Snoqualmie Valley School District Headlines

3 Schools Earn Achievement Awards

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 PST

Congratulations to Cascade View Elementary, Fall City Elementary and Chief Kanim Middle School for being selected as 2009 Washington Achievement Award winners. These three Snoqualmie Valley schools were among 174 schools selected as top-performing schools over time.

The Washington Achievement Award was created in 2009 and awarded by the State Superintendent of Public Instruction and the State Board of Education, to celebrate schools that profoundly affect student learning and achievement. The award is given to select elementary, middle, high and comprehensive schools based on six different categories: overall excellence, language arts, math, science, extended graduation rate (high and comprehensive schools only) and gifted education.

We are proud to announce that all three Snoqualmie Valley schools selected - CVES, FCES and CKMS -- received distinction for two categories: "Overall Excellence and Science".

"We are extremely pleased to see three of our schools recognized for their outstanding efforts in increasing student learning in the area of science. During the past three years, we have been working diligently to improve student performance in science, and those efforts are beginning to pay off. School leadership, and most importantly the teachers, are to be commended for their commitment to this work," explained Joel Aune, Superintendent of Snoqualmie Valley School District. "This particular award, which is based on making gains in student achievement over time, reinforces our commitment to continuous improvement throughout the Snoqualmie Valley School District. While we are extremely proud of our schools, we acknowledge that there is always room for improvement. I believe that teachers pursuing excellence have, and will continue, to yield great results for our kids and our schools."

Washington Achievement Awards are part of the State Board's accountability program, adopted in 2009. Under the program, all schools were indexed according to outcomes and indicators from 2007 to 2009. The five outcomes are student performance in statewide reading, writing, math and science tests, as well as the school's extended graduation rate, which includes those students who took longer than four years to graduate. Those outcomes were then measured using four indicators:

achievement of students who are not from low-income families;
achievement of students from low-income families;
achievement of all students when compared to "peers" (those with similar student characteristics, such as the percentage of students who have a disability, are learning English, are designated as gifted, come from low-income families, and are mobile); and
improvement in the achievement of all students from the previous year.

This year, 70 elementary, 26 middle, 52 high schools and 26 comprehensive schools will receive awards and be recognized at celebrations around the state on May 5.

Visit the OSPI website for more information about the 2009 Achievement Awards.

Boundary Committee Develops Five Draft Scenarios

Tue, 9 Mar 2010 00:00:00 PST

The district's Elementary Boundary Study committee, charged with developing new attendance boundaries for Snoqualmie Valley elementary schools, has released five draft scenarios. Parent and community input is being sought through another Web-based survey; Boundary Survey #2 regarding five draft boundary options will be available from March 9 through March 18.

(Survey #2 is now closed while results are being analyzed.)

"The committee looked at many ways to group and regroup neighborhoods," noted committee chair Jeff Hogan. "These five possible scenarios come closest to matching student enrollment over the next several years with school capacities. We have attempted to use natural boundaries and keep neighborhoods together as much as possible." Unfortunately, with over 900 students currently living within a one-mile radius of Cascade View Elementary, it just isn't possible to send them all to the nearest school. To review Historical Enrollment Information and Enrollment Projections for the next five years (without a boundary change) please select the links below.

Each option presented below includes a brief description of neighborhoods where current boundaries could change, as well as a map of the potential boundaries for that option. Additionally, two enrollment-related charts are presented for each option. The first shows how the enrollments would change for each school from 2010-11 through 2013-14, based on that particular option, and the second chart shows the number of classrooms needed in each school to serve the projected enrollment for the next four years. These projections have been developed using current student enrollment information, King County birth records, and information on planned and proposed housing developments throughout the district. As with all projections, enrollment numbers for the earlier years are more likely to be in close range to those actually achieved, while later years may see wider variation from these projected numbers. Based on demographic data available, all five of these options will likely accommodate anticipated growth for the next 3-5 years.

Parents and community members were encouraged to review the documentation posted here before taking the survey.

Boundary Survey #2 is now closed.

