Latest news with #SpokanePublicSchools
Yahoo
24 minutes ago
- General
- Yahoo
'That's their future': Elementary students consulted to help City of Spokane with urban planning project
Jun. 9—Francis Scott Elementary's fifth-grade class peered through the chain-link fence surrounding their playground Monday to get a closer look at the lot just a block north of the school. Students spouted lofty ideas for what could fit in the plot of dead grass: An indoor swimming pool. A gaga ball court. A gaming center featuring retro video games. They retreated from the glaring mid-day sun to the school's colorful library to begin cycling through stations involving Minecraft, Legos and the urban design platform Streetmix, creatively reimagining their schoolyard and the area surrounding it. This student workshop is the result of a collaboration between The City of Spokane Planning Team and Spokane Public Schools aimed at engaging students about community needs. Leading the session was Carlos Felipe Pardo, a mobility and urban transport policy consultant who has worked on projects with the United Nations and the World Bank. Having previously redesigned his hometown in Colombia using a video game, he enlisted his son, whom he refers to as "a genius in Minecraft," to help him understand the game. Then, he helped develop a two-day curriculum for inspiring children to care about infrastructure. "Our role is to just create the spark and systematize everything that we come up with," Pardo said. "We're going to show it to everybody and say, 'This is what children would like to see there.'" The event is part of the Smart Growth America Community Connectors Program, a national initiative helping small- and mid-sized cities restore communities impacted by divisive infrastructure. "The classic example is federal highways that divide communities," said Justyn Huckleberry, a projects and research associate at the New Urban Mobility Alliance, a partner of the program. "And so I-90 is an example." Though Interstate 90 stimulated the growth of industry and connected towns to Spokane, its construction came at the cost of community in the East Central nneighborhood. The historically diverse and working-class neighborhood was cut in half by the freeway, displacing residents and forcing small businesses to close as traffic redirected drivers away from their neighborhood. Frances Scott Elementary, which is located less than 500 feet from the freeway, is just one part of the community still affected by the construction. Eleven-year-old Juanita Geary has big ideas of what could fill the empty lot by the school. "Probably a mall or a homeless shelter," Juanita said. Sketching a map of the school in blue pen, she also envisioned larger sidewalks with fewer bumps for better accessibility for people in wheelchairs. Charity Resian from The Carl Maxey Center attended Monday's session to facilitate the students' street designs on Streetmix and hear the ideas they have for their school. As a part of the community connectors program, she immerses herself in the East Central neighborhood to ensure community members' needs are listened to and voiced. A key part of reviving community is educating children, which is why events like these are crucial, she said. "It's important that they know that they are included from a very young age, that their voices matter," she said. "And so such an activity is very, very important, and it's very powerful in a way of ensuring that these young kids grow knowing that they are part of this community." Maren Murphy, a principal planner with the city's Planning & Economic Development Department involved with the project, suggested that the students' active imaginations will drum up ideas adults did not consider. "The idea of bringing children, youth into planning is something that we are exploring and trying to do more of to think about the future," she said. "That's their future, and giving them a bit of say in their future is a really important part of what we want to do with planning."
