Moses Lake School Board hears from concerned community

MOSES LAKE — Decisions on a modified educational plan for the Moses Lake School District could be coming later today, although they may be delayed. Moses Lake School Board members have scheduled a workshop for 3 p.m. for further discussion on proposed spending and staff reductions for the 2024-25 school year.

The discussions follow the rejection of the district’s educational programs and operations levy and the discovery of an accounting error. As of May 11, staff from the North Central Education Service District estimated that MLSD would have to reduce its 2024-25 budget by about $20 million.

About 100 staff members, both teachers and support staff, could lose their jobs, and among other things, the district’s entire extracurricular activities program could be reduced or eliminated for 2024-25.

The prospect of eliminating extracurricular activities was one of the topics that brought an overflow crowd — many of them MLHS students — to the regular school board meeting Thursday night.

Softball player Raegan Hofheins asked all the extracurricular participants in the room to stand up, and said the activities they participate in are an important part of their education. 

“The lessons we have learned from participating in sports and activities are infinite. Hard work, dedication, how to work together for a common goal, dealing with adversity, communication, sportsmanship, how to treat others, are just as valuable as what we’ve learned in our English and math classes,” Hofheins said. “Activities and athletics are not a separate part of our education but an essential, co-equal part of our learning.”

Other students talked about what sports and activities meant for them. 

Sophomore Liam O’Shea said running cross-country and track provided psychological as well as physical benefits.

“I ran for the JV team last year (and) I really did enjoy it. I think it changed me as a person — it definitely changed me. I think I would not be up here talking to you if it were not for my sport. And I don’t mean that I wouldn’t be defending my sport, I mean I wouldn’t have the social capability or the social confidence to be speaking to you,” O’Shea said. 

He urged school board members to keep JV and lower level teams, saying the social benefits were available to all players regardless of their skill level. 

Speakers appealed for funding for the music program and other clubs, saying all activities provide social skills and promote learning.

At the May 11 meeting the district’s general fund, which pays for most school operations, was estimated at about $900,000. Acting Superintendent Carol Lewis said she had asked for and gotten the ending fund balances as of April 30, at which time the MLSD general fund had about $3.37 million.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at cschweizer@columbiabasinherald.com.

    Liam O’Shea speaks to the Moses Lake School Board about the effect of extracurricular activities on his life.