Cheney school board meeting ends abruptly

CHENEY – School Board President Mitch Swenson ended the in-person board meeting Feb. 23 when resident Ivan Khala refused to follow coronavirus mandates.

"Unfortunately, we had to go to virtual and call the police because he refused to," a visibly frustrated Swenson said. "I don't know what to say."

Khala, however, downplayed the disruption.

"That's how you do it," Khala said.

Khala said he believes the School Board should do everything in its power to end mask mandates.

He disagrees with any of the reasons given not to, including the threat from the state Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction to withhold funds if the board ended the mask mandate on campuses.

"Why are we worried about funding when we should be worried about our kids," Khala said. "These people are not invested in this school district; they don't have kids attending here and they make up the rules."

After the meeting, Swenson and Khala got into a heated debate, and at one point, Khala told Swenson he had the power to stop the mandate.

"You can make this go away, Mitch," Khala said.

Swenson told him the issue was out of the board's hands.

"We live in Washington state. It is what it is — it's another three weeks, chill man," Swenson said. "It's a mandate. So, what are we supposed to do?"

Swenson took offense regarding the point Khala made about the board not caring about students or being invested in the district.

"I have had 20 family members starting with me go through the School District and one of my nieces is a teacher," Swenson said. "I am so vested in this community. I've lived here most of my whole life.

"I love Cheney. Otherwise, I wouldn't do this."

This latest incident comes on the heels of Khala's outburst at the Feb. 9 meeting. He accused Superintendent Rob Roettger of being irresponsible and ending his speech by throwing a wad of $1 bills in his direction.

Despite the School Board's plea, Khala continues bringing attention to his cause.

After the meeting adjourned, Cheney police spoke with Khala and School Board members; everyone left peacefully.

Gov. Jay Inslee is slowly rolling back his COVID-19 restrictions.

School District Superintendent Rob Roettger announced in the Community Connections bulletin that middle school and high school cafeteria and commons spaces would return to pre-pandemic breakfast and lunch service and structures Feb. 28.

Middle schools will also assign hall lockers to students the week of March 7.

The district is also planning a hybrid approach to upcoming parent-teacher conferences.