Eastern Adams County's Only Independent Voice Since 1887
Eastern Adams County's Only Independent Voice Since 1887
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In 2002, the voters within the Ritzville School District passed a $3,500,000 Capital Projects Bond at a rate of $1.90 per thousand dollars of assessed property value. The purpose of the bond was to remodel Gilson Gymnasium and to provide upgrades to the grade school, high school and Ag buildings. This bond will mature on December 1, 2016. Over time, property values within the community have gradually increased, and in 2011 the District refinanced the bond in order to secure a lower interest rate. Consequently, the current...
There are many potential uses for student assessment data within our education system. For example, data is collected for report cards and shared with parents, used for state assessment systems, etc. However, in its purest form assessment of student learning is designed to provide on-time information to teachers so that they can modify their instruction in order to meet the individual needs of their learners. There are two main types of assessment used in education. One, which I would argue is the most important, is...
As superintendent, it is my sincere hope that I have helped create a culture where our parents and community feel comfortable with our system and that they can bring questions, comments, or concerns to any of our school personnel. I believe it is essential that individuals have the opportunity to discuss issues that may exist with the appropriate staff member within our system. Then, if an individual is not satisfied with the initial response they receive, there is always the opportunity to discuss the situation further with...
As we near completion of the track project at Jimmie Snider Field, I would like to provide an update on the work that has been done and the rationale for decisions that were made during the project. The project: A capital levy was passed last November, which allowed the district to collect $195,000 per year during the 2013 and 2014 calendar years. The total amount of the capital levy was $390,000. In addition, the district received a donation of $130,000 from Project 56. The combination of the two funds allowed for a total...
I have thought a lot lately about our ability to disagree with others in a professional and appropriate manner. This topic is not something new but rather something I have considered many times during my career in education. Often times we use phrases like, in the good ole days, or we used to, or when I was a child. I wonder if (insert one of the phrases I just mentioned) we used to be able to have debates and disagreements over issues in a better way. Was there ever truly a time where society was able to look at an issue,...
A two-year capital levy for improvements to the Jimmie Snider Field complex will be on the ballot during the November general election – ballots will be mailed on Oct. 19. If approved, the proposed capital improvement levy would assess a tax of $0.66 per thousand to taxpayers over a two-year period. The proposed levy would generate $195,000 per year for a two-year total of $390,000. The taxes would be collected during the 2013 and 2014 collection years and would be part of a two-year temporary tax. What improvements will be m...
For me, the majority of the 2011-2012 school year has been spent thinking about, working on, and preparing for, the beginning of the academic cooperative. I knew when I applied for and accepted the superintendent position for the Lind and Ritzville school districts that this would be the case. I also understood that this process would require me to make many difficult decisions and that there would be some discomfort in both communities and districts. Although the beginning of the 2012-2013 school year will undoubtedly bring...
As a superintendent in two school districts that are planning for the beginning of an academic cooperative, there are many issues that have to be addressed and difficult decisions that have to be made. I want to share my general thoughts on the decision making process and my thinking around one specific issue: the middle school mascot at Lind/Ritzville Middle School. To begin with, there are many ways to make decisions within a system. There are times when it is important to create a committee that studies an issue, seeks...
Currently, as school districts, we are considering the implementation of a weekly release time during the 2012-2013 school year. I want to take this opportunity to discuss the structure, as well as the purpose and importance, of weekly release time for our staff members and our system as a whole. Beginning in the fall of 2012, we are proposing to utilize either a weekly late start on Monday mornings or an early release on Wednesday afternoons. A Monday morning late start would mean that school would start at 9:35 instead of...
Lind, Ritzville Superintendent I truly feel blessed to have the opportunity to lead the Lind and Ritzville School Districts during this time of major transition. In my opinion, this is a very exciting time for both districts and communities. I am, however, fully aware that there are many people within our communities who have concerns and are worried about the formation of the academic cooperative. I understand the difficulty some people may have with this major change. I also understand how hard it is to let go of...
I feel extremely blessed to work for two communities that support their public schools to the extent that Lind and Ritzville do. I want to thank both communities for their recent support of the Maintenance and Operation replacement levies that were on the Feb. 14 ballot. In these tough economic times, it is not a given that an M & O levy will pass. However, both Lind and Ritzville demonstrated their strong support for their schools by passing their levies at significantly high rates – THANK YOU! As I mentioned, the Lind a...