The Cheney School Board unaminously approved a resolution that presents the district’s legislative objectives for the 2016 session at its Jan. 27 meeting. President Henry Browne was absent.
The district’s legislative goals include asking the Legislature to fully implement the McCleary requirements, establish and fund a competitive market rate for certified and classified staff in order to attract and sustain employees, ensure a levy system that maintains local control and continue with Levy Equalization Assistance and allow school construction bond projects to pass with a simple majority instead of a supermajority.
Superintendent Dr. Deb Clemens explained the objectives line up with the Northeast Washington’s Educational Service District 101’s legislative priorities, which are shared with 58 other regional school districts.
“This is a great opportunity to be on the same page with the other school districts and go to Olympia to make something happen,” director Mitch Swenson added.
The board also unanimously adopted its “Essential Foundations,” goals and guidelines. The foundations set out its goals, as well as define expectations and continuous progress for students, staff, district leadership, parents and the community. It also explains how the board, community and parents will communicate with each other and how the district will institute stewardship and planning initiatives.
In reports, Kassidy Probert, executive director of finance, said the district is currently at 4,306 full-time equivalent students, a 19 student decline from December. He explained the district usually has an “uptick” of enrollment in January, though the district is still 23 students above the budget for the month.
In other business:
• Student board representative Bridget Calvert announced that students raised $2,600 for Special Olympics Washington during the Jan. 14 basketball Spirit Game between Cheney and Medical Lake
Al Stover can be reached at [email protected].
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