Pullman Schools introduce new assistant superintendent, update summer school, ELD and safety plans

Pullman School District presented staffing introductions and program updates at its June 11 board meeting, including the public introduction of Assistant Superintendent Ryan Mulvey and Pullman High assistant principal/athletics director Evan Hecker, plans for summer programming and Extended School Year services, and a district safety overview that referenced upcoming compliance with Alyssa’s Law (Senate Bill 5004).

Superintendent Bob Maxwell invited Ryan Mulvey to the dais and noted the board had approved Mulvey’s hire at a prior meeting. Mulvey told the board he spent “the last 11 years … at West Valley High School,” including seven years as principal, and said he and his fiancé have “secured a place for living and purchased a plot of land” in Pullman and plan to remain long term.

Evan Hecker, introduced for the restructured Pullman High School assistant principal/activities and athletics director position, said he was the founding principal of Kamiak Elementary and described the school community’s recognition after Kamiak was named a Washington State Distinguished School. He said he looks forward to promoting “student voice, school spirit, and a strong sense of belonging at PHS.”

Roberta Kramer presented summer school details: high‑school credit‑recovery sessions will run July 1–21, Tuesday through Thursday, 10 a.m.–2 p.m., at Pullman High School; Kramer said there will be no elementary summer school this year because of budget constraints. Extended School Year (ESY) services for students receiving special education are scheduled July 14–30, Monday through Thursday, with preschool/elementary ESY at Kamiak (one teacher and four paraeducators) and a middle/high school ESY class at Pullman High (one teacher and three paraeducators). Kramer addressed the $150 course fee for credit recovery, saying the district does not profit and that staff time and vendor costs (Apex) drive pricing; the district offered an early‑registration discount.

Kramer and colleagues also presented the English Language Development (ELD) program update. The district reported growth of 22 multilingual learners since 2020, current staffing of approximately 2.4 teachers and two paraeducators in ELD, and a state allocation for ELD of $283,818; reported ELD expenditures to date were about $238,000 with Title III federal funding of $40,000 and $5,151 expended so far, with hopes for federal carryover to support professional learning.

Justin Polstead gave a safety overview covering annual Safe Schools online training, HVAC and indoor‑air monitoring, green cleaning, playground and field inspections, building controlled‑entry systems and security cameras, elevator and alarm inspections, quarterly building safety committee meetings, partnership with a school resource officer (Scott Patrick) and coordination with local law enforcement, Washington State Patrol vehicle inspections, and drug/alcohol testing for bus drivers. Polstead said the district is preparing for Alyssa’s Law (SB 5004) implementation in October 2025 and is working with IT and other teams to meet requirements.

Why it matters: New senior staff and school leaders shape district priorities; summer programming and ESY affect families' summer plans and services for students with special needs; ELD staffing and funding affect services to growing numbers of multilingual learners; safety and Alyssa’s Law compliance affect emergency response systems across district sites.

Board members congratulated the new hires and asked clarifying questions about timelines and program costs. Staff said outcomes of summer programming and ESY will be reported after the summer session concludes.