Education Insider

Welcome to the district's bi-monthly newsletter! At the bottom of this newsletter, you'll find a link to the Community Bulletin Board.

• June 16: Half Day/ Last Day of School
• June 18: Father's Day
• June 19: Juneteenth Holiday/ District Office Closed

Back to School Dates:

• Aug. 19: Ready to Learn Fair – 9 a.m. – noon at AHS
• Aug. 24: AMS Hawk Startup
• Aug. 24-25: AHS Seahawk Startup
• Aug. 31: Elementary Meet & Greets – 3:30 – 5:30 p.m.
  
• Wednesday, Sept 6: First Day of School (1st-12th grades)
• Sept 11: First Kindergarten & Pre-K Day

The full calendar, is posted on our website.

The latest issue of the Anacortes Pride, our quarterly newsletter, is available now. The print edition will hit homes early next week.

Check out this issue for:

• Senior profiles
• Retiree celebrations
• "Reading Buddies" at elementary schools
• Your Shout Outs - and more!

Questions, comments, feedback, or to request additional copies, please contact the Superintendent's Office: (360) 503-1211 or tramsay@asd103.org

Superintendent Justin Irish delivered his annual “State of the District” address to the Anacortes Chamber of Commerce luncheon this week. In the address, he highlighted the district’s strategic plan, progress made on goals this year, and emphasized student voice.

Dr. Irish discussed how the district’s annual operating plan is connected to school improvement plans that connect directly to student learning and success.

“We are committed to providing a high quality education that meets the needs of each student,” said Irish. “The annual operating plan allows us to focus our work, and be strategic about our resources.”

Three ASD students also joined Dr. Irish in speaking before the crowd of nearly 100 attendees.

Annaly Ellis, an AHS senior and school board student representative, spoke about deeper learning and ways in which to engage with students through meaningful and relevant dialogue. Ellis presented data she gathered throughout the year, sharing students’ perspectives on their learning experiences.

Owen Kennedy, an AMS 8th grader, spoke about student leadership and promoting a sense of belonging. Kennedy, also the ASB president, discussed how fundraisers connect students to the wider world and see that their actions can make a difference. AMS students recently raised more than $6,000 for the Coral Reef Alliance through a walk-a-thon.

Risa Aguilar, a Mt Erie 4th grader, highlighted the district’s elementary literacy curriculum in reading a portion of her “choose-your-own-adventure” style story. Students in Kayla Joplin’s 4th grade class recently wrote and illustrated their own stories weaving science, writing, and art together in a final product.

Dr. Irish also provided an overview of progress made on the district’s goals, including rebalancing the budget. The district has been facing a $3.2 million deficit for the 2023-24 school year, and has been actively engaged with staff and community partners to make tough budget decisions. The district continues to work strengthening staff professional development, graduation pathways, social-emotional learning, and mental health supports.

“I am grateful to our many community partners, including the Anacortes Schools Foundation, Island Health, the Chamber of Commerce, and many others who support our schools, our students, and our staff,” said Irish. “Anacortes is an amazing community that recognizes the importance of strong local schools.”

Kristen Koehler has been named as the Anacortes School District’s next Director of Inclusive Services, effective July 1, 2023. Koehler has served in several leadership roles, including Director of Student Support at Shanghai Community International School and Copenhagen International School and Director of Special Services with Everett Public Schools. Koehler has also served as a special education teacher and school psychologist. Koehler also holds Master’s Degrees in Educational Administration and Special Education from the University of Washington, and a Master’s Degree in School Psychology from Seattle University.

Koehler takes over the position from Shannon Gilbert, who has been serving as Inclusive Services Director since 2020. Gilbert will return to a classroom teaching position next school year. This is not a new position; the position oversees many areas, including special education, 504 plans, and counseling. The position was downsized from executive director in the 2020 central office reorganization.

Koehler was selected after a competitive search that included input and participation from staff and families.

“I am excited to welcome Kristen to our team,” said Superintendent Justin Irish. “Throughout the interview process, she exhibited the technical expertise and experience to manage this complex role. She has a proven track record of team-building, establishing clear systems and expectations, and improving student outcomes.”

Koehler noted how excited she is to join the Anacortes team, as well.

“I am delighted to join the Anacortes School District as Director of Inclusive Services. I have a life-long passion for creating high-quality learning experiences for all students,” said Koehler. “Most importantly, I value the collaborative efforts that create a community of belonging where each student feels valued and supported. During the interview process I was fortunate to speak with staff, parents and community members and I heard this same commitment. I look forward to joining the Anacortes community and helping to shape the future of support programs in the district.”

The Anacortes School District has announced additional budget reductions and notified impacted staff, after carefully weighing all options, reviewing legislative impacts, and working with our bargaining units.

Since last spring, the district has worked proactively and transparently to respond to a $3.2 million budget deficit. In particular, we want to thank our Budget Advisory Council and express our gratitude for the active participation of each and every member of the council.

This council, consisting of staff, union representatives, parents, students, board directors, and community members, has played an invaluable role in our decision-making process. By coming together and sharing their insights, concerns, and ideas, they have helped shape the priorities and direction of our district.

Additionally, we hosted various town hall events and informal “Java with Justin” get-togethers. We also discussed updates with all staff during staff meetings. The active involvement and feedback from across the district and community were instrumental in shaping our financial decisions.

At this time, we have met with impacted staff regarding a reduction in force.

