Every Child Matters: Orange Shirt Day - Sept 30
We are proud to partner with the Samish Nation, and look forward to continuing to strengthen our relationship.
Potential bus cancellations
The district is currently facing a severe bus driver shortage, which may result in possible route cancellations. The district’s transportation department is doing everything possible to avoid canceling routes, but we want families to be prepared in the event of a cancellation.
If a route is canceled, the district will notify families as early as possible either the day before or early in the morning. If a route is canceled, families will need to arrange their own transportation for their student.
Families will be notified the following ways:
- Flash Alert: http://www.flashalert.net/. Families and staff are encouraged to sign up for Flash Alert for the most timely notifications.
- Ride 360 App (for instructions on how to access Ride 360, please visit our website: https://www.asd103.org/District/Department/32-Transportation)
- District website, Facebook page, and Twitter
The district is actively recruiting bus drivers. Please encourage anyone interested to apply: https://www.asd103.org/District/Department/53-Human-Resources. Like many other districts and businesses we are struggling to keep certain positions filled. We appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding.
Questions? Karen Garrison, Transportation Supervisor, (360) 503-1155 or kgarrison@asd103.org
Appointment of Budget Advisory Council Members
Nineteen members have been appointed to the district’s newly formed Budget Advisory Council (BAC), which will meet throughout the year to provide input on the district’s budget priorities, strategic goals, and overall financial health.
The Anacortes School District is engaged in a proactive budget planning process to develop its 2023-24 budget and beyond. The district’s current $45 million budget utilizes nearly $2 million in district reserves, due to declining enrollment, increased costs across all departments, and loss of one-time federal COVID funding. The district is working proactively to identify cost savings to balance the district’s budget, and will also have some difficult decisions to make this year. The shortfall currently represents about 6 percent of the district’s budget.
The BAC members represent staff, school board, students, parents, and community.
Appointed members are:
- Jack Curtis - Parent
- Matt Cutter - School Board Director
- Kia duNann - Principal Representative
- Octavia Eslick - Anacortes Education Association Representative
- Diana Farnsworth - School Board Director
- Jay Ferrario - Service Employees International Union Representative
- Camille Flinders - Parent
- Erin Glick - Anacortes Education Association Representative
- Brady Graham - Student
- Elliott Johnson - Parent
- Kelly Kreher - Anacortes Education Association Representative
- Dan Moroney - Parent
- Danette Riordan - Anacortes Technology and Information Professionals Representative
- Aimee Rudge - Anacortes Administrative Assistants Association Representative
- Emily Schuh - Community
- Matt Stine - Community
- Rene Vance - Community
- Carrie Worra - Parent
- James Yandle - Staff
“I am excited for the opportunity to engage with our community to help us balance the budget,” said Superintendent Justin Irish. “I appreciate these members in particular for dedicating their time to this important work. The decisions we make will impact all schools and programs, and I appreciate having a diverse range of perspectives.”
The BAC meetings will also be open to the public to view the process. The BAC meetings will be held in the Anacortes High School library. The meeting schedule, and additional information is posted on our website: https://www.asd103.org/District/Department/26-Finance/1063-Untitled.html
“As a parent, I know how crucial the district’s budget is to student success; as a tax-payer, I know how important it is for our district leadership to serve as wise stewards of their funds,” said Jack Curtis, BAC member. “I am eager to learn more and also provide input into the district’s spending decisions so that we are all focused on making the best decisions for our kids, in both the near and long term.”
Budget Town Halls
In addition to the Budget Advisory Council meetings, the district will host several town hall forums about the budget throughout the year. These are also open to the public.
- 12/8/22 - 5:30 - 7 p.m.
- 2/2/23 - 5:30 -7 p.m.
- 4/27/23 - 5:30 - 7 p.m.
These town halls will be held in the Anacortes High School Commons.
Questions? Contact Mike Sullivan, Executive Director of Finance and Operations, (360) 503-1213 or masullivan@asd103.org
Secondary Scheduling Study
This year the district will be studying the secondary schedules (i.e., number of periods in the day, etc.). This does not include start and end times.
Why? AMS and AHS share students and staff. We need to study the secondary schedules to create coherence and fiscally responsive decisions resulting in better student experiences.
There will be an Internal Committee comprised of staff and an Advisory Council comprised of families and community members. The Advisory Council and Internal Committee will provide feedback on the district scheduling study to support student-centered decision-making around staffing and budget.
Please submit your interest by September 23, 2023.
- If you are a family or community member interested in participating in the Advisory Council, submit your interest via the Advisory Council Interest Survey.
- If you are a staff member interested in participating in the Internal Committee, submit your interest via the lnternal Secondary Scheduling Committee Interest Survey.
Meetings will be hosted from October through January. Dates will be provided when selection decisions are made by the first week in October.
