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.

• May 26: K-12 Half Day (students and staff); No Pre-K (District Office Closed at 12:30)
  
• May 29: No School/ Offices Closed: Memorial Day
• May 30: No School: Emergency Closure Makeup Day (District Office Open)
  

A district-wide event calendar is available on our website.

We invite the community to visit Veterans Memorial Plaza at Anacortes High School’s Seahawk Stadium this Memorial Day, and pay tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country.

The plaza will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday, May 29. No events are planned; rather we invite the community in for reflection and tribute. The plaza is comprised of a memorial designed by local architect Brooks Middleton, with input from the Veterans Memorial Committee, as well as a display honoring two Medal of Honor recipients with local connections. Restrooms will not be open during this time. The Anacortes School District is closed on Monday, May 29 in observance of Memorial Day.

Questions, please contact the Superintendent’s Office at (360) 503-1211 or tramsay@asd103.org

A list of recognition days is also available on our website.

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 dates for the 2023-24 school year are set.

Updates to 2023-24

Additional half days have been added for grades 6-8 for staff work time:

• 9/22: K-8 Half Day
• 2/16: K-8 Half Day
• 3/14: K-8 Half Day

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.

Enrollment is now open for the 2023-24 school year, including for all incoming kindergartners. Children entering kindergarten must be age 5 on or before August 31, 2023, 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 our placement policy. Priority is given to families who enroll prior to May 15.

Information for incoming kindergartners can be found in our Kindergarten Enrollment Packet.

Register your student online. Before you register, you’ll need:

• Child’s birth certificate, passport, or other age verification document

• Completed Certificate of Immunization Status (CIS) form (https://wa.myir.net)

• If applicable, parenting plan/court order and/or proof of guardianship
• Address verification document (utility bill, mortgage statement, or lease or rental agreement)

Important upcoming dates:

• Tuesday, May 9, 5:30 - 7 p.m. - Kindergarten Welcome Night at AHS Commons (1600 20th Street)

Don’t have access to a computer for registration? No problem! Contact the district office to schedule an appointment: (360) 503-1212 or aberard@asd103.org

Placement Overview

Per state law, students must be 5 years of age on or before August 31, 2023 to enter kindergarten. Students must be 6 years of age on or before August 31, 2023 to enter first grade.

The district can help provide screening questions to determine your child’s best developmental placement. If you have questions about your child’s development, please contact our Teaching, Learning and Inclusive Services Department at (360) 503-1212 or aberard@asd103.org

Assignment Timeline

Families will receive their elementary assignment by email in mid-August.

Questions?

Contact Anne Berard, Elementary Registrar: (360) 503-1212 or aberard@asd103.org

The Anacortes High School science and math departments and administration have selected new AP Physics, Math, and Spanish curriculum materials that will be reviewed by an Instructional Materials Committee and then likely recommended to School Board Directors for adoption. A public meeting will be held for students, families, and community members interested in learning about materials and providing their feedback.

The meeting will be held in the Anacortes High School Library on Monday, May 22nd from 5:00-7:00 pm. Staff will be on hand to speak about the materials and answer questions.

Please reach out to Heather Paddock, Director of Teaching and Learning, with questions, hpaddock@asd103.org (360) 503-1224

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

The district is currently conducting a search for its next Inclusive Services Director. This is not a new position; the current director, Shannon Gilbert, is returning to a teaching position next year. 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.

The hiring process has included an open, competitive search with input and participation from staff and families. More information about the position can be found in the job description. Questions? Contact Assistant Superintendent Becky Clifford, (360) 503-1214 or 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