Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
REARDAN--71 school superintendents, principals and athletic directors across Eastern Washington, including 20 from Lincoln County, have signed onto a letter to Gov. Jay Inslee, the Washington State Department of Health and the Washington State Legislature requesting the return of extra and co-curricular activities for all students, including sports.
The letter was written as part an effort headed by Reardan superintendent Eric Sobotta and Davenport superintendent Jim Kowalkowski and argues that students need sports and extra-curricular activities to succeed academically, mentally and emotionally.
"Many of us are engaged in onsite learning and have been since the beginning of the school year. The data is showing very limited transmission of the virus within schools leading to the conclusion that the school campus is one of the safest places a student can be during this pandemic," the letter states. "There is an immediate need for our school districts, in partnership with local health districts, to have the ability to slowly and safely engage students in small group extra and co-curricular activities with a return to limited, local/regional competition."
The letter also says that not having extra-curricular activities is an issue of equity, noting that many students are finding ways to play sports, but not all students have the means to do so.
"ALL students deserve an opportunity and an outlet. We agree with WIAA Executive Director, Mick Hoffman, when he wrote on November 11, 'Not
to mention schools offer the most equitable opportunities for students of all skill levels and financial means. Restricting the ability of schools forces students and families to pursue avenues that are cost prohibitive and have fewer safety measures,'" the letter states.
The signers all come from school districts in Eastern Washington that compete at either the 1A, 2B or 1B level, with the exception of some independents.
The following school leaders in Lincoln County all signed the letter, in addition to Sobotta and Kowalkowski:
Davenport principal Chad Prewitt
Davenport athletic director Tim Zeiler
Reardan principal Deborah Newsum
Reardan co-athletic directors Eric Nikkola and Brian Graham
Reardan special education director JoLynn Ray
Odessa superintendent Daniel Read
Odessa principal Jamie Nelson
Odessa athletic director Bruce Todd
Harrington principals Tiffany Clouse and Chad Prewitt
Harrington athletic director Michael Cronrath
Coulee-Hartline superintendent James Evans
Almira-Coulee-Hartline athletic director Brandon Walsh
Almira superintendent Shauna Schmerer
Almira-Coulee-Hartline principal Kelley Boyd
Wlibur-Creston principal Glenn Arland
Wilbur-Creston athletic director Darin Reppe
Bill Ressel, Superintendent, Sprague School District
The letter is also signed by WIAA District 7 Director Joe Richer and District 9 Director Don Wilkens.
Other signers of the letter include:
Jerry Pugh, superintendent, Colfax School District
Brian Talbot, superintendent, Nine Mile Falls School District
Kevin Terris, HS Principal, Lind-Ritzville School District
Shirley Baker, Athletic Director, Chewelah School District
Michael Olsen, Superintendent, Kettle Falls School District
Jason Stewart, Athletic Director, Republic School District
Dale Bonfield, Superintendent, Asotin-Anatone School District
Brett Baum, Superintendent, Liberty School District
Toddette McGreevy, Athletic Director, Pomeroy School District
Fred Knebel, Athletic Director, Pomeroy School District
Nettie Severs, Athletic Director, Pomeroy School District
David Gibb, Principal, Colfax Jr/Sr High School
Rachel Gwinn, Superintendent, Pomeroy School District
Amy Miller, Principal, Pomeroy School District
Steven Carson, MS/HS Athletic Director, Inchelium School District
Gina Hopkins, Athletic Director, Colfax School District
Doug Curtis, Superintendent, LaCrosse Schools
Greg Price, Superintendent, Columbia School District
Brendan A. Johnson, Principal, Asotine-Anatone School District
Kris Herda, Athletic Director, Freeman School District
Jeff Gates, Athletic Director, LaCrosse School District
Nick Hazeltine, Athletic Director, DeSales High School
Curt Nelson, Athletic Director, Columbia School District
Suzanne Schmick, Superintendent, St. John-Endicott Cooperative
Curtis Corvino, Principal, Kettle Falls School District
Loren Finley, Athletic Director, Kettle Falls School District
Zachery Janis, Athletic Director, Yakama Nation Tribal School
Jim Moehrle, Athletic Director, Colton School District
Billy Ray, Athletic Director, St. John-Endicott Cooperative
Greg Whitmore, Athletic Director, Lind-Ritzville School District
Todd Spear, Superintendent, Lamont and Washtucna
Ryan Peplinski, Athletic Director, St. George's School
Rosie McLain, Athletic Director, Tekoa-Rosalia
Matt McLain, Principal, Rosalia School District
Mark Heid, Superintendent, Tekoa School District
Roger Gerstenberger, Head of Schools, Northwest Christian Schools
Jordan Jennings, Principal, LaCrosse School District
Richard McFarland, Superintendent, Chewelah School District
Shawn Anderson, Principal, Jenkins Jr/Sr High School
Kevin Young, Superintendent, Republic School District
Paul Clark, Superintendent/HS Principal, Colton School District
Ken Lindgren, Athletic Director, Oakesdale School District
Mike Jones, Principal, Garfield-Palouse
Ken Gering, Athletic Director, St. John – Endicott
Zane Wells, Superintendent/Principal, Garfield School District
Nathan Holbrook, Athletic Director, Garfield-Palouse
Kyle Dodge, Athletic Director, Liberty (Spangle) School District
Don Vanderholm, Superintendent, Lind-Ritzville
Scott Thompson, Athletic Director, Garfield-Palouse
More information on this letter and comment from local superintendents will be in this week's print issue of the Davenport Times.
Drew Lawson is a reporter and sports writer for Free Press Publishing, including the Cheney Free Press and Davenport Times. He is a graduate of Eastern Washington University.
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