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Superintendent: modest test‑score gains, substitute staffing limits and new snow plan discussed
Summary
Superintendent Carol presented state assessment trends showing modest districtwide growth, described substitute staffing rules/pay and a new in‑house snow removal plan, and announced surplus property bid deadlines and payroll savings.
The Moses Lake School Board heard a multi‑topic report from Superintendent Carol on Nov. 21 that covered state assessment results, substitute staffing and pay, a new snow‑removal plan, and notices for surplus property bidding.
Carol said statewide report‑card data show modest improvements in English language arts, math and science and an increase in district student growth percentiles from 2023 to 2024. She emphasized these assessments are districtwide benchmarks from the Washington State report card rather than measures of individual students.
On staffing, the superintendent explained the district’s substitute processes: the published substitute pay rate is $180 per day (about $25.71 per hour), and the district uses Red Rover for substitute scheduling. To avoid triggering employer‑paid benefits under the School Employees Benefits Board, the district applies a 60‑hour monthly cap and monitors a 630‑hour annual threshold; the district currently has 175 substitutes on the roster and 82 certified paraeducators who can be shifted into classrooms when needed. Carol said the district’s average daily substitute fill rate is about 84.1 percent.
On operations, the district will rent plows and use in‑house equipment for snow removal rather than contracting the service; staff cautioned that significant snowfall on a school day could require closures until crews clear parking lots while the new process is tested.
The superintendent also announced that sealed bids for two surplus parcels will be received at the district office until 2 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 6, with the board expected to consider approvals at the second December meeting. She reported payroll expenditures for September–November 2024 were roughly $3.5–$3.6 million lower than the same period in 2023, a reduction staff attributed to staffing adjustments.
Board members and the student representative offered thanks and holiday wishes at the meeting’s close.
Context and next steps: staff will continue recruitment and scheduling work for substitutes, monitor the snow‑removal rollout, and post bid results for surplus property at the December meeting.
