New MLSD superintendent sees challenges ahead

MOSES LAKE — The new superintendent of the Moses Lake School District sees several major challenges facing the district in the upcoming school year.

The three biggest challenges, according to Josh Meek, are dealing with the continuing court challenges to the certification of February’s school construction bond, figuring out exactly what Olympia’s new school funding formula means for the district, and choosing a new elementary school math curriculum.

“I really do believe that leadership matters, especially at the building level,” Meek said.

The 40-year-old Meek comes to the post of superintendent after 14 years in the Moses Lake Schools — two years as assistant superintendent, six years as principal and then five years as assistant principal at Moses Lake High School.

Earlier this summer, the state legislature — in response to a long-standing state Supreme Court ruling — raised the state school property levy and lowered and capped the local levy in order to ensure the state “fully funds” public education.

However, that change has caused tremendous uncertainty among educators and administrators across the district.

“We’re seeing a change in state funding and finance like never before,” said Meek, a 14-year veteran of the Moses Lake Schools. “There are a lot of unknowns and moving parts, it’s a little like building an airplane in flight.”

Meek said the district anticipates moving ahead with work on a new elementary school, high school, and major repairs to the existing high school, despite an ongoing court challenge to last winter’s $135 million school bond, which just barely passed with 60.01 percent “yes” vote.

“From a project perspective, elementary school 11 is set to break ground,” Meek said. “It’s a critical time for us as a community.”

However, Meek said too long a delay will put both the cost and timing of building new schools at risk.

Meek attributed the difficulties with math education to changing state standards that have made it difficult for the district to stick with one set of books. The district will look at a new curricula this fall.

“We have real challenges with elementary school math,” Meek said. “This came from parents. One of the most common things we hear is that parents can’t help their kids with homework. They don’t know how the math work is done because it’s different than when we were young.”

After Meek was named the new superintendent late last fall, but before he began the job, he spent several weeks meeting with school staff and parents as part of a “listening tour” to find out what people expected of him and wanted from school.

“It was one of the best challenges I ever put upon myself professionally,” Meek said.

During that time, he said he also learned that a lot of people want a superintendent to be a “champion” for both kids and teachers, and for the whole process of public education itself.

School is one of the last truly shared experiences people have, Meek said, and because just about everyone has been to school, everyone has an opinion.

“Public education is a whipping dog, something people try to blame. That’s demoralizing,” Meek said. “So, I want to help people see, we have challenges, and things are not perfect, but good things are getting done.”

“What we do really matters,” he added.

Charles H. Featherstone can be reached via email at countygvt@columbiabasinherald.com.