Next steps after Boundary Survey #2

After receiving community input on the draft scenarios detailed above, the committee will narrow the list from five to a short list of preferred options. These will be highlighted here on the district website, along with a final online survey (Boundary Survey #3) to gather feedback on the preferred scenarios. Three community meetings will also be offered to discuss the options:

Monday, March 29, at 6 p.m. at North Bend Elementary
Tuesday, March 30, at 6 p.m. at Snoqualmie Middle School
Wednesday, March 31, at 6 p.m. -- online E-Meeting (To participate from a home computer, click on E-Meeting for instructions on how to login prior to the event.)

The committee will consider all feedback, before making a final recommendation to the School Board in April.

More Resources:
Elementary Attendance Boundary News - A section has been set up to share information on the boundary process and the committee's activities. Committee documents, survey results, maps and other information will be posted to the site regularly during the process.

Elementary Boundary Study Frequently Asked Questions (updated 3-10-10)

Current Elementary School Boundary Map

For more information about the boundary study process contact Jeff Hogan at (425) 831-8000.

Honoring Educators of the Year

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 00:00:00 PST

Congratulations to four staff members who were selected as 2010 Educators of the Year by the Snoqualmie Valley Schools Foundation!

Laura Tarp - Culinary Arts teacher at Mount Si High School
Jan Miller - 2nd grade teacher at Fall City Elementary
Seth Deniston - 3rd grade teacher at Cascade View Elementary
Christi Wright - Principal's secretary at Mount Si High School

The educators were surprised with the news at their schools on February 25. They will be publicly honored at the Snoqualmie Valley Schools Foundation Spring Fundraising Luncheon on Thursday, March 25, 2010 from 11:30am to 1:00pm at the Snoqualmie Ridge Golf Club.

The community is invited... To RSVP for the Snoqualmie Valley Schools Foundation Fundraising luncheon, please visit their website at www.SVSFoundation.org.

The Educator of the Year award program focuses on three categories: one Elementary teacher, one Middle or High school teacher, and one classified staff member. These Snoqualmie Valley educators exemplify commitment to excellence in education and dedication to our students and the community. Nominations came from colleagues, parents, and students and were evaluated by an independent committee of Snoqualmie Valley Chamber of Commerce members. This year, there was a tie at the elementary level, so the committee recommended two outstanding Elementary teachers.

Future Facilities Recommendation Approved

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 PST

The Snoqualmie Valley School Board, at their March 11 meeting, approved the recommendation of the Long-term Facilities Planning Committee, to utilize the SMS location as an extension of Mount Si High School for instruction in grades 9-12, by the fall of the 2013-14 school year when overcrowding at the high school will reach a critical level. The motion the Board approved emphasized the next step in this plan to form a High School Program Study Committee - to analyze various program solutions for the SMS location, with public input - resulting in a recommendation for the best high school program solution for the branch campus. Based on the program recommendation, the district would likely need to build a replacement middle school on land that the district owns on Snoqualmie Ridge to accommodate middle school students no longer using the SMS location. Specific decisions about a future bond would come at a later date, pending the recommendation of the High School Program Study committee and enrollment growth needs. (updated 3-12-10)

See below for background information on the research and community engagement efforts over the part year that has lead to this facilities recommendation:

The district's Long-term Facilities Planning (LTFP) Committee presented its final recommendation, during a February 11 School Board work session, on how best to address future overcrowding at Mount Si High School. Following a year-long planning process (that enlisted community feedback to help narrow the options from five models, to two, then to one), the committee unanimously recommended: Annexation of SMS to Mount Si High School and Building a Replacement Middle School on land the district already owns on Snoqualmie Ridge as the preferred solution to meet the future enrollment needs of our district for the next ten years.

This model alleviates overcrowding at Mount Si High School (where the greatest needs are anticipated) by utilizing the space at nearby Snoqualmie Middle School for high school students and staff. This solution also includes building a replacement middle school on district-owned land on Snoqualmie Ridge to accommodate students in grades 6-8, who would attend SMS. The proposal would expand high school classroom capacity to serve 500-600 more students, as well as add common areas, fields, gym facilities and extra parking for high school use. Along with this proposal, the LTFP Committee proposed that a Study Committee, facilitated by the high school administrative team, convene to explore the most effective use of additional SMS capacity in terms of educational programming and student needs.

The estimated cost of this recommendation is approximately $50 million. Building a new middle school costs less than building a new high school (half as much), takes less time to build, and requires less land (our district owns property on Snoqualmie Ridge that could accommodate a middle school). For comparison, a comprehensive remodel and expansion of Mount Si High School would cost about $100 million. Current operating costs for SMS would essentially be transferred to the new middle school building. There would be some increase in high school operating costs from the annexation of the SMS facility, but not as much as a new school would require. The district would also be able to save time and costs by re-using the building design recently developed for Twin Falls Middle School.

