Jim Allen

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News >  Education

Washington schools ordered closed until fall

UPDATED: Mon., April 6, 2020

Public and private schools in Washington are closed until fall, and students will be getting instruction through “distance learning,” state officials announced this afternoon.

News >  Education

‘It’s been quite a change’: Grant elementary offers resources, routine during closure

UPDATED: Wed., April 8, 2020

Considering the circumstances, the staff at Grant Elementary School did a wonderful job Monday morning. They offered books, games, hygiene products and wholesome food, all stuffed in bags and stacked at the front entrance.

News >  Education

‘Let’s inspire people’: Shadle geometry teacher takes lessons to a higher plane, using YouTube

Sun., April 5, 2020

Three weeks ago, as the first rumors of school closures hit Shadle Park High School, teacher David Montecucco began to think outside the box.

Sports >  Gonzaga women

Loyola of Chicago wing Abby O’Connor announces she is transferring to Gonzaga

UPDATED: Sat., April 4, 2020

Abby O’Connor, a 6-foot wing who led Loyola University in scoring and rebounding the past two seasons, has given an oral commitment to play for Gonzaga.

News >  Education

‘This isn’t easy for anyone’: Spokane superintendent acknowledges challenges of closures in S-R interview

UPDATED: Fri., April 3, 2020

Spokane Public Schools superintendent Shelley Redinger has some advice for parents: Giving up isn’t an option.

News >  Education

Spokane district will offer meals during spring break week

UPDATED: Fri., April 3, 2020

Spring break has begun at

News >  Education

Spokane Public Schools, following Inslee’s lead, extends closure to May 4

UPDATED: Fri., April 3, 2020

The school year just got even shorter following Gov. Jay Inslee’s order Thursday to extend the stay-at-home orders to May 4.

News >  Education

St. George’s students from China send much-needed masks to Spokane

UPDATED: Fri., April 3, 2020

Spokane is a healthier place thanks to the warm relations between St. George’s School and its students who live in China.

News >  Education

Spring break won’t stop Spokane Public Schools from distributing food

UPDATED: Thu., April 2, 2020

Spokane Public Schools is on spring break next week, but will continue to offer grab-and-go meals Monday through Friday. The district also has widened its food distribution network, sending buses to neighborhoods near Arlington, Audubon, Cooper, Sheridan and Stevens elementary schools. Meal distribution continues at 24 sites from 11 a.m. to noon every weekday.

News >  Spokane

Whitworth ed school dean says pandemic offers learning opportunities in livestreamed S-R forum

UPDATED: Thu., April 2, 2020

In a wide-ranging videostream interview carried on The Spokesman-Review’s Northwest Passages website, Ronald Jacobson offered some bold predictions about the future of education.

News >  Education

Spokane Public Schools delays decision about naming new middle schools, still open to ideas

UPDATED: Thu., April 2, 2020

As the Spokane Public Schools board pondered whether to delay its name-the-school campaign Wednesday night, Director Kevin Morrison offered the timeliest suggestion of all. “My personal choice is whoever makes the coronavirus vaccine,” Morrison quipped.

News >  Education

Schools roundup: Districts across Spokane County continue meal services, offering Chromebooks, some child care

Thu., April 2, 2020

Spokane Public Schools will continue to offer grab-and-go meals during spring break week, April 6-10. The district also widened its food distribution network Monday, sending buses to neighborhoods near Arlington, Audubon, Cooper, Sheridan and Stevens elementary schools. Meal distribution continues at 24 sites, with distribution Monday through Friday from 11 a.m to noon.

News >  Spokane

A call to help some hungry students is more than answered

Thu., April 2, 2020

There was no scientific evidence to support the notion, but the bone-chilling wind seemed to die down with every vehicle that pulled into the Salk Middle School parking lot Wednesday morning. They were driven by neighbors, friends and colleagues – who were themselves driven by the desire to help hungry students.

News >  Education

Pass/fail? Letter grade? Waiver? Spokane Public Schools keeps graduation, grading options open

UPDATED: Wed., April 1, 2020

Confronted with the weighty issue of grades, graduation and course credits amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Spokane Public Schools is keeping its options open.

News >  Spokane

Schools stress online learning as building closures continue

UPDATED: Mon., March 30, 2020

The two largest school districts in Spokane County are doing their best to address the needs of students and families as the COVID-19 pandemic makes that task increasingly difficult.

News >  Spokane

Spokane Schools sends lunches to more neighborhoods

UPDATED: Mon., March 30, 2020

Spokane Public Schools announced Monday night that it will continue to offer grab-and-go meals during spring break week, April 6-10. The district also widened its food distribution network on Monday, sending buses to neighborhoods near Arlington, Audubon, Cooper, Sheridan and Stevens elementary schools.

News >  Education

As special education moves online, caretakers take on added duties to keep kids engaged

Sun., March 29, 2020

As school districts move toward online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, special education students and their families are facing a tough reality: there’s no easy substitute for the hands-on guidance of a teacher or paraeducator.

Sports >  Gonzaga women

Colorado guard Payton Muma orally commits to Gonzaga women’s basketball

UPDATED: Fri., March 27, 2020

Payton Muma, a 5-foot-8 point guard from Colorado, gave her oral commitment Friday to play basketball at Gonzaga beginning in the fall of 2021.

News >  Education

Longfellow elementary to have additional meal available Friday, courtesy of caterer

Thu., March 26, 2020

Red Rock Catering of Spokane will deliver food Friday morning to Longfellow Elementary School for families to take home for the weekend.

News >  Education

Spokane Public Schools adds new child care site for children of first responders, medical personnel

UPDATED: Thu., March 26, 2020

Spokane Public Schools is expanding its child care offerings during the COVID-19 pandemic, but it has no immediate plans to extend the service beyond children of first responders and essential medical personnel.

News >  Education

State may excuse high school seniors from some graduation requirements due to pandemic

UPDATED: Fri., March 27, 2020

Washington high school seniors who are out of school because of the COVID-19 pandemic may get excused from fully meeting some graduation requirements, the State Board of Education indicated Thursday.

News >  Education

Spokane Scholars Foundation aims to honor students, even without a banquet

UPDATED: Thu., March 26, 2020

Despite the cancellation of its annual banquet, the Spokane Scholars Foundation is determined to find creative ways to honor the region’s most accomplished high school seniors.

News >  Education

Spokane school board votes to plan next budget with a greater emphasis on equity

UPDATED: Wed., March 25, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic loomed large at Wednesday night’s meeting of the Spokane Public Schools board of directors.

News >  Education

Spokane Public Schools closes district office, makes teachers available remotely

UPDATED: Thu., March 26, 2020

Spokane Public Schools is moving through a long checklist of issues related to the COVID-19 outbreak, including remote learning, graduation and ways the community can help their schools.

Sports >  Gonzaga women

Gonzaga women have high hopes for next season behind strong group of frontcourt returners

UPDATED: Wed., March 25, 2020

With all that’s happened in the college basketball world in the last two weeks, perhaps it’s better to look ahead to next year.