MATTAWA — The Wahluke School District is inviting businesses in Mattawa, or any business outside of Mattawa that’s interested, to participate in a new initiative that will bring volunteers from those businesses to Wahluke classrooms. Wahluke Superintendent Andy Harlow said “Partners in Educating Kids” is a way to increase connections between school and community.  

People have told him, Harlow said, that sometimes it’s difficult to build the kind of relationships between WSD and businesses that can be found in other cities like Othello and Quincy. 

“I just don’t believe it,” he said. “I think we have an amazing community. We have different challenges, for sure, but it’s taking time to develop these relationships. It might look a little different than Quincy or Othello, but it can be done.” 

The PEAK program will start in the 2025-26 school year. Participating businesses can choose to support one or more of WSD’s elementary schools, Wahluke Junior High, Wahluke High School or at the district level.  

Participants donate to the school they’re supporting, $500 for an elementary school or $1,000 for WJHS or WHS.  

“What makes this partnership different is it requires the PEAK partner to be in the building they’re sponsoring three times during the year. And (the sponsor visits) can be all sorts of things,” Harlow said.  

Some businesses have already signed up, including the Columbia Basin Health Association, Umpqua Bank, the real estate agency Generations Home Team NW and Grant County Public Utility District. Harlow said he’s had people from other businesses express interest.

“We’re still looking for partners,” he said.  

The South Grant County Chamber of Commerce is a sponsoring partner with WSD, and Pam Thorsen, secretary to the board of directors, said she thinks it’s a good way for students and business owners to learn more about each other.  

“There’s a lot of opportunity to engage the community,” she said.  

The children are the next generation of employees and business owners, she said, whether in Mattawa or elsewhere. It’s good for business owners to get to know them and for young people to get a look at the world after graduation.  

Thorsen said there are a lot of people in and around Mattawa – and elsewhere – who have information and experiences that could and would be beneficial to WSD students. She cited a Desert Aire neighbor who’s an airline pilot, and the winery employees at a WHS career education fair who detailed opportunities available in that industry. 

“You just don’t know where you might find resources,” she said. 

Harlow said the PEAK initiative grew out of the effort to strengthen connections between the district and its residents. Sometimes it isn’t easy to get volunteers for school activities, but in one case, the 2025 Amazing Shake, almost all the volunteers were from outside the district. Harlow said district officials wanted to find other ways to get out into the community and bring the community to school.  

“Then, just by chance, I was at a presentation at the Pasco School District,” he said.  

Pasco has been sponsoring a similar program for about 15 years, he said. 

“I’d never heard of it, and I was totally amazed,” he said.  

    The South Grant County Chamber of Commerce is partnering with the Wahluke School District on a new project to encourage business owners to spend time at school. Pam Thorsen of the Chamber, left, and Wahluke Assistant Superintendent Amy Marlow, right.