Medical Lake board OKs summer school program

It was one of the faster meetings in memory as the Medical Lake School Board made quick work of an essentially pro forma agenda on Tuesday, June 25.

With Superintendent Tim Ames absent, it fell on Assistant Superintendent Kim Headrick to answer questions.

The big news was the surprise retirement of Hallett Elementary School Principal Cindy McSmith. Headrick noted that McSmith had been in education for 40 years, 18 of those with Medical Lake.

A replacement principal, Kristin Kuster, has already been hired, Headrick said.

In other business, the board re-approved a student sports insurance program, a rollover bid with Food Services of America and Terry’s Dairy, and approved the surplus of outdated textbooks and obsolete computer equipment.

The board also approved a modified summer school curriculum that will be compressed into two sessions per day between July 22 and August 8. A morning session is available between 8:30 –11:30 a.m., and an afternoon session between noon – 3 p.m.

While the emphasis is on middle school and high school math during the summer program, other subjects will be made available for remedial training including English, science, history and health, according to a brochure.

Students who are working on credit recovery for graduation will be required to attend at least one session each day, Headrick told the board, rather than working online, which has been challenging in the past.

“We’re really excited about increasing our opportunities for students on credit recovery,” Headrick said.

The board also voted to move the next regularly scheduled meeting to July 30 at 4 p.m.

A budget hearing will precede the meeting at 3:45 p.m.

Lee Hughes can be reached at [email protected].