Paddock named as Teaching & Learning Director
Heather Paddock has been hired as the district’s next Teaching & Learning Director, effective July 1, 2022. Paddock currently serves as a principal with Everett Public Schools. She has previously served as assistant principal, instructional coach, and middle school teacher. Paddock will take over the position from Angie Miller, who has chosen to return to a classroom teacher position for the next school year.
“Heather’s background will make her an excellent leader for our Teaching & Learning Department,” said Superintendent Justin Irish. “With her experiences in the classroom, instructional coaching, and serving as principal, she deeply understands the throughline between the classroom and the district office. She also has the strong ability to connect with others, building positive relationships with students, staff, families, and community members.”
The Teaching & Learning Director is responsible for overseeing the district’s curriculum implementation and adoption, professional development programs for teachers, and ensuring student achievement across all grade levels.
“I am excited to get to know the Anacortes School District and community,” said Paddock. “My experience in a wide range of schools has provided me the perspective to understand the unique needs of students, staff, and families. I approach this role with a love of teaching and learning for both students and staff.”
duNann named as next AMS principal
Kia duNann has been named as the next principal at Anacortes Middle School, effective July 1, 2022. duNann has served as assistant principal at AMS for the past year. Prior to that, she served as assistant principal with the Snohomish School District, associate principal, activity coordinator/leadership teacher and special education teacher in the Lake Washington and Federal Way school districts.
“I believe that Kia will do an excellent job leading our middle school,” said Superintendent Justin Irish. “She has a tremendous amount of experience leading systems alignment and student improvement, and a proven commitment to serving all students.”
duNann was chosen from a well-qualified pool of candidates. The interview process included several staff interviews, a performance exercise, and a public Q&A forum. Dr. Irish took the feedback from each step of the process into consideration before making a final decision.
duNann received her undergraduate degree in special education from Gonzaga University, and her master’s degree in educational leadership from Seattle Pacific University.
“I am honored and thrilled that I will be serving the AMS community as the principal next year,” said duNann. “I am grateful for this opportunity and I am really looking forward to continuing to build strong relationships with our students, staff, families, and community members. I love living in the community that I serve and am excited for what is ahead for all of us.”
duNann will oversee approximately 55 certificated and classified staff, and a student body of approximately 560 students at AMS. The principal serves on the District’s Leadership Team and helps guide the district’s focus on developing rigorous learning opportunities for all students. duNann takes over from current AMS principal Patrick Harrington, who has accepted a leadership position with the Oak Harbor School District, after nearly 20 years of service at Anacortes Middle School.
Kindergarten Registration Open
Enrollment is now open for all incoming kindergartners for the 2022-23 school year. Children entering kindergarten must be age 5 on or before August 31, 2022, in order to register. We urge families to enroll early to support our placement process, and help us ensure that siblings can be placed at the same school. Anacortes is a non-boundary district; students are placed following certain criteria and guidelines, per board policy 3131. Priority is given to families who enroll prior to May 15.
More information can be found in our Kindergarten Registration Packet.
Questions?
Contact Anne Berard, Elementary Registrar: (360) 503-1212 or aberard@asd103.org
District making long-term budget decisions
The Anacortes School District is proactively reviewing its budget projections for future years and making adjustments based on student and staff needs in light of future federal funding reductions and a drop in student enrollment. For the 2022-23 projected annual budget, the Anacortes School District would face a $2.4 million shortfall. However, because of its proactive and conservative budgeting process and strong community support for passing school levies, the district will not need major budgetary adjustments for the 2022-23 school year. The district’s projected budget for 2022-23 and is currently estimated at $45,104,207.
The district anticipates continued declining enrollment rates in future years, due to various factors including declining birth rates and housing availability. The district’s student enrollment has dropped by almost 250 students over the past two school years due to COVID. School districts across the country have seen similar declining enrollment rates due to the pandemic. The district received federal and state COVID relief funding for the 2020-21 and 2021-2022 school years to support enrollment reductions and the costs associated with its response to COVID. Those funds will be exhausted during this next budget cycle.
Next school year’s deficit will be made up through attrition, staff reassignment, continued use of COVID relief funds, while also using some of the district’s reserve fund.
“We are working creatively to make budget adjustments, with our primary focus on serving students in the classroom. We are not reducing staff at this time. Some staff are being reassigned to other positions, and we will consider not filling other positions as they become vacant,” said Irish.
The district has made the following reductions for the 2022-23 school year:
Did not fill the Executive Director of Technology, Food, and Transportation. These duties have been reassigned to the Executive Director of Finance and Operations.
Reduced deans at Island View Elementary and Anacortes High School
Reduced materials, supplies, and operating expenditures
Eliminated all positions funded by COVID-related grants
COVID relief funds will end in 2022-2023, so the district is making long-term plans to ensure continued effective fiscal management. The district will continue to invest in long-term, proactive budget planning and filter all decisions through the district’s strategic five-year plan and annual operating plan.
“We commit to being transparent and taking a strategic approach to our budgeting process for next year to ensure high academic, social, and emotional student success,” said Irish. “We look forward to engaging stakeholders in our strategic planning and budget processes next year and beyond.”
The school board will review the draft budget on August 11, 2022, and vote on the final budget on August 25, 2022.
Northwest Career & Technical Academy Summer Session
Summer Session Flyer with Registration Links
Want to try out Northwest Career & Technical Academy? Join one of our Summer Sessions for a three-week immersion into our hands-on interactive courses!
