MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake School District is moving to add assistant principals at seven of its largest elementary schools, a step district leaders say is driven by rising student support needs and longstanding requests from staff — not by cuts to classroom teachers.

The district has posted assistant principal openings at Sage Point, Garden Heights, Lakeview Terrace, Longview, Peninsula, Groff, and Park Orchard elementaries, all of which will have enrollments ranging from roughly 316 to 449 students in the 2025–26 school year, according to district data.

MLSD Director of Public Relations Ryan Shannon said the added positions reflect what educators have been asking for over multiple years.

“Teaching staff have been asking for additional administrative support for years,” Shannon said. “These positions strengthen school leadership capacity and address the increasing operational, safety and student support demands in our schools.”

Superintendent Carol Lewis echoed that message in a recent district press release, noting that the responsibilities placed on schools have expanded significantly.

“Strong classrooms remain the center of every staffing conversation we have,” Lewis said. “We want to ensure our schools have the operational and student support systems necessary to help students and staff succeed.”

Funding concerns addressed

District leaders also sought to correct misinformation circulating in the community – particularly claims that teachers are being cut to pay for the new administrative roles.

Shannon said the rumor is unfounded.

“The additional assistant principal positions are unrelated financially to classroom staffing needs,” he said.

According to the district, teacher staffing is determined by student enrollment and funded through different state and federal allocations than administrative positions.

Shannon said the two staffing areas are “completely different pockets of money,” and that the district cannot legally shift administrative funding into teacher salaries or vice versa.

The district also reiterated that no teachers have lost their jobs, though some may shift grade levels or buildings as enrollment changes, a routine process in most Washington districts.

Why the positions are needed

District leaders, including Shannon and Lewis, say the new assistant principals will help address increased behavioral and social‑emotional needs, higher demands for student supervision and safety response, attendance and reengagement efforts, special program coordination and daily campus operations and compliance requirements.

“These positions will play a critical role in creating safe, supportive, and well‑managed schools where both students and staff can thrive,” Shannon said.

Lewis added that the district is planning for the long term, especially as larger elementary schools become necessary to maintain financial stability.

“This decision is in alignment with the essential practice of determining staffing based on enrollment numbers,” she said. “We now have clear and objective parameters on principal staffing at our schools.”

Signs of recovery

The district also pointed to broader signs of stabilization following the 2024 budget shortfall. MLSD has begun restoring programs and staffing, including physical education, music, library services and other supports.

Lewis said those improvements reflect commitments made to the community.

“The public and our staff made it very clear they value PE and music opportunities for students,” she said. “We are working to responsibly expand those opportunities while also being mindful of enrollment, facilities, scheduling, and long-term financial stability.”

District officials anticipate hiring around three to four more PE teachers and two to three more music teachers for the 2026-27 school year.

The district has also recently posted new teaching positions, which leaders say contradicts claims that educators are being cut to fund administrative roles.