Jim Allen

All Stories

News >  Business

Miller’s Hardware to reopen

UPDATED: Fri., Aug. 7, 2020

The doors are still locked at Miller’s Hardware on the South Hill.

News >  Education

Mead parents will have in-person, distance options for their students

UPDATED: Thu., Aug. 6, 2020

Seeking to give families a choice about their children’s education, Mead School District board of directors approved a hybrid model Thursday night that will do just that.

News >  Education

‘We have a chance to confront change’: Mandy Manning joins other top Washington teachers to offer advice

Thu., Aug. 6, 2020

The meeting was virtual but the passion was real Wednesday afternoon as five of the best and brightest teachers in the state gathered to talk about what children will need this school year.

News >  Education

‘We’ve been hearing both sides’: Teachers respond to Spokane district’s decision to begin with distance learning

UPDATED: Wed., Aug. 5, 2020

For algebra teacher Joanna O’Neill, there’s nothing more satisfying than eliminating a variable.

News >  K-12 education

Smaller Spokane County school districts weigh back-to-school options

UPDATED: Tue., Aug. 4, 2020

Spokane and Central Valley school districts will begin with students at home. But for smaller districts encompassing other, more rural portions of Spokane County, difficult decisions have yet to be made. 

News >  K-12 education

CdA schools will wait two more weeks to determine how school year will start

UPDATED: Mon., Aug. 3, 2020

Coeur d’Alene Public Schools is hoping to get the green light to return the classroom this fall.

News >  K-12 education

Central Valley School will start year virtually

UPDATED: Tue., Aug. 4, 2020

Central Valley School District moved Monday to follow Spokane Health District recommendations and begin the school year with distance learning only.

News >  Spokane

Spokane Public Schools to begin fall with distance learning

UPDATED: Mon., Aug. 3, 2020

Tens of thousands of children in Spokane County will begin the new school year as they ended the last one: by cracking open a laptop on the kitchen table and hoping for the best.

News >  Education

Sheridan, Wilson, Balboa: Spokane school names may change due to namesakes’ actions and views

UPDATED: Sun., July 12, 2020

Sheridan, Wilson, Balboa are among Spokane schools whose name may change due to namesakes’ actions and views

News >  Education

NC sophomore has a date with NASA

UPDATED: Mon., July 6, 2020

Here’s an out-of-this-world idea: A sophomore at North Central High School might help pave the way for astronauts to one day reach Mars.

News >  Education

New Spokane schools leader faces ‘significant challenge’ leading district during pandemic

Sun., July 5, 2020

More than a few eyebrows were raised last weekend when Adam Swinyard was named superintendent of the largest school district in Eastern Washington.

News >  Local business

Miller’s Hardware on Spokane’s South Hill has been closed since March, but why?

UPDATED: Tue., June 30, 2020

Miller’s Hardware store, a South Hill icon for six decades, has been closed for the past three months – and perhaps for good.

News >  Education

Spokane district picks associate superintendent to take top job on permanent basis

UPDATED: Sat., June 27, 2020

There will be no interim superintendent at Spokane Public Schools. Instead, the district’s board of directors voted unanimously Saturday afternoon to promote chief academic officer Adam Swinyard to a permanent 2-year position following Shelley Redinger’s resignation.

News >  Education

SPS board won’t be rushed to make superintendent decision, Haynes says

UPDATED: Thu., June 25, 2020

Spokane Public Schools directors “will not allow ourselves to be pressured” into making a hasty decision on how to fill its newly vacant superintendent’s position, board President Jerrall Haynes said Thursday.

News >  Education

Laptops for all: Spokane district initiative would aim to make distance learning equitable

UPDATED: Fri., June 26, 2020

Spokane Public Schools is making a case for a comprehensive plan that would give every child in the district an equitable chance at distance learning.

News >  Education

Spokane school board defers new superintendent decision as union pushes pick

UPDATED: Wed., June 24, 2020

The Spokane Public Schools board of directors is still weighing its options on how to proceed following the resignation Tuesday of Superintendent Shelley Redinger.

News >  K-12 education

SPS teacher salaries cross $100,000 mark

UPDATED: Wed., June 24, 2020

Base salary for the most-senior teachers in Spokane Public Schools will surpass $100,000 annually for the first time, according to a pay scale approved Wednesday night by the district board of directors.

News >  Education

Spokane school district Superintendent Redinger resigns to take Richland position

UPDATED: Tue., June 23, 2020

After eight years as superintendent of Spokane Public Schools, Shelley Redinger is resigning to take a similar position in Richland, both districts announced late Tuesday night.

News >  K-12 education

Retiring Spokane teachers look back fondly at careers as school year ends during pandemic

Mon., June 22, 2020

Spokane's retiring teachers could have checked out after schools were closed due to the novel coronavirus. Instead, they found ways to connect with their students as they concluded decades-long careers. Here are a few of their stories. 

News >  K-12 education

It’s a long road to get back to school

Sun., June 21, 2020

Spokane Public Schools is jpdoing the math, and so far it doesn’t add up. If students are to return to school this fall, only about 20 will fit inside a typical classroom and still comply with social distancing requirements in the face of COVID-19.

News

‘Into the Wild’ bus removed from Alaskan bush; story resonates with Spokane students

UPDATED: Fri., June 19, 2020

In an event that combined American literature, current events and the pursuit of happiness, the bus made famous by the book and film “Into the Wild” was airlifted Thursday afternoon by an Alaska National Guard helicopter.

Spokane Public Schools board likes Albi Stadium plans

UPDATED: Thu., June 18, 2020

During a presentation Wednesday night by ALSC Architects of Spokane, school board members directors appreciated the small things as well as the big.

News

Gemiini system rises to challenge of coronavirus

Thu., June 18, 2020

Long before the era of COVID-19, Laura Kasbar was a Spokane mother who merely wanted to find a way to address her children’s autism.

News >  Education

‘I see some room for change’: Spokane school board plans to discuss renaming schools

UPDATED: Wed., June 17, 2020

As many as 40% of the buildings in Spokane Public Schools may be considered for renaming following a discussion Wednesday night by the district’s board of directors.

News

School districts urge Legislature to preserve K-12 funding

UPDATED: Tue., June 16, 2020

No decision on a special session has been made, but a tipping point could come Wednesday, when the Washington Economic and Revenue Forecast Council will release its monthly report on the state economy. The news is expected to be grim, and it could force a summer session that might lead to mid-year education cuts.