MLSD accepts two new student board members, passes Title IX resolution
The Moses Lake School Board introduced two new Associated Student Body board members and Ryan Coulston attended his first meeting as a board member. Coulston took the seat of former member Kevin Fuhr who stepped down due to poor health.
NANCE BESTON/COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD
MOSES LAKE – The Moses Lake School Board passed one resolution, introduced two new student board members and continued discussing facility usage fees Thursday evening during the board’s regular meeting.
The resolution passed was 2025-01, which says the current Title IX policy for MLSD students to participate in athletics and activities that align with a student's gender identity does not work for MLSD students and the board must act to correct the situation. The state of Washington had required a policy to be implemented, but recent legal findings have placed that requirement in question.
Four members voted yes, and Ryan Coulston abstained, citing he was not given enough time with the resolution and therefore could not vote in an educated manner on the matter.
Student reps
Javier Gonzalez, a senior at Moses Lake High School is one of two new Associated Student Body board members on the Moses Lake School Board.
“I'm excited to take part in this. I look forward to representing my student body. I feel like I have a lot of opinions that can benefit the school board,” Gonzalez said. “I want to give my honest and true best representation of the student body at the high school and the overall school district.”
Andee Steavens is also an MLHS senior and is the second new Associated Student Body board member.
"I'm just excited to help the board come to an understanding of what the students are feeling and the concerns and comments that I hear and that I ask for,” Steavens said. “I just want to help them get through this hard time, honestly. And, I want to make it as easy on seniors and upcoming freshmen and those that are in the middle of the pack and making sure that they feel heard and that they understand what's really going on.”
Fee question
Carol Lewis, interim MLSD superintendent, discussed the facility rates schedule, which she said she would have more documents and information about at the next school board meeting. Multiple community organizations have expressed concern that the usage fees exceed what they can afford.
"I'll be completely honest, the dollar figure that's still on the table for the facility use fee is excessive for our club to fundraise for I'm already fundraising to cover the loss of contract dollars to operate, and now I need to acquire another $109,000,” Kim Pope, Boys and Girls Clubs director said. “The total amount is close to $400,000 when spring break and summer programs are considered for a nonprofit. This is an astronomical figure, and one that I cannot pass on to the families that utilize our services.”
There were no decisions made on the facility rates during the meeting.
Other business
Lewis also gave a superintendent's report where she discussed coming back to school, and the new communication tool – parent square.
“I just want to take just a minute to pause and go ahead and click forward to celebrate we started school, and when we think back to the middle of May,” Lewis said. “That's actually something I'm excited about, that right the middle of May, and the fear we all had and the crisis that we were in, and that certainly hasn't ended, and the intensity isn't going to end for a little while, but I just want to celebrate that our amazing principals and teachers and support staff across our entire district, you know, welcomed all of our kids to school with a big smile on their faces, and I was out in several schools.”
MLSD just implemented a new communication tool called parent square, which they used Thursday to send out two notifications to parents. The first was clarifying a rumor that had started that a student was bringing a weapon to Vanguard Academy on Friday.
However, the district and law enforcement investigated the report and took the necessary actions to protect the safety of students and staff. The second message was regarding a rumor saying a student was going to bring a weapon to Frontier Middle School. Once again, they worked with the police to ensure the safety of students and staff.