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Conservative incumbent files to retain seat on Central Valley School Board, running against former ally
May 8—Incumbent Pam Orebaugh has filed to retain her seat on the Central Valley School Board. Orebaugh, a conservative, will have at least one challenger in her attempt: Spokane County GOP Chairman Rob Linebarger, who ran against her for the seat four years ago but stepped aside and endorsed her at the time. Linebarger has since been entangled with the school district legally, facing $22,500 in court sanctions stemming from a 2021 recall attempt against a trio of more progressive board members — Cindy McMullen, Keith Clark and Debra Long. The latter two lost reelection bids in 2023, while the former still sits on the board. The recall, which a judge ruled "improper," in part stemmed from the district's enforcement of pandemic-era mask and vaccine mandates, something Orebaugh also opposed at the time. Now, with the COVID-19 pandemic behind her, she's running her campaign focusing on kids' success, parental rights and continued accountability and transparency, she said in an interview Thursday. Residents have until Friday to file for office. Several seats on area school boards remain unconstested, including those in Spokane Public Schools, Mead School District, East Valley School District and Medical Lake School District. Elena Perry's work is funded in part by members of the Spokane community via the Community Journalism and Civic Engagement Fund. This story can be republished by other organizations for free under a Creative Commons license. For more information on this, please contact our newspaper's managing editor.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pacific Northwest Qualifier pledges to pay for Madison Elementary volleyball courts if voters pass $200m SPS bond
Mar. 19—A national volleyball organization that serves up millions of dollars to Spokane's economy each year is poised to help rejuvenate Madison Elementary School. But local voters will first have to pass an ambitious $200 million bond for Spokane Public Schools that will buoy projects across the city. This weekend, Spokane will host the Pacific National Qualifier, which brings around 800 teams to the area to compete in a large-scale volleyball tournament. The tournament fills nearly every hotel in the county, according to previous reporting from The Spokesman-Review, and typically infuses an estimated $44 million into the local economy. PNQ pledged to pay for eight volleyball courts in a "field house" at the Madison school site in exchange for free use during the tournament season. If the project advances, Madison would be razed, and a larger building would stand in its place to house not only a school, but other community-based events. The PNQ effort mostly relies on the passage of the bond, which requires 60% of the vote. If passed, taxpayers can expect to pay roughly six to 31 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value in the next 20 years depending on the year, with an average payment of 23 cents per $1,000, according to Spokane Public Schools. Other contributors to the project include Hoopfest and Boys & Girls Clubs of Spokane County. "What I think is a greater thing, and what we are about, is for kids to be in there, doing things, being active, being productive and doing positive things," PNQ's director, April Stark, said. "Something like that, whether it's volleyball, basketball, pickleball, tennis, whatever they can do inside this facility." March sports attract more than 16,000 athletes, 525 coaches and officials, 37,000 spectators and more than 27,000 hotel room night bookings, according to previous Spokesman-Review reporting. Spokane schools spokesperson Ryan Lancaster added that there's an increasing demand within Spokane for indoor courts, and more space is needed to meet those needs, he said. Stark is a staunch advocate for the bond — she's married to a middle school principal and believes the updates could serve everyone. "Because March is not just a 'volleyball' time ... Finding ways for everybody to fit has been kind of a challenge. So we would love to grow, and this space would be wonderful for us for our event. Other things would have to hopefully evolve from that as well," Stark said. "We're always kind of moving and shifting depending on availability of facilities." There isn't a plan set in place for PNQ if the bond doesn't pass, Stark said, but they're "committed to partnering one way or another." The bond would be placed on the ballot in conjunction with a parks levy. If that levy is passed, it would give Spokane parks another $240 million over the next 20 years and be the first systemwide investment in neighborhood parks since 1999 and include investments at all 90 parks. But if only one measure passes, not both, projects would have to be modified, postponed, adjusted, delayed or scrapped, according to Lancaster. Independent projects would still move forward. Bambi Howe, a 35-year Madison kindergarten teacher, believes the bond passage is essential for the well-being of her students to learn in a proper environment. Since the start of her tenure, she's watched the building slowly deteriorate, she said Wednesday. "I came in one day last spring and (the ceiling) was literally pouring water. I had things damaged and ruined," Howe said. "I had to teach kindergarten on a cart for a while." There is no air conditioning system at Madison, so classrooms can reach up to 90 degrees. The heat makes it difficult for kids and teachers to focus, Howe said. When touring other schools, it's frustrating to see what Madison has the potential to be, she added. "Rebuilding the school would change the quality of life," Howe said. "I'm blessed I get to do what I love every day ... We can share our dream, but the rest is up to the community." If voters don't approve the measure, "We will make the best of it," she said. Stacey Masterson, a third-generation Madison attendee, lives near Franklin Park, which is part of the improvement plan tied to the parks levy. She often takes her children to play there and enjoys listening to local baseball games from her backyard. She wants her kids to be able to enjoy more of the area, Masterson said. Right now, she has to make multiple trips home so her children can use the restroom and isn't comfortable with the level of lighting surrounding the park. And she wants the new school, its field house and the adjacent park to reflect what she used to enjoy as a child — a safe, fun place to play.