Sabin resigns, Lewis named interim MLSD super
CHERYL SCHWEIZER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 year, 5 months AGO
Carol Lewis, right, was named interim superintendent of the Moses Lake School District at the regular Moses Lake School Board meeting Thursday. Board chair Kirryn Jensen, left, reads the announcement.
CHERYL SCHWEIZER/COLUMBIABASINHERALD
Senior Reporter Cheryl Schweizer is a journalist with more than 30 years of experience serving small communities in the Pacific Northwest. She began her post-high-school education at Treasure Valley Community College and enerned her journalism degree at Oregon State University. After working for multiple publications, she has settled down at the Columbia Basin Herald and has been a staple of the newsroom for more than a decade. Schweizer’s dedication to her communities and profession has earned her the nickname “The Baroness of Bylines.” She covers a variety of beats including health, business and various municipalities. | June 28, 2024 3:05 AM
MOSES LAKE — Acting Moses Lake School District Superintendent Carol Lewis has been selected as the interim superintendent for the 2024-25 school year. Lewis was appointed to the position after Moses Lake School Board members accepted the resignation of former superintendent Monty Sabin.
Board chair Kirryn Jensen read a statement prior to asking for a roll call vote on Sabin’s resignation.
“The Moses Lake School Board and Superintendent Monty Sabin would like to announce the superintendent’s resignation from his position effective June 30, 2024,” the statement said. “The Board of Directors thanks him for his time and service to the district. The Board of Directors will work diligently to find a replacement that is both qualified and shares our passion for the Moses Lake School District.”
The vote to accept Sabin’s resignation was 4-0, with Jensen and board members Paul Hill, Amy Brietenstein and Carla Urias all voting yes. The fifth board seat is vacant following the resignation of Kevin Fuhr on June 21 due to health concerns.
Sabin was placed on administrative leave May 14, following the discovery that accounting errors and declining enrollment, among other factors, led to the draining of most of the district’s reserves. That followed the rejection of an educational programs and operations levy request for the second time by district voters in April.
Lewis was named acting superintendent May 14.
A settlement between Sabin and the district, if any, was not announced.
Jensen read a statement before asking for a vote to confirm Lewis as interim superintendent.
“As most of you know, the board named Carol Lewis Moses Lake School District acting superintendent during rather a complex and financially challenging time,” the statement read. “Over the past several weeks, to address our financial struggles and get us on the right track, she has gone above and beyond.to offer a fresh outlook for our district.”
In her reply, Lewis expressed her gratitude.
“Thank you for putting your trust in me,” Lewis said. “I’m excited for the future.”
Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at [email protected].
ARTICLES BY CHERYL SCHWEIZER
3 arrested in Royal City area thefts case
ROYAL CITY — Three men were arrested and booked into the Grant County Jail on suspicion of possessing stolen property after a search was served on a home near Beverly Thursday.
More park improvements planned for Royal City in ‘26
ROYAL CITY — Lions Park in Royal City now has a soccer field, so city officials will be working on the next phase of improvements in 2026. The first phase of upgrades to Apple Avenue also is scheduled for 2026, and both are among the projects reflected in the city’s 2026 budget. The budget was approved by Royal City City Council members Tuesday.
Sleep Diagnostic Center physician pleads guilty to Medicaid fraud
Charges involve charging Apple Health for recalled, altered CPAP devices
BREWSTER — A Brewster physician who operates a sleep diagnostic clinic in Moses Lake and Wenatchee will be sentenced March 24 as part of a Wednesday plea deal on Medicaid fraud charges.