January 3, 2025
Dear Editor:
As we begin the new year, I am excited to announce that the Quillayute Valley School District will be celebrating its 100th Year Anniversary. According to the Forks Hickory Shirt/Heritage Days publication Schools of the West End which was published in 2001, the Quillayute Union High School (the original brick high school building replaced by the new Forks High School in 2012) was built in 1925 to serve four districts: Beaver, Forks, Shuwah and Quillayute. It officially opened in 1926 and was the inception of the Quillayute Union School District.
On November 26, 1943, the Quillayute Valley School District 400 was officially established by order of Clallam County Superintendent of Schools, Inez McLaughlin to officially consolidate Beaver School District 303, Quillayute School District 315, Forks School District 324, and Quillayute Union High School District 200. At the call of the county superintendent, the school directors of the four districts met at the Quillayute Union High School to elect the board for the reorganized district.
Elected to the first board were: District 1, Harvey Smith; District 2, Mrs. Leroy Smith; District 3, Mrs. Jim Klahn; District 4, Stephen Gaydeski; and District 5, Norman Mccaulay.
In the modern day of 2025, the Quillayute Valley School District is blessed with five board members. Our current directors make up a strong board, serving 860 students in the Forks’ local brick and mortar buildings, as well as 3200 students in an online virtual program, Insight School of Washington, who live in all parts of Washington state. The Quillayute Valley School District is considered a medium-sized school district with enrollment of approximately 4,000 students.
Thank you for always going the extra mile for our students, staff and community, Board of Directors. We are blessed with the following board members:
Legislative Representative: Shannon Dahlgren, District 1
Board Director: Kevin Hinchen, District 2
Board Chair: Bill Rohde, District 3
Board Vice Chair: Ron Hurn, District 4
WIAA Representative: Mike Reaves, District 5
In honor of the National School Board Month Recognition in January, I would like to express our sincere appreciation of our leaders. They are elected by the voters, they serve in non-paid positions, and they dedicate at least two nights a month for conducting business for several hours.
Thank you for your leadership, your support and your vision!
Sincerely,
Diana Reaume, QVSD Superintendent