This recommendation -- Annexing SMS as part of Mount Si High School and building a replacement middle school - is scheduled to be operational by the fall of 2013, if approved by the School Board and community. This timing aligns with enrollment projections that forecast a strong need at that time for the extra capacity.

TIMELINE:

February 11: Recommendation presented to School Board during work session

February 12: Report to the Board posted on District website

February 12 - March 7: Feedback link open for community to submit input for School Board consideration

February 25: Opportunity for Citizen Comment on LTFP Recommendation, 6:30-7:15pm, at the District Office (prior to regular School Board meeting starting at 7:30pm)

March 11: School Board takes action on LTFP recommendation

PROCESS:

As mentioned above, the proposed solution from the LTFP Committee is the result of an extensive process (which started March of 2009) involving data research and analysis of enrollment projections, building capacities, associated costs, logistical challenges, lessons learned from other districts, program implications and student disruption. The committee explored five facilities models that could potentially address future enrollment needs for the next ten years. In November 2009, after employing a variety of community and staff engagement activities (focus groups, community meetings, staff meetings, web feedback, online E-meeting, surveys), the committee used the feedback to narrow those five options down to the two most viable solutions for our district's specific needs. Both remaining options -- "Annexation of SMS and Building a Replacement Middle School model" and a "Comprehensive Remodel/Expansion of MSHS model" -- focused on increasing high school capacity since that is where the primary needs are projected. The committee then took a deeper look into the costs and logistics involved with both, coupled with more community feedback including results from a scientific phone survey as an indicator of community preference. As a result, the committee voted unanimously to recommend the current scenario (detailed above) to the School Board.

For more details about this process, including previous options considered and why they have since been dismissed, please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions below. Also, the committee's Report to the Board (dated February 11) shares a thorough historical summary of this process as well as future considerations around school facilities.

LTFP Committee Report to the Board - 2/11/10

Presentation on Recommendation - 2/11/10 (PPT)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) - (updated 12/18/09)

Feedback on Facilities Recommendations. (Survey was available February 12 - March 7.)

Budget Planning for 2010-11

Fri, 8 Jan 2010 00:00:00 PST

Legislative Progress...Olympia Session Continues

(updated 3/15/10)

On March 11, the last day of the 60-day Regular Session, Washington State's Legislature adjourned. Because a final compromise budget was not yet completed, the Governor announced that she will call the Legislature back for a Special Session beginning Monday, March 15. Consequently, there remains a great deal of uncertainty as to the final budget and its impact on our school district's finances for the 2010-11 school year.

The House and Senate did, however, agree on the adoption of House Bill (HB) 2893. The adoption of this bill strengthens the levy base upon which our levy lid is calculated. It also increases the levy lid for school districts throughout the state, including ours. The combination of these two factors means that we will have more M&O levy funds available as the budget is developed for next year. (School districts can only collect the amount approved by the voters). The additional levy funds will offset a portion of the reductions in state funding that the district will be required to absorb as the state budget for 2010-11 is developed. Although we do not yet know how much of the projected $1.8 million shortfall will be offset by the levy funds, it appears that the budget picture has brightened.

Like last year, the District once again took an aggressive approach in the budget planning processes -- essentially planning for the worst, while hoping for the best. As we had hoped, our District's preliminary reduction target of $1.8 million (established last month based on the Governor's proposed reductions) was indeed a worst-case scenario. We also anticipated that the budget picture, during the course of the legislative process, might improve. At this point, we remain certain that some reductions will still be necessary. However, we are also confident that the deep cuts, necessitated by the preliminary reduction target, will be softened as a result of HB 2893.

Even with this encouraging news, our district continues to face serious and difficult challenges in terms of school funding and its ability to sustain the financial health of our schools. Simply stated, the erosion of state resources continues. While these most recent developments may serve to slow the erosion process, they neither stabilize nor reverse the downward trend of the state revenue stream -- revenue that is critical to the operation of our schools.

