 in the Chehalis School Board Room, located at the district office at 310 SW 16th Street.

07/14/2026

My personal opinion is that this represents a significant overreach. Having gone through the FAFSA process with my daughter, I understand firsthand the detailed personal and financial information required from both students and their parents.
I support college pathways when they are the right fit for a student. At the same time, I have seen many students graduate with significant debt and interest that continues to accumulate for years. Many of these “assistance” programs are, in reality, loans with interest that can be presented as financial help without fully conveying their long-term impact.
I will continue to advocate for local control when it comes to educational requirements. I look forward to hearing the perspectives of my fellow board members and welcome input from our community as well.

Edit to add: In our district we do provide a lot of assistance, including evening sessions, to help with the FAFSA process for students and families that want to complete it or have questions.

High school seniors in Washington would need to complete student aid paperwork to graduate, under a proposal Gov. Bob Ferguson announced Monday. If students didn’t want to fill out the Free …

07/14/2026

Your chance to make your voice heard.

Chehalis community - your voice matters! Please help us serve our students, staff, families and community better by taking our communications effectiveness survey. Tell us how our messages are reaching you, how we're doing telling our story and what issues you'd like to hear more about. Take the survey at this link: https://forms.gle/TLiDnh8SgChAZjqSA

07/10/2026

I never want to take for granted how fortunate we are to have two outstanding School Safety Officers (SSOs) in our district. Recently, I’ve seen news of other districts removing their officers, and I know there are communities that choose not to utilize them. I’m grateful that our community overwhelmingly supports and appreciates both the role and the individuals who serve in these positions.
I will continue to advocate for and share Chehalis’s success with our SSO program whenever legislation is considered, so that every district that wants funding to support this vital position has the opportunity and resources to do so.

Gesa Credit Union honored six local heroes during the City of Chehalis' inaugural Fourth of July celebration held on July 4 at Stan Hedwall Park. The honorees were selected from community …

06/29/2026

I am proud of the dedication and work our district staff have demonstrated in securing grants to bring the district into compliance with new requirements, along with significant cost savings for taxpayers; this project is a big win for Chehalis.

The Chehalis School District has begun installing solar modules in the W.F. West High School parking lot to meet the state’s clean building energy standards. The summer project broke ground …

06/19/2026

We are so fortunate to add Gesa Credit Union to our long list of community partners. Today, they unveiled their new debit cards promoting W.F. West and Centralia High Schools, along with a $10,000 donation to each school district. Individuals with these debit cards will help give funds back to our school communities with every card swipe. For the next 90 days, they’re giving $50 towards scholarships for each school, up to $5,000 each. They also have a variety of ways to help with financial literacy and CTE programs. Thank you, Gesa Credit Union, for investing in our students and communities.

06/07/2026

Reflections from Graduation:

Yesterday, 217 students crossed the stage, received their diplomas, and began the next chapter of their lives. We heard inspiring speeches from students chosen by their classmates to represent the Class of 2026, each sharing reflections, gratitude, and hopes for the future.

The Bearcat Booster Club was also recognized for its decades of unwavering support and service to our students, schools, and community—a well-deserved honor for an organization that has made a lasting impact on generations of Bearcats.

The Class of 2026 continued a remarkable tradition, with 100% of graduates earning acceptance into a post-secondary pathway, whether through a trade program, military service, or a college or university. Their accomplishments were further celebrated through the extraordinary generosity of our community, which awarded more than $2 million in scholarships to support their future endeavors.

Our community has so much to be proud of. Congratulations to the Class of 2026. We are excited to see where your journeys take you and grateful to have been a small part of your story. Go Bearcats!

06/07/2026

Congratulations Class of 2026! We are so proud of you.