School boards approve new budget

A budget was approved, milk and bread contracts were signed and tours were planned during the July Lind-Ritzville Schools board meeting Sept. 29.

The Lind and Ritzville school boards gathered inside the Lind-Ritzville Middle School for the second summer meeting of the year. The board members cruised through the agenda as the meeting lasted only 45 minutes.

The 2019-20 budgets were unanimously passed by both school boards. Discussion on the budgets had been held in a past meeting.

According to budget documents, the school co-op’s general fund will start the school year with a balance of $242,115.

Revenue for the year is projected to be $5,137,936, while “total appropriations” and “other financing uses/transfers out” are projected to total $5,180,064. The ending balance for the general fund is projected to be $183,578.

Milk and bread bids approved

Milk contract bids were approved by both boards, and a bread bid was approved by Lind.

Lind accepted bids from Jim’s Market for milk and Franz for bread, while Ritzville accepted a bid from Terry’s Dairy for milk.

The co-op also approved a fuel bid from Connell Oil.

LRHS construction on track, teachers prepare to move in

The construction of the new Lind-Ritzville High School is still on track and is expected to be open in time for the start of the school year, LRS Superintendent Don Vanderholm said at the meeting.

“The furnishings are expected to be moved in by Aug. 12,” Vanderholm said. “That’s good to hear. It really shows we’re getting to the end here.”

A staff tour is scheduled for Monday Aug. 19. On Friday of that week, the staff will be able to move into the building’s offices.

On Aug. 26, classrooms will be open to teachers.

Aug. 26 is also the day of the next school board meeting. If the certificate of occupancy is obtained by that date, the plan is to have the meeting in the new building.

Students will be able to tour the build from Aug. 27-29.

Vanderholm told the board that the plan was to have an open house at the school on Sept. 9. However, after some discussion, it was decided to push it back to Sept. 16 at 6 p.m. to allow more time for landscaping to be completed.