The Weekly Update #4

We are diving into strategic planning and want everyone—students, parents, staff, and community members—to be part of it. Over the past two months, we have been gathering thoughts and ideas from our students, staff and families. The input is being used to develop long-range goals and objectives for key areas of our district. Our goal is to create a strategic plan that reflects the community input and addresses the needs of our district for several years to come. Please join Superintendent Rich Polkinghorn at an upcoming Strategic Plan input gathering event on Feb. 27 at 6:00 p.m. in the Henkle Middle School gymnasium. Your input matters; together we're shaping the future of our school district.

Superintendent Rich Polkinghorn spoke at a regional Standard Response Forum on Feb. 7 and shared his experience using common emergency terminology within school districts. Our district team is hard at work ensuring everyone knows what to do in emergencies. We're proposing the adoption of Standard Response Protocols from the I Love You Guys Foundation at an upcoming board meeting. Simultaneously, we're rewriting our emergency procedures to align with these protocols, focusing on clarity and effectiveness. Your ongoing dedication is crucial in making our community a safer place for all.

Superintendent Rich Polkinghorn shared good news about enrollment and the budget at the Jan. 25 school board meeting. Actual revenues are higher than actual expenditures as of Dec. 31. Superintendent Polkinghorn reported that the district is projecting an end fund balance of nearly $2 million. This represents an approximate 10% of planned expenditures. Additionally, enrollment has remained steady through January. The current full time enrollments numbered almost 1,068, which is 24 higher than originally planned. This means the district can expect more in state revenue to be paid over the next eight months.

Superintendent Polkinghorn held the first ever Finance Advisory Committee on February 22. At the Finance Advisory Committee meeting, Superintendent Polkinghorn presented a comprehensive review of the district’s financial situation. The committee will review budgeted and actual revenues and expenditures for the current school year and review budget projections.

The district is seeking community member representation on the committee. If you are interested, please contact Superintendent Polkinghorn via email: rich.polkinghorn@whitesalmonschools.org.

WSVSD would like to share key communicator updates with several groups from the community. This includes receiving WSVSD e-newsletters, emergency information including updates from Superintendent Polkinghorn and from our school principals. If you are interested in receiving key communicator information, please share your information on this Key Communicator Sign-Up.

Key communicators receive and share important topics with their neighbors, friends, and family with the goal of helping our schools be the very best they can be. Thank you for your support of WSVSD as we strive to deliver on our mission: To develop lifelong learners who are encouraged to dream, inspired to succeed, and prepared for the future.

With the most recent school closure related to snow, we have now had a total of eight snow days. As previously communicated, the district will make up as many snow days as possible. A reminder that the previously “built-in” snow days (May 10 and May 24) have been changed to instructional days. Additionally, June 13, 14, 17 and 18 will be instructional days. This means we will have made up six of the eight days missed.

WSVSD is working with the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction on the possibility of a waiver for the remaining missed days. The waiver requires assurance that we are in compliance with the required instructional hours for the year, which at this point we are. It is too early to communicate what our new last day of school will be. I do expect school to be in session through June 18, possibly longer. Please plan accordingly.

WSVSD will communicate a revised last day of school in April.

Thank you for your continued support. An updated 2023-24 school calendar is posted to our webpage: www.wsvsd.org/page/district-calendars.