MLSD noncompliant with PE requirements

MOSES LAKE – The Moses Lake School District addressed concerns around physical education time requirements not being met at several schools in the district. The presentation was led by Executive Director of Elementary Education Robbie Mason.  

“So how did we get here? Well, with our budget constraints, we had to make staffing deductions, and we saw reduced educational programming in different areas across our K-12 systems, and certainly elementary PE and music were one of those areas of education and programming partners,” Mason said.  

As of right now, Garden Heights Elementary, Lakeview Elementary, Larson Heights Elementary and North Elementary all receive one 30-minute period once a week for physical education.  

The following schools are on a weekly ABC rotation, meaning they have gym every third day, resulting in some weeks where students get PE once a week and some weeks they get it twice a week. Groff Elementary has PE once or twice a week for either 30 or 35 minutes. Longview Elementary gets one or two 40-minute gym sessions. Park Orchard Elementary and Peninsula Elementary get one or two 30-minute sessions a week. Sage Point Elementary gets one to two 40-to-45-minute sessions a week.   

Knolls Vista Elementary gets two physical education periods weekly for 30 minutes. Then, Midway Elementary gets two or three sessions of 35 minutes each, depending on the semester.  

According to RCW 28A.230.040, students in elementary schools should receive at least 100 minutes of physical education every week. However, right now, the only school within MLSD that is fulfilling that requirement is Midway Elementary for one of its two semesters.  

The discussion was originally started at the Sept. 19 board meeting when teachers Amy Utter and Stevi Kast gave verbal public comments to the board and Larry Dagnon sent in a message to the board. The three pointed out that there are 11 elementary schools and four of them, North Elementary, Larson Elementary, Lake View Elementary and Garden Heights Elementary share two PE teachers.  

“The lack of equal access to a dedicated PE teacher at these schools is troubling, as it diminishes the opportunities for students to receive comprehensive physical education,” Dagnon said in his statement to the board. “Notably, North Elementary was never given the option to rehire its own PE teacher, which further exacerbates the issue. This situation is not only unfair but also detrimental to the students' educational experience. North and Larson are already deemed schools of low economic status and trauma. Do we want to continue widening the gap between the ‘haves and have-nots?’” 

With the district cuts, there are only seven full-time elementary school physical education teachers. Four of the elementary schools share two PE teachers. Garden Heights and Lakeview share a teacher. North Elementary and Larson Height Elementary share another teacher. 

“Well, our elementary schools are currently clustered together in sister schools, partner schools, dynamics, and in all of our 11 elementary schools, we have three schools partnering together,” Mason said. “Part of the reason that they are partnering is because of physical location and one of the things that happens with that partnership is they, first and foremost, will share resources across the sister school. If they're short of a math book or an English book, they'll first go to one another and they'll share resources.” 

Mason explained the district has not been in compliance with the state requirements, even before teachers were fired because there are restrictions on the facilities of several elementary schools. Several of the schools have a cafeteria that also serves as a physical education space, instead of separate spaces for the two activities. Mason said there are periods of time where the cafeteria is used for eating, then must be cleaned prior to a PE class.  

Mason’s goal for the 2025-26 school year, particularly if the levy passes, is to add back elementary specialist staffing. However, Mason said there will still be restrictions with facility size and scheduling around physical education.  

“Even if you do bring back one PE teacher per location, it doesn't mean that you can satisfy 100 minutes, which would be three sessions, mostly right,” MLSD Board Member Ryan Coulston said. “Because of the building restrictions, we have old buildings that were built for a lot less kids. And so, it brings us into that, okay, you bring back more teachers, you need more kids, more time, more space, more buildings and then you kind of go back in the circle.” 

PE time by campus: 

Amount of physical education time each school receives weekly:  

Washington State Requirement: 100 to 150 minutes 
Garden Heights Elementary: 30 minutes
Groff Elementary: 30 to 70 minutes
Knolls Vista Elementary: 60 minutes
Lakeview Elementary: 30 minutes
Larson Heights Elementary: 30 minutes
Longview Elementary: 40 to 80 minutes
Midway Elementary: 70 to 105 minutes
North Elementary: 30 minutes
Park Orchard Elementary: 35 to 70 minutes
Peninsula Elementary: 30 to 60 minutes
Sape Point Elementary: 40 to 90 minutes