MOSES LAKE - A community forum for parents and residents living

within the Moses Lake School District is planned for April 21.

The forums are intended to "increase participation and

communication with the community and the Moses Lake School District

board," according to a school district statement.

MOSES LAKE - A community forum for parents and residents living within the Moses Lake School District is planned for April 21.

The forums are intended to "increase participation and communication with the community and the Moses Lake School District board," according to a school district statement.

Typically the agenda is driven by participants, explained Monte Redal, the school district's deputy superintendent.

The forum is from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at Larson Heights Elementary School's library, located at 700 Lindberg Lane, in Moses Lake. Refreshments are provided.

The forum is part of a series the district holds throughout the year.

If audience members do not bring up discussion topics, the board does.

The board previously discussed the district's growth, its need for a long-range facilities plan and future projects, Redal said.

Past discussions items included individual issues later handled privately, growth and change within the district, redistricting and Midway Learning Center becoming a neighborhood school. Midway was a choice school. 

Usually the meeting format begins with questions from the public.

"It's been working pretty well in some cases," Redal said of the forums.

In some cases, as many as 40 or 50 people attended the forums.

He found the forums are better attended if held in conjunction with an event at school and refreshments are provided.

The school district started the forums after some school board members learned how well it worked in other districts.

"They thought they were very helpful," Redal said. "The board has tried different ways to seek input from the community. This is their most recent version of that."

For more information, call superintendent Michelle Price or Redal at 509-766-2650.