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.

• Nov 21: 6-12 Half Day; Conference Planning and AHS Evening Conferences
  
• Nov 22: 6-12 Half Day; Afternoon Conferences and AMS Evening Conferences
• Nov 23: K-12 Half Day (students and staff); District Office closed at 12:30 p.m.
• Nov 24-25: No School; Thanksgiving Break

Come see the middle school actors in this hilarious take on A Servant of Two Masters!

Tickets for sale at the door for just $5.

Superintendent Justin Irish is launching listening sessions this year to engage with our community, answer questions, provide district updates, and hear feedback. Sessions are open to anyone: students, families, staff, and community members.

There are several dates and times scheduled throughout the year. Please pre-register to attend. https://bit.ly/Javawithjustin

• Wednesday, December 7, 9:30- 10:30 a.m.
  
• Monday, February 13, 5:15-6:15 p.m.
• Thursday, May 11, 5:15-6:15 p.m

Please pre-register: https://bit.ly/Javawithjustin

Each session has 20 slots available.

All sessions are held at the Whitney Early Childhood Education Center Library: 1200 M Avenue

Questions? Contact the Superintendent's Office at (360) 503-1211 or tramsay@asd103.org

The district has shared it is currently in the process of rebalancing the budget and has been proactively planning reductions.

After closing out the 2021-2022 financial statements in October, the district ended with a five percent fund balance. If the district does not adjust the 2022-2023 budget, it is projected to end the fiscal year with a two percent fund balance, due to unexpected expenditures. The district will prepare for some reductions earlier than planned to maintain the district policy of a four percent fund balance.

Current Reductions

The district will reduce $900,000 during the 2022-2023 school year. In addition to reducing portions of the general operations, materials, and supply budgets, the district will make the following staff reductions by January 1, 2023:

• Eliminate one human resource office program assistant
• Eliminate one district office administrative assistant
• Eliminate three technology staff
• Reduce contracted days for Technology Integration Coordinator

The Anacortes School Board approved a resolution on Thursday, November 10, 2022 to reduce its workforce, which is required by collective bargaining agreements.

Next Steps

Over the next several months, the district will continue partnering with internal and external stakeholders, preparing for future reductions. Rebalancing the budget this school year and the next school year (cutting at least $2.6 million in staffing, materials, and operational costs) is necessary to maintain a stable four percent fund balance. The district will continue to meet with staff, collective bargaining groups, the Budget Advisory Council, and other community groups to identify budget priorities.

“We will use our strategic plan to align budget priorities and build a budget based on what is required, essential, and discretionary for student learning,” said Superintendent Justin Irish. “Our staff will continue to work diligently to align revenues and expenditures, review data, and ensure that budgets are accurate and transparent.”

Opportunities for Input

There are several opportunities for the community to provide input and learn more about the district’s budget.

• Budget Town Halls - 12/8/22, 2/2/23, 4/27/23 - 5:30 - 7 p.m. in the Anacortes High Commons. The Budget Town Halls are open to anyone and will include a presentation as well as audience Q&A.
• Budget Advisory Council - the council meets regularly to review the budget and provide input. Meetings are open to the public to observe.
• Additional materials about the budget can be found on our website: https://www.asd103.org/District/Department/26-Finance

Questions? Contact Mike Sullivan, Executive Director of Finance & Operations (360) 503-1213 or masullivan@asd103.org

The winter weather season is certainly upon us! Take a moment to review our bus adverse weather routes, and our emergency/ closure procedures.

• Adverse Weather Routes
• Emergency/ Closure Procedures

The adverse weather routes are also loaded into the Ride 360 parent app. For instructions on how to use the app, visit our website: https://www.asd103.org/District/Department/32-Transportation/983-Ride-360-Instructions.html

Questions? Contact the Transportation Department at (360) 503-1211 or kgarrison@asd103.org

The school board recently reviewed updates to our attendance policy & procedure, which are set for final adoption on November 10th. The policy updates are based on state law. Key points are:

• Language that specifically states that an absence due to mental health reasons is an excusable absence that is treated in the same manner as other excusable absences that were due to illness or injury.

• Clarity on how much time families have to get a student's absence excused. The new language in the policy states that families have 48 hours, upon the return of their student to school, to provide the rationale for excusing the absence. After 48 hours upon the student's return to school, if no reason for the absence is provided, it will remain in Skyward as an unexcused absence.

Links to the policy & procedure can be found here:

3122 Excused and Unexcused Absences Policy & Procedure

The referral window for Highly Capable (Challenge) services will be open from November 7-18 and referrals can be made by any adult familiar with the child being referred.

You can find the referral form on our district website: https://www.asd103.org/District/Department/55-Teaching-and-Learning/798-Highly-Capable-Program.html

Highly Capable testing will be administered in December of 2022 and once testing is completed, the Multidisciplinary Committee will meet to review results. Guardians will receive written notification of their students' test scores and of the committee's decision, which will most likely be completed in January of 2023. Questions? Please call Anne Berad or Heather Paddock at 360-503-1214.

We have lots to celebrate for the Fall season!

Cross County and Swim and Dive both came in 2nd in the state.

Football is continuing post-league play. Best of luck in their upcoming games. Last Friday was the first time Anacortes held a State playoff game at Rice Field.

WIAA used the revenue from the game to cover the expenses to operate the game. Big shout out and thank you to our community for coming together and fully funding bleachers for the State playoff game last Friday.

Questions? Contact Erik Titus, athletics & activities director: (360) 503-1305 or etitus@asd103.org

Families and staff can access our weekly Covid dashboard on our website: https://www.asd103.org/District/Department/52-Health-Services/601-COVID-Testing.html

The online dashboard will take the place of the emails that families received last year when we had a positive case within our buildings. We encourage anyone with concerns, especially high risk individuals, to check the website on a regular basis.

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 Laura Dennis @ 360-503-1223. if you interested in applying? Please click here.

Please visit our volunteer page here. For more information on volunteering, please contact Laura Dennis @ 360-503-1223.

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

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