LRS prepares for school year with staff turnovers, pay increases

LIND – The Lind and Ritzville school districts have spent the summer adapting to a number of staff changes and increases in pay and benefits, while enrollment numbers have gone down slightly since 2021.

Both school boards met July 25 in Lind and finalized their budgets for the 2022-23 school year, with a general materials, supplies and operating costs allocation of $1,314.52 per student in Ritzville and $1,461.11 per student in Lind.

Ritzville schools total budget is $6.3 million; Lind’s is $6.1 million.

Budget forecasts predicted a drop in the general fund this year from $1.1 million to $605,690 in Lind and $600,000 to $453,911 in Ritzville. The deficit comes after allocation of remaining Elementary and Secondary School Relief (ESSER) funds, which stem from the federal government’s American Rescue Plan Act and are anticipated to dry up by 2023.

Salaries and benefits make up the biggest portion of the budget, and are expected to rise by $570,000. A cost of living adjustment, negotiated this year by the Washington Education Association to keep up with inflation, increased employee salaries by 5.5%. Rate increases in retirement plans and insurance benefits also contributed to the heightened expenditures. A four-year budget forecast predicted a need for staff reductions in coming years.

In addition to budget concerns, several middle school and elementary teachers submitted resignations over the summer.

From Lind-Ritzville Middle School, Justin Palmer (CTE), Justin Sanger (social studies), Amanda Mattingly (CTE) and Shannon Callant (ELA) were among the departing teachers, as well as physical education teacher and Athletic Director Greg Whitmore.

Stepping in to fill middle school vacancies are Brendan Bermea (social studies), who will also serve as head football coach at Lind-Ritzville High School, Alan Field (PE), Lori Sanderson (CTE) and Scott Mortimer (CTE). Don Walker will be replacing Chris Lupo as principal of Lind-Ritzville Middle School.

Lind Elementary school and Ritzville Grade School also experienced some changes in teaching staff.

Jody Terris moved from Lind Elementary to teach third grade at Ritzville, replacing Matthew Riddle. Her fourth-grade position in Lind will be filled by new teacher Amalia Perez.

Micah Pridmore will teach third-grade at LES, and Jack Welker will teach second-grade at RGS.