District Finance Update

Webcast of Budget E-Meeting

If you missed the two recent community meetings (offered March 3 and 4), click here to hear a Budget Update Webcast. In this audio recording linked with PowerPoint slides from the March 3 E-Meeting, Superintendent Joel Aune and Business Manager Ron Ellis provide an update on the district's 2010-11 budget development efforts. While awaiting the finalized state budget, this presentation shares the potential implications to our district of the Governor's proposed cuts to K-12 education funding, which the Legislature is currently considering.

Click on this brief update for current budget developments as of February 23, 2010.

Our Current Budget

Last spring, the Snoqualmie Valley School District reduced its operating budget for the 2009-10 school year by approximately $3.2 million (or 6%) due to Washington State's cuts to K-12 public education funding. Following an extensive 6-month process, expenditure reductions were identified across all district departments and schools, and continue to be carefully implemented this year.

How did we get here?

School districts across the state are facing unprecedented financial challenges. These challenges are driven in large part by a steady erosion of state funding in recent years and exacerbated by the recent crisis at the state level. The reduction in state revenues is compounded by escalating costs, contract obligations, and a growing list of government mandates that receive no funding. Despite our state's constitution that declares its paramount duty to amply fund education, only about 75-80% of our district's basic needs are supported by state and federal resources. Schools districts must ask local voters to approve levies for the remaining 20% needed to sustain adequate education services for all students.

Legislative Update

The Governor revealed her preliminary proposal on December 10, 2009. Unfortunately, the outlook has worsened for public education. In addition to last year's $9 billion state deficit that drove out cuts to K-12 education over the next two years, the state is predicting (as of this January 8 update) ANOTHER $2.6 billion in cuts over the next year. Events last year also taught us that this estimate may grow even higher between now and the time the legislature adopts the state budget this spring. The preliminary reductions outlined by the Governor include the elimination of I-728 and K-4 class size funding, among other things. These monies currently pay for approximately 20 teaching positions in the Snoqualmie Valley School District. (Hear the latest update on the state's education funding from the OSPI Financial Outlook 1/7/10 presentation.)

Next Steps

The District is beginning its annual budget development process to prepare for the 2010-11 school year. Based on what we're hearing from the state, even deeper reductions and cost savings will be needed. It appears likely that all Washington school districts will be forced to identify deep cuts that impact class size, school operations, programs, staff, and ultimately, students. Similar to last year, our district will provide ongoing website updates and resources concerning the process and timeline around expenditure reduction planning for the 2010-11 school year (see SVSD Budget Update from 1/7/10).

Values Driving Budget Prioritization

The mission of the Snoqualmie Valley School District is to meet the individual learning needs of its students, thereby enabling them: to identify and realize their potentials, to develop skills and attitudes for life-long learning, and to be knowledgeable, productive and involved citizens.

As we embark on another difficult process of identifying areas for reduction, the following criteria will continue to guide decisions and uphold the District's mission:
     • Maintain safe learning and working environments for students and staff
     • Preserve student learning and growth
     • Sustain support of student academic achievement
     • Provide a basic level of support services
     • Adhere to legal requirements
     • Consider long-term implications of reduction

Additional Resources
• OSPI Financial Outlook, Jan. 7 (PowerPoint with Audio) (PowerPoint only)
• SVSD Budget Update as of Jan. 7
• Timeline for Budget Development
• Previous Reductions 2007-2010
• Staff & Community Engagement (updated 3/18/10)

Share Your Feedback

Click here to share your ideas and suggestions. This link will remain active through April 11th and all comments will be shared with the School Board prior to adopting any plan. We value your input as we work through these challenging circumstances.

Water Back On in MSHS Portables

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 PST

RECENT WATER UPDATE: The District has received verbal confirmation that new lab tests, following repairs this week, show the drinking water in the MSHS portables now meets all EPA requirements for schools. Consequently, the water has been turned back on today (Wednesday, March 17) for use by students and staff members.

Previous notice from March 12... An environmental water test report, initiated by the Snoqualmie Valley School District, found levels of lead in water that are higher than the recommended EPA standards for schools in half of the plumbing fixtures in new portable classrooms at Mount Si High School. Three of the six modular units (units 6, 7 and 10) tested at higher levels. Samples from the main building, other modular units and nearby bathrooms, showed no findings of concern.

