Lind, Ritzville School Boards approve athletic combine contract

The Lind-Ritzville School Boards of Directors unanimously approved the athletic combine agreement for Lind-Ritzville/Sprague-Lamont/Washtucna-Kahlotus during the May 29 meeting. During the meeting, the Directors also unanimously approved to add cross country as an official sport offered through the high school programs.

The athletic combine agreement shows the high school sports programs shall be referred to as Lind-Ritzville/Sprague Broncos, while middle school sports will be identified as Lind-Ritzville/Lamont Bulldogs.

The schools involved in the high school athletic programs are Lind-Ritzville, Sprague, Washtucna and Kahlotus high schools. Lind-Ritzville, Lamont, Washtucna and Kahlotus middle schools will participate in the middle school sport programs.

All coaches, athletic director, athletic trainer and game manager stipends will be split in fifths to be paid by each districts. The costs will also be divided equally for officials, uniforms and equipment.

The agreement also outlines the rules for hiring coaches, use of venues for practices and games, transportation for athletes, cheerleaders and band members, as well as the evaluation of coaches, varsity letters and new programs.

For eligibility, all athletes must follow the determinations set by WIAA, as well as be academically eligible in compliance with the Lind-Ritzville athletic standards. The principals and athletic directors from all schools in the combine will review the academic eligibility policy and revise as needed.

At the recommendation of Athletic Director Greg Whitmore, both school board members approved to allow cross country as an official sport. Former Head Coach Liz Melville sent a request to Whitmore to allow cross country to be offered through the LRS program, and Whitmore submitted a recommendation to the Boards based on the request.

“We have had cross country offered sporadically the past couple of years with volunteer coaches. This sport offers a unique opportunity for kids that don’t necessarily wish to participate in football or volleyball,” Whitmore stated in his recommendation.

“Therefore, I would like to recommend to the School Boards that we offer the sport of cross country this next fall,” he said.

Whitmore said if approved, he would create a coaching model using information Melville proposed in her request, and then move forward with hiring coaches.

During the meeting, Superintendent Matt Ellis also provided updates for the upcoming school year. The high school students were asked to complete a transportation survey to determine how many students would require transportation to Lind next school year, and how many would be traveling in their own vehicle.

The majority of students said they would be relying on their own transportion, as well as the bus, primarily in inclement weather and for extracurricular activities. Thirty percent of students said they would be taking a bus from Ritzville to Lind daily, with 27 percent relying on their own vehicle or their parents to transport them to school.

Ellis explained the plan is to provide four buses for transportation between the two districts, which can accommodate 220-300 students. He added the current estimate is 250 middle school and high school students will require transportation to the Lind School District from Ritzville.

Lind School District Principal Cindy Deska said the LRHS teachers came to the Lind District for a meet and greet, as well as had an opportunity to submit their classroom needs for the upcoming year. Deska explained all of the needs are currently being addressed.

The LRHS students visited LRMS on June 5 to tour the facilities and garner an understanding for the layout of the school during the upcoming year.

LRHS Principal Ronanda Liberty provided a draft master schedule class list for review of the boards, but it is still under consideration with multiple changes needing to be made to accommodate the sophomore class schedule.

Ellis explained the Lind School District is still working on an agreement with the Lind Community Church for rental of the property during the upcoming school year. The church building will allow multiple classes to be taught in the nearby site, and provide additional space in the LRMS building.

Ellis said they are currently looking at a $1,000 monthly rental fee, with majority of the utilities bill to be covered by the District. He added he is checking with the school’s insurance company to ensure they are covered and in compliance, even in an off campus building.

The school districts and the church board will continue to work together to create a rental agreement in the upcoming months.

For the Ritzville facilities, Ellis said the construction consultants and local representatives continue to meet every two weeks, and are now discussing the smaller items like doors and fixtures for the remodeled LRHS facility. The teachers are currently making plans for moving their supplies out of the building, and Ellis announced the surplus sale will be held at the high school in the upcoming months.

Both school boards also unanimously approved the hiring of superintendent Donald Vanderholm and LRHS Principal Kevin Terris.

In the consent agenda, the boards approved the resignation of, Bus Driver Lori Graves. Both boards also approved the hiring of LRHS Math Teacher Nicole Reyling and LRHS Temporary Replacement Teacher Karen Whitmore.

The Lind School District accepted the resignation of Allyssa Barnett, and the hiring of fourth grade teacher JoEllyn Terris.

The Ritzville School District accepted the resignation of RGS Teacher Jessica Magnuson and Paraprofessional Karin Hummel, while accepting the hiring of RGS Teacher Caitlin Schoessler.

The next Lind and Ritzville School Board meeting is scheduled for June 25 at 6:30 p.m. in the Ritzville Grade School Room 15.