Jim Allen

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News >  Education

Geffken, Bedford vie for Spokane Public Schools seat

UPDATED: Thu., Oct. 14, 2021

Supporting students should be the top priority at Spokane Public Schools, board candidates Melissa Bedford and Daryl Geffken agree.

News >  Education

COVID-19 retreating stubbornly in Spokane-area classrooms

UPDATED: Fri., Oct. 8, 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic is retreating, though rather slowly, at local schools.

News >  K-12 education

Spokane schools coping with bus driver shortage, vaccine exemption requests

Wed., Oct. 6, 2021

Five weeks into the new year, Spokane Public Schools is struggling with two vexing problems not of its own making: How are some children getting to school and how safe will they be when they arrive?

News >  Education

SPS faces tough choices in wake of boundary changes

Tue., Oct. 5, 2021

Spokane Public Schools has a lot of numbers to crunch as it considers the effect of new boundaries approved this summer.

News >  K-12 education

Rural districts face bigger challenges with COVID-19

UPDATED: Tue., Oct. 5, 2021

The school year has barely begun, yet some rural districts in the Inland Northwest are already coming down with a major case of COVID fatigue.

Sports >  Gonzaga women

‘It’s been a long time’: Gonzaga women, loaded with new faces, open practice

UPDATED: Tue., Oct. 5, 2021

Like everyone else in the world, the Gonzaga women’s basketball players are craving a little normalcy.

News >  Education

Coeur d’Alene School Board accepts two resignations in first meeting since disruptive mask protest

UPDATED: Tue., Oct. 5, 2021

Monday night’s virtual meeting of the Coeur d’Alene Schools board of trustees, its first since a crowd of protesters angry over a proposed mask mandate led to that meeting’s cancellation, avoided talk of face coverings but touched on other COVID-19 issues and the process to fill two unexpected vacancies.

News >  K-12 education

Spokane School Board candidates Riley Smith, Kata Dean offer contrasting visions for open seat

UPDATED: Sun., Oct. 24, 2021

Kata Dean and Riley Smith agree on at least one thing: The Spokane Public Schools board could use some fresh perspective.

News >  K-12 education

Spokane Public Schools waiting to release details for accommodating unvaccinated employees

UPDATED: Fri., Oct. 1, 2021

With a crucial deadline looming, Spokane Public Schools has yet to specify what protections it will provide its 30,000 students against unvaccinated staff who have been granted exemptions to receiving to the COVID-19 vaccine.

News >  K-12 education

COVID-19 rates leveling off in most Spokane-area school districts

UPDATED: Fri., Oct. 1, 2021

It may be too early to say that the worst is over for local school districts in their struggle against the COVID-19 pandemic.

News >  K-12 education

Two CdA school board members announce resignations following mask controversy

UPDATED: Fri., Oct. 1, 2021

Two members of the Coeur d’Alene School Board announced their resignations on Friday, a week after a school board meeting was canceled as anti-mask protesters were escorted out of the lobby of school district offices by police.

News >  K-12 education

State school group pleads for public civility in the face of ‘aggressive, abusive’ behavior over COVID-19 rules

UPDATED: Sun., Oct. 3, 2021

Reacting to dozens of incidents in the past few weeks, groups representing the state’s administrators and school boards lamented the “erosion of civility in many communities” during public meetings.

News >  K-12 education

‘I felt everyone’s safety was at issue’: Caution drove decision to cancel meeting, CdA school board chair says

UPDATED: Tue., Sept. 28, 2021

The decision to cancel Friday’s special meeting of the Coeur d’Alene Public Schools board was borne of caution and not the result of any direct threats against trustees or staff over the issue of masks, board chair Jennifer Brumley said Tuesday.

News >  K-12 education

Race between Central Valley School District candidates Orebaugh, Chalich mirrors nationwide COVID-19 debate

UPDATED: Thu., Oct. 14, 2021

Few political races in the Inland Northwest are more reflective of the times than the campaign for District 5 on the Central Valley School District board.

News >  K-12 education

Recall effort targets three Central Valley school board members over masks, residency and more

UPDATED: Tue., Sept. 28, 2021

Backed by a parents’ group, a Spokane Valley man has filed a recall petition against three members of the Central Valley School Board of Directors, alleging “malfeasance, misfeasance and violations” of their oaths of office.

Sports >  Pro

USL to hold virtual listening sessions to help in branding new Spokane franchise

UPDATED: Tue., Sept. 28, 2021

Spokane’s United Soccer League franchise is still looking for an owner.

News >  K-12 education

COVID-19 numbers continue to soar in some local schools

UPDATED: Fri., Sept. 24, 2021

The COVID-19 surge shows no signs of slowing in local schools.

News >  K-12 education

South Hill dog park will shift to 5-acre site

UPDATED: Sat., Sept. 25, 2021

Dogs and their owners will have less room to roam following a decision by city and Spokane Public Schools leaders to place a temporary off-leash park not far from an old one.

News >  K-12 education

Protesters disrupt Coeur d’Alene School District mask meeting

UPDATED: Fri., Sept. 24, 2021

In the aftermath of a protest that turned rowdy and confrontational, the Coeur d’Alene School District’s elected board of trustees canceled its meeting to discuss mask mandates for students and teachers.

News >  K-12 education

Washington State rewards head women’s basketball coach Kamie Ethridge with contract extension

UPDATED: Wed., Sept. 22, 2021

Four months after leading Washington State to its most successful season in program history, Coach Kamie Ethridge was rewarded Wednesday with a contract extension through the next six seasons.

News >  K-12 education

Spokane Public Schools pushing for more inclusion for special education students

UPDATED: Tue., Sept. 21, 2021

Spokane Public Schools is increasing efforts to make schools more inclusive for special education students.

News >  K-12 education

Facing big boost in students, Lakeland School Board declines request to boost taxes

UPDATED: Wed., Sept. 22, 2021

Even by its own standards, it’s already been an interesting year for the Lakeland Joint School District.

News >  K-12 education

St. Maries schools go remote after massive COVID-19-related absences

UPDATED: Wed., Sept. 22, 2021

Faced with soaring student and staff absences related to COVID-19, the St. Maries School District in North Idaho announced a move to remote learning on Tuesday.

News >  K-12 education

Pfizer reports vaccine success for children; shots could be coming in October

UPDATED: Mon., Sept. 20, 2021

Monday’s highly anticipated announcement from Pfizer arrives at the right time for weary parents, teachers, nurses – anybody who wants elementary-age schoolchildren inoculated against COVID-19.

News >  K-12 education

COVID-19 cases soaring in local schools with at least 800 positive tests in Inland Northwest this month

UPDATED: Sat., Sept. 18, 2021

From Spokane to Coeur d’Alene and every school district in between, COVID-19 is running rampant.