PORT ANGELES — Clallam County is teaming up with the Port Angeles School District to provide Internet and social media safety training to students and their parents.
County commissioners Tuesday unanimously approved a $1,695 interagency agreement with the district for six hours of training in December and January.
Clallam County Health and Human Services will pay the school district to coordinate two hours of training for middle and high school students and community members, the agreement says.
“This was a request that came from Chuck Lisk, Stevens Middle School principal, to bring social media and Internet safety to both middle school, high school and adults in the community,” Clallam County Prevention Specialist Leeann Grasseth told commissioners in a Monday work session.
The training will cover suicide prevention, bullying and drug and alcohol use, she said.
“Youth can learn how to be safe,” Grasseth said.
“Parents can learn about what to look for to keep their kids safe.”
The Internet and social media safety training aligns with the strategic plan of the Port Angeles Healthy Youth Coalition, Grasseth said.
“We voted on this as a coalition and reviewed the information,” she added.
Community wellness
In related action, the three commissioners approved a $33,193 contract amendment with the Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery to fund a second year of a community wellness initiative being implemented by the Forks Community Coalition.
“Our coalition will be able to use this funding to help support youth being alcohol- and drug-free using evidence-based strategies,” Grasseth told the board.
A subcommittee of city of Forks, Hoh and Quileute tribal officials planned to discuss potential uses of the funds Tuesday.
Interpretive center
Meanwhile, commissioners Tuesday re-bid a project to build an Elwha River interpretive center off Lower Dam Road near state Highway 112 west of Port Angeles.
The mini-rest area will have a kiosk structure and vault toilet.
The project is funded by a $208,000 federal Scenic Byways grant and a $77,000 match from the county road fund.
No bidders answered the first call for bids earlier this fall.
“The main reason for no bids at that time was that the plan holders were busy with other jobs and did not have enough time to prepare bids and construct the project,” Associate County Engineer Joe Donisi wrote in the executive summary to the call for bids.
Bids are now due Dec. 16.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5072, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