For certificated staff, we needed to make RIF decisions by May 15. For classified employees, we are not required by State law to meet this timeline: however, we wanted to inform employees as close to that date as possible, which we have done.

We are still negotiating with classified bargaining teams. Therefore, there is a possibility of further reduction in hours, days, or positions.

Legislative Session and Impact on Anacortes School District:

• Implicit Price Deflator (IPD): As anticipated, the State will fund a 3.7 percent increase in IPD. As a reminder, the increase in State revenue does not fully fund the total cost of our employees based on their experience and bargained contracts.
• Experience Factor: We will receive an additional 4 percent experience factor for certificated staff. This is good news, as the additional revenue will make up the previous unfunded difference for some certificated employees.
• Retirement Rates: On a positive note, the retirement rates for employers will be reduced by 5.01 percent, thanks to the adoption of the Senate plan by the House. This will result in some savings for certificated employees not funded by the state and a portion of certificated employees not funded by the state.
• Special Education Rates: Other good news - we are receiving some additional revenue due to factors that have been increased in the State allocation.
• Materials Supplies and Operations Costs (MSOCS) Allocation: MSOCS allocation has increased by approximately 3.10%. However, it is anticipated that the increased costs associated with MSOCS will offset this increase, requiring us to carefully evaluate our budgetary allocations.

Current Overall Reductions:

A full list of reductions made to date can be found on our website.

K-8 Library Adjustments:

We have reduced an additional four classified paraeducator positions, effective with the end of the current school year. These four paraeducator positions currently staff our elementary and middle school libraries.

The libraries will remain open and accessible to students but with limited personnel. The district’s one certificated librarian position at AHS remains intact. Students will still be able to access books in their classrooms, in the libraries, and through our partnership with the Anacortes Public Library.

The district will also form an internal committee to determine how best to manage the libraries and keep the resources accessible to students, including possibly implementing a self-checkout system for books.

"These latest reductions are a painful reality that we face to make up for our budget deficit," said Superintendent Irish. "I want to thank these staff members for their hard work and commitment to our students. I can also assure our community that students will continue to have access to books and robust learning tools."

The district’s team, including principals, weighed many options before making this difficult decision. State funding does not fully fund librarians at all schools; the Anacortes School District has historically allocated these funds to elementary science specialists.

The district has also worked closely with the paraeducator bargaining unit. Most impacted employees will have the option to move into another position, either through attrition or seniority rights.

Next Steps:

As we progress, we remain committed to collaboration and problem-solving.

• We will continue diligently studying the legislative updates and their direct impact on the Anacortes School District.
• Additionally, we are actively negotiating with bargaining teams, recognizing that these negotiations may influence our overall budget.
• We must also continue working with AHS coaches to reduce high school athletic expenses for the next school year.
• All future vacant positions will be reviewed.

We will navigate these challenges with transparency, integrity, and the utmost consideration for the well-being of our students and staff. We also acknowledge the difficult reality of losing valued members of our team due to budget reductions as well as recognizing that some employees have had a reduction in calendar days or hours for the next school year. It is with a heavy heart that we make these difficult decisions. Rest assured, we will do everything possible to support and assist those affected by these changes.

Questions? Superintendent Justin Irish: (360) 503-1211 or jirish@asd103.org

The school supply list for next year is available now!

https://www.asd103.org/District/130-School-Supplies.html

Enrollment is open now for NCTA's summer session. This summer, students entering their freshman year through non-graduated seniors will have the opportunity to earn a semester (0.5) credit in Occupational/CTE credit while they participate in one of theNCTA Programs this summer! Students completing the HS Health will beawarded the HS Health credit required for graduation.

https://bit.ly/3HAu2pD

Information, updates, presentations, and a list of current reductions is available on our website: https://www.asd103.org/District/Department/26-Finance/1177-Untitled.html

A subset of the Wall of Fame council continues to convene and oversee the progress of the Wall of Fame project. In April, this subgroup collaborated with the facilities department to create a blueprint for the display layout and develop a comprehensive project plan. They submitted the plan on May 1st, which was subsequently reviewed and approved by the superintendent's cabinet. In close coordination with district administrators, the subgroup intends to commence the installation starting with 6 additional trophy cases in the gymnasium foyer in July.

Following the physical display update, the subgroup will focus on the virtual component known as the Kiosk. After examining the physical and virtual inventory during the council meetings and meeting with other invested community members, it was determined the Kiosk currently archives most photos up until 2015 in a digital format. However, there is still work remaining to achieve a complete and up-to-date virtual display. To address this, the assistant superintendent consulted with knowledgeable alumni specializing in digital archiving and acknowledged the need for additional efforts to finalize and rejuvenate the Kiosk. This ambitious undertaking demands advanced project management and technical expertise to ensure a well-designed outcome.

We look forward to collaborating with the subgroup on both projects, as they present an opportunity to reflect on and celebrate our community spirit.

For Questions, contact: Becky Clifford at rclifford@asd103.org

Visit our Human Resources website for more information on current vacancies: https://anacortesjobs.hrmplus.net/

We are always actively recruiting new substitutes for a variety of positions, including food services, transportation, custodial, paraprofessionals, and classroom teachers. If you are interested in subbing for the Anacortes School District, please reach out to Shelby Vander Kooy @ 360-503-1203, or please click here.

Click the link below to find items submitted for our community bulletin board:

https://www.smore.com/76mc8