Several parents and grandparents told the Moses Lake School District Board of Directors on Oct. 2 that recent cuts to elementary schedules and library services are harming students and should be restored.

Shannon Hyer, a parent of three who said her children attend district elementary schools, told the board, “These kids are more than a number on a spreadsheet or a or a statistic on a graph. They are our community's future doctors, lawyers, farmers, teachers, business owners.” Hyer said Groff students are “losing an additional hour every day of instruction time” because of altered arrival and dismissal logistics and asked the board to “restore the full elementary programs.”

Larry Liedebauer, a grandparent and former teacher who said he has volunteered in kindergarten and first-grade classrooms, urged reinstating music, physical education and a librarian at each school. “In the elementary grades, our students need music instruction, physical education, and a librarian at each school,” Liedebauer said, and asked the board to “take the necessary steps to reinstate the full instruction day for our elementary schools.”

Denise Herring, a grandparent and PTO vice president, told the board the district’s financial position following the recently passed levy means resources should be used to restore programming. “Because our community support has passed the levy, the district now has strong financial shape,” Herring said, adding that those resources “should be used to restore the full school schedule and programming that our kids deserve.”

Multiple public speakers said students currently cannot check books out to take home and described negative effects on literacy. Hyer said students “haven't been able to bring home books since the district made cuts over a year ago,” and said that lack of access to books risks students’ literacy progress.

Board members and Superintendent Lewis responded that the district hears the concerns and is working on options. Lewis said the district has proposed both a solution that would require additional funding and “a cost neutral solution that would bring kids back to school at 9:00.” She also told the board the district is trying to craft solutions that will not create financial instability.

The board did not adopt a change to elementary start times or restore library staffing in this meeting. Superintendent Lewis said the district plans to analyze options, continue bargaining discussions with the Moses Lake Education Association and bring proposals back to the board in a subsequent meeting.

Community members present asked for a public meeting with the superintendent and the union and asked the board to prioritize returning instructional time and library access.

Ending: The board heard repeated requests from parents and grandparents to restore elementary instructional minutes and library services; district leaders said they will continue to develop options and return with proposals for board consideration.