Latest news with #MosesLakeSchoolDistrict
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
MLSD celebrates inaugural graduation of Digital Learning Center
Jun. 12—MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake School District marked a historic milestone May 4, as the Digital Learning Center proudly held its inaugural graduation ceremony at Lions Field. The school has had two other graduating classes, but they have been previously combined with Moses Lake High School. The event celebrated the academic achievements of the first graduating class, comprising a diverse group of students who had successfully completed their high school education through innovative digital learning methods. Attended by family, friends, educators and community members, the ceremony featured heartfelt speeches, reflections on personal growth, and acknowledgments of the challenges faced throughout the academic year. "Your accomplishment marks not only a personal achievement but also the promise of a new beginning," said Superintendent Carol Lewis during her opening remarks, emphasizing the importance of community support and perseverance throughout the students' educational journeys. The evening was a tribute to the faculty and staff who guided the graduates over the years, particularly during a challenging final year. Lewis acknowledged the steadfast dedication of counselors and faculty members. "Without their belief in your potential and their unwavering support, this graduation would not have been possible," she said. Keynote speaker Veronica "Ronnie" Roylance, a staff member known for her caring approach to students, shared insights about personal growth and resilience. In a candid address, she addressed the common uncertainties faced by graduates regarding their future paths. "It's perfectly normal to feel unsure about your next steps. Remember that life is not a race; it's a journey filled with valuable lessons," she said, encouraging students to embrace their unique paths with confidence. The ceremony also highlighted the achievements of students who participated in various programs, including the Seal of Biliteracy, Running Start and vocational training initiatives. As graduates were called to the stage to receive their diplomas, applause erupted from the audience, reflecting pride and encouragement. In closing, Lewis commended the graduates for their resilience and echoed the sentiments of unity within the community. "Together, we celebrate not just your graduation, but the bonds formed and memories created here at the Digital Learning Center," she said. After the ceremony, graduates exited the field in celebration, ready to embark on their next adventures as proud representatives of their school and community.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Warden School District appoints Brouillet as interim superintendent
Jun. 10—Key Points: * Marc Brouillet has been announced as the interim superintendent for Warden School District for the 2025-26 school year. The district will continue looking for a permanent superintendent. * Former Superintendent Scott West has taken the role of Executive Director of Safety and Well-Being at Moses Lake School District. * Brouillet has a background in education with 35 years of experience, 15 of which he was a teacher and the other 20 he has spent in various administrative roles. * Brouillet plans to provide stability, facilitate student success and support educators who contribute to the district's achievements during his time as interim. WARDEN — The Warden School District Board of Directors announced the appointment of Marc Brouillet June 4 as Interim Superintendent, effective July 1. Former Superintendent Scott West has taken the position of executive director of safety and well-being at Moses Lake School District. Brouillet brings over 35 years of diverse educational experience, including more than 15 years as a teacher and over 20 years in various administrative roles in both large and small school districts throughout Washington state, he said. In a statement addressing students, staff, and the community, Brouillet expressed his enthusiasm for the new role. "I am excited to have been asked by the Warden School Board to serve as the interim superintendent for the 2025-26 school year," he said in the statement. "My wife and I are looking forward to becoming a part of the Warden community during the upcoming school year." Brouillet's extensive experience ranges from teaching at both the elementary and secondary levels to serving in central office administration roles and as a school superintendent. One of his recent positions was at Chief Leschi School District in Puyallup, where he effectively managed a preschool-to-12th-grade structure similar to that of Warden. His background equips him with a comprehensive understanding of educational systems, he said, including academics, human resources, food service, and transportation. "I understand all the dynamics, whether that's with younger students or ensuring high school seniors are prepared to graduate," Brouillet said. He emphasized the importance of maintaining a focus on academic growth and ensuring students are adequately prepared for their future. Brouillet said he recognizes the various challenges the Warden School District faces and is committed to maintaining the momentum of ongoing initiatives while a search for a permanent superintendent takes place. "The intent for the coming school year is to continue work that has been started while the School Board completes the superintendent search, resulting in a seamless transition into the 2026-27 school year for the new superintendent," he said. One of his primary focuses will be improving the district's graduation rates, which currently stand at 85%. Brouillet aims to raise this figure to 100% during his tenure. "We want to keep increasing and improving that graduation rate," he said. "It's important that all students graduate ready for their career paths — whether that's entering the workforce, trade schools, or colleges." He said his vision aligns with the district's existing strategic plan, which has been developed to ensure optimal academic performance and student readiness. He plans to collaborate with instructional staff, administrators, volunteers, the school board and community members to refine and align the district's initiatives with this plan. "We want to make sure that students are learning and achieving, and that they're ready for whatever the future holds for them," he said. As he prepares to take on this role, Brouillet is acutely aware of the importance of community engagement, particularly in a small town like Warden. He intends to make visibility and communication the top priorities. "My plan is to be out there, to attend community events and engage with parents and local businesses," he said. "The school system is the focal point of the community, and effective communication is critical." During his tenure, Brouillet plans to utilize various tools to strengthen communication with parents and community members, including the district's existing platforms like social media and newsletters. "We want to ensure that families have access to information and understand what is happening in the schools," he said. Looking ahead, he expressed excitement about becoming part of the Warden community and emphasized his commitment to collaboration and support. "I want to be there as a part of that team," Brouillet said, noting that he hopes to understand the unique challenges and needs of Warden's students, teachers and administrators. As the Warden community prepares for his arrival, he said his focus is clear: to provide stability, facilitate student success, and support the extensive network of educators who contribute to the district's achievements. "No one should expect major changes this year," he said. "I'm going to come in and make sure we try and keep things stable and moving forward in the right direction, but there's not going to be drastic changes because what we're going to do is make sure that things are moving forward for and they're ready for that next superintendent to come in seamlessly when that occurs, basically a year from now. So, I want to be an asset to help the staff, the teachers, administrators, the janitors, everybody, do their job as well as they can, and however, I can help."
