State superintendent stops in

MOSES LAKE — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Terry Bergeson visited Moses Lake Wednesday for the first time in 11 years.

She plans to stop in Othello and Wahluke today.

Moses Lake School District Superintendent Steve Chestnut and Columbia Basin Herald Publisher Harlan Beagley showed Bergeson the city's educational facilities and biggest employers.

The main topic of discussion was the possibility of building a skills center in Grant County. If constructed, the center would provide high school juniors and seniors educational training in high-demand fields, as determined by students, educators, community members and businesses.

A list of possible site locations and class options is due to the state superintendent's office by June 1.

Bergeson was exposed to possible sites during the tour, including a building at Grant County International Airport, vacant property at Big Bend Community College and a 40-acre site off Yonezawa Boulevard owned by the school district.

The district-owned site sits behind Moses Lake High School.

"It's my preferred site, obviously, because I envision our kids just walking across the field," Chestnut said.

Bergeson said she is already convinced a skills center belongs in Grant County.

"It's a perfect place," Bergeson said. "It's a perfect addition to what's happening here."

The center would provide hands-on learning to high school students, she said.

She envisions a situation in Grant County where high school students who are not college bound are earning credit alongside college students. The experience changes their mindset about attending college, she said.

Bergeson said she visited other skills centers in the state due to her interest.

"You go in and these kids, they are there because they want to be there, and you see the spark in their eyes," she said.

Other locations Bergeson visited during the tour include the Big Bend Community College ATEC building, REC Silicon, Genie Industries, Moses Lake schools and the newly opened Sinkiuse Square.