[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6061522,"mediaKeyId","3281476-d9392886b22136096cf60350b4b62db1","parentId",3281476,"title","Othello hires and reassignments: McFarland principal named athletics director; standards-based grading pilots continue","audioSeconds",462,"startMs",2078000,"endMs",2540000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3281476-d9392886b22136096cf60350b4b62db1&start=2078&end=2540","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3281476-d9392886b22136096cf60350b4b62db1/thumbnail_2078000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6061522/Washington/Othello-hires-and-reassignments-McFarland-principal-named-athletics-director-standards-based-grading-pilots-continue","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6061522-89c773fd38493f6da672bd28ab8263e2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770451444&Signature=Y4Lhbu9gqPIybrayQjWCh-YL3miYvPOfkKrPGnNQ~QHNMoZE3rwkEC-80UDXvGU7f~01pSpQS8N2kTlcWxYeAcjYxLlHW0jZuBhKMMiJN5n9SqxyXy3EAeJ0S5xnnAU8U4VrEqLnwtSZAstHz9~WsqxJXykelOZVdbrVYmQcS7t6dDX3~mlCO3~4EEJM2IeV6iYWHvlppY7j3HnZwSr8lrYCkK8vvjrW6FL6lYVk6TE0MAsqLQrwUDSLeBNMLVQmsnFOZpF5DznSQcR1g~-wW8zqet352AiWmnym-YyjuBKmXxw6UR1M-KVjjwSHZi54-ona8RosOpQGCvjVutfYbQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Othello School District, Washington","date","2025-05-13T08:52:34Z","article","The Othello School District announced several leadership changes and said work continues on a standards-based grading review that staff will present to teachers before the board receives a full update.

Carlos Gonzales, currently principal at McFarland Middle School, told the board he accepted a new role titled director of athletics and student engagement for grades 7–12. Gonzales said the position will be based in the district’s technical building on the Othello High School campus and will oversee athletics across McFarland Middle School and Othello High School. “I asked me if it's still something that I would do and, specific to what is now being titled the director of athletics and student engagement, for 7 12,” Gonzales said.

Will Von Brock will succeed Gonzales as McFarland principal; the board heard that Von Brock and district staff spent full days meeting with McFarland staff to plan the transition. The board also announced Eliza Fish as the incoming principal at Hiawatha; Fish was previously assistant principal at Skootenay and is scheduled to meet that staff for transition work.

Standards-based grading and staff feedback
Superintendent staff said they met with teachers piloting the Empower SBG platform this year and duplicated courses in Skyward to compare teacher experiences. The district plans all‑day staff sessions: a McFarland session this week and a high‑school staff session on the 20th to gather feedback before presenting recommended SBG improvements to the board. The superintendent asked the board to let staff complete teacher briefings before the board-level update.

Recognition and morale
The board began the meeting with student recognitions for McFarland’s Technology Student Association; advisors and students received certificates and a trophy for Tech Bowl third place at state. The board also presented a challenge coin to Devin Lewis for leadership supporting TSA and standards-based grading pilots at the school.

Ending: District staff said they will return to the board with proposed SBG changes after the staff feedback sessions and will continue the principal transition activities over the coming weeks.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Regular Board Meeting - 05.12.2025","oneSentenceSummary","Superintendent staff announced administrative reassignments across the district including a new director of athletics and student engagement for grades 7–12, McFarland principal transition, and continued standards-based grading (SBG) feedback sessions.","taxTitle","Othello School District, School Districts, Washington","taxId",55334,"location","Washington","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6061528,"Othello board hears state K‑12 funding figures, cuts and federal probe into OSPI",412,752000,1164000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3281476-d9392886b22136096cf60350b4b62db1&start=752&end=1164","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3281476-d9392886b22136096cf60350b4b62db1/thumbnail_752000.jpg","/articles/6061528/Washington/Othello-board-hears-state-K12-funding-figures-cuts-and-federal-probe-into-OSPI","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6061528-a55dfa8b1fae9bf654b104f501b4c015/orig.mp4?Expires=1770451444&Signature=N8ZkI155wn1U6~wSMCVDGlQIMy0QaODPPZ5Q0jGEvMxuPKDXdv7ANzgOjTfaccaoH4mWYrVw1ASy8np9xOKDTyv~BHweKR2sF9AQ1Wx81BoWnl-seIpuPoAek~twT8AIPBwBq0RfeUdoFYlTQPu5JOidzdQhCtFmEFcIbxwG9P0wwmtWmjGro4CQSAfd8sNj3~YPZGl~rVWOymC8Kd2fZ54vnLwzjFWMLfQ2Yg32O4RNhm~3tdRWW3jF-dVEquTyltN89kumylBAPhgtwIgFehvEQZisZDwVBIkFh2aQvAZJ~lYtlzS4MQiMWYiwUh96TgU1f00J5ra~i0TP-3eagQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Director Gerber told the Othello School District Board that statewide K‑12 funding rose but much of the increase is maintenance-level and some targeted grants were cut.