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
3 new student representatives join MLSD board
Jun. 5—MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake School District announced the appointment of three new Student Board Representatives for the 2025-26 school year at the regular school board meeting Thursday. MLSD Director of Public Relations Ryan Shannon introduced the new board members. "One of the highlights of each school year is the opportunity to welcome the incoming Student Board Representatives," Shannon said. "These remarkable students will serve as the voice of their peers, bringing student perspectives to our boardroom and helping to shape decisions that directly impact our schools." The new student members of the MLSD Board of Directors are Sean King, Angie Hernandez and Emmanuel Zepeda-Lopez will represent the student body at various functions including board meetings. King will be a senior at Moses Lake High School and has shown a strong commitment to public service. Currently enrolled in the CBTech Criminal Justice program, King will begin his third year in the program this fall. Along with his studies, he works at Domino's and volunteers annually for the Moses Lake Ag Parade. "I am more than excited," King said. "I really can't wait to see what it brings. I love being informed and want to help the public feel informed as well." Hernandez will be a junior at the Digital Learning Center and is an active member of the Superintendent's Student Advisory Council. Her involvement extends to several organizations, including GEAR UP, and she volunteers at local health care facilities. "To represent students' voices and hopefully make a difference is what I aspire to do," Hernandez said. "I am excited to create an environment where students feel comfortable, especially in their connections with both teachers and peers." Zepeda-Lopez is poised to take on his role as a senior at Moses Lake High School. He brings an extensive background in leadership, Shannon said, having served as a Sister City student ambassador and participated in Boys State. He is also a delegate to the Moses Lake Water Council and a member of the Air Force Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps and Key Club. "It's a great honor to be selected for this position," Zepeda-Lopez said. "Being a voice for Vanguard Academy, our brand-new school, is a tremendous opportunity." As the student board representatives begin their terms, they said they are eager to engage with their peers, advocate for diverse perspectives and contribute to the development of a positive and inclusive learning environment across the district's schools.
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
MLSD recognizes Lewis, receives finance update
Mar. 10—MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake School District had a regular board meeting Thursday to acknowledge Superintendent Carol Lewis, update on finances, pass several policies and finalize a letter to the superintendent of public instruction and the governor. The district streams its meeting, which can be found at: All document information is located at MLSD board docs account, which can be found at: Lewis At the meeting, the board recognized Lewis for the work she has put into the district after a tumultuous year. Lewis took over the acting superintendent May 14, 2024, after the former superintendent was placed on administrative leave. Then, she was placed into the interim superintendent role June 27 after former Superintendent Monty Sabin resigned. Then, at the Nov. 7 meeting, she was appointed into the permanent superintendent role by the board. "The board would like to recognize our lovely superintendent, Carol and so we thought that we would take the opportunity to thank her for all of her hard work, her reaching out to the community and really just putting herself out there and gathering community support," MSLD Board Chair Kirryn Jensen said. "It really shows what your heart and soul is about." Board member Paul Hill said the district would not be in the improved position it is in without Lewis and all her hard work. He thanked her as both a community member and board member. "I see all the hard work that you're putting in. I think that everything is this may be downplaying it, but it's also true, but it's completely satisfactory," Board Member Ryan Coulston said. "And I say that for a reason, but I just see the hard work you're putting in, and it's paying off. There's always going to be opposing opinions, and I think that that's healthy, and you deal with them well, and you work through it, and you're building community together. You're not a perfect human, and I think that's one of your best traits, is that you work through it." Finances Mitch Thompson, the district's finance director, gave a monthly update to the board about the finances going up to Jan. 2025. In Jan. 2025, $53.9 million or 39.75% of the revenues budgeted have been collected. In 2024, 36.32% had been collected and in 2023 it was 35.25%. Then for expenditures, the district has spent around $52 million or around 38.34% of expenditures budgeted. In 2024, the district had spent 42.65% and in 2023 it had spent 42.7%. Thompson also said this is the first year in the past three years where revenues are over expenditures. This year, the district has around $1.9 million in revenues over its expenditures. In 2024, the district had spent around $9.65 million over its revenues. In 2023, MLSD had spent $11.2 million over its revenues. Policies The board passed three policies at the meeting. The first was setting a policy to allow building staff at the schools to decide on indoor recess based on weather variables. The updated policy will also have notifications sent via District communication platforms, including the website and social media, instead of local radio stations. The board passed the update unanimously. Then, the board passed a policy updating the guidelines for board representatives. The updates included making the legislative representative serve two consecutive years and allowing the board chair or other board designee to handle legislative responsibilities. The board passed the update unanimously during its first reading. The final policy change had to do with budget implementation. The change was on line item F, removing "No involuntary deduction may be made from the wages of a staff member except for federal income tax, social security, medical aid, and state retirement, or in compliance with a court order such as garnishment; and" from the policy. The board passed the update unanimously. Letter The board passed a resolution to send a letter to state Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal and Governor Bob Ferguson. The letter said the district will prevent transgender athletes from participating in girls' sports and it will be updating guidelines around locker rooms and restrooms to align with federal mandates. The letter was written by a concerned citizen and backed by all five members of the board. When asked, district staff were unaware of any transgender students in the district in general or participating in athletics in the district.
