MLSD recognizes Lewis, receives finance update

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake School District had a regular board meeting Thursday to acknowledge Superintendent Carol Lewis, update on finances, pass several policies and finalize a letter to the superintendent of public instruction and the governor. 

The district streams its meeting, which can be found at: bit.ly/MLSDBoardMeetings. All document information is located at MLSD board docs account, which can be found at: bit.ly/MLSDBoardDocs. 

Lewis 

At the meeting, the board recognized Lewis for the work she has put into the district after a tumultuous year. Lewis took over the acting superintendent May 14, 2024, after the former superintendent was placed on administrative leave. Then, she was placed into the interim superintendent role June 27 after former Superintendent Monty Sabin resigned. Then, at the Nov. 7 meeting, she was appointed into the permanent superintendent role by the board.  

“The board would like to recognize our lovely superintendent, Carol and so we thought that we would take the opportunity to thank her for all of her hard work, her reaching out to the community and really just putting herself out there and gathering community support,” MSLD Board Chair Kirryn Jensen said. “It really shows what your heart and soul is about.”

Board member Paul Hill said the district would not be in the improved position it is in without Lewis and all her hard work. He thanked her as both a community member and board member.  

“I see all the hard work that you're putting in. I think that everything is this may be downplaying it, but it's also true, but it's completely satisfactory,” Board Member Ryan Coulston said. “And I say that for a reason, but I just see the hard work you're putting in, and it's paying off. There's always going to be opposing opinions, and I think that that's healthy, and you deal with them well, and you work through it, and you're building community together. You're not a perfect human, and I think that's one of your best traits, is that you work through it.”  

Finances  

Mitch Thompson, the district's finance director, gave a monthly update to the board about the finances going up to Jan. 2025.  

In Jan. 2025, $53.9 million or 39.75% of the revenues budgeted have been collected. In 2024, 36.32% had been collected and in 2023 it was 35.25%. 

Then for expenditures, the district has spent around $52 million or around 38.34% of expenditures budgeted. In 2024, the district had spent 42.65% and in 2023 it had spent 42.7%. 

Thompson also said this is the first year in the past three years where revenues are over expenditures. This year, the district has around $1.9 million in revenues over its expenditures. In 2024, the district had spent around $9.65 million over its revenues. In 2023, MLSD had spent $11.2 million over its revenues.  

Policies 

The board passed three policies at the meeting.  

The first was setting a policy to allow building staff at the schools to decide on indoor recess based on weather variables. The updated policy will also have notifications sent via District communication platforms, including the website and social media, instead of local radio stations.  

The board passed the update unanimously.  

Then, the board passed a policy updating the guidelines for board representatives. The updates included making the legislative representative serve two consecutive years and allowing the board chair or other board designee to handle legislative responsibilities.  

The board passed the update unanimously during its first reading.  

The final policy change had to do with budget implementation. The change was on line item F, removing “No involuntary deduction may be made from the wages of a staff member except for federal income tax, social security, medical aid, and state retirement, or in compliance with a court order such as garnishment; and” from the policy. 

The board passed the update unanimously.  

Letter 

The board passed a resolution to send a letter to state Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal and Governor Bob Ferguson. The letter said the district will prevent transgender athletes from participating in girls' sports and it will be updating guidelines around locker rooms and restrooms to align with federal mandates.  

The letter was written by a concerned citizen and backed by all five members of the board. 

When asked, district staff were unaware of any transgender students in the district in general or participating in athletics in the district. 

    Board members listen in while outgoing Finance Director Mitch Thompson provides an update on the district’s finances. Thompson has helped the district balance its budget and make significant strides toward its long term financial goals.