MOSES LAKE — A dispute over attendance at the upcoming Moses Lake High School Homecoming dance evolved into a broader conversation about the relationship between the Moses Lake School District's high school programs, prompting district leaders to launch a review of instructional opportunities and student access across schools. 

After criticism from students, parents and community members, Moses Lake High School Principal Sheila Kries announced Monday that students enrolled at Vanguard Academy and the Digital Learning Center will be allowed to attend the 2026 Homecoming dance without being sponsored by a Moses Lake High School student. 

The decision reverses, for this year's homecoming dance only, a policy approved earlier this year by the Moses Lake High School Associated Student Body. 

"It has come to the attention of our Moses Lake High School Associated Student Body Executive Board that even though the revised guest policy for this year's Homecoming dance was supported by district administration and communicated to the Leadership of Digital Learning and Vanguard Academy last spring, subsequent building-level communication to students at those schools apparently did not occur until we communicated it directly to our students this fall," Kries wrote in a ParentSquare message sent Monday. 

Kries said the exception was made because of the lack of timely notification to Vanguard and Digital Learning students, as well as the absence of a similar fall dance at either program. 

Director of Public Relations Ryan Shannon said the decision to make an exception was made by the six student members of the MLHS ASB Board.  

“ASB students met Monday morning, discussed it, and all six current members of the board were there and made this decision,” Shannon said.   

Under the revised plan, Vanguard and Digital Learning students may purchase their own tickets, complete a guest pass and attend the dance without being accompanied by an MLHS student. Kries emphasized that the accommodation applies only to this year's Homecoming. 

"Future Homecoming dance ticket sales will be open to MLHS students and their guests, and the MLHS Prom is open to members of the MLHS senior class and their guests," she wrote.   

How the controversy began 

The dispute centers on changes made to the MLHS ASB Constitution during an April 20 meeting. 

According to public records obtained by the Columbia Basin Herald, ASB members voted 5-0 to amend the constitution and give ASB groups "the option to close MLHS dances to MLHS students and their guests." 

Meeting minutes state the discussion focused on limiting attendance due to space concerns.  

"This is due to the large amounts of students attending in the limited space of dances," the minutes state. 

The change was eventually incorporated into the constitution under Article XIII, which says student organizations hosting dances may designate an event as "Moses Lake High School Students Only" with approval from the ASB adviser and administration. 

The district said previously that the constitutional amendment was shared with Vanguard Academy and Digital Learning administrators in May. Shannon said the decision originated with students. 

"As I understand, at the April 20 meeting of the Moses Lake High School ASB, the ASB students had a discussion about changes to their constitution, and they subsequently voted, and those changes were approved at the April meeting," Shannon said. 

Shannon said the ASB's concerns involved capacity limitations and safety requirements associated with hosting dances in the MLHS Commons. 

"The students are the decision-making body of ASB," Shannon said. 

Superintendent Carol Lewis said guest restrictions are common at high schools and are connected to safety, supervision and liability concerns. 

"School administrators enforce strict guest rules for three primary reasons including safety and liability," Lewis said in an earlier interview. "School staff and chaperones are legally responsible for everyone inside the venue." 

Community backlash grows 

The issue drew attention in recent weeks as students and parents asked why Vanguard Academy and Digital Learning students, who are enrolled within the same school district, were being treated as guests rather than allowed to purchase tickets directly. 

During Thursday's Moses Lake School Board meeting, multiple speakers argued the policy created divisions among district students. 

Josie Sisson said the controversy was about more than a dance. 

"MLHS, Vanguard Academy, and Digital Learning Center students may attend different schools, but they're all Moses Lake School District students," Sisson told the board. "When we create barriers between them, we risk creating an us-and-them environment that should not exist within our district." 

Kassandra Wareham questioned why students who participate in district athletics and activities under the Mavericks banner would be excluded from Homecoming attendance. 

"Vanguard and DLC kids are not outsiders visiting from another district," Wareham said. "They wear the colors, share the campus, play for the Mavs, and they pay the fees." 

Several speakers also criticized the lack of communication regarding the policy change, saying many students did not learn about the new requirements until shortly before Homecoming ticket sales began. 

Vanguard student Callie Campbell, a sophomore, told board members some students were excited about attending Homecoming and did not realize the policy had changed. 

"There were actually a few kids at my school talking about how excited they were for Homecoming, but they didn't know we couldn't go because no one informed us," she said. 

She also questioned why Vanguard students can participate in band performances at Homecoming football games but face restrictions for the dance itself. 

"As a band student, why is it that I can play in the band for the Homecoming football game, but I can't go to that Homecoming?" she asked. 

District stands behind MLHS leadership 

Before the one-time exception was announced, the district defended the original policy. 

In a statement issued by MLSD, district leaders said Lewis remained supportive of decisions made by Moses Lake High School leadership and student government. 

"There has been much discussion regarding the upcoming homecoming dance at Moses Lake High School," the statement said. "During this matter, Moses Lake School District Superintendent Carol Lewis has been, and remains, fully supportive of the decisions made by the Moses Lake High School administration, ASB adviser, and ASB executive board, as grounded in district policy and state law." 

The district reiterated its support for student involvement in school governance and emphasized that ASBs have authority under Washington law to govern student activities and associated funds. 

A larger discussion emerges 

While much of Thursday's board meeting focused on public comment about Homecoming, Lewis told board members the controversy reflects broader questions the district has already been discussing. 

"We're forming a review of a high school learning options committee," Lewis said. "This current situation and the angst that people are feeling around it is definitely a symptom of the need to do this. But it's much bigger than that." 

Lewis said the district had already planned to review its high school programs before the Homecoming dispute emerged publicly. 

The district formally announced Friday that it is creating a High School Learning Options Committee consisting of students, parents, educators, community members, district administrators and school board members. 

The committee will review secondary instructional programming with a focus on equitable access, communication with families and effective delivery of programs across the district. 

The committee's initial work will examine differences between six-period and seven-period schedules and explore project-based learning opportunities, including the educational model on which Vanguard Academy was founded. 

Lewis said recommendations are expected by January so any potential changes can be considered before course registration begins for the 2027-28 school year. Those interested in joining the committee can fill out the interest form before Oct. 12 at bit.ly/MLSDHighSchoolLearningOptions.  

"Our community is asking us to take a look at all of this," Lewis said. 

During the public comment period, several speakers urged the district to ensure the committee also examines student access to extracurricular activities and the relationship between MLHS, Vanguard Academy and Digital Learning. 

Board member Carla Urias expressed sympathy for students and families upset by the controversy. 

"Our community is speaking out, and I really feel their hurt," Urias said. "I care about all students." 

    Moses Lake students enjoy the 2025 Homecoming football game from the stands. The MLHS ASB board decided to make an exception to its policy Monday morning to allow Vanguard Academy and Digital Learning students to attend the dance with just a guest pass.