SOUTH WHIDBEY: SWSD Navigator Newsletter [June 20, 2024]
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.
Bond Committee Minutes/Updates Linked Here
Upcoming School Board Meeting:
On Wednesday, June 26, 2024 the South Whidbey School Board will hold a retreat (not recorded) and business meeting (recorded) starting at 4:00pm via ZOOM WEBINAR and IN PERSON at the South Whidbey Elementary School Dr. Julie Hadden Community Board Room at 5380 Maxwelton Road, Langley. The agenda is linked HERE. Please click THIS LINK to join the webinar. Passcode: 234129 Webinar ID: 881 5979 3362
Board Corner:
This upcoming business meeting is an important one, with the board voting on several big issues discussed at the last board workshop. These include which search firm to hire for the superintendent search, bids on the first bond work to be done this summer, and putting levies on the November ballot to replace expiring ones. We’ll also get an end-of-the-year update on the school improvement plans.
—– Brook Willeford, Board President
What’s Happening Around The Schools…
District Summer Workers
School may be out, however, South Whidbey Facilities, Maintenance, Custodial, Farm, and District Office staff are working throughout the summer. This summer…
Custodians are:
- Detailing each classroom and common area of the school from floor to ceiling
- Polishing and recoating gymnasium floors
- Washing windows, doors, and millwork
- Supporting the disposal of surplus and damaged equipment or furniture
- Gathering unwanted chemicals in schools for professional removal and disposal districtwide
Maintenance technicians:
- Mowing and trimming all grounds
- Repairing and painting walls
- Addressing identified plumbing needs
- Modifying special needs classrooms to meet program needs
- Conducting regular building maintenance, including cleaning roofs, changing air filters and light bulbs
Capital Improvement Projects:
- Upgrading pumps and controls for the district’s water distribution system
- Replacing old and damaged water heaters districtwide
- Upgrading pumps and controls for septic systems
- Regrading and improving parking and driveways at the SWCC
- Repairing and replacing roofing systems not addressed in the bond
- Assessing and repairing HVAC systems and controls not addressed in the bond
- Resurfacing the baseball and softball infields
- Repairing fencing on the athletic fields
Bond in Action
The Bond committee diligently worked through the spring to set the priorities and the administration continued the work to finalize this summer’s projects. South Whidbey Elementary will see changes to the playground this summer. South Whidbey High/Middle School will see changes to the courtyard. Stay tuned in for updates. To view the minutes and presentations, please see the Bond webpage linked here.
2024-2025 School Budget
South Whidbey School Board will hear a preliminary presentation on the budget during the finance report at the June 26th Business Meeting. The complete presentation of the 24-25 Budget will be at the July 10th workshop. This will be an open discussion on the budget. On July 24th, there will be a public hearing on the proposed 24-25 Budget and the School Board will be asked to adopt the finalized budget in their new business.
Statewide Core Issues with School Funding Explained on New Website
South Whidbey School District along with countless other school districts in every corner of the state, has continued to innovate to meet the growing needs of students while balancing the increasing costs associated with these needs. Many Washington school districts find themselves in a similar, difficult financial position – with costs and needs exceeding funding from the state.
That’s why the Washington Association of School Administrators (WASA) has launched www.waschoolfunding.org, a new website to better explain the issues creating financial pressure on K-12 school districts, and the need for state funding to reflect these increasing costs. We encourage you to explore the site and share it with others in the community who may be concerned about why schools are struggling and what issues may be affecting K-12 budgets right now.
“Even though the state is constitutionally required to fully fund K-12 public education, Washington’s investment falls short of funding actual costs and needs.” said Superintendent Moccia. For example, in our school district, there is a gap between the funding provided by the state for special education services and the actual costs of offering these services for students. In the 2022-23 school year alone, special education expenses that were unfunded across the state amounted to $529.8 million.”
In addition to sharing the factors contributing to widespread Washington K-12 budget challenges, www.waschoolfunding.org also offers solutions that would help school budgets, including ours, in the short and long term.
Our school district will continue to advocate to lawmakers that the state needs to provide ample funding for schools across Washington. As always, we will keep families informed of our progress.
