Welcome to Skagit County

February 9, 2004

STUDENTS COMPLETE CONFLICT RESOLUTION TRAINING

“Mediation is a skill everyone should have,” said Logan Sullivan, who along with nine other students at LaConner High School, recently completed training in conflict resolution. Other students in the group were Jacob Willup, Ben Hanley, LeAnna Bell, Leslie Sanford, Tristan Nelson, Steven Hall, Brianna Hertz, Samantha Valadez and Brandon Duckworth.

These students worked with their teacher, Sally Schuh, and the program assistant from Skagit County Mediation Services, Kathy Reim. They learned a six-step system: introducing the process, reviewing the ground rules, allowing each participant to tell their story, brainstorming possibilities, discussing a solution and reaching an agreement.

Samantha Valadez and Brandon Duckworth skillfully completed a full mock mediation and received Basic Mediation Certification as Youth Mediators from Skagit County Mediation Services.

Community dispute resolution centers were established in Washington State in 1984 with the plan citizens would be educated about ways of using mediation not only directly but also in a preventative capacity. Programs like this one at LaConner High School equip young adults with conflict resolution skills they may use in their personal and professional lives. The center is located at 601 South Second Street in Mount Vernon. The phone number is 336-9494.