Cheney plans new elementary school

In a report to the Cheney School Board at its Aug. 14 meeting, district Superintendent Rob Roettger made a surprise announcement — that the district is in the process of a purchase sale and agreement for property in Airway Heights.

The eventual land purchase, for 11.5 acres off of Craig Road, is aimed at combating the rising tide of growth in the district, one that shows no sign of slowing. The land is intended to be used for an elementary school; due to the rapid increase in K-5 enrollment, elementary schools districtwide have experienced the most overcrowding, Roettger said.

The agreement, while not yet set in stone, is set to go before the board following the district’s due diligence period. Further details on the agreement have not yet been released.

The announcement could not have come at a better time; just prior to the Superintendent’s report, Airway Heights Councilman James “Sonny” Weathers offered public comment to the board requesting they consider the city as a site for future school construction — though his stated preference was a second high school.

Weathers said he analyzed the 2019 population projections from the Washington State Office of Financial Management and noted that the city of Airway Heights has grown by 112 percent since 2000 —a rate greater than two and a half times that of Cheney and more than double the rest of Cheney School District during the same time period.

“In the six square miles encompassing Airway Heights, there is more density and higher tax revenues than in any comparable area of Cheney School District, yet Airway Heights is currently the most underserved population center in Cheney School District when it comes to the location of schools,” Weathers said.

Weathers also told the board that Airway Heights “stands as a ready resource” to help the district cope with the demands of tremendous local growth rates.

Also of significance was the board’s unanimous vote giving Roettger the go-ahead to proceed with a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Cheney district and the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office granting access to surveillance cameras. The MOU stipulates that in the event of a substantial emergency like an active shooter situation, the Sheriff’s Office would be granted live access to the school’s video stream.

According to school officials, the access would be restricted to emergency purposes only.

“It wouldn’t be a recording or anything like that,” Roettger said. “And (the agreement) would not change non-emergency procedures.”

Ten other districts are in conversations with the Sheriff’s Office about similar agreements, Roettger said.

The board was also introduced to several administrators new to the district, including new Director of Student Support Services Franklin Day. All spoke positively about the educational strategies being implemented by the district, including a heavy focus on Response to Intervention and Professional Learning Community programs.

Finance Director Jamie Weingart apprised the board of the district’s financial standings, saying that the focus is now on planning for the new school year. The capital projects levy has also been drafted and filed with the county in preparation to appear on the general election ballots mailed out in October.

The board unanimously approved the awarding of the 2019-2020 fuel bid to Whitley Fuel and heard first readings on three school policies regarding school finance and audit procedures.

Shannen Talbot can be reached at shannen@cheneyfreepress.com.