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Grant Co. road construction season starts March 10
Feb. 26—EPHRATA — A section of Westshore Drive is scheduled for a complete rebuild in 2025, and upgrades are planned for a section of Stratford Road. Westshore Drive construction begins March 10. A pedestrian trail and traffic circles will be added in Desert Aire, and a third section of Drumheller Road will be graded. Those are among the road improvement projects scheduled for Grant County in 2025. The work on Westshore Drive was originally planned for 2026, but Grant County Engineer David Bren said funding for the project became available sooner than expected. "It's 2 miles of road on Westshore that is going to be reconstructed," Bren said. "Unfortunately, it'll be difficult for a while, but once it's all done it will be beautiful. But it will be difficult." The section of Westshore Drive will be rebuilt, with the paving removed and the roadbed upgraded. Sidewalks, curbs and gutters will be installed. That may mean that section of the road has to be closed occasionally, he said. "The contractor is going to do their best to keep one side (of the road) open, and then do all the work on one side, then go to the other side. But there are going to be points where it may be difficult to do everything on one side. You may have to cut across and (work on) both lanes," Bren said. The Moses Lake School District planned to build a new elementary school at the intersection of Westshore Drive and Road 4 Northeast, a project that's still pending. Bren said the upgrades to Westshore are independent of the MLSD's plans. "The choice to do the Westshore project was not predicated on there being an elementary school there. In fact, this project was already planned out, scoped out, and the grant was funded before (the proposed elementary school) being there," Bren said. The sections of Westshore Drive immediately north and south of the construction zone already have been repaved and have sidewalks, he said. This project connects all those sections. Total project cost is about $3.63 million. Construction is projected to take 70 working days, about late June. The section of Stratford Road from Road 20 Northeast to the railroad crossing, about 3 miles, will be repaved. Originally, it was scheduled for 2026, but Bren said that was another case where funding changed the timetable. "We've got to do Phase 3 before Phase 2, because of the funding (requirements) on Phase 3," Bren said. "We've got to get it done this year." Project cost was not available. Drumheller Road is not really a road, at least not yet. This will be the third year of what Bren called "rough grading" along the Drumheller Road corridor. "Two years ago, we cleared the north end, about 4 miles. Then last year in October, we cleared the south end, about 3 miles," Bren said. "Phase 3 is clearing and grading of the center. It's about a mile, but it's the most difficult portion." The Ice Age is still making its presence felt in that section, he said. "There are a bunch of what are called glacial erratic," he said. "The glaciers pushed (the rocks) here, then they melted and all those big rocks fell down. Well guess what? A Bunch of them fell right there." Drumheller connects Dodson Road with Hiawatha Road, providing an alternative route between Ephrata and Mae Valley. "Hopefully, by the end of the year that will be done too. You'll have a 60-foot-wide, roughly graded corridor," Bren said. "Phase 4, we bring in more gravel — we've got to get it to the point where it's a decent gravel road," he said. Eventually, Drumheller will get a chip-seal coating, he said, but completion is still a few years away. Project cost was not available. A pedestrian trail and traffic circles will be installed in Desert Aire along Desert Aire Drive. Both cars and pedestrians use Desert Aire Drive, and Bren said the goal is to separate them. Project cost is about $340,000, with $294,100 coming from a federal grant. The new trail will extend from the intersection at State Route 243 and Desert Aire Drive to the boat launch at the Columbia River. Along with the trail traffic circles will be added at five intersections. Traffic circles have the same purpose as — but are not — roundabouts, Bren said. The goal is to slow down traffic. The traffic circles in Desert Aire will be designed so that commercial trucks can drive over the edges.
