The Castle Rock School Board will host several area lawmakers at its Tuesday night (Oct. 13) meeting to highlight the district’s successes and challenges.

It’s the first time the district has invited area lawmakers to a board meeting. School officials have met with lawmakers at other gatherings but never as a group focusing just on Castle Rock.

The idea came from school board member Bill Schumacher, who wanted a chance to showcase the district and talk about frustrations with some aspects of state law and school funding.

State Sen. Brian Hatfield, D-Raymond, and state Reps. Brian Blake, D-Aberdeen, Jaime Herrera, R-Ridgefield and Dean Takko, D-Longview, have confirmed. Sen. Joe Zarelli, R-Ridgefield, and Rep. Ed Orcutt, R-Kalama, said they will try to make it, Superintendent Susan Barker said Friday.

The lawmakers will hear presentations from each of the district’s schools about programs and initiatives, such as requiring summer reading for certain grades and instituting mandatory summer school for failing middle school students.

Barker also will discuss the challenges facing the district, expected to include funding among other topics.

After the presentations each lawmaker will be given a chance to speak about education or Castle Rock in general.

The school board meets at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in the elementary school library.