Kelsi Hamilton, Chehalis School Board Director

10/15/2026

We are fortunate to have a lot of generous donors that contribute to our district in a variety of ways. The Austin’s have blessed our district in so many different ways. Thank you to all that made this wonderful piece of art possible. It’s such a welcoming piece at our elementary schools.

10/09/2026

Another unfunded mandate from Olympia appears to be on the horizon.

Let me start by saying I strongly support limiting cellphone use during the school day. In fact, our district was among the early adopters of a cellphone policy because we recognized the impact these distractions have on student learning.

But I also strongly believe in local control and keeping decisions as close to students and classrooms as possible.

Governor Ferguson’s proposed statewide cellphone ban goes beyond simply requiring schools to have and enforce a policy. It would require devices to be stored securely and inaccessible to students throughout the school day, along with procedures for parents and guardians to communicate with their children.

That sounds simple enough, but who pays for storage solutions? Who manages the collection, security, and return of devices? Who handles the additional communication responsibilities, enforcement challenges, and inevitable exceptions?

These requirements come with real costs, staff responsibilities, and logistical challenges. Yet I haven’t seen a clear commitment to funding them.

I wish Olympia would trust locally elected school boards, educators, families, and communities to develop and enforce policies that work for their districts and the students we serve.

We can agree on the goal of fewer distractions and better learning environments without agreeing that another statewide mandate is the best way to accomplish it.

I’m curious what others think. Should these decisions be made at the state level, or should local school districts retain the flexibility to determine what works best for their students and communities?

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09/27/2026

Way to go W.F. West Boys Tennis! 👏🏻

09/19/2026

We are settled in for a long day of voting for WSSDA General Assembly.
I’m joined by board members from Centralia, Onalaska and Woodland.
97 of 225 school districts are logged in this morning to represent our district and community voice.

09/15/2026

Regular school board meeting tomorrow night at 6:30. Please note the work session is being postponed likely to next month. No work session tomorrow.
Information is linked:

https://www.chehalisschools.org/193667_2

09/01/2026

Happy 1st Day of School!

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 …