Moses Lake School District invites community to ‘Common Grounds’ for coffee discussion
NANCE BESTON | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 month, 1 week AGO
The Moses Lake School District is inviting the community to the first “Common Grounds” meeting of the school year at 7:30 a.m. Friday at Favored Farmhouse. The informal gathering will allow community members to ask questions and have conversations with district leadership.
FILE PHOTO
MOSES LAKE — Community members will have an opportunity to connect directly with Moses Lake School District leaders during the first “Common Grounds” event of the school year Friday morning.
The informal coffee gathering is scheduled for 7:30 a.m. Friday at Favored Farmhouse, 315 Alder St. The discussion will focus on the start of the school year, with district leaders available to answer questions and hear feedback from parents and community members.
Ryan Shannon, the district’s director of public relations, said the event was created as another way for the district to engage with the community.
“Common Grounds is an event that we started last year as just one additional community opportunity to come together, ask questions, engage in conversation and make connections with our leadership here at the Moses Lake School District,” Shannon said.
The district plans to hold morning events every other month throughout the school year. Shannon said the format is designed to provide another option for people who may not be able to attend afternoon or evening meetings.
“This is just one opportunity at a different time, in a different setting that will allow maybe some of those people that can’t make an afternoon or an evening meeting to attend,” he said.
District officials expected to attend include Superintendent Carol Lewis, members of the Teaching and Learning team, representatives from Safety and Wellbeing and Employee Services, and other district leaders.
Unlike a traditional public meeting, Common Grounds will not include a formal presentation.
“One of the things we often say is no presentations,” Shannon said. “This is not scripted. It’s just come, sit down, grab a cup of coffee, join us in some meaningful dialogue and engage with our district leaders.”
Shannon said the gathering also gives residents a chance to receive information directly from district officials.
“It’s an opportunity to sit down face-to-face with our district leaders and get honest and accurate information,” he said. “This is an opportunity to come and get that actual information versus always relying on sources that may not be providing all of that data.”
The event is free and open to the public.
Common Grounds
Sept. 11 at 7:30 a.m.
Favored Farmhouse
315 Alder St., Moses Lake
ARTICLES BY NANCE BESTON
Final community meeting set as Ephrata schools gather feedback on potential bond
EPHRATA — Community members will have one final opportunity Wednesday to share their thoughts on Ephrata School District facility needs before district leaders consider whether to move forward with a possible construction bond proposal. The fourth Community Facility Study Meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday at Ephrata Middle School. District officials are encouraging residents to attend, ask questions and provide feedback that could help shape a future bond package. According to Ephrata School District Communications Director Sarah Vasquez, the district hopes to gather final community input on both the scope and scheduling of a potential bond measure.
Moses Lake police seize guns, drugs in string of arrests
MOSES LAKE — A series of investigations by the Moses Lake Police Department's Street Crimes Unit led to four arrests, the seizure of multiple firearms and the recovery of illegal drugs during a week of enforcement activity in Moses Lake.
National School Bus Safety Week highlights unseen work of Moses Lake transportation staff
MOSES LAKE — Before sunrise each school day, long before students climb aboard yellow buses across the Moses Lake School District, Transportation Director Dyan Ford is already at work. “My day starts at about 4:20 every morning,” Ford said. By 5:40 a.m., the district's first buses begin leaving the transportation yard. Dispatchers answer phone calls, drivers check in and staff determine whether any routes need coverage. From that point on, buses are moving across the district almost continuously.