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
How one of Spokane's biggest drivers of economic dollars could be part of a north Spokane elementary school's revamp
Mar. 19—A national volleyball organization that serves up millions of dollars to Spokane's economy each year is poised to help rejuvenate Madison Elementary School. But local voters will first have to pass an ambitious $200 million bond for Spokane Public Schools that will buoy projects across the city. This weekend, Spokane will host the Pacific National Qualifier, which brings around 800 teams to the area to compete in a large-scale volleyball tournament. The tournament fills nearly every hotel in the county, according to previous reporting from The Spokesman-Review, and typically infuses an estimated $44 million into the local economy. PNQ pledged to pay for eight volleyball courts in a "field house" at the Madison school site in exchange for free use during the tournament season. If the project advances, Madison would be razed, and a larger building would stand in its place to house not only a school, but other community-based events. The PNQ effort mostly relies on the passage of the bond, which requires 60% of the vote. If passed, taxpayers can expect to pay roughly 6 to 31 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value in the next 20 years depending on the year, with an average payment of 23 cents per $1,000, according to Spokane Public Schools. Other contributors to the project include Hoopfest and Boys & Girls Clubs of Spokane County. "What I think is a greater thing, and what we are about, is for kids to be in there, doing things, being active, being productive and doing positive things," said PNQ's Director, April Stark. "Something like that, whether it's volleyball, basketball, pickleball, tennis, whatever they can do inside this facility." March sports attract more than 16,000 athletes, 525 coaches and officials, 37,000 spectators and more than 27,000 hotel room night bookings, according to previous Spokesman-Review reporting. Spokane schools spokesperson Ryan Lancaster added that there's an increasing demand within Spokane for indoor courts, and more space is needed to meet those needs, he said. Stark is a staunch advocate for the bond — she's married to a middle school principal and believes the updates could serve everyone. "Because March is not just a 'volleyball' time ... Finding ways for everybody to fit has been kind of a challenge. So we would love to grow, and this space would be wonderful for us for our event. Other things would have to hopefully evolve from that as well," Stark said. "We're always kind of moving and shifting depending on availability of facilities." There isn't a plan set in place for PNQ yet if the bond doesn't pass, Stark said, but they're "committed to partnering one way or another." The bond would be placed on the ballot in conjunction with a parks levy. If that levy is passed, it would give Spokane parks another $240 million over the next 20 years and be the first systemwide investment in neighborhood parks since 1999 and include investments on all 90 parks. But if only one measure passes, not both, projects would have to be modified, postponed, adjusted, delayed or scrapped, according to Lancaster. Independent projects would still move forward. Bambi Howe, a 35-year Madison kindergarten teacher, believes the bond passage is essential for the well-being of her students to learn in a proper environment. Since the start of her tenure, she's watched the building slowly deteriorate, she said Wednesday. "I came in one day last spring and (the ceiling) was literally pouring water. I had things damaged and ruined," Howe said. "I had to teach kindergarten on a cart for a while." There is no air conditioning system at Madison, so classrooms can reach up to 90 degrees. The heat makes it difficult for kids and teachers to focus, Howe said. When touring other schools, it's frustrating to see what Madison has the potential to be, she added. "Rebuilding the school would change the quality of life," Howe said. " I'm blessed I get to do what I love every day ... We can share our dream, but the rest is up to the community." If voters don't approve the measure, "We will make the best of it," she said. Stacey Masterson, a third-generation Madison attendee, lives near Franklin Park, which is part of the improvement plan tied to the parks levy. She often takes her children to play there and enjoys listening to local baseball games from her backyard. She wants her kids to be able to enjoy more of the area, Masterson said. Right now, she has to make multiple trips home so her children can use the restroom and isn't comfortable with the level of lighting surrounding the park. And she wants the new school, its field house and the adjacent park to reflect what she used to enjoy as a child — a safe, fun place to play.
