Shelton School District Superintendent Wyeth Jessee joins Jeff Slakey on Focus on Shelton for a candid, wide-ranging conversation about the state of public education in Mason County — and across Washington State.

Shelton voters delivered a resounding 62% approval on the district's levy — one of the strongest showings for any comparable school district in the February election cycle. But that win has been complicated by enrollment decline, rising costs, and a state legislature that just cut the levy equalization dollars that high-needs districts like Shelton depend on.

Jessee breaks down how every student lost equals $18,000 in revenue — and how a drop of roughly 170 students translates to a $350,000 gap and the equivalent of three to four teaching positions. He explains the compounding pressure of lower birth rates, reduced immigration, rising fuel costs, and now a state legislature trimming the very funds designed to support lower-income districts.

Despite the financial headwinds, Jessee is emphatic that Shelton continues to outperform comparable districts on literacy, discipline, attendance, and graduation rates. He spotlights NJROTC, student athletes placing at state championships, students reading obsessively, and a local effort to rename the high school softball field in honor of a beloved community figure.

This is an essential listen for any Mason County resident who wants to understand the real pressures facing Shelton's schools — and the remarkable things still being accomplished inside them.

#SheltonWA #SheltonSchools #MasonCounty #FocusOnShelton #KMAS #PublicEducation #WashingtonState #SheltonCommunity #WyethJesse #SchoolFunding #LevyElection #SheltonAthletics #WashingtonSchools #EducationFunding #SheltonHighclimbers

Jeff Slakey sits down with Molly Wheat Baker inside her studio at Graffiti Community Art Space in downtown Shelton, Washington—and what starts as a conversation about her library exhibit quickly turns into a window on everything that’s growing in the Shelton arts scene right now.

Molly’s work is everywhere in Shelton—murals on Cota Street, stickers and shirts, commission paintings, and now a solo show at the Shelton Timberland Library through the end of March 2025. She talks about what it’s been like to find her community here, how organizations like Mason County Blue Zones and spaces like Marmo have knit Shelton’s creatives together, and what it means to go from “living in the woods” to being part of a movement working toward official state Creative District designation.

Oh—and she’s painting a bus.

📍 Graffiti Community Art Space | Railroad Ave, Shelton WA (across from Tolley’s)

🎨 Library Show: Shelton Timberland Library | Through end of March 2025

🗓️ Tue March 24 | 2:45–4:45pm — Live painting session

🗓️ Thu March 26 | 2:00–3:30pm — Artist talk (Tea Talk & Time Out)

🌐 mollywheatbaker.com | 📧 mollywheatbaker@gmail.com

#SheltonWA #MasonCounty #FocusOnShelton #KMAS
#SheltonArt #CommunityArt #LocalArtist #MuralArt #PNWArt #WashingtonArt
#SheltonArtsWalk #CreativeDistrict #DowntownShelton #SheltonLibrary
#PNWCommunity #SmallTownArt #PublicArt #WashingtonState #CommunityRadio

Focus on Shelton is produced by KMAS Radio, your community radio station for the Shelton and Mason County area. New episodes drop regularly—subscribe so you never miss a conversation.

In this episode of Focus on Shelton on KMAS, host Jeff Slakey sits down with Jordanne Krumpols from the City of Shelton Parks & Recreation Department to talk about two exciting community initiatives. First: the PROST Plan — Shelton's Parks, Recreation, Open Space, and Trails six-year master plan is in the community input phase RIGHT NOW. The survey is live online and via QR code on posters throughout the city. Jordanne shares what the city is hoping to learn, what trends are emerging (spoiler: pickleball courts and a splash pad are leading the wishlist), and how you can get involved — including an in-person open house at the Civic Center in May. Second: Empty Bowls is returning to Shelton for three consecutive Wednesdays starting March 11. Come in and create your handmade clay bowl (free!), come back to glaze it on the 18th, and join your neighbors on March 25th for soup and bread donated by local Shelton restaurants — with all donations benefiting the Saints Pantry food bank.

🔗 PROST Survey: https://sheltonwa.gov/government/departments/parks_and_recreation/parks,_recreation,_open_space_and_trails_plan.php
🍲 Empty Bowls Info: https://sheltonwa.gov/government/departments/parks_and_recreation/shelton_arts_commission.php
📧 Contact Jordan: jordanne.krumpols@sheltonwa.gov

#SheltonWA #FocusOnShelton #KMAS #SheltonParks #SheltonPROST #SheltonRecreation

KMAS is the local radio station in Mason County Washington.