As recommended in the report, the sink fixtures and two feet of pipe within the affected faucets were replaced. Students and staff were instructed not to drink water from those faucets that show the higher levels. And, as a precaution, water to the three affected portables was shut off, until repairs and retesting could be implemented.

The Snoqualmie Valley School District hired PBS Environmental to conduct water testing, after a teacher reported that warm water in the mornings from one of the sinks looked dirty. Preliminary feedback from the individual report revealed higher than allowable levels of lead for school drinking water. This prompted the district to expand the testing to include all the new units that were added to the high school campus this summer, as well as comparisons with water from the main building.

The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) guidelines allow up to 20 particles per billion (ppb) for drinking water in schools. Water tests look at both water that's been sitting in pipes overnight (untouched for at least 8-18 hours) and water that's been flushed (ran periodically through the day.) The recent report showed that 15 of the 26 faucets tested in the six modular buildings had levels ranging from 21-35 ppb from first-draw samples (the first sample of the morning.) Most of these were in science lab sinks. However, results from subsequent flush-draw samples showed normal levels at all the sinks. The report revealed that once the water is flushed out of a fixture - by allowing water to run for 60 seconds before sampling, the water shows levels well within the EPA guidelines.

The test also found that the one sink which had "dirty-looking" warm water in the mornings had a higher level of iron, indicating a rusty fixture. This was also being repaired, as a result of the testing.

A copy of the report is available upon request at the District Office (from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.) or Mount Si High School front office.

Since the modular classrooms were just constructed this past summer, the district is working with the company that constructed them to ensure appropriate responsibility for replacements needed.

All Snoqualmie Valley schools and portables (that have running water) were thoroughly tested in 2004 and no health concerns were found. The district is also working to verify other construction that has been added since 2004.

For more information regarding the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) guidelines for drinking water in schools, visit: http://www.epa.gov/safewater/consumer/leadinschools.html.

Frequently Asked Questions

New Tests Replace WASL

Fri, 5 Feb 2010 00:00:00 PST

Changes to the 2010 State Assessment are beginning this 2009-10 school year. The Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) will be replaced by two new tests: the Measurements of Student Progress (MSP) for grades 3-8 and the High School Proficiency Exam (HSPE) for 10th graders. These assessments that are shorter in length but similar in rigor, require fewer testing days, and will involve a move to online testing in coming years.

Measurements of Student Progress (MSP)
Grades 3-8: The MSP name conveys the goal of the new test: to measure student progress. The MSP will be shorter to take than the WASL and will be administered online over the next few years. Reading, math and science will each take just one day to complete, compared to two days each needed previously for the WASL. For now, writing will still require two days. Beginning this spring, about 25 percent of the state's students in grades 6-8 will take the MSP via computer in reading and math. Snoqualmie Valley middle schools may begin piloting online testing this spring.

High School Proficiency Exam (HSPE)
Grade 10: The HSPE name conveys its goal: to measure a student's proficiency of basic skills. State requirements vary slightly for students while transitioning to this new exam. Students in the classes of 2010-2012 must pass a reading and writing assessment to graduate. If a student already passed this requirement via the WASL, he/she will not have to take the HSPE in that content area. Students in the Class of 2013 will be the first required to pass reading, writing, math, and science assessments to be eligible to graduate. The new high school reading, math and science exams will be shorter, requiring just one day each (compared to two for the WASL.) For now, writing will still involve two days. Beginning in spring 2011, about 25 percent of the state's high school students will take the HSPE via computer in reading, writing and math. Since Mount Si High School is not currently equipped to administer online exams simultaneously to an entire class, it's working to evolve its technology resources for this new requirement.

Mark your 2010 calendars...

MSP (grades 3-8) Testing Window:
• May 12-28 (paper-and-pencil)
• May 3-June 4 (online for grades 6-8)

HSPE (grade 10) Testing Window:
• March 16 (reading)
• March 17-18 (writing)
• April 13 (math)
• April 15 (science)

The move to online testing will be phased in over the next few years. Eventually, the state anticipates this change will save time (around administering and evaluating the tests), save money (in printing, postage and scoring), and provide more timely feedback regarding student performance. Paper-and-pencil testing will always be an option for students with special needs.

For more information about the new state assessments, select the following:
• http://www.k12.wa.us/assessment/StateTesting/ (Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction- OSPI).
• FAQs about State Testing
• Roll-out Schedule for Online Testing