Sara Leaming

Spokane Public Schools Superintendent Brian Benzel announced Wednesday that he will step down at the end of this school year to take a job at Whitworth College. Benzel, 59, was named the vice president of finance and administration at the college, beginning Aug. 1. He asked the school board to accept his retirement effective in July or August.

Children at Holmes Elementary School now have a place to sneak off and get lost in a good book. Burgan's Furniture recently donated furniture to the West Central neighborhood school to create a new reading room for students and volunteers.

Cynthia Violett planned to sit in the back row inside the Pratt Elementary School gym Wednesday night and chant "save our school." Violett's fifth-grade daughter rolled her eyes at the idea. But she's not opposed to saving the school.

A $2 million claim has been filed against Spokane Public Schools by a former student who says the district knew about the sexual relationship that developed between her and a district employee. Brianna Sturgeon, now 18, claims that the school district was aware of her sexual relationship with Titus Epefanio, which began when she was a 15-year-old freshman at Shadle Park High School and he was a teacher's aide at Salk Middle School, where they had met.

Meeting the needs of all students is the common focus at Cooper Elementary School. "We take the assessment data that we get back on our kids throughout the year to see how we intervene in a way that's meaningful and helpful," Principal Michael Cosgrove said.

Spokane Public Schools superintendent Brian Benzel on Wednesday proposed closing Pratt Elementary School to save money.

The season of giving may come and go each year, but for many Spokane area public schools the generosity continues all year long. As federal and state mandates tax the school system – squeezing out funding for things like band and sports – individuals, parent groups, businesses and community organizations work to fill the gaps.

Despite a proposal from Gov. Chris Gregoire to pump more money into education, Spokane Public Schools is bracing for a possible $10.5 million shortfall next year. The governor has proposed $2 billion more for public schools over the next two years, for things like expanding all-day kindergarten in poor schools, promoting math and science, boosting teacher pay, shrinking class sizes and increasing special education programs.

High school students who didn't pass the math section of the WASL shouldn't count on the Legislature to bail them out, state officials caution. "It would be unwise for any students to assume anything but that they are going to need to meet standards," said Thomas Shapley, spokesman for the state Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. "The important message is, don't feel like you are going to get a reprieve from the Legislature."

A couple of professors, a social worker, a nurse and an attorney were among those named Wednesday by Spokane school directors as candidates for an open seat on the five-member board. The candidates were selected from a pool of 19 people who applied for appointment to the position, left vacant by Don Barlow who resigned after being elected to the state Legislature.

Children in Jean Hauge's classroom at Balboa Elementary School can't wait to come to school each day. "A lot of times when I say it's time to put things away at the end of the day, I get the 'huh-unh, not yet,' " Hauge said.

Moran Prairie Elementary School will host a daylong celebration and reunion Jan. 18 in honor of the school's recent National Blue Ribbon award. In September, the school was named a Blue Ribbon school by the U.S. Department of Education – a distinction given to only five other Washington state schools and about 250 schools nationwide.

Anyone thinking about drinking and driving this New Year's holiday should meet Joseph Goggin. The 36-year-old Spokane man is incarcerated at Geiger Corrections Center, where he'll be until sometime next year.

A convicted felon wanted on a warrant for new crimes was back in jail Friday after a paperwork mistake set him free earlier this month. Shawn I. Vanzandt was arrested by Spokane Valley police on a $125,000 warrant charging him with taking a car without the owner's permission, second-degree malicious mischief and possession of meth, said Spokane County sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Dave Reagan.