School boards to draft partnership agreement with Ritzville Library - Ritzville School Board approves bond resolution

Discussion surrounding the Ritzville Public Library utilizing the library space at Lind-Ritzville High School during a construction project highlighted the monthly meeting of the Lind and Ritzville School Boards on Nov. 28.

The boards unanimously agreed to move towards creating a partnership agreement with the local library to use a portion of the school, beginning in January.

Ritzville Public Library Director Kylie Fullmer addressed the boards about the upcoming renovations and construction projects at the local library. The Ritzville Library received a two-to-one matching grant from the Historical Society to make the facility ADA accessible.

The project is estimated to begin in January and conclude in June. The construction projects include installing an elevator, as well as making the bathroom ADA accessible.

She explained the library district recently received notice from the architect they are recommended to close the building to the public during construction. The short timeframe in needing to find space to utilize in order to continue offering library services to the public brought the library board members and Friends of the Library representatives to the school board meeting.

Fullmer explained the Ritzville Library is interested in continuing the partnership, which has already been established with the local school districts.

The LRHS library would be an ideal location for the Ritzville Library members to use during construction because it has an outside entrance and would allow the students to become more engaged in the programs they host.

The school board members had a list of questions and concerns regarding the use of the space, and Fullmer agreed with the board members the first priority is student safety.

The initial plan is for the Ritzville Library to create a system similar to the one implemented with the Lind Community Library. Currently, the Ritzville Library staff provide library services out of Lind-Ritzville Middle School one day a week for Lind residents.

In order to check out books from the school or library catalog, all residents using the facility must have a library card, Fullmer explained. This leaves the Library accountable for notifying and collecting any overdue items.

The plan would be for the Ritzville Library to use the LRHS library at least during the weekdays. Fullmer said they are willing to adjust their hours in order to better suit the needs of the school district.

The library is currently open from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m., but Fullmer said operating during school hours would be agreeable. Fullmer added they would like to continue to stay open after school hours in order to continue providing after school programs for area youth.

Fullmer said she believes working out of the local school could help increase the amount of students who are attending the programs. She also said the Library is willing to provide classroom instruction during their time at the school.

Another benefit, Fullmer added, is the expansion of resources available to the students in the district. The library would bring a limited amount of books and movies to LRHS, but staff members will still be able to access the full library catalog during construction.

Fullmer added the school district and library would need to discuss how to allow members of the public to utilize the computers and have a work around on the firewalls so the users could access social media sites.

The most important component is ensuring members of the public area are not allowed to enter the school through the library, Fullmer said. She added they are able to staff the doors to monitor the people who are coming and going, and making sure to only allow students to return into the school from the library. Members of the public who need access to the school will have to use the main entrance.

Along with monitoring the individuals allowed to enter the school through the library, Fullmer agreed they will enforce the school district’s watch list of individuals not allowed to access the school.

Fullmer emphasized the partnership is in place to expand resources available to students but also to protect them and create a safe environment for learning.

Lind Board Chairman Rena Wahl said she loved the idea of the community being in the building.

The boards then agreed to move forward with a partnership agreement for the duration of the library’s project.

Fullmer said she has collected similar agreements between other library and school districts to use as a reference. The agreement will be reviewed by Lind-Ritzville Schools Superintendent Matt Ellis before being presented to the boards at the December board meeting.

The school boards proceeded to talk about facility improvements, including a brief discussion on the bond measure for the Ritzville School District.

The four Ritzville board members present took a roll call vote on Resolution No. 2016-008, regarding placing a bond measure on the February ballot.

A unanimous vote on the resolution now moves the district into placing a bond before Ritzville School District voters for the modernization, improvement and construction at the local facilities.

The bond is proposed as a 15-year, $11 million collection and will appear on the February Special Election ballot.

The projects include a complete modernization of Lind-Ritzville High School; safety, security and energy efficiency upgrades at Ritzville Grade School; and a variety of safety, security and technology upgrades district wide.

The Lind-Ritzville High School portion of the project is also eligible for state match money in an estimated amount of $4.8 million.

The state match money can only be utilized after the local dollars have been spent, and can only be used on projects at the high school facility.

The Ritzville School Board made the decision to move forward with the $11 million bond based on the recommendations of the local Facilities Committee.

The bond projects remain the same as the previous bond that ran twice in 2016, with the exception of the removal of the auxiliary gym from the bond projects.

The December Lind and Ritzville School Board meeting has been changed to Dec. 19 at 6 p.m. in the Ritzville Grade School.