Storm costly to Moses Lake School District

Michelle Price,MLSD Superintendent

by Herald Staff Writer & CHERYL SCHWEIZER
| October 2, 2013 6:00 AM

MOSES LAKE - Repairs to buildings, property and equipment damaged in a Sept. 15 storm have cost the Moses Lake School District $23,000 to $24,000 to date. Mark Johnson, the district's executive director of business and operations, said the cost will increase as more bills come in.

The fierce windstorm knocked down trees and damaged fences at a number of schools, Johnson said. Some equipment was damaged when the electricity was interrupted, he said.

In other business at the last Moses Lake School Board meeting, Superintendent Michelle Price reported a committee was formed to design a schedule for the converted Columbia Basin Secondary School. The building, which currently serves students in junior high and high school, will be converted into a middle school beginning with the 2014-15 school year.

The committee tasked with designing a new schedule at Moses Lake High School is meeting weekly, Price said, and district officials are working with CBSS high school students to ensure they graduate as a CBSS class.

District officials are sponsoring a community forum, to talk about schedule changes and other things, from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Oct. 28. Tentatively the meeting will be at the Moses Lake Senior Center, Price said.

It's the first of a series of community forums requested by the board, at night and during the day, Price said. Dates and times will be announced.

Johnson reported that Moses Lake officials have waived some of the construction studies connected to the replacement of the swimming pool building. They dealt with issues that won't be impacted by the construction, like the effect on traffic, he said.

Board members voted earlier this year to replace the existing pool cover with a cinderblock building.