TONASKET – During the regular Tonasket School District board meeting on Monday, May 9, Superintendent Paul Turner announced the staffing levels in the district would remain steady next year.

“We did most of our cutbacks in staff last year so we didn’t change our staff much,” Turner said. “We’re going to maintain the staffing level where it is right now and go with it.”

When the board discussed the current school district bus routes, Turner said the Siwash Creek route would be eliminated since there are only four kids on the route with only two of them living really far down it. Turner said the kids would become part of the Mt. Hull route next year.

Next, it was announced that Chairman Jerry Asmussen’s District 5 School Director position is up next year as are those of District 2 Director Catherine Stangland and Vice-Chairwoman Patti Baumgardner, Director of District 3. Baumgardner is the only one who stated she would not be running for re-election this year. The board members must file for re-election between June 6 and June 10 and this is also the filing period for anyone who lives in one of the three districts and is a registered voter to file to run for election as well.

Finally, Turner announced that Martha Wisdom had received the North Central Educational Service District “Friend of Children” Award.

The next school board meeting will be on Monday, May 23 at 7:30 p.m. in the district office.