wenatchee school board

Local teacher Micaela Salgado fights closure, emphasizing impact on low-income families and lack of empathy from school board.

The school district announced plans for the closure in January to help offset a $9 million budget shortfall going into the next school year.

About 100 people attended the most recent hearing with almost all of the roughly 50 speakers voicing opposition to the closure.

Schools in Washington are required to hold hearings during a 90-day period before a decision is made on whether to close a school.

It calls for a significant reduction in staffing levels and the closure of Columbia Elementary School.

This workshop is for district staff to present an analysis of the proposed closure of Columbia Elementary and budget reduction plans for the next school year

District spokesperson Diana Haglund says the meetings are being held as required by state law and school board policy.

The move came at this week's meeting when all members were sworn in after the recent general election.

The margin is well within the one-half of one percent difference that triggers a mandatory hand recount under state law.

The school board Thursday signed off on a contract with Spokane based Bernardo Wills to perform architectural and design works.