Riverside School Board Shoots and Scores

“We have not had sixth grade basketball before, so we’re excited,” said Riverside School District Superintendent Ken Russell.

The district hopes that adding the new sport will help get students involved in their school, teach important life lessons such as teamwork, and improve skill development for players who might want to play basketball in high school, Russell said.

The new basketball program will start in May and last four weeks. Russell said he’s hoping the new program will be successful. “The word on the street is there has been a lot of interest,” he said.

School board members held several brief discussions during last week’s meeting, including their first look at the budget for the 2026-27 school year. “We are working on our budget now that the legislative session is over,” Russell said.

The district, like others in the region, typically waits until after the legislative session has concluded before finalizing their budget in case the state sets new directives for school districts. “We have to wait and see what they do and what it costs,” Russell said.

The district should have a final budget ready for board approval in June, he said. A study session to discuss the budget is planned for May. Russell said the district isn’t expecting many changes. “We are budgeting for flat enrollment, which these days is a good thing,” he said.

Two grants were recently received, one for new cafeteria tables at Riverside Elementary and another for a van to be used by Future Farmers of America students who need transportation to the fair and competitions.

The board also approved a lengthy list of summer programs, activities, and camps that the district typically offers each year. “The list is really strong and there’s a ton of opportunities for kids in the summer to be involved and hang out with their friends,” Russell said. 

Russell reported to the board that students in the district participated in a day of service on April 21. A group of freshmen and sophomores students worked with Generation Alive, a youth development nonprofit in Spokane, to pack 30,000 meals for the North County Food Pantry in Elk. Other groups of students picked up roadside litter, read to elementary students, cleaned flower beds at Riverside Elementary, did forest cleanup on campus, assisted veterans at Fairchild Air Force Base, and worked with the homeless at Union Gospel Mission.

“It was a really good day,” Russell said. “We do it to teach our kids the power of service and compassion.”

The next Riverside School Board meeting is scheduled for May 20, at 5:30 p.m.