Policy on outside students tightened

The Grand Coulee Dam School District amended its policy on accepting non-resident students at its meeting March 24.

The district, anticipating a surge of new students anxious to attend the new school, now will allow administrators to refuse to admit non-resident students if it would push the total number of students over the allowable number, or if it would cause the need for additional classroom space.

The district invited Nespelem School Principal and Superintendent John Adkins to attend the meeting.

Adkins has earlier stated that the small classroom size in Nespelem has an appeal for many families, but Monday night said the new school will likely affect Nespelem’s enrollment.

“I experienced this at Soap Lake,” Adkins noted of the district where he previously served as superintendent. He thanked the district for working closely with Nespelem and inviting him to Monday night’s meeting.

“I thank you,” he stated, “because it could become a train wreck.”

The new ordinance sets optimum and maximum numbers for non-resident students at every class level. And it provides continued service for non-resident students already in the system.