SOUTH WHIDBEY: SWSD Navigator Newsletter (Apr. 17, 2025)
Prior to every Board Meeting or Workshop, the South Whidbey School District posts a SWSD Navigator Newsletter on ParentSquare providing notice of School Board Meetings, what is happening in the District and updates in the schools. Click here to receive future issues. Ed. Note: We excerpt those portions of the SWSD Navigator pertinent to the activities of the school board. For the full contents of the current edition of the newsletter, click this link.
Board Corner
At our last board workshop, the board discussed some results from the student, staff, and guardian survey that we’ve used for the last several years. These survey results play heavily into our goal-setting and evaluation process, and we appreciate those who took the time to fill one out.
Our upcoming business meeting will have a report on the National Teacher’s conference, on the district’s alternative programs, and on our Highly Capable program. After that, the board will vote on a few housekeeping items and get reports from student reps, the district finance director, and the superintendent. We’re looking ahead in the next few months to selecting a new student representative as Carter McKnight completes his two-year term, and to beginning the goal-setting process for next year.
On Wednesday, April 23, 2025 the South Whidbey School Board will have a Business Meeting at 6:30pm, via ZOOM WEBINAR and IN PERSON at the South Whidbey Elementary School Dr. Julie Hadden Community Board Room at 5380 Maxwelton Road, Langley.
Please click THIS LINK to join the webinar. Passcode: 234129 Webinar ID: 881 5979 3362
Future Meetings:
- May 14 Board Workshop, Student Interviews
- May 28 Business Meeting
- June 18 Workshop
- June 25 Business Meeting
— Brook WIlleford, Board Chair
Student Supports
Tk-5th Grade Students Are Eligible for Free Meals in 25-26!
Thank you for completing the Child Nutrition Eligibility and Education Benefit (CNEEB) applications (Free and Reduced Meal Applications) this year! The applications qualified the South Whidbey Elementary School students to receive free meals in the 2025-2026 school year!
RCW 28A.235.135 (HB 1238) requires Local Education Agencies (LEAs) to provide meals at no cost to students enrolled at elementary schools where 30% or more of enrolled children are eligible for free or reduced-price meals. This requirement is based on October 2024 Building Data. Elementary schools are defined as schools consisting of any of the K–4 grade levels.
In September 2025, please complete the 25-26 Child Nutrition Eligibility and Education Benefit (CNEEB) application (Free and Reduced Meal Application) to assist the district with qualification in the following year., .More information and resources can be found on the Meals for Washington Students webpage.
Operations Updates
The South Whidbey School District is about to receive our second electric school bus!
Last year, we added our first electric bus to the fleet. That bus carries 75 (maximum) passengers and has a range of approximately 100 miles. We have a Level 2 charger at our transportation center where we plug the bus in after each trip, ensuring a full range. The driver of that bus, and the students he transports, love the quiet, smooth ride. The bus was funded almost entirely by an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Clean School Bus grant, which included the purchase of a charger.
In the coming weeks, we will be receiving our second electric bus. Like the first bus, this is a Type C bus that can transport up to 75 students. It also will have a range of about 100 miles. We recently had a second charger installed, which allows the buses to charge consecutively. Typically, it takes only a few hours to bring each bus back to a full charge following a trip. Another grant from the EPA paid for most of the bus and charger, while the remainder was supported through state transportation funding designated for bus purchases.
The South Whidbey School District is proud to be leading the way with our focus on sustainability, health and climate-friendly practices. Integrating electric buses is an important part of that work. We look forward to expanding this focus in our transportation system, our facilities, and in our relationships in the coming years.
On the Ballot in 2025
| SOUTH WHIDBEY SCHOOL DISTRICT (NO. 206) |
| Directors: Two of the five director positions are scheduled to be on the ballot. Position 2: Andrea Downs. Candidates for Position 2 must live in director district 2; see the map at this link. Position 5: Ann M. Johnson. Position 5 is an “at large” position; candidates may live anywhere in the district. |