“the funding for k 12 increase came to k 12 in the amount of 2,460,000,000.00,” Gerber said, adding that roughly $2.09 billion of that was maintenance-level increases. Gerber recited allocations highlighted by the Washington Association of School Directors: $321 million for special education, $79 million for MSOC and $113 million for local effort assistance, and he warned that OSPI grant eliminations reduced funding for some dual-language and homeless student supports.

Gerber also told the board that the state directed OSPI to convene a K‑12 funding equity work group to analyze options for revising funding formulas, and noted changes to special-education multipliers and reporting requirements that could affect district budgeting.

Federal investigation
Gerber reported that a joint task force from the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Justice has opened an investigation into numerous Title IX and Title VI complaints against Washington State Superintendent Chris Reykdal and OSPI. He said OSPI and state officials have disagreed about whether state law can supersede federal rules and that the district will monitor developments because federal findings could affect federal funding.

Next steps and local impact
Board members asked staff to continue monitoring state guidance from OSPI, especially where legislation changes reporting requirements or program funding. Superintendent-level staff said they would incorporate the funding changes into local budget planning and update the board on implications for services and reserves.

Ending: Director Gerber said the board will track both the budget impacts and any federal findings related to the OSPI investigation as they refine the district’s budget and program plans.","Director Gerber summarized the state budget impacts for K‑12, noting increases and cuts, and flagged a joint U.S. Department of Education and Justice investigation into complaints against the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI).",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6061534,"Othello board discusses seat swap, June 9 appointment deadline to fill District 2 vacancy",680,1350000,2030000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3281476-d9392886b22136096cf60350b4b62db1&start=1350&end=2030","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3281476-d9392886b22136096cf60350b4b62db1/thumbnail_1350000.jpg","/articles/6061534/Washington/Othello-board-discusses-seat-swap-June-9-appointment-deadline-to-fill-District-2-vacancy","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6061534-74872c43111665de3d86b89b08afb7b1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770451444&Signature=HOOoeLY4IOGHr1Em1syuJBdGDgYLfcNR5Nf-GxD9LY7DyamI3LYIQnum6WbD6joQYFsvWyvQsNLFsSdL01s~QuRyor3wD8vZu1Y~C-JvIgcqnsQyFKYtITRhYZEfKptDP2Bbm5z4I4~7lcZK1PDpsI~C3tTyfanYrp4Tirb9VO6asRGGRQm91c85andvaH3~IhRBPx~gH8-D8ve0U~OLhTwnPRNvkb8PEmNHwWStILgyi5~XZh6lkEO~hGzwvL8UPs-8tcG0k0xA0u4wMcGuoTC5tBi1p3mUMHvecSxsU9z39uHZcbG7qocx7T0WuuVBgLVw8gbjxxKf~~mal0hyVg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Othello School District Board of Directors debated whether a current at-large director should resign and be reappointed to fill the District 2 vacancy, a move board staff said would keep the board at full strength if no District 2 candidates file before the June 9 appointment deadline.

Board members raised the risk that the director would take on by vacating an elected at-large seat and being reappointed to District 2, and discussed timing for filings and elections if the swap occurs. The board agreed to seek additional guidance from the Educational Service District and to revisit the question at its next meeting.

Why it matters: If no qualified candidates from District 2 apply, the ESD may appoint someone after the district’s deadline. A voluntary swap by an incumbent would temporarily fill District 2 but would require the incumbent to run in the next available election cycle, potentially creating back-to-back filing requirements.

Board process and timeline
Pete, a district staff member who briefed the board on legal options, said the practice has precedent in other Washington districts and is legal, but noted it “puts a ton of pressure on Director Pineda.” He described a possible process in which a director could resign and be considered for appointment in the same public meeting: “In 1 board meeting, he could vacate. The board could go into executive session to consider him as an applicant, and he could be reappointed to another seat in the very same meeting.”

Director Pineda and other board members emphasized transparency and that any change should be voluntary. A board member said the district has had some interest from District 2 residents and recommended giving the filing period more time; another board member urged the district to get precise dates and election-cycle details from staff before any move.

Electoral and appointment implications
Board discussion identified several procedural clarifications the board will seek: whether the ESD can appoint someone who does not live in District 2 if there are no qualified applicants, exact filing deadlines if a director is appointed to a different seat, and which election cycles would require the appointee to file. Board members discussed May filing windows and a May 2026 nomination filing referenced by staff as the next likely opportunity to file if someone is appointed out of cycle.

No formal motion to reassign a director was made; board members asked staff to return with formal guidance and dates for the next meeting so the board could decide before the June 9 deadline if necessary.

Ending: The board will request written guidance from the Educational Service District and discuss next steps at its upcoming meetings; board members said they prefer a voluntary, transparent process rather than a rushed appointment.","Board members debated a potential seat switch and appointment process to fill a vacant District 2 seat, weighing legal logistics, electoral filing timelines and the risk to the director who would give up an elected seat to be reappointed.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Othello hires and reassignments: McFarland principal named athletics director; standards-based grading pilots continue

Othello board hears state K‑12 funding figures, cuts and federal probe into OSPI

Othello board discusses seat swap, June 9 appointment deadline to fill District 2 vacancy