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Board hears survey results as options to combine athletics with neighboring districts; potential cost estimated at $210,000
Summary
Staff presented community and student surveys about possible consolidation; 38% of community respondents favored exploring combinations, and board members raised concerns about sports costs, citing a $210,000 estimate to run athletics across three schools if consolidated.
District staff summarized small-sample survey results about possible consolidation and athletics. The staff member (S2) said 13 community members and 22 students responded; community responses were mostly positive or neutral, with about 38% favoring exploring combinations with other schools and 30% preferring to stay with current arrangements.
"It was about, let's see, 38% said that they wanted to explore combining with other schools compared to 30% said they wanted to stay in Lynn Ritzville, Washington Harrington," the staff member (S2) reported. The staff member also noted student responses showed strong extracurricular participation: of the 22 students who responded, 17 reported involvement in FFA, band, ASB, FBLA or yearbook.
Board members discussed athletic classifications, whether a district could drop divisions to remain competitive, and the fiscal implications of a consolidation. One board member raised an estimated combined athletics cost: "$210,000 for the sports program because I had 3 schools," which prompted questions about whether leaving or joining districts could raise costs for remaining schools.
The board asked staff to gather further details; no motion to pursue consolidation was taken at this meeting.