Yahoo
23-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
'A rising tide lifts all boats': How schools, parks rallied support from outside organizations to chip in to future $440M tax ask
Feb. 22—While Spokane Public Schools and Spokane Parks and Recreation are proposing two lofty tax proposals generating a combined $440 million from Spokane property owners with the promise of more than 200 projects in each corner of the city, there are outsiders willing to chip in, too. Spokane schools and parks have proposed separate ballot items with a some projects that they'll each chip in for and then share the space. Included in the proposal are about 10 outside organizations pitching in a combined $11 million for turf and tennis, for example. In some cases, they build off existing relationships between the government agencies and nonprofits, as is the case with the agreement between Spokane Youth Sports Association. "A rising tide lifts all boats," said Ben Walker, association executive director. The nonprofit, nearly 60 years old, has an existing partnership with each entity: renting gym and park space in the past. Walker said linking arms in this proposal takes their relationship a step further, to "serve more kids" by making sports easier to access. The association plans to chip in up to $5 million to the package for the construction of a multisport complex at Ferris High School. SYSA has long been looking to build such a complex, embroiled in a long legal battle over its intent to develop fields in the Glenrose neighborhood, about a mile and a half from Ferris. There's a lack of play space in the southern part of the city, Walker said. "We have lobbied and worked hard to try to respond to that need as a nonprofit, trying to purchase and develop our own space up there," Walker said. "That's been a challenge in some ways, which we understand, and there's an opportunity now to jump into a venture like this where we suddenly have access to 10 more fields instead of what we would have been able to provide on our own somewhere." Walker said the association had no intention of "abandoning" the project, noting that the lawsuit from the Glenrose association is still ongoing. "We've not abandoned Glenrose at this time, and we're looking at all opportunities to expand services for kids to play and be active," Walker said. The proposed Ferris plans include the addition of three rectangular turf fields for football, soccer and lacrosse, for example, with lighting to allow after-hours play and a turf baseball field. School sports, Spokane Youth Sports Association and the community could all use the space under terms to be outlined as partners hammer out their agreement. School Superintendent Adam Swinyard said school teams would get priority for their practices. Two of the most expensive projects in the proposal are the complete reconstruction of Madison and Adams elementary schools. These schools would become more "community centers," Swinyard said, than traditional elementary schools. Madison would have a separate fieldhouse with courts paid for by Pacific Northwest Qualifier volleyball tournament in exchange for free use during their competitions, with the Spokane Hoopfest Association chipping in another $1 million for this project. In both schools would be a built-in Boys and Girls Club center to offer after -school child care at the school rather than in a separate building. The Boys and Girls Club has a similar agreement with Mead and West Valley school districts, running clubs out of Ness Elementary and the former Northwood Middle School with an on-site staff member working during school. "Not only being at the schools so kids have somewhere to go after school, this also gives Boys and Girls a closer reach being on site at those schools instead of a site they bus to or walk to," Boys and Girls Club CEO Wendy Drum said. The organization has committed the proceeds of a building on Providence Avenue they intend to sell, Drum said. It was an old Catholic school where the organization first settled 25 years ago. The Pacific Northwest arm of the United States Tennis Association, which hosts the U.S. Open, reached out to the school district wanting a piece of the action. The 120-year old nonprofit seeks to proliferate tennis around the nation. Tennis players, Swinyard said, are "at war" with fellow racketsport pickleball, Washington's official state sport that's increasing in popularity. A decrease in tennis popularity means less sponsorships for the U.S. Open, where the association generates its revenue, Swinyard said. "The popularity of tennis is going down, and so is their revenue," Swinyard said. "So they have an initiative where they are going out throughout the country, looking to promote tennis and try to build back tennis." The tennis association intends to pitch in an estimated $1.5 million for a structure around Shadle Park High School's tennis courts as well as a resurface. They'll pay to operate the indoor courts, which will also be available for public play through the parks department. The association goes on to offer tennis programming for school kids and lessons for physical education teachers to include tennis curriculum. Each tax initiative is slated to be on ballots in November, pending each agencies' board approval. After that, schools and parks will iron out more of the details in their plans, including timelines, potential state match, and terms of use with outside partners. School officials are proposing a $200 million bond, for which taxpayers can expect to pay roughly 6 to 31 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value depending on the year, with an average payment of 23 cents per $1,000, according to Cindy Coleman, chief finance and business services officer for Spokane Public Schools. Debt repayments expiring over the years means a property owner's rate would increase by 2 cents in the first year of collection should 60% of voters agree to the initiative. The city parks levy would raise $240 million in property taxes over the next 20 years from city taxpayers, at a rate of 27 cents per $1,000 of assessed value. Levies require a simple majority to pass. Elena Perry's work is funded in part by members of the Spokane community via the Community Journalism and Civic Engagement Fund. This story can be republished by other organizations for free under a Creative Commons license. For more information on this, please contact our newspaper's managing editor.
