Lind, Ritzville school boards prepare for upcoming year

The Lind and Ritzville School Boards are preparing for the upcoming school year as construction moves towards completion at Ritzville Grade School and the boards approved budgets during the July 24 meeting.

As students prepare to return to school, the students at Ritzville Grade School will return to find multiple facility updates. Superintendent Matt Ellis explained the majority of the duct work and HVAC installation has been completed, as well as the installation of new doors.

The roofing and window replacement is still being completed, but the project is on task to be done before the start of the Aug. 28 school start date. The construction projects will not only assist with a better learning environment for students, but will also improve the safety of those in the facility.

Ellis said the progress at the facility is on track to be completed on schedule, and he believes the faculty will be pleased with the final product.

As wings of the school are finished, teachers in those classrooms will begin to move back into the facility, with all classrooms expected to be completed prior to the start of the school year.

The Lind and Ritzville boards met prior to the meeting to discuss the upcoming budget. With only slight changes to the amounts budgeted, the higher amounts were based on an increase in enrollment in both districts.

The Lind School Board approved a milk bid from Jim’s Market to supply milk for the upcoming school year. Both the Lind and Ritzville boards approved a fuel bid from Connell Oil for transportation services.

The boards also discussed the possibility of creating a Game Manager position to assist the athletic director by alleviating stress and taking on leadership roles. The individual would assist with safety at sporting events and the cost of the position would be divided between those in the athletic combine.

During the Community Connection, Adams County Sheriff Dale Wagner presented about the services available for the schools through the law enforcement agency.

Wagner has served as sheriff for the past two years, and during that time, he stated the agency has done a lot of great things and continues to become a part of the community.

One of the most important and exciting aspects of ACSO is the addition of a K-9 unit. The K-9 program’s purpose is to keep methamphetamines out of the schools and help the staff locate drugs on campus.

Wagner explained the school districts are welcomed and encouraged to contact ACSO about having the K-9 unit come into the school to do a search. He stated the department will get the unit out there as soon as possible, and within a day of contact, if possible.

With the use of the dog, Wagner said the Adams County Jail has also been able to patrol more effectively and they have reduced the amount of narcotics coming into the facility.

Wagner said the job of ACSO is to protect the students and their futures. ACSO has been working on hiring locals in order to improve interaction with the community and increase the longevity of the deputies with the department.

The emphasis of the department is to improve community safety and help clean up towns, Wagner said, and they are there to help in any way that they can.

In terms of the school districts, Wagner said the DARE program is a missing component that he would like to see brought back.

Ritzville Public Library Director Kylie Fullmer presented to the board and thanked them for partnering with the library to allow them to use space at Lind-Ritzville High School while construction was occurring at the library building.

Fullmer said she would like to research potential future partnerships with the school to help improve access to resources at both facilities. The school board directors agreed and Fullmer will present the ideas during a future meeting.

The Ritzville Public Library staff is moving back into the downtown building and opening up to the public on Aug. 7. Fullmer invited the boards of directors to attend a grand re-opening on Sept. 2 at 10 a.m.

The Lind and Ritzville school boards will meet again on Aug. 28 and will approve the final draft of the Athletic Combine Agreement between Lind, Ritzville, Sprague, Washtucna and Kahlotus.

The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Ritzville Grade School.