The Medical Lake School Board said goodbye to longtime member Kelly Fouts and got introduced to what might lie ahead as far as funding goes at its Nov. 28 meeting.
Fouts, who was defeated in the Nov. 7 general election by Leo Spilker, has been a board member since 2004.
The board heard from Superintendent Tim Ames who informed them the district will present its first levy under the new format in an election set for Tuesday, Feb. 13.
“The name has changed, we’ll no longer use the term maintenance in it,” Ames said. All of Spokane County is using the same language, he added.
The last levy provided $1.2 million in funding but under new rules initiated by the Washington State Legislature, the district will only be able to collect about $976,000 with the difference, about $250,000, made up by levy equalization finds.
The legislature expects to be working on what were referred to as “technical fixes” when it convenes in January.
The board approved a variety of policy items, most notably a measure that allows hiring of teachers to provide instruction outside their certificated areas. This is due to a severe shortage of teachers, the board was told.
Board member Felicia Jensen reported that the recently concluded Grapes and Hops high school booster club fundraiser exceeded all expectations, earning $20,000.
Paul Delaney can be reached at pdelaney@cheneyfreepress.com.
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